democracy in the catholic church?

openDemocracy writers assess the legacy of the Polish pope, Karol Wojtyła, and ask whether the world's most powerful religious institution can be made more democratic.
Thursday 24th November

The Vatican and Ireland

Michael Walsh, 24 November 2011
A series of abuse and cover-up scandals within the Catholic church has alienated many in in one of its historic heartlands. But the Vatican remains in denial, says Michael Walsh.
Friday 22nd October

Pope Benedict: the faith of authority

Michael Walsh, 22 October 2010
A delicate papal visit to Britain was in the end a diplomatic success. All the more reason to examine the ideas it advanced, says Michael Walsh.
Tuesday 13th July

Pope Benedict's divisions

Michael Walsh, 13 July 2010
The current form of governance of the Catholic church and the Vatican City State raises fundamental questions about these institutions - and their titular head, says Michael Walsh.
Wednesday 14th April

The Catholic church’s scandal: modern crisis, ancient roots

Tina Beattie, 14 April 2010
The sexual violation of young people within the Catholic church is the poisonous legacy of a long tradition of contempt for human sexuality in an institution which has privileged secrecy and unaccountable power over transparency and participation. But the silence and darkness revealed by the scandal must not be allowed to define the majority of Catholics who are the living church, says Tina Beattie.
Tuesday 23rd March

The Vatican’s fix: abuse and renewal

Michael Walsh, 23 March 2010

The burgeoning international scandal involving the abuse of children by Catholic clergy is the biggest crisis for the church since the 16th-century reformation, says Michael Walsh.

(This article was first published on 22 March 2010)
Monday 16th February

The Vatican’s debacle

Michael Walsh, 16 February 2009
The pope's decision over an ultra-right bishop reveals chaos in the Catholic church
Friday 25th April

The pope’s mixed signals

Michael Walsh, 25 April 2008
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States was a diplomatic success. But what is he for?
Friday 14th September

Pope Benedict XVI: forward to the past

Michael Walsh, 14 September 2007

A year since Regensburg, as the Latin liturgy is restored, Michael Walsh takes the pope 's measure

Tuesday 8th May

Benedict XVI in Brazil: raising the Catholic flag

Rodrigo de Almeida, 8 May 2007
The shifting religious landscape of Brazil presents a major challenge of policy and empathy to the visiting conservative pope, says Rodrigo de Almeida.
Monday 4th December

The Pope and the Patriarch

Michael Walsh, 4 December 2006
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey was as important for Catholic-Orthodox dialogue as for European-Turkish, says Michael Walsh. But in healing one breach did it open another?
Wednesday 12th April

Poland's past and future pope

Adam Szostkiewicz, 12 April 2006
One year after the death of Pope John Paul II, Adam Szostkiewicz links Poland’s preparations for the visit of his successor Benedict XVI to concerns over the future of a Catholic media empire.
Thursday 23rd June

Who rules Italy?

Sarah Pozzoli, 23 June 2005
The Vatican’s boycott campaign helped turn Italians’ passionate debate over fertility treatment and embryo research into a referendum flop. Sarah Pozzoli assesses the democratic fallout.
Tuesday 19th April

From Joseph Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI

Michael Walsh, 19 April 2005
The cardinals’ choice of new pope reflects the Catholic church’s crisis of modernity, says Michael Walsh.

Cardinal Chernenko?

Andrew Brown, 19 April 2005
Joseph Ratzinger, the new Pope Benedict XVI, could represent the long withdrawing roar of a sclerotic Kremlin-like empire, says Andrew Brown.
Sunday 17th April

The Catholic church is not a democracy

Joanna Bogle, 17 April 2005
The heartbeat of the Catholic church is in the poor south, and it pulses for fundamental truths not liberal nostrums, says Joanna Bogle.
Wednesday 13th April

Catholics, Iraq, women, and modernity

Arthur Waskow, 13 April 2005
Pope John Paul II’s failure of political nerve and imagination leaves the Catholic church facing a decisive choice, says Rabbi Arthur Waskow.
Monday 11th April

The Catholic church and democracy: a reply to Neal Ascherson

Timothy Radcliffe, 11 April 2005
Pope John Pauls II’s death leaves Catholics worldwide needing to grow spaces of dialogue where appropriate forms of democracy become possible, says Timothy Radcliffe.
Sunday 10th April

The Vatican, the Kremlin and the Feminine

Lavinia Byrne, 10 April 2005
Women are leading the challenge of renewal to the 21st-century Catholic church, says Lavinia Byrne.
Thursday 7th April

The five minutes of Pope John Paul II

Ariel Dorfman, 7 April 2005
As millions gather to witness the Polish pope’s Rome burial, Ariel Dorfman recalls the five minutes in Chile that define his life’s paradox.
Monday 4th April

Cutting the Vatican down to size

Michael Walsh, 4 April 2005
Can democratic reform of the Catholic church escape the stifling influence of the Vatican? Michael Walsh of Heythrop College proposes creative ways forward.
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