Members of the Asian community gathered this morning for a Mass and celebration of the Chinese New Year at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva. Leading the church service was the Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. Read more
News Shorts
John Paul II patron saint of World Youth Day
Tuesday, February 11th, 2014
John Paul II will become patron saint of World Youth Day. The announcement came from Pope Francis in his message for the 29th World Youth Day. “He will be the great patron of the World Youth Days which he inaugurated and always supported,” Pope Francis said. “In the communion of saints he will continue to Read more
Bare-breasted protesters besiege bishop in Spain
Friday, February 7th, 2014Bare-breasted feminists hurled knickers at the archbishop of Madrid as he arrived at church on Sunday in protest at his support for a tightening of Spain’s abortion law. Five topless protesters swooped on Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela as he got out of a car to attend an evening mass at a church in central Read more
First there were Flash Mobs, now Mass Mobs
Friday, February 7th, 2014You’ve heard of flash mobs? Behold the Mass mob. Playing off the idea of using social media to summon crowds for parties or mischief, mobs of Buffalo-area Roman Catholics have been filling pews and lifting spirits at some of the city’s original, now often sparsely attended, churches. It works this way: On a given Sunday, Read more
Queen Elizabeth to visit Pope Francis on April 3
Friday, February 7th, 2014The Queen will visit Pope Francis at the Vatican in April, Buckingham Palace announced. A February 4 statement said Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will meet the pope on April 3. The queen and prince will visit Rome at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, the statement Read more
Roast Busters ‘Amy’ interview ruled acceptable
Friday, February 7th, 2014A controversial radio interview with a young woman about the Roast Busters group did not breach standards, says MediaWorks – and broadcasting authorities have not received an official complaint. John Tamihere and Willie Jackson’s interview with a caller who identified herself as Amy included questions about whether Roast Busters’ alleged victims – some of whom Read more
Over 350 same-sex marriages since law change
Friday, February 7th, 2014As the number of same-sex marriages continues to flourish following last year’s law reform, only a handful of couples are opting for the other legally recognised form of partnership, civil unions. But one of those responsible for legalising civil unions in 2005, Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett, believes they still have an important place Read more
Moxon writes theological reflection on Lord of the Rings
Friday, February 7th, 2014The weekly English edition of L’Osservatore Romano has published a lengthy essay devoted to the theology of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The essay was written by former Anglican Bishop of Waikato, David Moxon, who is now the Anglican Communion’s official representative to the Holy See. Moxon wrote: “For those of us in the “Fourth Read more
Female teacher quits catholic school after claims of sex with students
Tuesday, February 4th, 2014A female teacher has resigned from one of Sydney’s leading Catholic boys schools after inappropriate relationships with at least two students. It is understood the teacher, in her late 20’s, had sex with the students. The SMH reports both boys from last year’s Year 12 were over the age of consent, however because of student-teacher Read more
Plans revealed for year of consecrated life
Tuesday, February 4th, 2014At a news conference Jan. 31, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect for the congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Society of Apostolic Life spoke about plans for the 2015 Year for Consecrated Life, which Pope Francis announced in November. The congregation hopes Pope Francis will celebrate the year’s opening Mass Nov. 21, when Read more