Catholic Church unity is facing challenges on multiple fronts, driven by tense dialogues between bishops, open criticism of Pope Francis, claims the Synod report will damage the Church, and the perception of internal persecution. Synodal Way dispute escalates At the Council of European Bishops’ Conference in Malta, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, Germany and Archbishop Read more
There are more homeless people than ever, and safe places to sleep are both essential and in short supply. Dunedin’s Night Shelter Trust says immediate and long-term solutions are essential. The Night Shelter currently provides beds, bathroom and laundry facilities for six homeless people. It’s fundraising to provide for six more. That’s just a temporary Read more
An Auckland youth offending programme is hopeful ongoing funding will be available through a social bond investment. Its success to date has generated optimism for similar future investments under a National-led government. Since its inception six years ago, the Genesis Youth Trust-run programme has reduced youth offending notably. Compared to a similar risk group, participants Read more
Dame Malvina Major (pictured) has a message for aspiring artists. “If there’s one message that I’d like to give to younger performers, it is that you can have a life, and have a successful life in opera at the same time” she says. “Students, and particularly women, struggle now as they try to balance their Read more
The Vatican has responded to Bishop of Christchurch Michael Gielen’s request for help dealing with unauthorised exorcisms and related spiritual abuse in the Diocese. The retired bishop of Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin (pictured), has been tasked with conducting an Apostolic Visitation to investigate the allegations. The former professor of Canon Law at the University of Notre Read more
The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart in Germany has given the green light for twenty-six lay theologians, both male and female, to administer the sacrament of baptism during church liturgies. This decision follows in the footsteps of the Diocese of Essen, which in March allowed non-ordained theologians to conduct baptisms. Bishop Gebhard Fuerst officially commissioned these theologians Read more
The Vatican has affirmed that transgender individuals are eligible to participate as godparents and witnesses in Roman Catholic sacraments of baptism and marriage, and they can be baptised. The Vatican’s document, signed by Pope Francis and Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, was published on the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith website on Read more
Catholic theology needs to undergo a “paradigm shift” says Pope Francis. It must engage widely with contemporary science, culture and people’s lived experience as an essential starting point. Citing the need to deal with “profound cultural transformations,” Francis’s vision for Catholic theology’s future is encapsulated in a new motu proprio (apostolic letter) issued on Saturday. Read more
Scammers are posing as priests and contacting parishioners, the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says. It is warning Auckland parishioners that scammers are asking for gift cards and money. The Bishop’s office says the texts usually start with the name of the so-called priest. Sometimes parishioners’ names are included. Describing a typical text from the scammers, Read more
The much anticipated “synthesis report” from October’s synod on synodality was released after the confidential Vatican-based meetings concluded on Sunday. The synthesis report summarises synodal discussions about how a synodal Church’s ministries and structures can give a wider role for laity which is more in line with the vision of Vatican II. Big issues discussed Read more