China’s government is calling on protesters to turn themselves in after a crowd clashed with police over plans to demolish a mosque in the country’s southwest as President Xi Jinping’s government tightens control over religion and society. Protesters threw water bottles at officers with helmets and shields outside the blue-domed Najiaying Mosque in Yuxi, a Read more
World
Evangeliser’s strength comes from practicing what one preaches, pope says
Thursday, June 1st, 2023The most powerful and effective method of evangelisation is to live according to what one teaches and preaches, Pope Francis said. “I can recite the Creed by heart, I can talk about everything we believe in, but if your life is not consistent with that, it will get you nowhere,” he told people at his Read more
Ugandan anti-gay law pleases local Anglican Church
Thursday, June 1st, 2023“The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 is good, and we are grateful to the president for assenting to it.” Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, head of the Anglican Church of Uganda, does not mince words to express his approval of the intensified criminalisation of homosexuality in his country. By making “aggravated homosexuality” a capital offence, which means Read more
Pope accepts resignation of authoritarian French Archbishop
Monday, May 29th, 2023
In the wake of escalating accusations of misconduct, the resignation of the controversial French Archbishop, Luc Ravel, has been accepted by Pope Francis The resignation acceptance was confirmed in an official statement by the Bishops’ Conference of France over the weekend. Archbishop Ravel’s resignation comes on the heels of an investigation ordered by the Vatican Read more
Carmelite nuns face dismissal over alleged sexual misconduct by superior
Monday, May 29th, 2023
A Texas bishop has issued dismissal threats against an entire monastery of Carmelite nuns as he investigates sexual misconduct allegations by their superior. The Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, located in Arlington, Texas, is embroiled in a conflict with Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth. Olson claims to be investigating allegations of sexual Read more
Synod process is “….” Francis is told
Monday, May 29th, 2023
Pope Francis on Friday said he was told the synod process was an “impolite word.” The comments, directed at the pope, came as he entered the Vatican audience hall for a meeting. Francis said as he entered the Vatican audience hall for the meeting, someone – using an Argentinean phrase that is not very polite, Read more
US Cardinal urges attorney general to share information on new clergy abuse cases
Monday, May 29th, 2023
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, expressed his surprise and concern over the Illinois attorney general’s failure to share information regarding new clergy abuse cases recently uncovered. During his visit to the Vatican, where he serves as a close adviser to Pope Francis, Cardinal Cupich spoke to The Associated Press about his disappointment in Read more
Spiritual direction could transform Catholic school communities
Monday, May 29th, 2023
Offering spiritual direction to teachers could transform Catholic school communities. That’s leading religious education scholar Associate Professor Michael Buchanan’s opinion. Schools have become a more diverse workforce. This has led many learning communities to introduce formation opportunities. These enable all teachers to participate in enhancing the Catholic school’s mission. Buchanan (pictured) said a growing number Read more
Russia acknowledges Vatican peace initiative
Monday, May 29th, 2023
Russia has reacted positively to the Pope’s Ukraine peace initiative. There are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow, however. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement about the peace initiative was Moscow’s first public acknowledgement of the pope’s overtures. It followed the Vatican’s weekend announcement that Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (pictured), has been suggested Read more
A surfing saint? Pope Francis recognises the heroic virtue of Guido Schäffer
Monday, May 29th, 2023The Catholic Church is one step closer to canonising a surfing saint. Pope Francis recognised the heroic virtue of Brazil’s “Surfer Angel”, Guido Schäffer, in a decree issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on May 20. Schäffer was a seminarian, a doctor, and a surfer who drowned while surfing in 2009 off Read more