Roman Catholicism

Father Gary Meier, St. Louis Catholic Priest, Announces He is Gay

In 2011, a slender book came out called Hidden Voices: Reflections of a Gay, Catholic Priest. The author was "Anonymous." "This book is for all of those who are being or have been driven away," reads the introduction. "And that's not just the gay population; it's all of those who have accepted a me ... More >>

Parents Sue St. Louis Archdiocese, Father Bryan Kuchar Over Son's Alleged Rape, Suicide

A local couple is suing the St. Louis Archdiocese and Father Bryan Kuchar in a lawsuit alleging that their son was raped by the priest when he was a young boy and, once the "abuse finally overtook him," killed himself. "It has been almost four years since his death, and we struggle with the part t ... More >>

St. Louis Priest Father William Vatterott Indicted on Child Pornography Charge

William Vatterott, a Roman Catholic priest from St. Louis, was indicted yesterday on a federal child pornography charge -- and could ultimately face ten years in prison and fines of up to $25,000. Vatterott, 36, will appear in federal court later this week or early next week to respond to the indi ... More >>

Pope Francis I: Survivors Network of Those Abused By Priests Say He's Not One of "Dirty Dozen"

Yesterday afternoon, the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in Rome billowed white smoke, and the new pope emerged on the balcony in white robes: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires. His papal name will be Francis I. David Clohessy, the executive director of Survivors Network of T ... More >>

Which St. Louisan Should Be the Next Pope?

Yes, it may be a bit self-centered of us to think, as soon as we heard the news yesterday of Pope Benedict XVI's impending resignation, which St. Louisan should replace him? But really, isn't it high time there was a Pope from the Western Hemisphere? And why not from St. Louis, the most Catholic of ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Are Mexicans not as Catholic as they're cracked up to be?

Despite Blistering Vatican Censure, US Nuns Flying High After Conference in STL

These "radical feminunzies" have exposed a rift between American Catholics regarding the mission and structure of the Church. St Louis, with its diverse population of 650,000 Catholics, was the perfect staging ground.

A toothless satire of the Catholic Church in We Have a Pope

Is SNAP's David Clohessy Really a Hypocrite?

SNAP's David Clohessy​Recently in both Kansas City and St. Louis, lawyers defending the Catholic Church against clerical sex abuse allegations have have tried to subpoena years worth of emails and records from their long-time adversary, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). SNAP dir ... More >>

Archdiocese Not Liable For Pedophile Priest Robert Johnston

courtesy of SNAP MidwestRobert Johnston: not the archdiocese's fault that they hired a perv.​Score one for the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. Because, as a legal ruling today makes clear, even if a Christian ethicist would hold the church accountable for allowing a predatory priest to run roug ... More >>

Man Molested by St. Mary Magdalen Priest in 1971 Gets Hearing Today

Illustration by Vlad AlvarezPaul Alvino was abused by a priest in 1971 off church property - who's responsible?​If a local Catholic priest with a known history of sexually abusing children molests a young boy, but does it off of church property, is the Archdiocese of St. Louis legally responsible? ... More >>

Catholic Blogger Tutors RFT on Headline Writing, Moral Law

​The blog St. Louis Catholic has responded to a story Daily RFT posted last week concerning the archdiocese's lawsuit against St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. As we revealed, attorneys for the St. Louis archdiocese sought and received the recusal of a gay judge who was to hear an appeal involving its ... More >>

Attorneys for Archdiocese Demanded Recusal of Gay Judge, Records Show

courts.mo.govLawrence Mooney: Has sat on other appeals that ruled in favor of the archdiocese.​The note from Missouri Court of Appeals Judge Lawrence Mooney to former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke was just three sentences long. Written on Court of Appeals stationary and dated October 2, 2007, ... More >>

Pope Acknowledges Condoms Prevent HIV

AFP/GettyMaybe he said maybe.​Pope Benedict has broken with decades of established Vatican tradition by stating in an interview that there are situations in which condom use is acceptable for preventing the spread of disease.In a book-length interview called Light of the World released today, Bene ... More >>

Raymond Burke's Greatest Fits: Recalling the Lowlights of the Vatican's Newest Cardinal

Jay BevenourRev. Raymond Burke​Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI promoted former St. Louis archbishop Raymond Burke to the rank of cardinal -- the fourth-highest status in the Catholic church. In honor of Burke's ascension up the hierarchy, here are a few of the cardinal's actions over the years that we ... More >>

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis art scene

All Hail the Duke

St. Louis Female Priest Responds to Vatican Equating Women Reverends with Pedophiles

Photo: Jennifer SilverbergThe Revs. Elsie McGrath and Rose Marie Hudson​By now you've probably heard how the Vatican unveiled sweeping changes last week regarding its policies on sexual abuse and sexuality within the Catholic church. On one hand, the Church increased efforts to out priests accused ... More >>

Featured Review: Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art

'Holy Goalie' Becomes New Springfield Bishop

Saving goals souls one at a time.​The Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, will soon welcome a new bishop to their flock. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Thomas J. Paprocki to the position yesterday.Paprocki is interesting for several reasons. Fist of all, he is an avid hockey fan and sometimes ... More >>

Third Local Woman to be Ordained a Roman Catholic Womanpriest

thereseofdivinepeace.orgMarybeth McBryan will become the third local Roman Catholic Womanpriest on Sunday -- critics be damned.​Marybeth McBryan, a former member of the St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education and current deacon at Therese of Divine Peace, will be ordained as a Roman Catholic W ... More >>

Holy Crap: But not entirely un-fun: Angels & Demons has a need for speed

Hail Mary: A pregnant Catholic priest causes readers to pour out their souls

St. Louis Claims First Pregnant Catholic Priest

Demons Among Us: The RFT paid a visit to America's foremost demonologist in Chesterfield and came home with our head spinning

Archbishop Burke Orders St. Louis Womenpriests To Yank Newspaper Ad

Lent on Cherokee Street

Sufferin' Succotash!

Ian enjoys the suffering of ducks? That's despicable!

The Church Ladies

Two St. Louis women will soon become ordained Catholic priests — and in a Jewish synagogue, no less.

The Death of Father Kaiser

Was it a Kenyan assassin who killed the St. Louis missionary -- or was it madness? Seven years later, the verdict is in.

You Can't Say That in Church!

Letters

Week of September 15, 2004

Immaculate Deception

Some dirty little secrets followed Archbishop Raymond Burke from Wisconsin to St. Louis

Debt Comes to the Archbishop

A sad chapter in the church's history is far from over

Deadly Backyard

Week of January 22, 2003

Tarnished Angel

The more he talks, the more Wilton Gregory sounds like every other bishop in the Catholic Church

The Reluctant Archbishop

The aloof style of Justin Rigali served him well at the Vatican but distances him from the faithful of St. Louis

Best Place to Seek Forgiveness

From a Priest Who's Sinned

Of Condoms, Catholics and Blood

Disturbed by the Red Cross' promotion of condom use, local Catholics are finding other organizations to handle blood drives. But is their stand having the intended result?

Throwing in the Towel

Under mounting pressure, a local nonprofit agency finally agrees to give up its contract to provide Head Start services to 2,500 preschoolers

Roman Holiday

Before you get to heaven, you gotta raise a little hell

Ashcroft Keeps Up with the (Bob) Joneses

PAPAL BULL NOT ENOUGH

Senate candidate and Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan may have commuted a death sentence, but St. Louis-area Catholics won't be letting him off the hook on the abortion issue

Letters to the Editor

Pope and Circumstance

St. Louis turns out to greet John Paul II

Letters to the Editor

Getting Religion: It's Not About the Talk

The Tragic Christian

Father James Carney left St. Louis to work with the poor in Honduras, putting him at odds with both church and state. Fifteen years after his mysterious death, a new CIA report raises more questions than answers.

Letters to the Editor

Sins of Omission

St. Louis is welcoming Pope John Paul II, but many devout Catholics don't feel so welcomed by him. They say he's blocking the light for women, intellectuals, non-Westerners, gays, lesbians and remarried Catholics -- and dimming the prospects for an inclus