According to a World Bank Poverty Assessment Report, the Covid pandemic has forced around 460,000 Cambodians into poverty. It followed a decade of unprecedented economic growth and poverty reduction in Cambodia. At that time, the global economy was experiencing strong growth rates. The report “Toward A More Inclusive and Resilient Cambodia” notes Cambodia’s poverty rate Read more
An Italian court has dismissed Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s claims that unfavourable media coverage cost him the opportunity to be pope at the next Conclave. He has tried and failed twice to convince the court of his entitlement. Not only have Becciu’s claims been dismissed, but he has been ordered to pay thousands in damages and Read more
Caritas leaders have been replaced with a temporary administrator after Pope Francis suspended the secretary-general, Aloysius John (pictured right). Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (pictured left), whose second term as Caritas president was to end in May, has also lost his position. Francis appointed a temporary administrator to oversee improved management policies and to prepare for Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Church is not on the expert speaking list at an Oceania Catholic climate crisis meeting. A world first, the conference is driven by the Australian Catholic University with support from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. New Zealanders, however, are still invited to register and listen in over Zoom. Read more
A call from Germany’s “synodal way” to give lay Catholics a clearly defined role in choosing bishops has run into problems. The Southern German Archdiocese of Bamberg says the decision seems incompatible with a concordat governing the appointment of bishops. In their document “Involvement of the faithful in the appointment of the diocesan bishop,” synodal Read more
The New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) welcomed the Church’s new Te Rōpū Māori to their November meeting. The new group’s purpose is to work with the NZCBC on agenda items of importance to Katorika (Catholic) Māori. “The aim is that they provide a well-grounded voice for Katorika Māori and work in partnership with the Read more
Former Pope Benedict XVI plans to defend himself in a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit has been lodged at a German court by a man who accuses him of helping cover up historical abuse. Back in June, a so-called declaratory action was brought on behalf of a man, then 38-years old. The man said he was Read more
Photos of three men who have been publicly accused of historical sexual abuse by multiple survivors have been removed from display by Kavanagh College. The three men, Brs Richard Glen, Francis Henery and Victor Sullivan, have died. In March, Dunedin bishop Michael Dooley (pictured) announced a name change for the College. Dooley’s move came after Read more
It takes a long time to appoint a bishop, says Steve Lowe, Bishop of Auckland and Secretary of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference. Lowe is responding to a piece by Luke Coppen in The Pillar, suggesting the Vatican has forgotten about New Zealand’s need to find two bishops. Coppen points out that the Diocese of Read more
The working document for the Continental stage of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality was released Friday NZ time. Entitled “Enlarge the space of your tent,” the document was compiled from Synod submissions from throughout the world: bishops’ conferences, the Eastern Catholic Churches, religious orders, Vatican dicasteries and other Catholic organisations. Cardinal John Dew says this Read more