An Italian priest’s alleged refusal to allow a 10-year-old autistic girl to receive her first Communion has been criticised by an Italian politician. The girl’s parents were furious after the priest told them twice that their daughter was “not ready” to receive the sacrament. The priest, from Sicily, told the girl’s mother that her daughter Read more
Mafia criminals will not be able to serve as godparents at Baptisms or witnesses at Marriages in the southern Italian region of Calabria. The bishops of region have included the ban in a new set of pastoral guidelines. Persons convicted of Mafia-related crimes are also not permitted to carry statues in religious processions unless they Read more
A Sicilian priest has been ordered not to celebrate Mass at a centre after he told people to drink ‘sacred’ water from a spring revealed by the Virgin Mary. Fr Alessandro Minutella from Carini has been leading his congregation in prayer at the water source and has wanted to distribute water. Fr Minutella believes the Read more
It’s long been accused of adopting an at best ambiguous role in the fight against organised crime in Sicily, but the Catholic Church has now taken a symbolic stand against the Mafia in its Palermo heartland by refusing to give the sacraments to the son of a notorious Cosa Nostra crime lord. Despite protests from Read more
“Deeply touched” by the recent sinking of a boat carrying migrants from Africa, Pope Francis will visit the Italian island of Lampedusa — a frequent destination for refugees — on July 8. Officially part of Sicilian territory, the isolated island of 5000 inhabitants is less than 115 kilometres from the coast of Tunisia, making it Read more