The Catholic bishops of Ireland intend to mount a constitutional challenge to the government’s abortion bill that is widely expected to pass a key vote in the Irish lower house. The Irish bishops will challenge the law on the basis of its unconstitutional legislative process or its failure to adequately vindicate the equal right to Read more
Pope Francis has made a significant change to the norms governing the personal ordinariates established to encourage Anglicans to enter into communion with the Catholic Church. A baptised Catholic who has not completed the sacraments of initiation, but returns to the faith and practice of the Church through being evangelised by an ordinariate may now Read more
Pope Francis has invited a group of 200 homeless individuals to dinner at the Vatican, where they were served in his name by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello. Cardinal Bertello, president of the governatorate of Vatican City, spent the entire evening with the guests, with whom he chatted at length and shared personal experiences. “I welcome you in the Read more
The High Court has set August 15 for the hearing of an appeal by former Catholic brother Bernard Kevin McGrath against the decision to extradite him to Australia to face hundreds of child abuse sex charges. The court in Christchurch will hear the 65-year-old’s appeal on that afternoon. The Australian Government sought his extradition last Read more
Bishop Patrick Dunn has appointed Msgr Bernard Kiely as vicar general for Auckland diocese. Msgr Kiely, who will continue as administrator of the cathedral parish of St Patrick and St Joseph, replaces Bishop Robin Leamy as vicar general. Bishop Leamy is living at St Joseph’s Home in Ponsonby, run by the Little Sisters of the Read more
Vanuatu’s Minister of Justice says he is not in favour of introducing the death penalty, contradicting media reports saying he was. Silas Yatan has been reported as saying the government might bring in the death penalty following recent murders, including two woman. Continue reading
A shortfall in registrations for World Youth Day in Brazil this month has led organisers to ask government officials for an extra $NZ50 million to cover costs. Recent mass protests across Brazil — against the lack of investment in public services compared with the 2014 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics and the WYD — may Read more
A Vatican monsignor arrested on a money-smuggling charge lived in such luxury that police were shocked when they visited his apartment and saw his art treasures. “We asked ourselves how did this monsignor come to own this place and possess these expensive works of art,” an investigator said. Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, who lived in an Read more
Christian life is not a “collage of things”, like attending Mass, Pope Francis has said. “It is a harmonious whole, harmonious, and the Holy Spirit does it!” he explained. “He renews all things: he renews our heart, our life, and makes us live differently, but in a way that takes up the whole of our Read more
Seismic strengthening of school buildings is underway in Wellington and Palmerston North dioceses. Catholic Schools Board executive chairperson Gary Quirke says in the next three years, CSBL plans to spend more than $20 million strengthening and replacing buildings to make schools safer in a major earthquake. As the property manager for the proprietors of 77 schools in Read more