“Cardinal Oswald Gracias is alive,” the Archdiocese of Bombay announced in this unusual press release. On Thursday, the Indian archdiocese informed the public that reports of its archbishop’s death were fictitious. “We can confirm that His Eminence is very much alive and well and faithfully discharging his duties as Shepherd of his flock in the Read more
News Shorts
New name sought for Christchurch Catholic Cathedral
Monday, May 27th, 2024A pastoral letter from Bishop Michael Gielen has been read at Masses in the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch over the weekend. It launched a process of finding a name for the new Catholic cathedral. Catholics are being invited to suggest a name and offer an explanation why they believe it would be a fitting choice. Read more
Millennial soon to be canonised!
Monday, May 27th, 2024Pope Francis has authorised the promulgation of decrees concerning a new miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis, paving the way for his being declared a saint. This was done after Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, met with Pope Francis during an audience on May 23. Read more
Vatican overturns Texas bishop’s dismissal of Carmelite nun but backs his investigation
Monday, May 27th, 2024The Vatican has overturned a Texas bishop’s dismissal of a Carmelite nun from her order after she was accused of breaking her vow of chastity with a priest, weighing in on a power struggle and scandal that drew national attention. The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life found in favour Read more
Family and children often behind abuse – police
Monday, May 27th, 2024More child abuse is carried out by family members and other children than by grooming gangs, according to a new police task force. The government set up the task force last year to tackle what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dubbed “evil grooming gangs”. However, fewer than one in five (19%) of the cases it has Read more
Talitha Kum celebrates 15th anniversary
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024Over 200 Talitha Kum delegates representing women and men religious, laity, young people and survivors actively engaged in combating human trafficking will gather for Talitha Kum’s 2nd General Assembly. This Assembly falls as the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Human Trafficking celebrates the 15th anniversary of its establishment in 2009 under the International Union Read more
I Am Hope – $24m boost for Gumboot Friday
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024
Mike King’s Gumboot Friday counselling service for young people will receive $24 million over four years as part of the Government’s upcoming Budget. It will increase the service’s current contracted counsellor pool from 555 to about 855, which will help provide up to 160,000 free counselling sessions for people aged between 5 and 25 over Read more
Young German priests reject synodal way priorities
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024An in-depth study of Germany’s younger priests has found they have limited interest in the changes to the Catholic Church advocated by the country’s controversial “synodal way.” The study, published May 17, asked priests ordained between 2010 and 2021 how they believed the Catholic Church should be reformed. The majority did not select answers championed Read more
Private jet use is increasing in New Zealand, climate crisis be damned
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024The private jet passengers saunter down the red carpet, wearing sunglasses and heels; paparazzi cameras flash. The sky is blue, the air control tower in the background is watchful and the climate protesters on each side of the red carpet are holding banners and chanting, “If we allow private jets, climate change is what we Read more