A young nun who shot to fame after winning the Italian version of The Voice has announced that she is renouncing her religious vows, swapping her demure appearance for make-up and glamorous outfits. Cristina Scuccia, who as Sister Cristina became a household name in Italy, said the strictures of convent life had become too much, Read more
World
‘Fairy dust’ will deepen divisions in Northern Ireland
Thursday, November 24th, 2022The leaders of both main churches in Ireland have attacked Britain’s plans to deal with the legacy of the Troubles, warning it will “deepen divisions” in the North. The Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Eamon Martin and John McDowell, accused London of setting up its Northern Secretary as a “commissar” to Read more
Pro-life facility attacks make up 70% of FBI’s abortion-related cases
Thursday, November 24th, 2022About 70% of the FBI’s abortion-related cases since the leak of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson involve attacks and threats against pro-life facilities, according to FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. Mr Wray insisted in Thursday testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the bureau has treated violence against pro-life and pro-choice Read more
Indonesian Catholics rush aid for quake victims
Thursday, November 24th, 2022Indonesian Catholics have taken the initiative in providing assistance to victims of the earthquake in West Java that killed more than 250 people and displaced over 7,000. Caritas Indonesia is coordinating with teams from the Catholic charity in three dioceses – Bogor, Bandung, and Jakarta – along with other Catholic organizations to provide assistance to Read more
Princess Anne endorses Church of Scotland-Catholic agreement
Monday, November 21st, 2022
Princess Anne has officially endorsed a historic friendship agreement between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland. Anne, Princess Royal, formally signed the St Margaret’s Declaration at Dunfermline Abbey in Fife. The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly and the Most Rev’d Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews Read more
National security law needs clarifying says Hong Kong’s bishop
Monday, November 21st, 2022
Hong Kong’s Catholic bishop says the national security law is confusing and needs to be clarified. Ambiguity has been created in the way Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing authorities use the national security law. This has sown “confusion over what could be said and what could not”, says Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan (pictured). Such a situation is Read more
Germany’s bishops assure Vatican but vow to proceed with reforms
Monday, November 21st, 2022
Germany’s Catholic bishops have assured the Vatican that their “Synodal Path” won’t lead to a schism; however, they vowed to proceed with reforms. Summarising the German position, the head of the German bishops’ conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, said the German church would not make decisions that were the Vatican’s to make. “We are Catholic,” Bätzing Read more
Father of two appointed to No 2 spot at Vatican family office
Monday, November 21st, 2022
Pope Francis has appointed a religious high school teacher and father of two as Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life. Gleison De Paula Souza becomes the number two official of the department, which is responsible, among other functions, for the follow-up of world youth day. The appointment of Mr De Read more
Darwin bishop threatens to close schools over discrimination laws
Monday, November 21st, 2022
The Bishop of Darwin has threatened to close Catholic schools if the Northern Territory’s Labor government changes laws that strip schools of the right to hire employees based on faith. Bishop Charles Gauci wants the Northern Territory government to shelve its plan to remove the right of religious schools to employ staff who share their Read more
Pope Francis’ prayer advice: Just be with Jesus ‘without ulterior motives’
Monday, November 21st, 2022Pope Francis offered advice on Wednesday for building “a more mature and more beautiful relationship with the Lord” through prayer. Speaking at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on a cold, cloudy morning on Nov 16, the pope spoke about spiritual desolation and approaching prayer without solely seeking “emotional gratification” or as “a mere Read more