An easy-to-complete survey on family life has been produced in the United States as an alternative to an unwieldy official Vatican survey. The surveys come ahead of October’s synod on the family. The concise survey has been produced by Strong Catholic Families, a group made up of four organisations which minister to families and youth. Read more
The Mexican government has complained to a papal ambassador after Pope Francis warned against “Mexicanisation” in a letter. The Pope’s remark came in a private letter to a director of an Argentine NGO that tries to combat drug crime. Francis wrote, “I hope we’re in time to avoid Mexicanisation. I was talking to some Mexican Read more
Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster has pleaded with Catholics to engage with politics ahead of the United Kingdom’s general election on May 7. The England and Wales bishops have produced a four page letter which asks Catholics to consider some fundamental ethical questions before they vote. The letter is to be distributed in parishes this Read more
Marian College in Christchurch will not be returning to its earthquake-damaged former site in North Parade in Shirley. A geotechnical assessment has confirmed that the former site will remain at risk of liquefaction, including subsidence and lateral spreading. Repair and rebuild estimates are comparatively expensive because of the nature of the land. Christchurch Bishop Barry Read more
Another church in south Westland has had its honesty box stolen, the fifth local church to be targeted in this way in recent weeks. The latest to have its box taken was the Franz Josef Catholic church. Police said a padlock on the honesty box inside the church had been hack-sawed off some time between Read more
An Anglican bishop in New Zealand who offended Jews and Muslims last month has lost his episcopal title. Former Bishop John Gray shocked visiting Jews in Christchurch last month when he told them the Holocaust “should have taught you a lesson”. Gray, who was head of the Maori Anglican diocese in the South Island, also Read more
Voters in the Irish Republic will decide whether or not to approve legal same-sex marriage in a referendum on May 22. In announcing the date, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the referendum would underline Ireland’s reputation as a tolerant and inclusive nation. Mr Kenny said that most members of the Irish Parliament were in favour of Read more
The former secretary of Archbishop Oscar Romero says the martyred prelate was not a great fan of liberation theology. Msgr Jesus Delgado said Archbishop Romero was visited by proponents of liberation theology and they left him their books. Msgr Delgado said he doubted the archbishop ever read them. Liberation theology “was in opposition to what Read more
Vatican sources are denying that an American gay-rights activist group received special treatment at a papal general audience last week. The Associated Press and Reuters reported that New Ways Ministry received VIP treatment and were given tickets to be in the front row of the audience. The group said this contrasted with previous occasions when Read more