In what could be a watershed opportunity in Canadian history, a lawyer is trying to marshal compromise instead of cancellation with a view to getting 16-year-old Josh Alexander back in school. But so far, no luck. Alexander was suspended from St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Renfrew, Ontario. The teen asserted in class that there Read more
World
‘We cannot defend ourselves without arms,’ Ukrainian archbishop
Monday, February 13th, 2023The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has defended President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s requests for long-range weapons, although a Vatican diplomat warned that arm supply is a complex topic. “I cannot morally endorse this request for arms because I don’t know all the details — but we cannot defend ourselves without arms,” said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Read more
Vatican invites Rome poor to a day at the circus
Monday, February 13th, 2023The Vatican’s charity office invited around 2,000 poor and marginalized people to a circus performance in Rome on Saturday. “Making it possible to participate in this performance is a way to give a few hours of contentment to those who are confronted with a hard life and need help to nurture hope,” Pope Francis’ almoner, Read more
Culture of dialogue champion Matteo Ricci on path to sainthood
Thursday, February 9th, 2023
Pope Francis has officially agreed culture of dialogue champion – Servant of God Matteo Ricci – “lived the Christian virtues to a heroic degree”. With the pope’s endorsement, the famous 16th-century Italian Jesuit missionary to China is now on the path to sainthood. Last December the Vatican announced that Francis had the prefect of the Read more
Church needs to rebuild trust
Thursday, February 9th, 2023
The Vatican’s most influential woman, French nun Nathalie Becquart, is on a global mission to bring the Pope’s decision-making process closer to the laity. Being able to celebrate Mass isn’t the only way people can undertake leadership roles in the Church, she says. That global mission has led her to Australia to hear what Australian Read more
New report confirms founder of L’Arche sexually exploited women
Thursday, February 9th, 2023
An independent commission appointed by L’Arche International has published a new report confirming that the founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier, sexually exploited and abused women. The report provides evidence that the sexual exploitation of women was the primary motivation for Vanier’s founding of the organisation. Jean Vanier, who founded the organisation in 1964, has been Read more
Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury and Church of Scotland promote legality of homosexuality
Thursday, February 9th, 2023
Pope Francis has again expressed his stance against the criminalisation of homosexuality and confirmed his support for LGBTQ rights. During his flight from South Sudan to Rome, he stated, “God loves people with homosexual tendencies. To condemn them is a sin. Criminalising them is an injustice.” Pope Francis’ comments came in response to laws criminalising Read more
Pope Francis accuses critics of exploiting death of Pope Benedict XVI
Thursday, February 9th, 2023
Pope Francis has accused some of his critics of exploiting the death of Pope Benedict for their own gain. During a recent press conference, the Pope spoke out against those who sought to score political points in the wake of Benedict’s death on December 31st. “I think Benedict’s death was exploited,” Francis said. “People wanted Read more
Cardinal Zen and Jimmy Lai among Hong Kongers nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Thursday, February 9th, 2023A bipartisan congressional commission chaired by Rep Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, announced Thursday the nomination of six Hong Kongers, including Cardinal Joseph Zen and jailed Catholic media mogul Jimmy Lai, for the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in the cause of human rights. “Jimmy Lai, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Gwyneth Ho, Lee Read more
Pope grieving for victims of quakes in Turkey and Syria
Thursday, February 9th, 2023Pope Francis says he is deeply saddened to learn of the huge loss of life caused by a powerful earthquake that has struck south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of the neighbouring countries early Monday morning, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing thousands of people. Hundreds are still believed Read more