Thousands of people have marched in Noumea, protesting in support of New Caledonia’s Catholic schools, which are struggling to keep operating. An estimated 7000 people went to the seat of government and to the Congress building last Friday after the school management warned that budget allocations for this year were US$12 million short of what Read more
World
Amnesty International: 53% rise in executions in past year
Thursday, May 18th, 2023Amnesty International has released a report stating that a total of 883 people are known to have been put to death across 20 countries in 2022, marking a rise of 53% compared to 2021. The figures exclude some countries that are thought to carry out executions but where figures are unavailable because data on the Read more
California Christian non-profit punished for feeding homeless
Monday, May 15th, 2023
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has backed a Christian non-profit in its legal battle with the city of Santa Ana, California, after it was penalised and threatened with criminal prosecution for feeding homeless people. Micah’s Way, which has been operating since 2005, filed a lawsuit against Santa Ana, claiming that the city had violated Read more
Historic: Pope recognises 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs
Monday, May 15th, 2023
In a historic move, Pope Francis has added 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs to the Roman Martyrology, an official list of martyrs and saints. Not since 5th century have Catholic and Coptic Churches shared saints. The 21 non-Catholic Christians (20 Egyptians and one Ghanaian) who were beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya will have their feast Read more
Vatican cardinal defends Pope’s decision to fire Caritas leadership
Monday, May 15th, 2023
Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the development office responsible for Caritas, has defended Pope Francis’ “drastic” decision to fire the elected leadership of Caritas Internationalis in November 2022. Speaking at a week-long meeting in Rome of the global confederation of 162 national Caritas chapters, Czerny (pictured) explained that the move was necessary for the well-being Read more
Nun gives taxi drivers no option to ferry supplies in Ukraine
Monday, May 15th, 2023
Two Ukranian taxi drivers have found themselves delivering supplies to the neediest in Ukraine. Ivan Smyglia and Denys Kurpikov say Sister Lucia Murashko presented them with “no other option”. Murashko (pictured with the taxi drivers) is a member of the Sisters of the Order of St Basil the Great of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. She’s Read more
“Horror scenes” in Sudan could spill over
Monday, May 15th, 2023
The Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen, describes “horror scenes” in Sudan during continuous fighting. He issued a stark warning at the end of Bishop Cleophas Oseso Tuka’s Consecration Mass. Unless the Sudan war is halted in time, the violence and horror scenes will “spill over” to neighbouring countries, Read more
Pope and Ukraine President Zelensky meet over war and peace
Monday, May 15th, 2023
When Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky went to the Vatican last week, the Pope stole a march on him. Francis went to the door to greet him rather than wait for formal introductions. They spent 40 minutes speaking privately in their first face-to-face meeting since the war began. They discussed “the humanitarian and political situation in Read more
New York Archdiocese investigating ‘God is trans’ exhibit at Catholic parish
Monday, May 15th, 2023The Archdiocese of New York is investigating a Catholic parish in Manhattan for hosting an art exhibit called “God is Trans: A Queer Spiritual Journey.” The exhibit, which “maps the queer spiritual journey” and claims that “there is no devil,” has upset some parishioners at the Church of St Paul the Apostle, while others are Read more