When former Archbishop Rowan Williams announced in March 2012 that he was standing down as Archbishop of Canterbury, bookmakers started taking bets on his successor. Bishop John Sentamu, then Archbishop of York, was the clear favourite with the Bishops of London, Liverpool and Bradford among others in the running. One of the front-runners said to Read more
Since we spend so much of our lives at our jobs, it’s only natural that conversations with colleagues go beyond the work in front of us. People share interests and hobbies, family struggles, health concerns, and hopes or goals, from the silly to the serious. The topic of religion, however, can provoke anxiety. Many people Read more
Donald Trump was elected US president this week. Despite vastly outspending her opponent and drafting a galaxy of celebrities to her cause – Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, Ricky Martin, Taylor Swift – Democratic candidate Kamala Harris lost the Electoral College, the popular vote and all the swing states. This has bewildered and dismayed liberals – Read more
Intimate partner violence is a global scourge. One in four Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner. The perpetrators are overwhelmingly heterosexual men. Many factors contribute to this form of violence. Persistent gender inequality is a fundamental systemic cause, but researchers have identified additional risk factors. These Read more
The Synod’s final document has been approved and immediately enacted by Pope Francis. Unlike previous synods, there will be no post-synodal letter. This decision clearly demonstrates the Pope’s vision of how consultation (decision-making) and actual decision-making should interact. The process has emphasised unity and harmony, though the Pope accepts that some topics saw considerable dissent. Read more
After he and his fellow monks sang morning prayers in their church nestled in a forest, Brother Luke (pictured with pup) walked back to his residence to be greeted by a different kind of choir. Lucy and Iso excitedly woofed as they spotted the Orthodox monk, who heads the monastery’s German shepherd breeding program, coming Read more
Anyone who uses a smartphone has likely experienced the same unsettling phenomenon — a pointedly placed advertisement that seems to show up right after you’ve discussed a topic or product. Could it be true that your phone is “listening” to your private conversations? It’s a surprisingly difficult question to answer — and one that has Read more
Synodality is Pope Francis’ vision to reform the Catholic Church to ensure human equality and a rightful place for everyone in the Church, a spirit that embodies the essence of the Second Vatican Council held about 60 years ago. Vatican II affirmed that every Christian shared Christ’s role as priest, king, and prophet by virtue Read more
Czech theologian and priest Tomas Halik explains in an interview with katholisch.de why this is not the end, but just the beginning, now the second session of the World Synod in Rome is over. Mr Halik, the discussions at the second session of the World Synod have come to an end after almost four weeks. Read more
The synodal process has shown a concerning lack of rigorous theological examination of the liturgy—both its theological essence and its ritual execution—leading to debates and speculative discussions that hinder the Church’s progress. This deficiency is starkly highlighted in paragraphs 26-28 of the Synod’s Final Document. The document equates Eucharistic and synodal assemblies as manifestations of Read more