A Portuguese town said on Thursday it would reinstall a billboard highlighting sexual abuse by clergy after facing heavy criticism for removing it on the day Pope Francis arrived in the country to attend a massive youth event. Francis landed in Lisbon on Wednesday for the week-long World Youth Day, an event devised by the Read more
World
Crowd of 1.5 Million Brave Heat to See Pope in Portugal
Monday, August 7th, 2023An estimated 1.5 million people packed a riverside park in Portugal’s capital on Saturday, braving a relentlessly scorching sun for hours for an evening prayer service with Pope Francis. The Parque Tejo, a new venue created for the event, covers 100 hectares (250 acres) and has no shade or structures. Some participants had to wait Read more
Sinéad O’Connor meant to attack her abusive mum by tearing up picture of Pope
Monday, August 7th, 2023Sinéad O’Connor meant to attack her abusive mum by tearing up a picture of Pope John Paul II on US television in 1992. The singer, whose remains have just been returned to her family after she was found dead in London aged 56, caused a storm when she ripped up the image of the pontiff Read more
Retired bishop accused of abuse now married
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
A retired bishop who is a defendant in multiple sexual misconduct lawsuits revealed on Tuesday that he recently married a woman after the Vatican declined his plea to leave the clergy. Bishop Howard J Hubbard (pictured) served as the leader of the Albany NY diocese from 1977 until his retirement in 2014. He holds the Read more
Liturgical expert appointed to oversee English liturgy translations
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
Father Andrew Menke, a person with significant pastoral experience will assume the role of ICEL’s executive director for a five-year term. The position takes effect on November 1. The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), responsible for overseeing the English liturgy translations of the Catholic Church’s Mass and liturgies of the Roman Rite, Read more
Billboard protest removed at WYD capital
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
Pope Francis’ hope for the Church to offer the Portuguese community a more cohesive opportunity through World Youth Day (WYD) is being met with some strong challenges. Hours after he touched down in Lisbon on Wednesday, one of three huge billboards erected by activists to raise awareness of sexual abuse by clergy was removed, says Read more
Carmelite nuns abandon appeal plans against Texas bishop
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
A group of Carmelite nuns involved in a lawsuit against a Texas bishop has decided not to pursue initial plans to appeal the dismissal of their case and instead are putting their faith in a Vatican canonical investigation. The nuns’ legal representative, Matthew Bobo, confirmed this development in a statement released on Monday. The decision Read more
Additional security measures needed for Pakistan’s Catholics
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
Looking for new security measures is a priority for Pakistan’s Catholic leaders after a wave of terrorist attacks has hung the country on tenterhooks. The Catholic Church in the Muslim-majority nation needs to better protect itself, police say. Abboattabad parish priest Father Nasir William says: “We are being asked to hire private guards, install closed-circuit Read more
Carbon-neutral refit on listed City of London church
Thursday, August 3rd, 2023
A carbon-neutral refit has just been completed on a City of London Grade 1 listed church. St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe reopened last week after closing for the refit work at the end of 2021. Anglican and Coptic Orthodox congregations will share the newly refurbished church. St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe’s carbon-neutral refurbishment incorporated installing energy-saving technology including air-source heat pumps, Read more