In response to the violent rioting that erupted over allegations of Quran desecration, Pakistani authorities have taken measures to address the aftermath and ensure the safety of affected communities, including Christians. Last week, a Muslim mob wreaked havoc on the city of Jaranwala, targeting Christians and their properties. The alleged desecration of the Quran by Read more
In a recent interview, Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge ignited a discussion within the Catholic community by proposing the exploration of pathways to priesthood for Indigenous men. This proposition, which suggests a potential waiver of clerical celibacy, aims to foster greater inclusivity and representation of First Nations Australians within the Church. The views of Archbishop Coleridge Read more
Pope Francis has merged the Archdiocese of Osaka and the Diocese of Takamatsu to create the new Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu. The current archbishop of Osaka (Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda) is the new archdiocese’s first archbishop; the bishop of Takamatsu retired last September. The Archdiocese of Osaka was founded in 1904 and elevated to an Read more
The Nicaraguan government has seized a prominent Jesuit-run university in the capital, Managua, in President Daniel Ortega’s latest effort to lash out against the Catholic Church. The Central American University (UCA) announced on Wednesday that all classes and administrative activities were suspended after a criminal court ruled its property and financial accounts were being transferred Read more
Pope Francis said on Monday that he was writing a follow-up to his landmark 2015 encyclical on the protection of the environment and the dangers of climate change “to bring it up to date”. He made the surprise announcement in a brief, unprepared addition in a speech to a group of lawyers from the Council Read more
In the wake of an Australian Senate inquiry into an alarming rise of “school refusal” among Australian students, recommendations for improved mental health provisions and adaptable schooling methods have been proposed. The inquiry highlights a surge in absenteeism, which the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated. Disturbingly, nearly half of all students are reported to have missed Read more
A wave of controversy has engulfed the World Youth Day (WYD) event held in Lisbon last week, as concerns were raised about the handling of the Eucharist during the lead-up to the papal mass on Sunday. The controversy erupted after images circulated on social media depicting plastic containers placed on tables inside a white tent, Read more
Maui’s wildfires destroyed almost everything in their path – people, buildings, land. But Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina survived. It’s like a symbol of hope, a miracle. So far at least 111 people, including children, have been confirmed killed. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as the search for victims continues. Lahaina, a Read more
A Vatican delegate has told a congregation from India’s Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church that they were either “with the pope or against him”. “Move away from the illegal Mass the archdiocese has been following, where the celebrant faces the people,” Archbishop Cyril Vasil (pictured) told the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese laity and priests at Mass last week. Read more
Commitment to interfaith understanding and cooperation has resulted in Singaporean nun Sister Theresa Seow (pictured) being honoured with an Exemplary Interfaith Award. Jamiyah Singapore – the Muslim non-profit organisation behind the award – aims to “work and contribute towards the welfare and overall development of the Muslim community and mankind”, according to its website mission Read more