The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life has defended its president, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia (pictured with Pope Francis), against criticism for his recent remarks on euthanasia and assisted suicide. Speaking last week at the Perugia Journalism Festival on “The last journey (towards the end of life),” Paglia stated that the Catholic Church did not provide a Read more
Pope Francis, April 17, approved a decision that lay women and lay men will vote at the upcoming Synod of Bishops. The Vatican has always said while input from many was essential to a synod, bishops were tasked with discerning and voting. The move to allow lay women and lay men to vote at the Read more
The debate over the German Catholic Church’s Kirchensteuer, or church tax, was reignited by a bishop’s recent comments over departing Catholics being denied Eucharist. During his sermon in Cologne’s cathedral, Bishop Ansgar Puff asked whether the Church is doing enough to accompany baptised Catholics who leave the Church to avoid paying the mandatory church tax. Read more
Former governor-general Peter Hollingworth admits he has made mistakes, as he accepts the recommendations by an Anglican Church review into abuse allegations that found he is “fit for ministry”. On Monday, the Professional Standards Board for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne made the finding. In a statement, the 88-year-old conceded while he was archbishop of Read more
Pope Francis has named Robert Francis Prevost, an Augustinian missionary who has been serving as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, as the new prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops. Bishop Prevost succeeds Cardinal Marc Ouellet, both as prefect and as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The Holy Father has accepted the resignation Read more
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life is preparing a document that will address divorced and remarried couples at the request of Pope Francis, according to the dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal Kevin Farrell. Farrell mentioned the in-progress document in a speech delivered in Italian on April 22 that opened a meeting of the dicastery, Read more
An international rights group has called upon the Singapore government to halt the impending execution of a man convicted of drug trafficking and urged the repeal of the death penalty in the country. In a press statement on April 24, the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) condemned the Singapore government’s use of the Read more
There are many ways to be Catholic. The comment comes from the West Australian archbishop and member of the preparatory committee for the General Assembly of the Synod, Timothy Costelloe. He says that ongoing consultation with Catholics worldwide needs to give more deference to local church authorities. Pope Francis’s global synod – which began in Read more
A prominent French archbishop has resigned but strongly defends his turbulent six-year tenure. Luc Ravel, the Archbishop of Strasbourg, announced his resignation on April 20. However, he gave no reason for his resignation. “Peace being the supreme good (…), I have presented my resignation to the Holy Father, for whom I pray every day”, he Read more
Hong Kong’s top Catholic cleric, Bishop Stephen Chow SJ, said patriotism is every citizen’s duty. He dismissed concerns that his visit to Beijing could be interpreted as an attempt to politicise religion. “Everyone would like to see their own country do well; no one wants it to do badly. “I think it’s everyone’s duty to Read more