During a recent event Pope Francis stressed the importance of prioritising the care of people and evangelisation in the application of the Catholic Church’s canon law. Francis spoke at a February 14-18 course sponsored by the Roman Rota, a Vatican tribunal that deals primarily with marriage cases. The pope challenged the idea that canon law Read more
A Catholic bishop in the Phillippines has ordered a probe into a suspected ‘fake’ ordination. Philippine Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Maasin, who ordained John Baptist Ho Huu Hoa a priest last December, admitted that the controversy over the ordination “is truly unfortunate and upsetting.” “We are now taking the necessary steps and procedures which will Read more
Significant concerns about housing have emerged again. Cyclone Gabrielle’s brutal aftermath has left thousands of people homeless. New Zealand already had a housing shortage – so where to accommodate the newly displaced is a huge question. Housing’s short. Demand exceeds supply. Rents are brutal. How will they – can they – pay the price? The Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has confirmed it is not leading the post-cyclone Catholic relief effort for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC). It told CathNews that Caritas’ focus was not New Zealand, but on helping fund development and emergency relief work worldwide. However, Caritas’ comments seems to run counter to the information the charity Read more
Because evangelising is not saying, ‘Look, blah, blah, blah’ and nothing more. There is a passion that involves everything: the mind, the heart, the hands, going out… everything, the whole person is involved with this proclamation of the Gospel, and for this reason we talk about the passion for evangelising. After having seen in Jesus Read more
Pope Francis revealed to Jesuits working in Congo that he twice refused to become a bishop. He said he took seriously the promise he made with all Jesuits to not seek offices of authority and power in the church. Francis met with Jesuits in Congo and in South Sudan during his visit to the two Read more
Ahead of a Vatican conference, several church officials have emphasised the importance of empowering laypeople without “clericalising” them. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, spoke of “co-responsibility” between clergy and laity, saying, “It does not mean that the laity in the church have to become clerics, and clerics Read more
On Friday, the Palmerston North Diocese Administrator, Fr Craig Butler (pictured) acknowledged the diocese’s responsibility to show care, and outreach to those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. A significant portion of the area on the east coast of the North Island is in the Palmerston North diocese, and in the absence of a bishop, Butler is Read more
In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the people of New Zealand. Renewing his appeal for Turkey and Syria earthquake victims, Francis also turned his attention to New Zealand. “I am close to the people of New Zealand, who have been hit in recent days by a devastating cyclone. Read more
Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec has stated that pastors should help their people grow in a relationship with Jesus as shepherds, not be their bosses. Lacroix was speaking at a press conference previewing a three-day Vatican meeting on how to improve collaboration among laypeople, priests and bishops. Lacroix wants priests to recognise that laypeople Read more