Millions of Muslims make pilgrimages to Marian shrines every year — not only to the major shrines such as Fatima in Portugal or Harissa in Lebanon, but also to shrines in Egypt, Syria and Iran. Devotion to the Virgin Mary is quite strong in Islam, writes Vatican expert Father Samir Khalil Samir in an analysis Read more
The chief ecumenical official of the Russian Orthodox Church says “secularisation in disguise of democratisation” is leading Western nations toward totalitarianism. “This powerful energy today strives to finally break with Christianity, which controlled its totalitarian impulses during 17 centuries,” said Metropolitan Hilarion in an article quoted by a Russian news agency. “Eventually, it unconsciously strives Read more
Following a two hour visit Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke declared Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island detention centre ‘adequate’ and ‘ready for expansion’. But a former Salvation Army staff member who helped deliver services at the centre says that won’t be easy And she’s warned the centre will never be appropriate for the small children Read more
The Pacific Council of Churches has responded with caution to the news that Papua New Guinea politicians have endorsed the idea of the country being officially a Christian State. Hela Province governor Anderson Agriru recently introduced a motion in Parliament to carry out a nationwide consultation on PNG’s religious status, which was passed unanimously. There Read more
The Anglican news service reports church buildings in Wellington and Nelson show no significant damage from the earthquakes that are continuing across the centre of the country. However, parishes are being asked to ensure buildings are safe and to check them again if there are further earthquakes. The Archbishop of the New Zealand dioceses, the Read more
Destiny Church’s bid to establish a charter-type school has been declined. The church was informed on Tuesday its application for a partnership school had been unsuccessful, spokesman Richard Lewis said. So far Destiny had not received an explanation for the decision, but had been told there would be an opportunity to talk about the strengths Read more
The Catholic bishops of the United Kingdom have congratulated Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, on the birth of their first son, Prince George Alexandra Louis of Cambridge. “The birth of the new prince will be a source of joy not only for the royal family but for the peoples of the United Kingdom Read more
The Catholic diocese of Hong Kong has given qualified approval to acts of civil disobedience in support of ensuring that citizens will be allowed to elect their own political representatives. In a public statement the diocese said that complicated voting rules, which limit the power of people in Hong Kong to choose their representatives, are Read more
Caritas Social Action Network for England and Wales is backing British Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans to restrict access to online pornography. Cameron has set out a number of proposals, including one that would see every Internet user forced to opt in if they want to access online porn. “We feel these are important steps Read more
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has hit out at the Catholic Church’s treatment of children after an official report trenchantly criticised three former Dublin archbishops for their mishandling of an abuse case. The report also found there was “shocking” police connivance with Church authorities in failing to investigate complaints. “The priest was looked after, people Read more