Tourists in Rome checking out the Pantheon, Italy’s most-visited cultural site, will soon be charged a 5-euro (NZ$8.50) entrance fee under an agreement signed Thursday by Italian culture and church officials. Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said the move was a matter of “good sense.” The introduction of an entrance fee comes five years after a Read more
World
Spanish bishop bans Catholic media service from his diocesan TV station
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
The newly appointed Bishop of San Sebastián, Spain, has banned the broadcasting of content produced by the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) on the local diocesan TV station. The decision by Bishop Fernando Prado Ayuso was conveyed just two days after the bishop was installed in his role. “By virtue of the faculties that, as Read more
Top Vatican official urges dialogue with German bishops on same-sex blessings
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
The German bishops can expect a discussion with the Vatican over their vote in favour to bless same-sex unions. The move, made by the influential and wealthy German Church, does not align with official Catholic doctrine, which forbids such blessings. “A local, particular church cannot make a decision like that which involves the discipline of Read more
Women set to vote at Rome Synod
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
Everyone who participates in the Synod of Bishops is eligible to vote, including women. Pope Francis made the comment in an interview with the Argentinean newspaper La Nacion. Francis stressed that including diverse voices in the synod is an ongoing process but that everyone who participates in the synod, regardless of gender, has the right Read more
King Charles meets Catholic delegation at Buckingham Palace
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
Well ahead of his May 6 coronation, King Charles met a Catholic delegation at Buckingham Palace last week. As king, Charles is the supreme governor of the Church of England. Speaking for the 12-member delegation, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster pledged his church’s allegiance to the new king. “For so many years, we have observed Read more
Upbeat future-focused Francis shares hopes
Thursday, March 16th, 2023
Pope Francis has been upbeat and future-focused during his tenth anniversary this week. Instead of cataloguing and discussing his past decade’s wins and losses, Francis has been speaking of his hopes for the future. “It’s not for me to decide what I’ve achieved”, he told media when questioned. “The Lord will do the appraisal when Read more
30 per cent of Ireland’s Catholic parish grounds to be ‘rewilded’ by 2030
Thursday, March 16th, 2023Parishes often take a certain pride in how neat and tidy their grounds are – but soon they will be more concerned about letting them grow wild and attracting bees and butterflies. Following their spring general meeting Catholic bishops’ said they were asking parishes across Ireland to give over almost a third of their grounds Read more
North Korean women told to have more children to boost military
Thursday, March 16th, 2023Government officials in a North Korean province have urged women to have more children as an act of “greatest patriotism” to help boost the military numbers, says a report. The message was part of a series of ideological lectures arranged by North Korean officials for housewives in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, Radio Free Read more
Feminists in Latin America attack Catholic churches on International Women’s Day
Thursday, March 16th, 2023Various marches were held on March 8 for International Women’s Day in Latin America. Some feminist groups, however, used the occasion to vandalise Catholic churches and public buildings. Mexico was one of the countries where the most violence took place. In the country’s capital, Mexico City, protesters attacked the metropolitan cathedral located in Constitution Plaza. Read more
Thousands flee as UN hears reports on Myanmar
Thursday, March 16th, 2023Thousands of villagers, including Catholics, have fled their homes as the military in Myanmar escalated attacks amid the UN Security Council’s move to hear reports from special envoys on the civil war in the southeast Asian nation. The new flare-up between the army and the rebel groups, which also includes Christians, has prompted thousands of Read more