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Religion and Faith

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.

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

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

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Young Christians and the GOP

Young Christians and the GOP

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

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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.

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Priest demands Nienstedt explain handling of clergy sexual abuse

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

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

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

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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."

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When will pope notice trouble in Minnesota church?

When will pope notice trouble in Minnesota church?

Longtime church watchers point out St. Paul and Minneapolis are a long way from Rome.

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Archbishop Nienstedt will hire firm for external review of clergy files

Archbishop Nienstedt will hire firm for external review of clergy files

Writing in his weekly column, Nienstedt said he ordered the review after reading recent media reports and hearing from "so many Catholic faithful" that there is "real fear that some priests in ministry today constitute a danger to children."
by Tom Scheck

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