Joshua J. McElwee

National Catholic Reporter • 2nd August 2023

Archbishop Wester asks US Catholics for 'urgent conversation' about nuclear weapons' risks

Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester is undertaking a "Pilgrimage of Peace" to Japan to promote nuclear disarmament. In an NCR interview, Wester called on U.S. Catholics to have an "urgent conversation" about the continued risks posed by nuclear weapons.

National Catholic Reporter • 7th February 2023

Exclusive: Vatican must treat abuse victims better, pope's lead investigator says

Pope Francis' lead clergy abuse investigator has acknowledged survivors' frustrations with the Vatican's strict culture of secrecy about Catholic bishops accused of misconduct or cover-up. In a National Catholic Reporter interview, Scicluna admitted the Vatican is not at what he termed "an optimal point" with regard to how it follows up with abuse victims.

National Catholic Reporter • 7th February 2023

Theologian Gaillardetz warns against over-critique of church in 'last lecture'

Theologians from across the U.S. gathered in Boston Sept. 23-24 for a conference celebrating the legacy of Richard Gaillardetz, one of the country's foremost experts on the exercise of authority in the Catholic Church, who is receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Commonweal Magazine • 30th August 2022

‘There Will Be Surprises:’ With new cardinals, Francis advances the synodal agenda

August is really no time to be in the Eternal City. With temperatures in the upper nineties and the Mediterranean sun scorching the cobblestones for more than thirteen hours a day, most Italians have the good sense to simply stay away until September. Pope Francis, however, has other considerations.

National Catholic Reporter • 29th March 2022

Cardinals, theologians gather to plan how US church can support Pope Francis

A group of about 70 cardinals, bishops and theologians gathered privately for two days in Chicago from March 25-26 for conversations focused on how the U.S. Catholic Church can better support the agenda of Pope Francis. Through a series of keynote presentations and panel discussions centered on tracing the roots of Francis' papacy to the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council, invited participants also considered the opposition the pope continues to face from some quarters of the U.S. church.

National Catholic Reporter • 17th November 2021

After year of divisive debate, US bishops approve tepid document on Communion

After more than a year of intense debate on a controversial document originally intended to target pro-choice Catholic politicians like President Joe Biden, the U.S. bishops on Nov. 17 instead approved a milquetoast text summarizing Catholic teaching on Communion.

National Catholic Reporter • 15th June 2021

No, Pope Francis did not cancel a meeting with President Biden

Pope Francis did not meet U.S. President Joe Biden today, June 15. Despite conservative media reports to the contrary, it does not appear the pope ever planned to do so.

National Catholic Reporter • 10th June 2021

Beyond Biden: Bishop McKnight hopes bishops discuss Francis' new catechist role

Although the upcoming meeting of the U.S. bishops conference is already attracting controversy over a plan to draft a document about whether pro-choice Catholic politicians like President Joe Biden can take Communion, at least one bishop is hoping to discuss something a bit less contentious.

National Catholic Reporter • 17th May 2021

After Vatican warning, US bishops have limited options for planned text about Biden

After the Vatican's unusual warning to the U.S. bishops to proceed with caution in their plan to issue a document about pro-choice Catholic politicians like President Joe Biden, the prelates appear to have limited options for going forward with the measure.

National Catholic Reporter • 4th May 2021

Fauci, US officials to take part in Vatican healthcare conference

Several leading U.S. healthcare officials, the heads of two major companies that developed coronavirus vaccines and a number of celebrities will be taking part in a virtual Vatican-sponsored conference on advances in medical technology scheduled for May 6 to 8.

National Catholic Reporter • 24th November 2020

Washington's Archbishop Gregory expects 'respectful' dialogue with President Biden

ROME — Washington, D.C., Archbishop Wilton Gregory expects being able to dialogue with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, only the second Catholic to be elected to the nation's highest office, "in an honest and respectful way." In an NCR interview, the archbishop said he imagines being able to work with Biden on issues of mutual interest.

National Catholic Reporter • 1st October 2020

Fidelity oaths spark fear of return to theological silencing

VATICAN CITY — Several prominent theologians are raising concerns about how the Vatican's doctrinal office has handled the case of Redemptorist Fr. Tony Flannery, saying the decision to issue fidelity oaths to the priest over his support for women's ordination appears out of line with Pope Francis' calls for a Catholic Church open to dialogue.

National Catholic Reporter • 28th September 2020

Up-close account of Pell's historic trial raises an uncomfortable question

Throughout the unprecedented three-year saga of the arrest, conviction and ultimate acquittal of Australian Cardinal George Pell, there was no dearth of commentary on the case. Almost every single word of it was grossly uninformed.

National Catholic Reporter • 22nd September 2020

Vatican cardinal defends issuing fidelity oaths to Irish priest Tony Flannery

VATICAN CITY — The head of the Vatican's powerful doctrinal congregation Sept. 22 defended his office's request that an Irish priest sign four strict oaths of fidelity to Catholic teachings, saying the move, while "very unpleasant," was part of the congregation's duty as the global church's orthodoxy watchdog.

National Catholic Reporter • 17th September 2020

Vatican tells Irish priest Flannery to sign fidelity oaths, or remain suspended

ROME — A popular Irish priest suspended from public ministry in 2012 primarily over his support for women's ordination is now being threatened by the Vatican that his suspension will remain indefinite unless he signs four strict oaths of fidelity to Catholic teachings.

National Catholic Reporter • 14th September 2020

I or we? Vatican sparks baptism controversy that isn't so controversial

ROME — The Vatican's decision in August to clarify the formula that should be used in the Catholic rite of baptism attracted unusual interest after it caused something of a theological head-scratcher.

National Catholic Reporter • 28th August 2020

First, lasts and heeding the coronavirus realities

As my wife and I emerged from Italy's strict, nine-week-long Coronavirus lockdown in May, we tentatively began to mark the "firsts." First time we went for a walk outside. (During the lockdown, we could only walk in circles on our building's roof.) First time I went back to the Vatican press office. (After about 90 days away… by far the longest I'd not seen the place since we moved here six years ago, thanks to the wild reality we call the year 2020.)ve been sharply rising in past weeks. Italy's Civil Protection a

National Catholic Reporter • 14th July 2020

Exclusive: Dolan sends book on 'The Next Pope' to cardinals around the world

ROME — New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has forwarded copies of a book that suggests qualities desirable in a future pope to cardinals across the globe, in an apparent break with the longstanding practice that the Catholic Church's highest prelates refrain from publicly lobbying for possible candidates for the papacy.

National Catholic Reporter • 22nd June 2020

Rome's Catholic peace community hails episcopal appointment of one of its own

Social justice promoters for the world's religious orders are praising Pope Francis' unusual appointment of one within their ranks as a diocesan bishop, saying the choice emphasizes the importance of their work and ministry.

National Catholic Reporter • 15th June 2020

US worship publishers see income 'evaporate' due to pandemic restrictions

Leaders at the three major U.S. publishers of Catholic worship resources are expressing concern about how the continuing coronavirus pandemic will impact their operations, which largely rely on bulk sales of hymnals and missalettes to individual parishes.