[PODCAST] I've Got An Opinion: I can be transgender and Catholic at the same time

We speak with Mela Habijan, who is both a trans woman and a Catholic. How does she reconcile the two?

[OPINION] Remembering Pope John Paul II: A centenary homage

'There was in Pope John Paul II a natural ability to recognize the person behind the veneer of social status, physical ailment, religious membership, ethnicity, or economic class and see her as someone worthy of respect'

Pampanga calls off ritual crucifixions over coronavirus

'I'm disappointed,' says resident Ruben Enaje, who aims to be crucified for the 34th straight year as part of a religious vow to atone for his sins

Folk Catholicism or true piety?

'It is only God who could see the hearts of people'

[OPINION] This Christmas, put down your phones and truly reconnect

Go, re-connect, and allow your selves to be found. Recover your sense of delight and then once again hear yourself praying, ‘O God, it feels great to be alive.’

[OPINION] Something is wrong with Filipino faith

Why do we rank as a corrupt country despite being the only Christian nation in Asia? What happened to the faith that teaches us to love God and our neighbors?

First bishop ordained in China under Vatican deal

Under the terms of the deal agreed in September last year, both Beijing and the Vatican will now have a say in appointing Catholic bishops

Pope says priest celibacy not 'optional'

'Personally I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. Secondly, I don't think optional celibacy should be allowed. No,' says Pope Francis

[OPINION] Jesus wasn't white, he was brown-skinned. Here's why that matters.

If we can recognize the importance of ethnically and physically diverse role models in our media, why can’t we do the same for faith? Why do we continue to allow images of a whitened Jesus to dominate?

Pope names new bishop of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental

Monsignor Louie Patalinghug Galbines succeeds Bishop Patricio Abella Buzon, who was made bishop of Bacolod in May 2016

Pope Francis names 35 new saints, most of them martyrs

The new saints include 30 martyrs massacred in Brazil in the 17th century, 3 teens slain in 16th-century Mexico, a Spanish priest, and an Italian priest

Life and hope in a time of death

More than ever we need to ask ourselves: Why do we do any of these things mass services prayers etc for Holy Week at all? Is it possible we’ve forgotten why?

Manny Pacquiao and the Bible

Inasmuch as many of us are irritated at Manny Pacquiao for using the Bible in the Senate the reality is that he is not the enemy here

Duterte on Robredo, De Lima, Dela Rosa | Evening wRap

Watch Rappler s evening newscast with Zak Yuson

A look at religion in Indonesia 71 years since independence

Indonesia is religiously tolerant relative to other countries but it has its own challenges to achieving religious harmony

A divided Poland mulls total abortion ban

Poland is mulling a near total ban even as tens of thousands of women opt for sometimes risky illegal abortions or if they can afford it travel to foreign hospitals

French police quiz cardinal over alleged abuse cover-up

UPDATED Cardinal Philippe Barbarin is accused of failing to remove an erring priest from his diocese

Swedish nurse who saved Jews is made a saint

Pope Francis canonizes Swedish nurse Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad as well as Polish priest Jan Papczynski

French archbishop admits 'errors' in handling of child sex abuse cases

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin Archbishop of Lyon faces complaints for failing to inform authorities about priests accused of sexual abuse

Philippine crucifixions a big money spinner

A bishop says the Church discourages extreme forms of piety that fascinate many of the country s more than 80 million Catholics

IEC 2016: 5,000 take 1st communion in special Mass

UPDATED About 500 of the 5 000 who receive their first communion are street children

First IEC in PH: Cardinal Vidal’s First Communion, too

The Philippines hosts the International Eucharistic Congress nearly 8 decades after the event was first held here in 1937

Colmenares, Kapunan, Romualdez praised for stand on divorce, same-sex marriage

Filipinos weigh in on the senatorial candidates views on thorny marriage issues

IEC: The event that helped make Tagle a ‘papabile’

Cardinal Tagle brought an entire stadium to tears at the International Eucharistic Congress in 2008 a Vatican watcher says

Black Nazarene: Devotion from the inside

What happens when the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene closes its doors?

Jesuits on sex abuse case: ‘Invitation to examine ourselves’

The response is prompted by a sex abuse case the first formal complaint of such nature brought before the Society of Jesus in the Philippines

Part 2: Sex abuse case: Jesuits asked to pay $16M

[EXCLUSIVE] In the Philippines very rough and possibly outdated estimates say about 3 of the country’s priests may have committed sexual misconduct

What do Church rules say about ex-Jesuit's sex abuse case?

This case is unique because the alleged sexual abuse happened 30 years ago – and the alleged offender is dead

Part 1: Ex-Jesuit accused of sexual abuse

[EXCLUSIVE] This marks the first time that a formal complaint about sexual abuse has been put on record with the Society of Jesus Philippine Province

Pope tells bishops to include 'those on fringes'

Pope Francis reacts to the bishops report that fudges the key issue of whether divorced and remarried believers should be allowed to play a full role in the Church

Stormy synod ends in stalemate: over to you, Pope Francis

Catholic bishops approve a compromise report leaving it up to Pope Francis to implement ideas on the Church s approach to sex love and marriage

#PugadBaboy: Grace punchline 2

#PugadBaboy: Grace

#PugadBaboy: Grace punchline 3

Pope wows Washington but takes on controversy

President Barack Obama is clearly delighted to welcome to the White House a pontiff who can lend moral and spiritual force to his own priorities but others may be left uncomfortable by the pope s stances

13 Filipino kids to welcome Pope in US

The children ‘have been selected through a random draw ’ the Philippine embassy says as it thanks the local church for allowing Filipino kids to greet Pope Francis

Pope to priests, nuns: Help refugees or pay taxes

A religious school is tax exempt because it is religious but if it is functioning as a hotel then it should pay taxes just like its neighbor Pope Francis says

Pope Francis hits ‘utilitarian friendships’

’Before considering someone your friend let time test him ’ Pope Francis says as he describes friendship as ‘very sacred’

Cardinal Tagle issues ‘oratio imperata’ vs El Niño

Storm the heavens to fight the drought Cardinal Tagle tells Catholics as the current El Niño is likely to become one of the strongest on record

Pope tells priests to pardon women who have abortions

The Argentine pontiff says he was well aware of the pressure that some women are under to abort

First Catholic bishop for 3 years ordained in China

Joseph Zhang Yilin is installed as the official bishop of Anyang in the central province of Henan as hundreds of police blocked access to the Sacred Heart of Jesus church

Pope slams nations which 'close the door' to migrants

But in one of the largest pledges of assistance so far France said it would create an additional 10 500 housing places for migrants

On being godless and good: Irreligious Pinoys speak out

God is not necessary to be a good human says the Philippine Atheists and Agnostic Society

An autonomous history of Muslim Mindanao beyond textbooks

While a number of historians have tried to embed Muslim Mindanao into the story of the Philippine nation their success has been modest

Bishops, priests from 47 countries in Cebu for confab

If Pope Francis ever decides to return to the Philippines joining the International Eucharistic Congress will be the reason for his return

IN PHOTOS: The Moriones festival of Marinduque

Morions roam the streets of Marinduque during Holy Week where they participate in different events even scaring kids with their masks and costumes

Tagle warns vs creeping 'culture of indifference'

The Manila archbishop says the Filipino mentality of trabaho lang walang personalan for one can lead to indifference to the needs of others

Cardinal to Christians: Moro dream 'very valid'

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo says Christians should look at history not their own biases and prejudices against Muslims

Pope Francis to visit Sarajevo on June 6

UPDATED The Pope says he will visit the Bosnian capital to pray for peace and inter religious dialogue

Pope: Be 'islands of mercy' in 'sea of indifference'

In his message for Lent Pope Francis warns against taking refuge in a universal love while failing to see the poor sitting before our closed doors