World

Vatican reshuffles Synod process, pushes controversial issues to 2025

Monday, March 18th, 2024
Synod process

The Vatican has postponed discussions on contentious doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues until June 2025. It has redirected the focus of the upcoming synod towards synodality itself. The decision comes amidst growing anticipation about key matters such as women’s access to the diaconate and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich clarified that the Read more

Pope Francis has no plans to retire despite health concerns

Monday, March 18th, 2024
no plans to retire

In his newly released autobiography “Life: My Story Through History” Pope Francis asserts that he has no plans to retire despite ongoing criticism and health challenges. The autobiography, co-authored with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, delves into key moments of his life and papacy, shedding light on his stance amidst controversies surrounding his leadership. At Read more

Priest sues diocese over “false” sexual abuse allegations

Monday, March 18th, 2024
sexual abuse allegations

A priest in Indiana, USA, is suing his diocese for fraud and defamation after he was suspended over what the clergyman claims were false sexual abuse allegations. Fr James DeOreo claims the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana violated diocesan policy and committed both fraud and defamation when it said, in March 2022, that he had been accused Read more

Confession unaffected by new Hong Kong security law

Monday, March 18th, 2024
confession

Hong Kong’s Catholic diocese says confession will remain confidential despite the city’s upcoming national security law change. The proposed legislation the diocese is referring to is Article 23, a locally developed national security bill that Hong Kong is fast-tracking into law. It follows the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing pro-democracy protests in Hong Read more

Priest shortage – Spain considers options

Monday, March 18th, 2024
priest shortage

An ongoing rural ministry priest shortage in the Spanish region of Castile has bishops, vicars and deans looking for new ways to serve. The problem is urgent, as what worked in the past when there were plenty of priests doesn’t work today. “We cannot expect things to change if we always do the same thing” Read more

Catholic education saves taxpayers billions

Monday, March 18th, 2024

A groundbreaking study has confirmed the immense financial benefits of parental school choice in Australia. Non-government schools save taxpayers at least $4.59 billion annually in recurrent funding costs. The research from Catholic Schools NSW, published March 14, reveals that if all schools received their full government funding entitlement, the yearly recurrent savings provided by non-government Read more

Banned priest Tony Flannery to break silence on fate of the Catholic Church

Monday, March 18th, 2024

Banned Redemptorist priest Tony Flannery plans to question the survival of the Roman Catholic church at a public talk in Galway shortly before Easter Sunday. Fr Flannery (77), suspended from public ministry by the Vatican in 2012, intends to give his views on whether “religious belief as we have known it can survive in modern Read more

Minister for Women ‘considers’ hospital funding tie to abortion

Monday, March 18th, 2024

Australian Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher says the government should do more to make abortions accessible to women. She has left open the possibility of tying hospital funding to abortion provision in her National Press Club address on gender equality held last week. Answering a journalist’s direct question about whether the Labor government would Read more

Syria’s civil war marks 13th anniversary, “world’s worst displacement crisis”

Monday, March 18th, 2024

As Syria marks the 13th anniversary of the beginning of its civil war on March 15, one Catholic agency says people “should not forget that Syria is the world’s worst displacement crisis.” In March 2011, popular discontent with the government of Bashar al-Assad led to large-scale protests and pro-democracy rallies across Syria, echoing the Arab Read more

Research confirms parental choice in education saves taxpayers billions

Monday, March 18th, 2024

Recent research conducted by Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) confirms the significant amount of money taxpayers save due to government support for parental school choice. Published on 14th March, it reveals that non-government schools save taxpayers at least $4.59 billion each year in recurrent funding. Catholic schools in NSW alone represent a $500 million annual saving Read more