Jezebel: Pope

Pope Says Sex Abuse Is A "Scourge" For Society, Alludes To Jerry Sandusky Case

Lane Moore — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:45:00 EST

Pope Benedict XVI responded to the decades of scandals over clergy abusing children today in front of visiting U.S. bishops. He says: More »

Group Wants To Investigate Pope For Crimes Against Humanity

Anna North — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:20:00 EDT

The Catholic Church has been dealing with sexual abuse allegations for years now, but the scandal has reached a new height: a nonprofit is asking the International Criminal Court in the Hague to investigate the Pope. More »

Catholic Church Extends Forgiveness For Abortion, But Only Through Sunday

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:40:00 EDT

If you're a Catholic woman who's had an abortion and are interested in no longer being excommunicated, you should make your way to Madrid — fast. In a special, limited-time offer, the church is making it easier for those who confess to having an abortion to obtain absolution and rejoin the church. More »

Catholic Condom Ads Banned In Spain

Anna North — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:45:00 EDT

Starting tomorrow, young people will flock to Madrid for World Youth Day, where they'll see concerts, speeches by bishops, and appearances by the Pope. But they won't be seeing ads supporting condom use — because Spanish transit authorities banned them. More »

Pope John Paul II Would Like To Be Your Friend

Lane Moore — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

In honor of his forthcoming beatification, the late Pope John Paul II will join this thing they call 'Facebook' from beyond the grave. More »

Marriage Is Not a Right, Says Pope

Lauri Apple — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:00:36 EST

Pope Benedict XVI doesn't think people can claim any "right to a nuptial ceremony." Also, he thinks better premarital counseling could help avoid a "vicious circle" of invalid marriages. Unsure on the first part, but minimizing risk sounds good. Thoughts? More »

Excommunicated Australian Nun Becomes A Saint

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:35:00 EDT

This month Pope Benedict will canonize Mary MacKillop, making her Australia's first native-born saint. She's been dubbed the "Patron Saint of Whistleblowers" due to her 1871 excommunication for denouncing priests that abuse children, but the Vatican is downplaying that misstep. More »

Ice Cream Company Taunts The Pope

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EDT

Though Antonio Federici ice cream ads were banned in the U.K. for mocking Catholics, the company plans to run an ad featuring a pregnant nun on a billboard that will be visible when the Pope visits Westminster Abbey this week. More »

Queen Elizabeth Feigns Interest In Pope's Vacation Photos

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:57:00 EDT

[Edinburgh, September 16: Pope Benedict XVI exchanges gifts with Queen Elizabeth II on the first day of his trip to the United Kingdom, the first state visit by a Pope to Britain since the 16th century. Image via Getty.]

Vatican Sensibly Declares Ordaining Women As Bad As Pedophilia

Irin Carmon — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:07:52 EDT

The Catholic Church failed to prevent gay marriage in Argentina, but it's still fighting mightily on another front: ordaining women. Today, it classified attempting to ordain women as being as bad as "clerical sex abuse of minors, heresy and schism." More »

Women March In 3-Day Priesthood Party

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:20:00 EDT

"While the hierarchy spends their time covering up scandals and throwing major celebrations for themselves, Catholic women are working for justice and making a positive difference in the world," said a protester at Tuesday's march on the Vatican. [AP] More »

The Rapture

Anna Holmes — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:10:00 EDT

[Lisbon, May 11. Image via AP]

Why Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Should Resign

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST

Catholic legal scholar and conservative Obama supporter Douglas Kmiec writes how the Pope's recent statement that Catholic theology obligates legislators and judges to work to undermine abortion law all but requires Justice Scalia to resign. More »

On Sunday, Pope Benedict named India's first...

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:20:00 EDT

On Sunday, Pope Benedict named India's first woman saint, Alphonsa, a nun who is credited with curing illness and disease after her death in 1946. Alphonsa had led a life of "extreme physical and spiritual suffering" according to the Pope, and deliberately disfigured herself at a young age to ward off suitors before entering the convent. Christians make up about 2 percent of India's population and Alphonsa is India's second saint after Gonsalo Garcia, who was canonized in 1862. Indian Roman Catholics are celebrating the canonization at a time when violence against Christians over religious conversions has left 35 people dead since the summer. In his statement, Pope Benedict called for an end to anti-Christian riots sparked by the murder of a Hindu leader in August. [Reuters] More »

Living Barbie Paris Hilton Premieres Line For Dollhouse

Sadie Stein — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Paris Hilton, aka the rich man's Heidi Montag, premieres her line for Dollhouse. "Some pieces, like the tees with her face plastered on them, are quintessentially Paris, and others are a bit more rock 'n roll like her sister Nicky." Huh? [FabSugar]
Meanwhile, in the world of the equally inexplicable, Jessica Simpson announces a dress line. "I'm extremely excited to be expanding into the dress market," Simpson tells WWD. "I plan on creating beautiful dresses in distinctive fabrics and silhouettes that are reflective of my personal style and offer something special to the marketplace." [VogueUK]
Perennial charmer Naomi Campbell on upstart "supermodels": "Models need to earn their stripes – I just think the term is used a little too loosely. Kate Moss is obviously a supermodel but, after Gisele, I don’t think there’s been one." [The Sun]
Um, if we're asking the pope to throw off antiquated traditions, I'm not sure his fur cape should be our highest priority. [Times of India]

The Devil Wears Prada, The Pope Wears Straight Jesus

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EDT

The enduring image of the last Pope is of him in simple, white vestments and a white skullcap, but that ain't how Pope Benedict XVI rolls, as this picture demonstrates. Although the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano claims that Benedict is just a simple guy, his style pointers (always wear something red!) are reverberating around the world. From his red loafers to his Christmas camauro, and his ermine-trimmed capes to his snazzy red summer hat, this Pope has a fashion sense all his own! But the Vatican mouthpiece says it best: "The pope, therefore, does not wear Prada, but Christ." Ewww, does anyone else get a weird "lady suit" from Silence of the Lambs image from that statement? (Click the picture for more of Benedict's fashion do's!) [WWLTV.com] More »

Chit Chat

Anna Holmes — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:20:00 EDT

Tracie to Anna, 4:04pm: "The stupid Pope is pre-empting Judge Judy." More »