At least ten priests have died in Italy after contracting COVID-19. More than half of them were from the Diocese of Bergamo, a town outside of Milan in Lombardy. The bishop of Bergamo, the Italian diocese hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, said Monday that the 20 priests in his diocese who have been hospitalized Read more
Scott Morrison has used the threat of withdrawing independent and Catholic schools’ recurrent funding to enlist their support in keeping non-government schools open during the Covid-19 crisis. After Morrison’s discussions with both sectors on Wednesday, the Association of Independent Schools New South Wales has written to its members backing his position to keep schools open Read more
The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece issued a statement on Monday referring to the Covid19 coronavirus outbreak, maintaining that Holy Communion does not transmit the virus. The new, controversial statement comes after days of heated public debate in Greece about whether the Church of Greece should adopt more drastic measures to limit Read more
The National Liturgy Office and NZ Catholic Bishops, Friday, received new important from the Ministry of Health. This advice specifically says the Church should desist with “the sharing of communion cups and shared holy water, and handshaking.” Having received this, the NZ Catholic bishops are now updating their previous advice and ask that: At the Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations has written a letter for parishes and the wider Aotearoa communities, reflecting on the tragic events in Christchurch a year ago. Read more
The Philippines’ crucifixion reenactments will be canceled this year as coronavirus cases climb, said authorities in the city where the annual tourist spectacle is held. About a dozen Catholics regularly have themselves nailed to wooden crosses on Good Friday as penance for their sins. The event attracts thousands of tourists. This year’s rituals were planned Read more
The next ordinary Synod of Bishops will be a synod on synodality, the Vatican announced March 7. In October 2022, bishops from around the world will meet in Rome to discuss the theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.” The concept of “synodality” has been a topic of frequent discussion by Pope Francis, Read more
Shi’ite Iraqi Islamic scholar Hadi Al-Modarresi thought that the Wuhan Virus was divine and a tool by which God was smiting his enemies. He thought he would sit back as all of his beliefs were proven right as the virus swept across the lands of heathens. He thought he’d go untouched. He thought wrong. According Read more
Father Neil Vaney, Pastoral Director of the Catholic Enquiry Centre, has written an account of the ordination of Bishop Michael Gielen was ordained as an auxiliary Bishop of Auckland by Bishop Pat Dunn last Saturday. Read more
A new bishop is yet to be appointed for the Palmerston North Diocese. It could take some time. Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, is still the apostolic administrator of Palmerston North pending the appointment of a new bishop by Pope Francis. Read more