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
World
Lay people step up amid priest shortage in Ireland
Thursday, June 8th, 2023Lay 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 emerges from surgery without complications
Thursday, June 8th, 2023Pope 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
Catholic Church Insurance refuses bailout, winding down
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
Australian firm Catholic Church Insurance (CCI) has announced that it will begin winding down its operations after failing to secure additional financial support. On Monday, the CCI informed shareholders and staff of the decision, which will result in the closure of the insurer for new business. Despite this decision, CCI remains solvent and will honour Read more
Voice to Parliament discussion likely when Aboriginal elder meets Pope
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann, a respected Aboriginal elder, is set to have an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, where she expects the Pope to inquire about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Dr Ungunmerr Baumann (pictured), a former Senior Australian of the Year, educator and artist, is a proponent of the proposal to Read more
Natural law has been used to restrict LGBTQ people
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
Natural law has been used to restrict LGBTQ people, according to Fr James Alison, an influential Catholic priest, theologian and writer. Alison (pictured) commented in a recent virtual conversation on the website ‘Outreach’ in its monthly series of virtual talks ‘Outspoken.’ In the conversation with Fr James Martin, SJ, Alison discussed natural law and conscience, Read more
Belgian Bishop defends blessing same-sex unions
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
The Flemish bishops’ decision to bless same-sex unions is reasonable, says Bishop Johan Bonny. Bonny and the other Flemish bishops of Belgium introduced a blessing for same-sex couples in September 2022. They also published a handout outlining suggested liturgy and prayers. The bishops’ based their decision to go ahead with the same sex blessings on Read more
God is outside as well as within the Church says theologian
Thursday, June 1st, 2023
Believing that the Gospel of Christ is worth spreading means God is outside and within the Church. It does not imply that God is nowhere outside the Church, Anglican priest and theologian Professor Nigel Biggar said in discussion with The Tablet in Dublin about the divine commission and colonialism. Biggar is the emeritus Regius Professor Read more
Syro-Malabar church blames basilica closure on liturgy protests
Thursday, June 1st, 2023In 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