Pope Francis sat in the pews for a Mass at the tomb of St Pius X in St Peter’s Basilica on August 21, the saint’s feast day. The Pope had already celebrated Mass in his residence very early that morning and had gone to the tomb of his predecessor to pray for catechists. When the Read more
More than 500,000 people have signed a petition asking Pope Francis to reinforce traditional Church teaching on marriage and the family. The petition, launched by TFP Student Action, asks the Pope to take this action at the synod on the family in October. Backed by 25 pro-family groups around the world, the petition is titled Read more
A Bolivian bishop has reportedly banned Communion being received in the hand at Masses in his diocese. The Rorate Caeli blog reported that Bishop Krzysztof (Cristobal) Białasik of Oruro made this declaration. This came after it was noticed that some people received the host, but did not consume it. These people apparently wished to carry Read more
Dr. Paul Kengor is a professor of political science at Grove City College (Pennsylvania) and the author of several best-selling books, including Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century; God and Ronald Reagan; God and George W. Bush; God and Hillary Clinton; and The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. Read more
Contrary to the fear mongering of the population alarmists, the world isn’t heading for a demographic catastrophe. The latest data on world population from the U.N. Population Division reveals a number of trends that seem to indicate otherwise. The following is PRI’s brief overview of some of the findings from the recently released 2015 Revision Read more
A Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been charged in Hawaii with driving under the influence. Cardinal William Levada, 79, was stopped at about midnight on August 20 on the state’s Big Island. A police spokeswoman said the cardinal was pulled over after a Kona patrol officer saw him Read more
The farce created by the Government’s hamfisted changes to the Health and Safety Reform Bill is a tragedy. The Pike River tragedy created a chance in a generation when seemingly everyone agreed that New Zealand’s appalling workplace safety record must change. The Government had the mandate and authority to say to all New Zealanders: you Read more
A liturgical commission in a Philippines diocese has tried to discourage people clapping during and after Mass in recognition of individual achievements. The liturgy commission of Parañaque diocese recently put out a circular to discourage the practice. The circular noted that there is no place in the liturgy for a gesture that glorifies people rather Read more
Last weekend, the Archdiocese of Sydney was blessed with two new priests – Fathers Thomas Stevens and Lewi Barakat. Ordinations are always an emotional occasion, but this particular Ordination Mass had a significant impact on me. In the weeks leading up to the Ordination, (then) Deacon Lewi had told me that the Ordination was not Read more
Rome is to have a piazza named after German theologian and reformer Martin Luther, which will be close to the Colosseum. City authorities finally approved a 2009 proposal by the Union of Seventh Day Adventist Churches to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation. The Vatican reportedly did not oppose the project, Read more