Seth J. Frantzman and Ruth Kark (HUJ): The Catholic Church in Palestine/Israel: Real Estate in Terra Sancta. From Political Theology, Matthew John Paul Tan on Christian action and its decontexts; and Gerald J. Beyer on the canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Catholic confession’s steep price: Former seminarian John Cornwell traces how a sacrament went astray — and how it could be revived. The first chapter from Why Can the Dead Do Such Great Things? Saints and Worshippers from the Martyrs to the Reformation by Robert Bartlett (and more). Howard Kainz on the future of Thomism. From Pew Research Journalism Project, a look at the media coverage of Pope Francis’ first year. Michael Paulson on how the new pope has altered the landscape by choosing to live in a modest Vatican residence rather than the opulent apostolic palace, to travel in a Ford Focus and to denounce overspending by church leaders. The Vatican says 848 priests have been defrocked and another 2,572 given lesser sanctions over the past decade for raping and molesting children. About to take over a crisis-ridden company with a demoralised workforce? Turn to a Roman case study; the pope as a turnaround CEO. A modern pope gets old school on the Devil. Who is Pope Francis? Brandon Ambrosino on everything you need to know about Pope Francis. Vatican to debate teachings on divorce, birth control, gay unions. “Piketty Pontiff” says the Bible demands the redistribution of wealth. Benedict in the Time of Francis: What’s it like for the first living ex-pope in 600 years to watch from up close as the successor he enabled dismantles his legacy? Coming home: Dick Virden on different Popes for different times.
