Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church has suspended a controversial priest who has advised parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels. Better known as “Father Pistolas,” Rev Alfredo Gallegos is a priest in the violence-plagued western state of Michoacan who has himself sometimes carried a weapon. A circular from the Archdiocese of Morelia, the state Read more
World
Bahrain activist group urges pope to speak out on human rights abuses
Monday, October 17th, 2022An American activist group promoting human rights in Bahrain has called on Pope Francis to either back out of his upcoming visit to the Gulf nation or criticise what they say are repressive and discriminatory government practices. In an Oct 12 statement, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) said that certain acts Read more
Pope condemns ‘relentless’ bombing of Ukrainian cities
Monday, October 17th, 2022
Pope Francis has condemned Russia’s “relentless bombing” of Ukrainian cities, saying the attacks had unleashed a “hurricane of violence” on residents. Speaking to a large crowd at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square, Francis also appealed to “those who have the fate of the war in their hands” to stop. “My heart is Read more
Portugal’s president under fire over Church sex abuse remarks
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
Portugal’s president is under fire for seeming to make light Catholic clergy sex abuse revelations. After finding members of the Portuguese Catholic Church had sexually abused over 400 children, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa indicated the number didn’t seem significant. “Having 400 cases doesn’t seem to me to be a lot, because in other countries Read more
Unity call marks Vatican II 60th anniversary
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
Pope Francis called for Church unity at Mass on Tuesday, commemorating the Second Vatican Council’s 60th anniversary. Known as Vatican II (1962-1965), the Council taught the Church to see the world around it, Francis said. In his homily, he described the special Mass an act of love toward God and a remedy to the acute Read more
Jesus accessible at Disneyland and Super Bowl
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
Disneyland in Paris and the US Super Bowl will soon be used by churches as venues for massive media outreaches A new 40-million euro Church complex near Paris Disney will include a new church that can hold up to 900 people and a private school that can accommodate more than 1,500 students. And in the Read more
New York judge recognises ‘multi-person relationships’
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
A New York judge has ruled that people in polyamorous (multi-person) relationships are entitled to the same legal protections as married people. In a ruling on a dispute over a rent-stabilised apartment, Judge Karen May Bacdayan of the Civil Court of the City of New York opined that the legal protection of same-sex relationships shouldn’t Read more
YouTube adds abortion link to Catholic, pro-life videos
Thursday, October 13th, 2022
YouTube videos produced by Catholic or pro-life organizations will now bear an abortion disclaimer and a link to an abortion webpage. This means YouTube videos about Pope Francis, Catholic teaching on abortion, and alternatives to abortion now include links to abortion information that video creators might reject. Clare Morell, a policy analyst with the Ethics Read more
Swiss bishop resigns at age 59 due to ‘inner fatigue’
Thursday, October 13th, 2022Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a 59-year-old Swiss bishop on Monday who said “inner fatigue” had made his office “unbearable” to him. Bishop Valerio Lazzeri was in charge of the Diocese of Lugano in Switzerland since 2013. During a press conference Monday afternoon, he said: “Sincerity and complete transparency compel me to tell you Read more