Ruth Gledhill

Fewer than one in 50 large churches led by a woman priest

Fewer than one in 50 of England's largest churches are led by women and fewer than a quarter of full-time clergy are women, according to latest figures released by campaigners for women's ordination.
$Pope John Paul II to his female friend: \'Issues too difficult to write about\'$
Pope John Paul II to his female friend: 'Issues too difficult to write about'

The late Pope John Paul II wrote letters to his close friend, the philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, from Rome in order to avoid their being intercepted by the secret police in Poland.
Fasting for Lent... and the terror of temptation

Sometimes fasting for Lent is about survival, writes Ruth Gledhill.
Pope to meet group of divorced and remarried Catholics

Pope Francis has invited a group of divorced and remarried Catholics to discuss the controversial issue of whether such individuals should be allowed officially to receive Holy Communion at Mass.
$First Catholic service in centuries takes place at Henry VIII\'s Hampton Court Palace$
First Catholic service in centuries takes place at Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace

With clouds of incense and exquisite choral music, the first Roman Catholic service for more than 450 years was last night celebrated in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace.
$New York governor moves against gay \'conversion\' therapy$
New York governor moves against gay 'conversion' therapy

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo restricts the controversial practice of "conversion therapy" which operates on the premise that gay people can be "treated" to make them straight.
Indigenous people of Mexico demand apology from Pope on eve of visit

Pope Francis will officially authorise the use of indigenous languages in Catholic liturgies when he visits Mexico later this week. It is expected to be one of several such gestures he will make.
$Episcopal Primate says decision to censure Church over same-sex marriage was \'fair\'$
Episcopal Primate says decision to censure Church over same-sex marriage was 'fair'

The decision to censure The Episcopal Church of the US for consecrating gay bishops and allowing clergy to perform same-sex marriages was "fair", according to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
Pastor facing sex crime allegations states his innocence

Toronto pastor Brent Hawkes who is facing allegations of sex crimes from four decades ago has addressed his congregation for the first time.
$Questions asked over Mexican president\'s marriage to soap star$
Questions asked over Mexican president's marriage to soap star

On the eve of the visit this week by Pope Francis, the Catholic church in Mexico has been accused of bending the rules on marriage for Mexico President Enrique PeÃ±a Nieto and his wife, soap star AngÃ©lica Rivera.
Pope appeals again for greater effort to bring peace in Syria

The Pope has made another urgent appeal for peace in Syria, calling on the international community to spare no effort to bring all the parties in conflict to the negotiating table.
$Obama: Islam is a religion of \'peace, charity and justice\'$
Obama: Islam is a religion of 'peace, charity and justice'

President Barack Obama has called on Americans to "reach out" to their Muslim neighbours and even visit a mosque to break down stereotypes.