Quotes about church
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Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke photo

“You may observe yourself...what a difference there is between the true strength of this nation and the fictitious one of the Whigs. How much time, how many lucky incidents, how many strains of power, how much money must go to create a majority of the latter; on the other hand, take but off the opinion that the Crown is another way inclined, the church interest rises with redoubled force, and by its natural genuine strength.”

Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) English politician and Viscount

Letter to Mr. Drummond (10 November 1710), quoted in Gilbert Parke, Letters and Correspondence, Public and Private, of The Right Honourable Henry St. John, Lord Visc. Bolingbroke; during the Time he was Secretary of State to Queen Anne; with State Papers, Explanatory Notes, and a Translation of the Foreign Letters, &c.: Vol. I (1798), pp. 16–17

Harry Gordon Selfridge photo
Coventry Patmore photo

“The Catholic Church itself has been nearly killed by the infection of the puritanism of the Reformation.”

Coventry Patmore (1823–1896) English poet

Magna Moralia XLIX, p. 201.
The Rod, the Root, and the Flower (1895)

Edmund Burke photo
Benjamin Disraeli photo
J. C. Kumarappa photo

“The Western nations have four arms-defensive and offensive-the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Church.”

J. C. Kumarappa (1892–1960) Jōsaph Celladurai; b. 01/04/1892; economist; mem., Indian Planning Comm.; protagonist of Gandhian principle…

Shri J. C. Kumarappa. Can Indira Accept this Challenge? Dadoomiyan, S. Vijayanand Bharathi. Vora, 1966. as Quoted in Madhya Pradesh (India)., Goel, S. R., Niyogi, M. B. (1956, [1998 reprint]). Vindicated by time: The Niyogi Committee report on Christian missionary activities.

Richard Feynman photo

“Western civilization, it seems to me, stands by two great heritages. One is the scientific spirit of adventure — the adventure into the unknown, an unknown which must be recognized as being unknown in order to be explored; the demand that the unanswerable mysteries of the universe remain unanswered; the attitude that all is uncertain; to summarize it — the humility of the intellect. The other great heritage is Christian ethics — the basis of action on love, the brotherhood of all men, the value of the individual — the humility of the spirit.
These two heritages are logically, thoroughly consistent. But logic is not all; one needs one's heart to follow an idea. If people are going back to religion, what are they going back to? Is the modern church a place to give comfort to a man who doubts God — more, one who disbelieves in God? Is the modern church a place to give comfort and encouragement to the value of such doubts? So far, have we not drawn strength and comfort to maintain the one or the other of these consistent heritages in a way which attacks the values of the other? Is this unavoidable? How can we draw inspiration to support these two pillars of western civilization so that they may stand together in full vigor, mutually unafraid? Is this not the central problem of our time?”

Richard Feynman (1918–1988) American theoretical physicist

remarks (2 May 1956) at a Caltech YMCA lunch forum http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/49/2/Religion.htm

James II of England photo
Prevale photo

“If you're looking for the worst people, you'll find them all in church on Sunday mornings.”

Prevale (1983) Italian DJ and producer

Original: (it) Se cerchi le persone peggiori, le trovi tutte in chiesa la domenica mattina.
Source: prevale.net

Antonin Scalia photo

“It seems to me that the more Christian a country is the less likely it is to regard the death penalty as immoral. Abolition has taken its firmest hold in post-Christian Europe, and has least support in the church-going United States. I attribute that to the fact that, for the believing Christian, death is no big deal. Intentionally killing an innocent person is a big deal: it is a grave sin, which causes one to lose his soul. But losing this life, in exchange for the next? The Christian attitude is reflected in the words Robert Bolt’s play has Thomas More saying to the headsman: 'Friend, be not afraid of your office. You send me to God.'”

Antonin Scalia (1936–2016) former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

For the nonbeliever, on the other hand, to deprive a man of his life is to end his existence.
God’s Justice and Ours https://web.archive.org/web/20120311230630/http://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/01/gods-justice-and-ours-32, 123 First Things 17. (May 2002). Adapted from remarks given at Pew Forum Conference on Religion, politics and death penalty.
2000s

Yaroslav Pryriz photo

“Of course we want to be in communion, faithfulness to the universal Church but to also recognise that within the Church we have to react to the realities as they are, not as we wish them or think they should be. We have to start where we are at – to see, to judge, and to act.”

Charles Gauci (1952) Bishop of Darwin

Top End Bishop says Indigenous are ‘the most traumatised people I’ve ever met’ https://catholicleader.com.au/news/shepherd-charles-roams-the-top-end (October 14, 2019)

Leo Tolstoy photo
Petr Chelčický photo

“The Church of Rome has allied herself with the state, and now they both drink together the blood of Christ, one from a chalice, and the other from the ground where it was spilled by the sword…”

Source: The Net of Faith (c. 1443), Chapter 91, Interpretation of Romans 13:5-7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013%3A5-7&version=NIV (Conclusion)

Leonard Paul Blair photo
Donal McKeown photo

“After a long period when politicians weren't even sitting in the same building together, there actually was the churches working together, who in many ways provided the fabric that held society together.”

Donal McKeown (1950) Roman Catholic bishop

Donal McKeown says DUP views seen as 'nakedly sectarian' https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-23112107 (30 June 2013)

Frederick Henry (bishop) photo
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury photo
Garrison Keillor photo

“Going to church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.”

Garrison Keillor (1942) American radio host and writer

Though Keillor has been quoted on the internet and in print as having made this or a similar remark, such expressions have been made by others, and may have originated with Billy Sunday, who is quoted as having said "Going to church on Sunday does not make you a Christian any more than going into a garage makes you an automobile!" in Press, Radio, Television, Periodicals, Public Relations, and Advertising, As Seen through Institutes and Special Occasions of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism (1967) edited by John Eldridge Drewry.
Disputed

Sam Peckinpah photo

“An important term for us in the church is solidarity. We are brothers and sisters first because of that shared baptism, and there’s even deep solidarity simply because we’re all created by the same God.”

Steven Biegler (1959) American prelate

Father Steve Biegler selected as ninth bishop of Diocese of Cheyenne https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/father-steven-biegler-selected-as-ninth-bishop-of-diocese-of-cheyenne/article_7b23ad10-0ad8-11e7-a803-eb2d09401e05.html (Mar 17, 2017)

Álvaro Corrada del Río photo
Jamie Chung photo

“We'd only speak Korean at home. They [parents] wouldn't let us have sleepovers and sent us away to Korean church camp during the summers. We had weird food concoctions, too, so instead of spaghetti bolognese, we had rice bolognese with kimchi.”

Jamie Chung (1983) American actress

On her childhood memories in "Jamie Chung, Star of ‘Premium Rush, On Her Road from The Real World to Hollywood" in The Daily Beast (25 August 2012) https://www.thedailybeast.com/jamie-chung-star-of-premium-rush-on-her-road-from-the-real-world-to-hollywood

Petro Loza photo

“The ancient roots of the Church of Kyiv here, on the shores of the gray Dnieper, produce a new sprout. We have been killed and crucified many times, but our roots are alive.”

Petro Loza (1979) roman-catholic bishop

World's youngest Catholic bishop consecrated in Ukraine https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/43277/worlds-youngest-catholic-bishop-consecrated-in-ukraine (January 14, 2020)

“All church leaders agreed that the fears of the church members were not unfounded.”

Sebastian Tudu (1967) Roman catholic Bishop

Bangladeshi Christians Skip Traditional Christmas Midnight Mass https://www.voanews.com/east-asia/bangladeshi-christians-skip-traditional-christmas-midnight-mass (December 24, 2015)

Jon Stewart photo

“I heard someone on the news say, well, "tragedy has visited this church.””

Jon Stewart (1962) American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian

This wasn’t a tornado. This was a racist. This was a guy with a Rhodesia badge on his sweater. You know, I hate to even use this pun, but this one is black and white. There’s no nuance here. And we’re gonna keep pretending like “I don’t get it, what happened, there’s one guy who lost his mind”, but we are steeped in that culture in this country and we refuse to recognize it.
Charleston Church Shooting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjzrvRKv6Ks, June 19, 2015
The Daily Show (1999-2015)

“To me, issues of pleasure should not be mixed with issues of life and death. All said and done, I stand with the position of the Catholic Church.”

John Baptist Odama (1947) born 1947; Roman-Catholic Archbishop of Gulu, Uganda

African Archbishop Reflects on Challenges to Marriage and Family https://www.ncregister.com/news/african-archbishop-reflects-on-challenges-to-marriage-and-family (October 10, 2014)

Harry Emerson Fosdick photo

“God is not found in a disorganised way. If someone has a church they should also follow the doctrine of that church.”

Smaragde Mbonyintege (1947) Rwandan Catholic bishop (born 1947)

Source: Mont Kigali: ‘Sacred’ cave where Christians converge for worship https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/64399 (March 29, 2013)

Leonard Ravenhill photo

“The Church used to be a lifeboat rescuing the perishing. Now she is a cruise ship recruiting the promising.”

Leonard Ravenhill (1907–1994) British writer

Final message to the church (n. d.)

“When we have God at the centre of our Church, we can lead our people to reach God’s Kingdom. Without God at the centre or our Church surrounding God, then not much of anything can be achieved.”

Rozario Menezes (1969) Catholic bishop

A Church having God at its centre https://www.pngsicbc.com/post/a-church-having-god-at-its-centre (July 5)

“The Catholic Church in Greece must play the game of the European Union, pushing for a secular, free, independent and modern state.”

Yannis Spiteris (1947) Roman Catholic archbishop

Why the Greek Orthodox Oppose Papal Visit https://zenit.org/2001/04/30/why-the-greek-orthodox-oppose-papal-visit/ (April 30, 2001)

“The work of the liturgy transcends us because it is Christ’s work, and it is our privilege to participate. This work is an art, sanctioned by the Church, which is Christ’s Body. In the liturgy we present what He has intended to make lasting for the salvation of mankind until all is consummated.”

Glen Provost (1949) Catholic bishop

Bishop Provost’s Chrism Mass Homily for 2021 http://www.lcdiocese.org/the-diocese/our-bishop/homilies/3150-bishop-provost-s-chrism-mass-homily-for-2021 (31 March 2021)

Francis George photo

“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the Church has done so often in human history."”

Francis George (1937–2015) Catholic cardinal

Replying to a question about the secularization of Western culture in a meeting with a group of priests on circa May 2010.
Source: The Myth and the Reality of 'I'll Die in My Bed', Tim Drake, National Catholic Register, October 24, 2012, November 21, 2014 http://www.ncregister.com/blog/tim-drake/the-myth-and-the-reality-of-ill-die-in-my-bed,

Mwanandeke Kindembo photo
Thomas Savundaranayagam photo

“In the Catholic Church, it is not like politics. When we accept a task, our main duty is to continue what our predecessors did.”

Thomas Savundaranayagam (1938) Sri Lankan Tamil bishop

Mgr Emmanuel Fernando, the new bishop of Mannar, in the service of Tamils http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Mgr-Emmanuel-Fernando,-the-new-bishop-of-Mannar,-in-the-service-of-Tamils-42413.html (November 24, 2017)

“My new responsibility is higher, it requires renewed vigour, commitment and strength, the prayers of my brethren are needed. I need your prayers to succeed, I need your prayers to take catholic church and the society to the promised land.”

Matthew Ishaya Audu (1959) Nigerian catholic priest

Cleric urges Nigerians to pray for national unity, development https://newsdiaryonline.com/cleric-urges-nigerians-to-pray-for-national-unity-development/ (May 10, 2021)

Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo photo

“The church does not encourage clashes but harmony, based on a principle that must guide the world going forward, as there is no other possible way. This principle is that of solidarity.”

Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo (1954) Catholic bishop

Brazil’s top bishop: Without solidarity, Brazil could become new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/05/18/brazils-top-bishop-without-solidarity-brazil-could-become-new-epicenter (May 18, 2020)

“I will contribute who I am. I deeply believe in the beauty of the Church of Montreal, of its diversity, of its expressions, and of its culture. It is our mission to strive for reconciliation and peace. I believe that that's what the people need.”

Alain Faubert (1965) Canadian religious servant and auxiliary bishop

Inside the Heart of a Bishop https://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/news-and-info/latest-news/inside-heart-bishop (April 27, 2016)

Jerome photo

“It is not the sheep only who abide in the Church.”

Jerome (345–420) Catholic saint and Doctor of the Church

The Dialogue Against the Luciferians https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3005.htm

“The Church must speak out on politics, otherwise she would betray the Gospel.”

Leopoldo González González (1950) Mexican archbishop

Source: Mexican bishops defend their freedom of expression on political views https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/15600/mexican-bishops-defend-their-freedom-of-expression-on-political-views (April 4, 2009)

“The local Catholic Church here, together with other religions present in Thailand, we have sought to offer our contribution encouraging our people to pray, promoting dialogue with everyone, educating to legality and social justice and morality in social and political activity.”

Louis Chamniern Santisukniram (1942) Archbishop of Thailand

Source: “Social injustice and corruption at the root of the crisis”: President of Thai Bishops' Conference tells Fides http://www.fides.org/en/news/26621-ASIA_THAILAND_Social_injustice_and_corruption_at_the_root_of_the_crisis_President_of_Thai_Bishops_Conference_tells_Fides (6 May 2010)

“I felt how much God loves me to have chosen me a second time after having chosen me a first time to join the order and become a priest, I feel blessed because the church has entrusted me with this new mission.”

Source: Lebanese priest to lead new Maronite Catholic Exarchate of Colombia http://theleaven.org/lebanese-priest-to-lead-new-maronite-catholic-exarchate-of-colombia/ (3 February 2016)

Joice Mujuru photo

“Do not hate anyone even at church. You should not have a permanent enemy even in politics. Do not be weighed down by hate and jealousy.”

Joice Mujuru (1955) Zimbabwean politician

Source: "Zimbabwe: 'I Have Quit Politics' - Joice Mujuru" https://allafrica.com/stories/202103090190.html, All Africa (March 9, 2021)
Context: She can actually give me advice on how to overcome the challenges.

Telesphore Toppo photo

“God dwells In a Holy House. Faith is growing. Nothing deters the people. Their love for Christ and Church increases.”

Telesphore Toppo (1939–2023) Catholic cardinal

Source: [https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/04/cardinal-in-india-inaugurates-new-parish-despite-tribulations/ Cardinal in India inaugurates new parish, despite ‘tribulations’] (April 11, 2018)

William Laud photo

“Never were there more gross absurdities, nor half so many in so short a time, committed in any public meeting; and for a National Assembly never did the Church of Christ see the like.”

William Laud (1573–1645) Archbishop of Canterbury

Source: Letter to the Marquis of Hamilton (3 December 1638), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Volume VI—Part II. Letters—Notes on Bellarmine (1857), p. 547

William Laud photo

“You cannot have a greater desire to conform Ireland to the Church of England, than I (and this with as seeming great a desire of the King) to conform Scotland to the Church of England.”

William Laud (1573–1645) Archbishop of Canterbury

Source: Letter to Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (8 October 1638), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Volume VII—Letters (1860), p. 489

William Laud photo

“The time was, before this miserable rent in the Church of Christ—which I think no true Christian can look upon but with a bleeding heart—that you and we were all of one belief. That belief was tainted, in tract and corruption of times, very deeply.”

William Laud (1573–1645) Archbishop of Canterbury

Source: A Relation of the Conference betweene William Lawd...and Mr. Fisher the Jesuite (1639), quoted in The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Volume II: Conference with Fisher (1849), p. 141

Volodymyr Viytyshyn photo

“One of the missions of the underground priests was to encourage these people and to tell them that yes, we're suffering, but we're doing this for Christ. That's why the Church survived; people were humans, in all the best sense of the word.”

Volodymyr Viytyshyn (1959) Polish archbishop

Source: In becoming a priest, you were agreeing to be a martyr https://osvnews.com/2018/08/15/underground-period-marks-ukrainian-church/ (15 August 2018)

“The church has always been the center of our our life for our family, it's our spiritual home and I thinks it's kept us balanced and helped us get through some tough times, I don't know where I'd be without my faith.”

Gary W. Janak (1962) American Catholic auxiliary bishop

Source: SBSL Original - Father Gary Janak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH0cm_Zvzzc (April 11, 2019)

Emmanuel Wamala photo

“I don't know these so-called priests, and the Church should not be scared. Many such people have emerged in Uganda and gone. I advise Ugandans neither to follow nor listen to them because they intend to divide the church.”

Emmanuel Wamala (1926) Catholic cardinal

Source: Twenty Ugandan priests form breakaway sect of married clerics https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/18210/twenty-ugandan-priests-form-breakaway-sect-of-married-clerics (2010)

“Anything said appears to be a confrontation between the government and the Church.”

Enrique Eguía Seguí (1962) Catholic bishop

Source: Buenos Aires bishop says ad limina visit is ‘pastoral and religious’ https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/15368/buenos-aires-bishop-says-ad-limina-visit-is-pastoral-and-religious (15 March 2009)

John Calvin photo

“Each church is free to establish whatever form of organisation is suitable and useful itself, for God has prescribed nothing specific about this.”

John Calvin (1509–1564) French Protestant reformer

Epistles to the Corinthians
Source: Commentary on 1 Corinthians, 11:2, quoted in William J. Bouwsma, John Calvin: A Sixteenth-Century Portrait (1989), p. 223

Werner Thissen photo

“The Church won't develop by European standards. For centuries we sent missionaries to other continents, now other continents are inspiring us and revitalizing our faith. I think that's a postive development.”

Werner Thissen (1938) Catholic archbishop

Source: In the Interview: Archbishop of Hamburg, Werner Thissen https://www.dw.com/en/in-the-interview-archbishop-of-hamburg-werner-thissen/av-16680253 (2013)

“I know Colorado to be a beautiful land of beautiful people and I look forward to serving the faithful of Pueblo as their shepherd in Christ. I eagerly anticipate our future together as we grow and build our local church.”

Stephen Jay Berg (1951) Fifth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo

Source: Newly appointed Pueblo, Colo. bishop promises to give his all https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/newly-appointed-pueblo-colo-bishop-promises-to-give-his-all (January 15, 2014)

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky photo

“The knowledge of the Church doesn't come from knowing, it comes from living with Jesus. The Gospel is alive.”

Josu Iriondo (1938) Catholic bishop

Source: For Retiring Bishop Iriondo, ‘Gospel Is Alive’ And To Be Shared https://www.cny.org/stories/for-retiring-bishop-iriondo-gospel-is-alive-and-to-be-shared,10602 (6 February 2014)

Jeff Fortenberry photo

“The African experience of Church and community has its own dynamics and culture. The particular situation they find themselves in is more trying to fight the assaults on human dignity and human family that are being imposed upon them by the West.”

Jeff Fortenberry (1960) U.S. Representative from Nebraska

Source: Pope to Catholic lawmakers: Be strong. Protect life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/32545/pope-to-catholic-lawmakers-be-strong-protect-life (31 August 2015)

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor photo
Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne photo
Milan Stipić photo
Nikola Eterović photo

“The goal of every reform and renewal in the Church is the holiness of its members. The Lord Jesus calls on us constantly to follow the path of ecclesial communion, Catholic faith and holiness in our times, especially among pressing ecclesial and social challenges.”

Nikola Eterović (1951) Croatian Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: German Bishops turn attention to Synod and abuse scandal https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-09/germany-bishops-general-assembly-synod-abuse-scandal.html (21 September 2021)

Josip Mrzljak photo

“I would like everyone to understand that the Church in this society is not a foreign element but a profoundly domestic reality that truly wants the good for each person. We hope to find agreement and a suitable response from the other side.”

Josip Mrzljak (1944) Croatian Roman Catholic bishop

Source: Josip Mrzljak Appointed as the New Bishop of Varaždin https://ika.hkm.hr/english/josip-mrzljak-appointed-as-the-new-bishop-of-varazdin/ (2007)

Diego Causero photo

“The Church is expected, even in the middle of human weakness and error, to guard, in obedience and veneration, the Gospel Christ has entrusted to her. The Pope is not the creator of the faith, but the custodian of the Gospel.”

Diego Causero (1940) Italian apostolic nuncio

Source: Pope is not creator of the faith, but custodian of the Gospel https://www.cirkev.cz/archiv/080425-pope-is-not-creator-of-the-faith-but-custodian-of-the-gospel (2008)

Luciano Suriani photo

“Churches and monasteries everywhere should not be seen only as "cultural treasures" needing to be preserved materially, but also with due respect for the conditions that enable Christian communities to practice their faith freely in those centres.”

Luciano Suriani (1957) Vatican archbishop and diplomat

Source: At The Service Of Dialogue And Peace https://cordmagazine.com/interview/archbishop-luciano-suriani-apostolic-nuncio-serbia-service-dialogue-peace/ (20 November 2017)

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu photo

“It has always been important for the Capuchins to encourage lay people to take an active part in the Church and in effect we have many local lay Catholics in the Franciscan Tertiary Order. This is very encouraging for us because the collaboration of well-prepared lay people is necessary for the apostolate.”

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (1960) Congolese theologian and catholic cardinal

Source: AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC CONGO - “I am grateful to the Pope for this act of confidence in me” the newly appointed Bishop of Bokungu-Ikela in Congo told Fides http://www.fides.org/en/news/3549-AFRICA_DEMOCRATIC_CONGO_I_am_grateful_to_the_Pope_for_this_act_of_confidence_in_me_the_newly_appointed_Bishop_of_Bokungu_Ikela_in_Congo_told_Fides (6 April 2020)

“We are grateful to God for His large grace and mercy to the people. At the same time we ask all people of good will to pray for the successful building of the church, because we know very well that when the Lord does not build a house, builders work in vain.”

Vasyl Ivasyuk (1960)

Source: In Kirovohrad foundation stone of church was blessed http://news.ugcc.ua/en/news/in_kirovohrad_foundation_stone_of_church_was_blessed_57087.html (30 November 2009)

Paul Cremona photo
John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton photo

“A time came when the Catholics, having long relied on force, were compelled to appeal to opinion. That which had been defiantly acknowledged and defended required to be ingeniously explained away. The same motive which had justified the murder now prompted the lie. Men shrank from the conviction that the rulers and restorers of their Church had been murderers and abetters of murder, and that so much infamy had been coupled with so much zeal. They feared to say that the most monstrous of crimes had been solemnly approved at Rome, lest they should devote the Papacy to the execration of mankind. A swarm of facts were invented to meet the difficulty: The victims were insignificant in number; they were slain for no reason connected with religion; the Pope believed in the existence of the plot; the plot was a reality; the medal is fictitious; the massacre was a feint concerted with the Protestants themselves; the Pope rejoiced only when he heard that it was over. These things were repeated so often that they have been sometimes believed; and men have fallen into this way of speaking whose sincerity was unimpeachable, and who were not shaken in their religion by the errors or the vices of Popes. Möhler was pre-eminently such a man. In his lectures on the history of the Church, which were published only last year, he said that the Catholics, as such, took no part in the massacre; that no cardinal, bishop, or priest shared in the councils that prepared it; that Charles informed the Pope that a conspiracy had been discovered; and that Gregory made his thanksgiving only because the King's life was saved. Such things will cease to be written when men perceive that truth is the only merit that gives dignity and worth to history.”

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton (1834–1902) British politician and historian

Source: 1860s, The Massacre Of St. Bartholomew (1869)

José Ornelas Carvalho photo
Luiz Fernando Lisboa photo

“Forgiveness of the sin of abortion does not mean the Church condones abortion, neither does it minimise its grave effects.”

Smaragde Mbonyintege (1947) Rwandan Catholic bishop (born 1947)

Source: Catholic Church maintains its stand on abortion, says Bishop Mbonyintege https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/192233 (5 September 2015)

“Faith is service to our fellows. You receive faith, you share faith. Aside from water and food that the government provides, what the Church can also give is strengthening of faith.”

Gilbert Garcera (1959) Roman Catholic archbishop

Source: Philippine prelate warns against volcano eruption 'fake news' https://www.ucanews.com/news/philippine-prelate-warns-against-volcano-eruption-fake-news/86998 (16 January 2020)

Éric de Moulins-Beaufort photo

“The Catholic Church is not the religious function of a given political society. It is a communion of an order quite different from what national belonging or the framework of the law can provide, a communion open to all.”

Éric de Moulins-Beaufort (1962) French archbishop

Source: Catholic archbishop: ‘The Church in France is jostled from many sides’ https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-archbishop-ric-de-moulins-beaufort-the-church-in-france-is-jostled-from-many-sides-56097 (December 19, 2020)

John Ribat photo

“While we are saying that the Catholic Church is the mother church, then we have to be true to our name and embrace all.”

John Ribat (1957) cardinal

Source: Cardinal Ribat of PNG: putting the peripheries at the centre http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2016/11/18/cardinal_ribat_of_png_putting_the_peripheries_at_the_centre/en-1273170 (2016)

“Each of these Churches, including the Latin Church, has its own genius. The beauty is to learn from each other without destroying the uniqueness of each one.”

Bosco Puthur (1946) Indian bishop

Pope looks east for possible Church reforms https://www.ucanews.com/news/pope-looks-east-for-possible-church-reforms/69752 (22 November 2013)

Francesco Monterisi photo

“The purpose of all the Church's activity is the salvation of souls. The Curia and other institutions are instruments that must be as flexible as possible in the Pope's and Bishops' hands, to take Christ to the ends of the world.”

Francesco Monterisi (1934) Italian cardinal

Cardinal Monterisi: Francis Is Awakening Fervor https://zenit.org/2013/04/24/cardinal-monterisi-francis-is-awakening-fervor/ (24 April 2013)

Francesco Monterisi photo

“On the pastoral level, the Cardinal should help the Holy Father as he does as a member of the universal Church.”

Francesco Monterisi (1934) Italian cardinal

Cardinal Monterisi in the footsteps of Saint Paul http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2011/02/18/february_18,_2011/en1-462779 (12 February 2011)

Protase Rugambwa photo

“We are convinced that the future of the Church depends on the quality of its priests. This is why our Dicastery considers formation, especially priesthood, as a priority, and is strongly committed to supporting not only formators but also the formation structures in mission territories.”

Protase Rugambwa (1960) Tanzanian bishop

Archbishop Rugambwa to Rectors and vice-Rectors of Seminaries: "Forming priests according to the heart of God" http://www.fides.org/en/news/65594-VATICAN_Archbishop_Rugambwa_to_Rectors_and_vice_Rectors_of_Seminaries_Forming_priests_according_to_the_heart_of_God (20 February 2019)

Cristóbal López Romero photo

“The priority is not to expand the Church. The priority is not to be more, to have more baptisms or religious weddings. The priority is to build a world of brothers and sisters with those who share our faith or have a different faith, and with those who have no faith.”

Cristóbal López Romero (1952) cardinal

Card. López Romero: I doubted if I should become a priest, but one question changed me https://www.romereports.com/en/2019/10/12/card-lopez-romero-i-doubted-if-i-should-become-a-priest-but-one-question-changed-me/ (12 October 2019)

“The Church therefore requires that the priest practice custody of the eyes, an integral part of modesty: we should never let our eyes fall on anything that would distract us from God or lead us into sin.”

Chad Ripperger (1964) American Roman Catholic priest and exorcist

Ripperger PhD, Fr Chad, Topics on Tradition, Sensus Traditionis. Kindle Edition, 2013, pg. 150

Sophrony (Sakharov) photo

“The hope is there thanks to our communities, where faith is so alive that we can see a future through their open attitude to life, to God and the Church.”

Jesús Tirso Blanco (1957–2022) Argentinian bishop

"The population still needs to be reconciled in its innermost self", says the Bishop Lwena to Fides http://fides.org/en/news/30153-AFRICA_ANGOLA_The_population_still_needs_to_be_reconciled_in_its_innermost_self_says_the_Bishop_Lwena_to_Fides (21 October 2011)

Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel photo

“There are different cultures, different ways of thinking, different ways of living the faith and of evangelizing, but we wish to love each other as brothers and sisters, respecting our legitimate differences, and valuing each other as gifts for the Church.”

Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel (1940) Mexican bishop

Celibacy is precious gift that not everyone understands, says Mexican bishop https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/259/celibacy-is-precious-gift-that-not-everyone-understands-says-mexican-bishop (25 November 2003)