A recent investigation by the Nicaraguan newspaper El Confidencial revealed that the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega has withheld more than half a million dollars that was donated to the Church in Estelí by the US bishops’ humanitarian aid agency Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The independent media reported on June 2 that according to sources with Read more
A young Indian nun was arrested along with her mother and three other people in her village, Balachhapar, in Jashpur district (Chhatisgarh). The religious Sister, who took her vows six months ago in Ranchi (Jharkhand), is a member of the Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Anne, an Indian congregation founded in 1897 by Sister Read more
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of India’s Jalandhar diocese more than a year after a lower court acquitted him of all charges of raping a nun. “The letter of resignation I have written after prayerful reflection and consultation with my superiors was accepted by our dear Pope Francis today,” Mulakkal Read more
On June 10 the Passionist Family Group Movement (PFGM) will celebrate 35 years of family ministry in New Zealand. To mark the occasion, Fr Brian Traynor of the PFGM will celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Church in Paeroa with the local parish priest, Fr Mark Field and then the following week continue the celebration at Read more
Among the Otago residents receiving a King’s Birthday honours last weekend was Dunedin’s Gerard Anthony (Tony) Hanning (84). He says it is a privilege to accept the honour for services to education and the community. “There’s that element of surprise, because you’re not expecting it,” Mr Hanning said. “It is an honour and a recognition Read more
Lay people will begin leading prayers at the graveside or in crematoria in some parishes in the Diocese of Down and Connor this summer, in response to the shortage of priests. The move is part of a pilot announced by the Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, in his role as apostolic administrator of the diocese Read more
Pope Francis underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, the latest maladies to befall the 86-year-old pontiff who had part of his colon removed two years ago. The Vatican said there were no complications during the three-hour surgery, which required Francis to be under Read more
In a clear sign that a vicious fight over liturgy in Catholicism’s second-largest eastern church is far from resolved, the papally appointed administrator of a basilica in southern India has been forced to issue a statement insisting it’s not his fault the basilica has been closed for six months. The dispute is unfolding within the Read more
The Pacific Conference of Churches has renewed its calls for Japan to immediately stop its plans to release over one million tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The wastewater comes from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. The group is imploring the Pacific Islands Forum, or PIF, to boldly explore punitive measures Read more