Indonesia’s parliament is expected to pass a new criminal code this month that would criminalise sex outside marriage and outlaw insults against the president or state institutions, prompting alarm from human rights campaigners. The deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, said in an interview with Reuters that the new criminal code was expected to Read more
World
Seattle Archdiocese criticised for buying $2.4 million home for archbishop
Monday, December 5th, 2022Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne will move from a parish rectory into a newly purchased $2.4 million home in an upscale waterfront neighbourhood. Archdiocesan officials say the relocation is necessary to accommodate guests better, but the decision has also garnered criticism. “The move is breaking a promise that the archbishop made to us in a pretty Read more
Pope Francis’ watch auctioned for world record price
Monday, December 5th, 2022A watch worn by Pope Francis was sold Wednesday at a charity auction and set a new world record for the brand. The LaViolette Scholarship Foundation auctioned off a Swatch Once Again watch on Nov 30 that Francis had worn for much of his pontificate. The watch, which can be found at the brand’s official Read more
2021 Census finds less than half England and Wales is Christian
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
Newly released 2021 Census results show under half the population of England and Wales describe themselves as “Christian”. Other parts of the UK – Scotland and Northern Ireland – report their census results separately. This is the first time the official religion of England and Wales – Christianity – has been followed by a minority Read more
‘Clear conscience’ cardinal bugs call to convalescing Pope
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
The Vatican has opened a new investigation into a disgraced cardinal’s alleged spying on Pope Francis. Becciu is already on trial on charges of financial mismanagement and corruption. However, on March 17, Becciu testified in the Vatican Court that he was innocent of the embezzlement, abuse of power and witness tampering charges. He said he Read more
China vows more ‘friendly consensus’ amid Vatican complaints
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the country is willing to expand the “friendly consensus” achieved with the Vatican over bishops’ nominations. Zhao Lijian (pictured) was responding to complaints from the Vatican that Beijing was violating a 2018 interim accord over bishop appointments. The Vatican issued an unusually harsh statement on Saturday complaining that Beijing on Read more
Pope Francis: Why women cannot be ordained priests
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
Pope Francis has unequivocally stated that women cannot be ordained as priests; however, he emphasised the important role they have to play in the life of the Church. In an interview with America Magazine, Francis responded to a question posed by Kerry Webber, executive editor of the magazine published by the Jesuits of the United Read more
Top Vatican cardinals express concern about German Synodal Path
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
Two top Vatican officials expressed concern that German bishops were allowing participants in the Synodal Path to adopt positions in contrast to the faith of the universal church, particularly regarding sexuality and women’s ordination. The bishops met on 18 November with the heads of Vatican dicasteries to discuss the Synodal Path. The German bishops’ conference Read more
Pandemic pushes 460,000 Cambodians into poverty
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
According to a World Bank Poverty Assessment Report, the Covid pandemic has forced around 460,000 Cambodians into poverty. It followed a decade of unprecedented economic growth and poverty reduction in Cambodia. At that time, the global economy was experiencing strong growth rates. The report “Toward A More Inclusive and Resilient Cambodia” notes Cambodia’s poverty rate Read more
Pope critical of Russia: Vatican website hacked
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
A Vatican spokesman said Wednesday that the Holy See has taken down its main vatican.va website amid a series of apparent attempts to hack the site. “Technical investigations are ongoing due to abnormal attempts to access the site,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told Reuters Nov. 30, without elaboration. The perpetrator and motives of the alleged hacker or Read more