(We liked Pope Francis even when he was Jorge Bergoglio. This is the only story that ever brought down the whole website. People flocked to it after Cardinal Bergoglio was elected. - Ed. 2024)

Almost apologising for the actions of some priests, Bergoglio recalled the story of a young unmarried mother who had the courage to bring her child into the world and who then "found herself on a pilgrimage, going from parish to parish, trying to find someone who would baptise her child."

Vatican Insider reports that in his homily at the end of a Buenos Aires convention on urban pastoral care, Bergoglio called for an end to "sacramental blackmail" saying that "hijacking" of the sacraments is an expression of rigorous and hypocritical neo-clericalism.

"Sacraments are not a way for priests to affirm their own supremacy", said the Cardinal.

Rubbing the fragility and wounds of the faithful in their faces, or dampening the hopes and expectations of those who supposedly do not fulfil the 'requirements' in terms of doctrinal preparation, or moral status, is a pastorally misleading model which rejects the dynamics of Christ's incarnation.

"Jesus did not preach his own politics: he accompanied others", said Bergoglio.

Priests who deny the sacraments to people because of their life circumstances are the "hypocrites of today", and the "followers of the Pharisees", the ones Jesus turned his back on.

Emphasising that the Church is not an NGO or a proselyte of some multinational company", Bergoglio said denying baptism to children born out of wedlock is a form of "pharisaic Gnosticism" that "drives people away from salvation".

Sources

• Vatican Insider
• The Tablet
• Image: m24digital

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Woman of the faith

British monarchs, although they hold the titles "defender of the faith" and "supreme governor of the Church of England," are not necessarily believers themselves. But Elizabeth II was a monarch apart.

"To understand her relationship to faith, you have to distinguish between Queen Elizabeth II, sovereign and formal, and Elizabeth Windsor, whose personal faith was alive," explained Gavin Ashenden, a former Anglican priest who was the Queen's honorary chaplain from 2008-2017.

"The constitutional balance requires that the Queen not express personal opinions," said Ashenden, who became a Roman Catholic in 2019.

"So the fact that she spoke openly about her faith was not insignificant," he pointed out.

Behind closed doors, Elizabeth II was very religious.

"Everyone knows that the Queen said her prayers, read the Bible and went to church every week," said Matthew Dennison, another of her biographers.

Elizabeth II was very open towards Catholics, who had long been reviled in the United Kingdom and seen by Queen Victoria as a risk to the country's security.

"(Elizabeth) called Cardinal Basil Hume 'our cardinal' and was very affectionate with Cardinal Murphy O'Connor," said Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, former provincial of England and then Master of the Order of Preachers.

"She also appointed a Catholic as Lord Chamberlain, the first time since the Reformation!" he pointed out.

Queen Elizabeth met five popes during her long reign. The only ones who served during her lifetime whom she never met were Paul VI and John Paul I, who died just 33 days after becoming pope.

She provoked discontent among some Britons attached to state Anglicanism when she attended Catholic Vespers in Westminster Cathedral in 1995 for the church's 100th anniversary.

Pope Francis

Francis said he joins everyone who mourns her loss "in praying for the late Queen's eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises."

"I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen's eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth," the Pope said.

Shortly after her death, Pope Francis sent a message to offer his condolences to King Charles III for the death of his mother, the UK's longest-serving monarch.

"Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth."

Pope Francis also commended "her noble soul" to the mercy of God the Father.

"I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King. Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord."

Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, paid tribute to her Christian faith and life of unstinting service.

"On 21 April 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service'.

"Now, seventy-five years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration.

"Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

"At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.

"In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ's words and example.'

"This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith.

"Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation.

"Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace."

Elizabeth made 10 visits to New Zealand - seen here on the 1981 Royal tour.

Archbishop Justin Welby

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: "It is with profound sadness that I join the nation, the Commonwealth and the world in mourning the death of Her Late Majesty The Queen. My prayers are with The King and the Royal Family. May God draw near them and comfort them in the days, weeks and months ahead.

"As we grieve together, we know that, in losing our beloved Queen, we have lost the person whose steadfast loyalty, service and humility has helped us make sense of who we are through decades of extraordinary change in our world, nation and society.

"As deep as our grief runs, even deeper is our gratitude for Her Late Majesty's extraordinary dedication to the United Kingdom, her Realms and the Commonwealth. Through times of war and hardship, through seasons of upheaval and change, and through moments of joy and celebration, we have been sustained by Her Late Majesty's faith in what and who we are called to be.

"In the darkest days of the Coronavirus pandemic, The Late Queen spoke powerfully of the light that no darkness can overcome. As she had done before, she reminded us of a deep truth about ourselves - we are a people of hope who care for one another. Even as The Late Queen mourned the loss of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, we saw once again evidence of her courage, resilience and instinct for putting the needs of others first - all signs of a deeply rooted Christian faith.

"As we sustain one another in the face of this challenge, our shared grieving will also be a work of shared reimagining. I pray that we commence this journey with a sense of Her Late Majesty's faith and confidence in the future.

"As a faithful Christian disciple, and also Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she lived out her faith every day of her life. Her trust in God and profound love for God was foundational in how she led her life - hour by hour, day by day.

"In The Late Queen's life, we saw what it means to receive the gift of life we have been given by God and - through patient, humble, selfless service - share it as a gift to others.

"Her Late Majesty found great joy and fulfilment in the service of her people and her God, ‘whose service is perfect freedom' (BCP). For giving her whole life to us, and allowing her life of service to be an instrument of God's peace among us, we owe her a debt of gratitude beyond measure.

"The Late Queen leaves behind a truly extraordinary legacy: one that is found in almost every corner of our national life, as well as the lives of so many nations around the world, and especially in the Commonwealth.

"It was my great privilege to meet Her Late Majesty on many occasions. Her clarity of thinking, capacity for careful listening, inquiring mind, humour, remarkable memory and extraordinary kindness invariably left me conscious of the blessing that she has been to us all.

"In my prayers at this time I also give thanks for the marriage of The Late Queen and His Late Royal Highness Prince Philip. Theirs was an inspirational example of Christian marriage - rooted in friendship, nourished by shared faith, and turned outwards in service to others."

Cardinal Arthur Roche

In Rome, UK Cardinal, Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said Queen Elizabeth "not only dedicated herself unstintingly to serve her people, but also entrusted this to God's protection.

"Her Christian faith, expressed so often in her annual Christmas messages and elsewhere, were moments of outstanding witness to her faith, the Gospel and the values of the common good, family life, peace and concord among peoples.

"Her graciousness and common touch, her statesmanship and love for her people in the many countries, cultures and religions of the Commonwealth have witnessed an unbroken and unique bond of dedication to the service of others. She has been greatly loved by all."

Source

• Reuters
• Vatican News
• The Tablet
• La Croix International

Fr Helmut Schüller said merging independent parishes into vast, impersonal parish associations is "pretty much the most unimaginative thing one can do".

In the long run, the Church will not be able to avoid issues such as women's ordination and who can take over the leadership of priestless communities, Fr Schüller told Austria's Salzburger Nachrichten.

Fr Schüller founded the Austrian Priests' Initiative for church reform in 2006.

The initiative wants to pave the way for a new model of priesthood rather than merging parishes.

In 2011, Fr Schüller initiated a "Call to Disobedience", which pushed for distribution of Communion to all people of good will, without waiting for Church reforms.

Asked about lay leadership of parishes, Fr Schüller replied: "The Catholic Church is standing at a crossroads on this question."

"Either it succeeds in providing its communities with priests or it must begin to develop new forms of community leadership.

"Latin American communities are reacting to the situation very pragmatically.

"As far as we know, that is exactly how early Christian communities reacted. Community leadership was developed simultaneously in different forms."

But despite the crisis in parish leadership, bishops' conferences agendas have hardly changed, the priest said.

They are keeping to their defensive administrative strategy of merging independent parishes into vast, impersonal parish associations.

"I think many bishops are above all determined not to do anything wrong at the present moment because if this Pope does not come out on top, they could expect little good from those in leading positions in Rome," Fr Schüller said.

In a 2013 speaking tour in the United States, Fr Schüller was banned from speaking in Catholic churches in Detroit and Boston.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• The Plain Dealer
• Image: America

The church could be "dramatically overhauled" to give lay people more power, increase the number of women in leadership roles and force parishes to open up their finances to the public.

Peter Johnstone, who is the convener of the Australian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform, says it is "supremely ironic" that the bishops were now refusing to release a secret report asking them to be more transparent and inclusive of the communities they serve.

The report by the Australian Bishops' Conference report is said to respond to the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

The Commission found the hierarchical nature of the church, coupled with its lack of governance, had created "a culture of deferential obedience" in which the protection of paedophile priests was left unchallenged.

In a sign of how sensitive the church is to issues of reform, it is unlikely that the bishops will publicly release the report or reveal how it will respond to the Commission's 86 recommendations until the end of the year.

Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who is the Conference's current president, acknowledged its proposals would have "far-reaching implications for the Church's life and mission.

"To do it justice, the bishops will now take advice, consider the report in depth, conduct discussions at a provincial level and otherwise prepare for a full discussion at their November plenary," he said.

The report followed a 15-month review of church governance, conducted by a seven-member panel led by Justice Neville Owen.

Owen is the former chair of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council.

It is understood the review recommends:

• Bishops cede more control to professional laity, taking a more collegial approach rather than simply being the chief decision maker.
• Catholic dioceses should set up pastoral councils or consultative bodies - ideally with equal numbers of men and women. Their roles would be to advise bishops and parish priests about pastoral matters.
• Church dioceses and agencies be required to meet similar governance standards to other entities. These would have clearer lines of accountability, greater oversight of risks and publicly available financial reports.

At present, religious charities are exempt from reporting to the national regulator. The church has always been guarded about its wealth - even to the point of misleading the royal commission.

However Comensoli has committed to greater financial transparency. Last month he told media "we're moving towards an annual report of some sort" - but the details were still being developed.

If the report's recommendations are adopted, the changes would represent a new paradigm for the church, its schools, hospitals and charities and could influence the Church in other parts of the world.

Source

• The Sydney Morning Hrrald
• Image: NPR

As a result, some delegates protested - they refused to take their seats and stood at the back of the meeting room.

The Catholic Weekly understands the protest was led by Francis Sullivan AO and John Warhurst AO.

Sullivan is Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia and the Mater Group of hospitals. He was previously CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council. Warhurst is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University, and chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn.

Sullivan told The Catholic Weekly that a "palpable division" in the Plenary assembly room was evident.

"There was a lot of anger and frustration particularly on behalf of women but also the LGBT or rainbow community if you will," Sullivan said.

"This to my mind goes to the deeper issues confronting the Church over this period of listening and dialogue. Lots of voices have come forward and there is frustration that not all those voices are not actually in the room.

"The second thing is, are we actually being attentive to what those voices are saying to us.

"Underneath it all, I have to say, even from my own experience, there is a deep grief I think that we all feel about where the Church is at, not just for ourselves personally, but collectively there are generations of people who are no longer able to identify with the Church."

The Council had been discussing a two-part set of documents called ‘Witnessing to the Equal Dignity of Women and Men'.

One motion, including the consideration of women for ministry as deacons - should Rome agree - received a qualified majority among consultative voters.

However, it fell just short of a qualified majority among deliberative voters - the bishops - and did not pass.

The other motion asked: "That each Australian diocese and eparchy foster new opportunities for women to participate in ministries and roles that are stable, publicly recognised, and resourced with appropriate formation including theological education and commissioned by the bishop.

"These ministries and roles should engage with the most important aspects of diocesan and parish life and have a real impact on those communities."

The second motion did not receive a qualified majority on either the consultative or the deliberative votes, so was not passed.

During Plenary Council assemblies, consultative votes are exercised by the 277 lay, religious and clerical members and deliberative votes are exercised by the Australian bishops.

Acknowledging the embarrassment the result had caused, Plenary council vice president Bishop Shane Mackinlay said: "This is not the way we were anticipating or hoping the process would go.

"It is disappointing and a lot of people - women and men, priests, laypeople and bishops - were very distressed.

"It was clear our members were not ready to put this to one side and move on to other things."

Mackinlay said council members were trying to redraft the motion so that a new version could be approved on Friday.

"Everybody is absolutely adamant we need to say something about the equal dignity of women and men, and the way we recognise this in the life of the Church," he said.

A four-person writing group has been established to receive recommendations from Members for the drafting of revised motions. The new motions are expected to be considered later in the week.

Source

• Catholic Weekly
• The Sydney Morning Herald
• National Catholic Reporter

Benedict called the conservative Catholics "fanatics".

Some hardline conservatives Catholics are unhappy with Pope Francis and have often voiced doubts about whether Benedict stepped down willingly.

"Some of my more fanatical friends are still upset, they have not accepted my choice," he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview, at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae.

"There aren't two popes, the pope is the only one," Benedict emphasised.

The spectacle of having two living popes, one "emeritus" has led to constant rumors about Benedict's relationship with his successor.

Chiding the fanatical supporters Benedict said those who believe there are two popes are opposed to Church teaching.

Benedict said those nursing conspiracy theories are failing to respect his conscience.

"It was a difficult decision. (To resign.) But it was a fully conscious choice and I think I did well."

"They don't want to believe that it was a conscious choice."

"My conscience is clear," he said.

Benedict also took the opportunity to address the election of US President, Joe Biden.

Biden "is an observing Catholic and he is personally against abortion," Benedict said, referring to a point of contention that has arisen among the American bishops since Biden's election.

"But as president, he tends to present himself in continuity with the line of the Democratic Party....and on gender policy, we still don't really understand what his position is," said Benedict.

The presence in the Vatican of both a pope and a former pontiff - with the title "pope emeritus", both wearing white - has irritated some Catholics.

Leading church figures, including papal loyalist, Cardinal George Pell have called for new rules stipulating the status and dress of retired popes.

In 2013 Benedict for the first time in about 600 years, Benedict became the first pope to resign instead of dying in office.

The interview was published on March 1 to coincide with his resignation.

Sources

• The Guardian
• RNS

St Bernadette's Catholic Church in Mount Hawthorn, Perth had to stop the Mass after a police officer walked in to ensure every parishioner was masked.

The Perth and Peel regions of Australia imposed a mask mandate on January 16 in response to a surge in Covid-19 cases.

One parishioner said it was "troubling" to see a policeman interrupt the service.

He said the police officer stormed into the mass and demanded the pews' attention. There had been reports of people not wearing masks in the church.

"[They - the police] proceeded to check three or four parishioners' exemptions and then left, everything being in order."

An exemption is required from a doctor for somebody to skip the mask requirement.

"Everyone was sort of pretty stunned, I suppose. Then as soon as it started it was sort of over as he left."

People were left shaken by the incident, the parishioner said.

"It's just pretty confronting seeing police vests and stuff in church.

"He didn't remove his hat, which is pretty disrespectful in that environment."

Police have confirmed officers had attended the church and undertaken a mask check.

"Police responded to a report from a member of the public of people not wearing masks inside a church," they said is a statement.

"Upon attendance, five people were spoken to by police and complied in wearing a mask.

"One person provided proof of an exemption."

Since the pandemic erupted, Australia has been vigilant with a strict Covid-19 mitigation regime.

A priest from the church wrote a social media post after the incident reminding the congregation to comply with the Covid-19 order to prevent the church being penalised.

"Heavy fines on the parish priest, our parish and individuals will be incurred if you are caught not wearing your mask. Please co-operate with this request so as to avoid any complications," he said.

While supporting the need to be vigilant in complying with Covid rules, Catholic Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe is concerned that future checks will be handled without interrupting worship.

"It is highly regrettable that the police felt themselves obliged to intervene during a religious service in one of Perth's Catholic parishes in order to enforce the mask-wearing mandate," Costelloe said in a statement.

"The celebration of the Eucharist is the central act of Catholic worship and is sacred to all Catholics.

"It is my hope that other ways can be found to deal with this delicate issue in future and my office stands ready to co-operate with the police in this manner.

"It is a matter of regret to me that the police were placed in a position which led them to take the action they did.

"They should not have been placed in this position".

Costelloe said his office will continue to ensure all Catholic parishes and agencies have very clear advice as to their obligations in complying with the government‘s directives.

Source

• National Review
• news.com.au
• Image: The West Australian

The Committee is responsible for gathering and summarising responses to questionnaires for the Irish Synodal Pathway.

The young Catholics wrote that they love the Church's teaching, but their voices have not been heard.

The process leading up to the Synod on Synodality in Rome did not pay attention to their views, they said.

They express concern that the synodal process might give a false impression. As it stands. it suggests all Catholics in Ireland would like to see changes made.

Ireland's bishops also received a copy of the letter..

Peadar Hand, one of the letter's organisers, said making changes may not be the way to go.

"Among people who are actually practising and trying their best to live their faith, there's no desire for a change in Church teaching," he said.

"The duty of the Church is not to change with the world, but to change the world."

The letter says:

"As young practising Catholics, we would like you to hear our voices regarding developments with the Synodal Synthesis" it begins.

It goes on to explain young Catholics' concerns following the presentations at the pre-Synodal National Gathering in June.

Issues of concern include "the emerging synthesis risks presenting a false conclusion".

"The Sensus Fidei is in conflict with current church teaching and practice" they say. "This relates in particular to human sexuality, marriage and ordained ministry."

The Catechism defines sensus fidei or sensus fidelium. It is "the supernatural appreciation of faith on the part of the whole people when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals".

The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference has been asked for comment.

In March 2020 Pope Francis announced a Synod on Synodality.

Its aim is "to provide an opportunity for the entire people of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal Church in the long-term".

The three-part synodal process started in October 2021 with consultations at the diocesan level. A continental phase is scheduled to commence in March 2023.

The final and universal phase will begin with the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. This will be themed: "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission."

The Assembly will take place at the Vatican in October 2023.

Source

• CNA

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors sat for 3 years before its term expired two months ago.

In freshening the commission Pope Francis added nine new people to its ranks, and re-appointed only eight of the previous members to the commission.

Pope Francis did not reappoint 6 existing members including New Zealand Church official Bill Kilgallon.

Kilgallon recently retired as director of the New Zealand National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS) for the Catholic Church.

His retirement was signaled a year ago to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC).

Spokesperson for NZCBC, Amanda Gregan, had no comment on Kilgallon's non-appointment but points out that he has retired.

NOPS sets guidelines for the Catholic Church's policy for children, young people and adults at risk.

Kilgallon worked as its director for 5 years before his retirement.

Pope Francis' commission renewal comes amid criticism of his handling of accusations against a Chilean bishop.

The bishop stands accused of covering up abuse while he was a priest in the 1980s and 90s.

The Pope's revamped commission will meet with victims of sexual abuse in April.

Criticism of Commission

The abuse commission has faced increasing public scrutiny since it began in 2014.

A former commissioner complained of overwork and understaffing.

Another, Marie Collins, was an Irish abuse survivor who resigned from the commission in frustration last March.

She says some of those not reappointed were among the group's most active members.

Collins says she resigned in frustration at Vatican officials' refusal to cooperate with the commission's work.

She cited one Vatican office's refusal to send a response to all abuse victims who wrote to the office.

The Pope had approved sending the response after the commission asked him to.

Sources:

• • National Catholic Reporter
  • Washington Post
  • Image: Reuters

On Sunday the Vatican published a personal letter Pope Francis wrote to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople suggesting the leaders' gathering.

That same day Cardinal Kurt Koch — who heads the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity — hand-delivered the letter to Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to Istanbul for the Orthodox Church's patronal feast of St Andrew.

"The now imminent 1,700th anniversary ... will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Francis wrote to Bartholomew.

Reflecting on six decades of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue while looking ahead to future possibilities for unity, Francis was positive.

He acknowledged the progress made since Vatican II's Unitatis Redintegratio decree marked the Catholic Church's official entry into the ecumenical movement 60 years ago.

Koch is firm that efforts toward unity must focus on "the innermost centre of self-revelation in Jesus Christ".

There must be an "ecumenism of blood" he says.

"Christians are not persecuted because they are Catholic, Lutheran or Anglican but because they are Christian."

Building peace in a time of war

While celebrating the "renewed fraternity" which Catholic-Orthodox communities had achieved since Vatican II, Francis also wrote in his letter to Bartholomew that full communion, particularly sharing "the one Eucharistic chalice", remains an unfulfilled goal.

Speaking of contemporary global tensions, Francis pointedly connected ecumenical efforts to peace-building.

"The fraternity lived and the witness given by Christians will also be a message for our world plagued by war and violence" his letter says. He specifically mentioned several war-torn countries by name, including Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon.

He also highlighted Orthodox representatives' recent participation in October's Synod on Synodality.

The traditional Catholic-Orthodox exchange of delegations occurs twice a year. Catholic representatives travel to Istanbul for St Andrew's feast on November 30 and Orthodox delegates visit Rome for the feast of Sts Peter and Paul on June 29.

The delegation participated in the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St George, Phanar. It also held discussions with the synodal commission charged with relations with the Catholic Church.

Source

• CNA

The State government rejected 22 of the inquiry's 33 recommendations, which included allowing the names of known child abusers to be published prominently on church websites.

Just 11 of the 33 inquiry committee's recommendations were accepted by the government or accepted in principle.

Another 14 are being examined further; eight were rejected.

Two recommendations relating to permanent stays were rejected.

These occur when the court halts child abuse proceedings because it considers there is no possibility of a fair trial due to the passage of time, deterioration of evidence or death of the accused.

The inquiry recommended permanent stay applications be allowed only after the end of the trial and that any permanent stays granted against child sexual abuse claims prior to that judgement should be reconsidered.

But it "would result in a court hearing a trial that was necessarily unfair or an abuse of process and could be constitutionally invalid" the government decided.

Abuse survivors lash out

Terry Martino (pictured), an advocate from the group Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA), is furious at the government's response - and that the SOCA discovered the report had been tabled in the House only after a call from ABC News.

"Survivors bared their souls at the inquiry, they shared the most intimate details of their abuse and the impact it's had on their lives" he said.

"To find out that information was then used to form a report that was then, in large part and in many cases, rejected by the government, it's actually quite cruel.

"It's appalling conduct.

"The report opens with the government stating that they acknowledge the strength of survivors. These are meaningless words that infuriate survivors."

Vigilante fears

Although it would not permit institutions to name abusers on their websites, the government did have recommendations about what might be put there.

It said institutions should adopt the inquiry's recommendations that their websites include policy statements about child safety as well as information about how to report child sexual abuse.

There are significant risks in creating a public register of abusers said the government report tabling its decision. These include defamation actions and breaches of confidentiality provisions in existing legislation.

The WA government said international experience with similar registers suggested public websites could lead to vigilante action against child sex offenders and others who were wrongfully accused.

"If [the names of] known perpetrators are released, it will make it much easier for survivors to come forward and share their experiences, because they'll realise they're not the only ones" Martino argued.

On the cards

The government is considering a recommendation that it fund a new role for a Commissioner for Victims of Crime.

It will also - as recommended - determine if there are any gaps in support and advice to survivors and how these might be addressed.

In addition, it will consider further a recommendation to expand victims' access to the National Redress Scheme.

Source

• ABC

Nearly 300 visitors to the experiment completed surveys, with many describing the experience as thought-provoking or emotionally impactful.

Most visitors were aged 40 to 70, with Catholics reporting more positive reactions than Protestants.

"What was really interesting (was) to see that the people really talked with him in a serious way. They didn't come to make jokes" said chapel theologian Marco Schmid, who spearheaded the project.

Schmid emphasised that the avatar was an artistic experiment, not a substitute for human confession or priestly interaction.

He was quick to point out that the "AI Jesus" — billed as a "Jesus-like" persona — was an artistic experiment to get people thinking about the intersection between the digital and the divine, not substitute for human interaction or sacramental confessions with a priest, nor was it intended to save pastoral resources.

The AI Jesus, modelled on GPT-4o, responded in multiple languages including German, English, French and Chinese. Visitors addressed issues ranging from solitude and suffering to questions about the Church's stance on sexual abuse and homosexuality.

The exhibit hosted at Peter's Chapel in Lucerne drew participants from diverse religious backgrounds including Christians, agnostics, Muslims and Buddhists.

Philipp Haslbauer, an IT specialist behind the project, explained "No specific safeguards were used, as GPT-4o generally handled controversial topics well".

Online criticism

While many visitors praised the initiative, some criticism emerged online. There have been accusations of blasphemy and concerns about AI's role in spirituality. Schmid, however, found value in the discussions the project sparked. He described it as a pilot initiative that helped engage people with questions about faith and technology.

Kenneth Cukier, an expert with the US-based nonprofit group AI and Faith, said that if "AI Jesus" helps people connect deeper to themselves and the world, it "has to be a good thing".

However "the risk is that it pulls people, ultimately, farther away from that which is more meaningful, deeper and authentic in spirituality" advised Cukier.

Pope Francis has urged the ethical use of AI and called for international regulations to address its societal impact. The Vatican has also explored AI's potential, appointing a Franciscan friar to study its implications.

Other parishes and researchers have expressed interest in the potential return of 'AI Jesus'. Schmid said the project's continuation requires reflection.

Sources

AP News

Reason

CathNews New Zealand

The cardinal emphasised that these changes are faithful to Catholic teaching and reflect local culture, addressing traditionalist criticism.

The Dicastery for Divine Worship recently approved a decree permitting adaptations. These included ritual dances and laypersons handling incense in the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

"Neither Jesus nor the apostles celebrated with the Tridentine Missal. It dates back to the 16th century" Cardinal Esquivel wrote in the Mexican church publication Desde la Fe. He argued that opposition to the adaptations stems from misunderstandings about liturgy and indigenous culture.

The decree also authorised a translation of the missal into Tzeltal, an indigenous language. However, the Mexican Bishops' Conference clarified that these are optional adaptations within the Novus Ordo, not a new rite or "Mayan rite".

Inculturation

Cardinal Esquivel stressed that these changes align with the Church's tradition of inculturation which integrates cultural elements into Catholic worship.

"It is the best example of inculturation with Jewish ritual signs" said the cardinal. "He instituted the Eucharist not in Latin, but in Aramaic, the language of those with whom he lived at the time."

The Mexican cardinal added "the bread he used was not like our hosts, which are wafers and true bread; it changes the shape, not the substance".

True to Catholic doctrine

The bishops reiterated that the adaptations exclude practices like Mayan altars and prayers to the four cardinal directions.

Esquivel called for continuing the inculturation process, ensuring indigenous believers can express their faith within their cultural context while remaining true to Catholic doctrine.

The cardinal stressed the importance of being faithful to the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Church so that "our people can also live their faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their cultural forms".

Sources

Desde la Fe

English Katholisch

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

"When I arrived, it was a time when the pope started to put women into leadership positions" Porro told CNA. "What I've noticed over these years is that the momentum has really increased."

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has appointed several women to prominent positions.

These include Sister Alessandra Smerilli as secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Sister Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Barbara Jatta as director of the Vatican Museums.

Porro officially ended her mission on 29 November after serving as one of 51 female ambassadors to the Holy See.

During her tenure, she collaborated with women in Vatican roles and Catholic organisations to encourage inclusivity and emphasised the importance of advancing women's participation while fostering partnerships with men.

"Together we've tried to give support to women working in the Catholic Church, or religious women, or other groups - working in collaboration with men - to try to advance women and ensure everyone has a seat at the table" she said.

Collaboration essential

Porro also worked on issues such as human trafficking, child protection and religious freedom. She underlined the importance of collaboration between Church and State to address global challenges.

"As institutions, we can work together to address some of these issues" Porro said. "There are lots of areas that we've worked with the Vatican and I think that there's much more that can be done — lots of partnerships."

Porro has also worked closely with the Holy See's charitable arm, Caritas Internationalis, "to raise the voices of the most vulnerable".

Stephanie MacGillivray, Caritas Internationalis Senior Officer for Identity and Mission, Women's Empowerment and Inclusion, acknowledged that women's leadership and their human rights within religion are sometimes contested. However, she said collaboration among Church leaders, faith-based organisations and government agents is essential.

According to MacGillivray, this joint effort is crucial for addressing and overcoming challenges that undermine the rights and dignity of women and girls globally.

Reflecting on her work in the Vatican since first presenting her credentials to Pope Francis in 2020, Porro expressed her "hope that the work we've done over these years continues to progress".

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Francis is now making an urgent appeal to all Lebanese politicians "so that a president of the republic is elected without delay and the institutions return to their normal function in order to carry out the necessary reforms and guarantee the country's role as an example of peaceful coexistence between the different religions".

In this context, Francis expressed his hope that this "glimmer of peace" could lead to a ceasefire on all other fronts. The release of the Israeli hostages and access to humanitarian aid for the Palestinian population are particularly close to his heart.

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The Pope recalled that the year 2025 is a jubilee year dedicated to hope, as well as the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (now Iznik, Turkey, which he said is considering visiting).

A document by the Commission "intended to shed light on the timeliness of the faith professed at Nicaea" could "prove invaluable, in the course of the Jubilee Year, to nourish and deepen the faith of believers and, based on the figure of Jesus, to offer insights and reflections useful for a new cultural and social paradigm inspired by the humanity of Christ," the Pope said.

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The United Nations and rights groups say capital punishment has no proven deterrent effect and have called for it to be abolished. Still, Singaporean officials insist it has helped make the country one of Asia's safest.

Masoud Rahimi Mehrzad, a Singaporean citizen born in the city-state to a Singaporean mother and an Iranian father, was convicted in 2013 for drug trafficking.

Appeals against his conviction and sentence, as well as petitions for clemency from the president, had been dismissed. After he was informed of his impending hanging, Masoud filed an 11th-hour appeal to stay his execution, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Nov 28.

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Alongside his wife, Brigitte, and the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, the French president was shown around the rebuilt medieval cathedral on Friday morning by Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of France's national monuments.

Inside the light-filled halls, Macron took in the Clôture Nord du Chœur, a sculpted wall depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, and marvelled at the famous rose windows, now cleansed of the crud that had amassed in its corners over generations.

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This move follows high-profile cases where spirituality was misused to justify abusive behaviour. With Pope Francis's approval, a working group has been established to study the issue and propose concrete legal changes.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), in collaboration with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, announced on 22 November the formation of this group. Archbishop Filippo Iannone, head of the legislative dicastery, will lead the initiative.

The goal is to create a clear legal framework to address spiritual abuse. This has often been considered an aggravating factor in other crimes rather than a crime in its own right.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the DDF, highlighted the need to refine terminology, particularly the term "false mysticism". The cardinal described it as overly broad and ambiguous. He noted its current use in cases involving alleged supernatural phenomena, such as apparitions or visions. The term has also been linked to allegations of clerical abuse.

Particular moral gravity

The DDF's 2024 Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena already label the misuse of mystical experiences to manipulate or abuse as a matter of "particular moral gravity".

However, the new working group will seek to formally categorise spiritual abuse as a distinct delict in canon law.

Recent scandals have drawn attention to the misuse of spirituality for abusive purposes. Former Jesuit Marko Rupnik, for example, faced allegations that he used spiritual justifications to exploit individuals while creating religious art. Similarly, accusations against Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche, and leaders of other Catholic movements have involved claims of mixing spiritual authority with coercive behaviour.

Cardinal Fernández has emphasised the Church's increased vigilance in addressing such issues. "Today, we are more vigilant than before when it comes to the possibility of mystical or spiritual elements being used to exploit or even abuse people" he stated.

Sources

UCA News

Catholic News Agency

English Katholisch

CathNews New Zealand

The former Prime Minister accused religious leaders, particularly Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, of failing to provide "spiritual sustenance", pushing people to overeat instead.

Speaking to GB News, Rees-Mogg agreed that Britain faces a "spiritual desert". Drawing on his experiences, he said "The Church - and it's not just the Anglican Church, it may be our (Catholic) church too - and the Methodists, aren't filling that void".

Johnson's comments, part of the Nourishing Britain report co-authored by Henry Dimbleby and Dolly van Tulleken, painted a stark picture of the country's health.

The former prime minister said that when he was younger, it was "very rare for there to be a fatso in the class. Now they're all fatsos, and I'd be shot for saying they're fatsos, but it's the truth".

He criticised the Most Rev. Justin Welby and other religious leaders for going on about slavery reparations rather than addressing the "spiritual void" in people's lives.

Johnson said this failure was leading to a decline in church attendance.

"The living bread is being provided by Tesco" he said.

"And they're gorging themselves on the real living bread."

Decisive action on obesity

Rees-Mogg's endorsement comes amidst broader political criticism. A government spokesperson distanced Downing Street from Johnson's remarks, stating the government has already taken "decisive action" on obesity, which strains the NHS and the economy.

Figures underline the scale of the issue: 64% of adults in England were overweight or obese in 2022-2023. Among children, 22.1% of Year 6 pupils were classified as obese in 2023-2024.

The Nourishing Britain report interviewed three former prime ministers and ten ex-health secretaries, all admitting they hadn't done enough to tackle obesity while in office.

The report urges current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take tougher action on diet-related ill health in the UK.

Sources

GB News

The Times