Religion and Faith

November 3, 2013 9:14 PM

Two Minn. priests step aside for 'prior misconduct'

In separate statements posted to its website late Sunday, the archdiocese said the priests volunteered to take leaves of absence. The archdiocese did not explain why both priests reached this decision at the same time.

by Madeleine Baran

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

November 3, 2013 5:33 AM

Churches fight decline with beer

With mainline religious congregations dwindling across America, a scattering of churches is trying to attract new members by creating a different sort of Christian community. They are gathering around craft beer.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

November 2, 2013 9:33 AM

In a church built on tradition, the Pope likes spontaneity

In the seven months since he was elected, Pope Francis has shaken up the Catholic world and beyond with off-the-cuff homilies, phone calls to ordinary folk and unscripted interviews.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 31, 2013 1:40 PM

Archdiocese did not require abusive priest to disclose full list of victims

Earlier this week, a woman who said the the Rev. Robert Thurner sexually abused her as a child filed a lawsuit against the priest and the archdiocese. In 1991, Thurner retired and confessed to sexual contact with at least three boys as part of a lawsuit filed by one of the victims. Another victim sued in 1993.

by Madeleine Baran

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 30, 2013 11:00 AM

Young Christians and the GOP

Conservative columnist and strategist Matt Lewis recently wrote about the "ethical conundrums" facing young Christians today.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 29, 2013 7:43 PM

Westboro pastor's granddaughter: 'We hurt a lot of people'

In a turnaround from their years in a church known for its fierce protests at the funerals of American soldiers and others in the name of denouncing homosexuality, two granddaughters of the Westboro Baptist Church's Pastor Fred Phelps speak to community and educational groups about tolerance and religion.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 29, 2013 12:53 PM

Woman sues archdiocese for failing to protect her from abusive priest

The woman said she was sexually abused by the Rev. Robert Thurner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in West St. Paul when she was seven to eight years old.

by Madeleine Baran

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 29, 2013 9:22 AM

Priest demands Nienstedt explain handling of clergy sexual abuse

"This is not some small matter. This is a big deal. It's the first time, I must say, in 69 years that I'm embarrassed to be Catholic," the Rev. Stephen O'Gara, pastor of the Church of the Assumption, said in a Sunday homily.

by Madeleine Baran

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 28, 2013 3:43 PM

Task force supervisor to control group's access to clergy abuse information

A task force created to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Twin Cities' Catholic Church will only have access to information provided by the Rev. Reginald Whitt, the church official appointed to oversee it, according to a letter he wrote to Twin Cities clergy last week. The move appears to contradict the archdiocese's earlier assertions that the task force would remain independent.

by Tom Scheck and Madeleine Baran

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

October 25, 2013 1:12 PM

Will pope notice trouble in Minn. church?

"Things have to get pretty bad before Minneapolis-St. Paul pops up on the radar," said John Thavis, former Vatican bureau chief The Catholic News Service. "It may take a long time before this comes to the pope's attention. People don't necessarily like to bring the pope bad news."

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!