Amid vast public controversy surrounding the revelation of allegations against a bishop and Nobel laureate in East Timor for the sexual abuse of minors, the Vatican’s envoy to the country has urged faithful to respect the restrictions imposed by the Holy See. In an Oct 4 interview with state television network RTTL, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, Read more
World
German Synod and Nazism: Cardinal Koch apologises
Monday, October 10th, 2022Cardinal Kurt Koch, a top Vatican official, has met with one of Germany’s leading Catholic bishops and has “apologised” to “all those who felt offended” by a parallel he recently drew between the methods used by the country’s Synodal Path and the theories of a historic pro-Nazi Lutheran group. The closed-door meeting between the Swiss Read more
Pope Bahrain trip blends Muslim outreach, Catholic ministry
Monday, October 10th, 2022Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Bahrain blends three of his top priorities as pope: Ministering to a tiny Catholic community, promoting dialogue with the Muslim world and fostering relations with other Christian communities, according to details released Thursday by the Vatican. The Nov 3-6 visit will mark Francis’ second trip to the Gulf, his second Read more
German bishop demands apology from Cardinal over Nazi comparison
Thursday, October 6th, 2022
The president of the German bishops’ conference Bishop Georg Bätzing sat down with Cardinal Kurt Koch on October 4 to clear the air with the ‘Christian Unity’ president. Bätzing had demanded an apology from the Vatican’s Koch (pictured) over comments that brought up Germany’s Nazi past. He lamented what he called Koch’s “untenable statements” about the Read more
Emmy-winning director’s doco on Francis and the environment launched
Thursday, October 6th, 2022
A new documentary, “The Letter,” premiered at the Vatican this week. Available on YouTube, Emmy-winner Nicholas Brown’s doco is about the Pope’s 2015 encyclical (letter) Laudato Sì’ and how ordinary people can make his vision a reality. Francis addressed the encyclical to “all people of good will”, urging an interconnected vision for humanity and the Read more
Catholic protestors set fire to bishop’s letter
Thursday, October 6th, 2022
A group of Catholic protestors in southern India set fire to a copy of an archbishop’s letter instructing parishes to implement a new mode of celebrating the liturgy. Members of the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT) set alight to the circular letter from Archbishop Andrews Thazhath outside Bishop’s House in Ernakulum, Kerela. Andrews Thazhath, the Read more
Pope: a Church that is open to everyone
Thursday, October 6th, 2022
Each month Pope Francis prays for a special intention. This month, he wants Catholics to listen to the Holy Spirit so the Church gets closer to God and becomes a place of solidarity, fraternity and welcome. “Let us pray that the Church, ever faithful to the Gospel and courageous in preaching it, may live in Read more
AFL club CEO steps down, saying “My faith is not tolerated”
Thursday, October 6th, 2022
The newly appointed CEO of AFL club Essendon said he was forced to step down from the position because of his role as a church chairman, and believes his “personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square”. Former NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn (pictured) said, “I was being required to compromise beyond Read more
Archbishop calls on consecrated to wear religious dress as a ‘revolutionary’ gesture
Thursday, October 6th, 2022The archbishop of Valladolid, Spain, Luis Argüello, called it “revolutionary” in our times to make the supernatural present in the streets by wearing in public the clothing proper to consecrated religious or ordained men. The prelate gave this reflection in his homily for a diaconal ordination, noting that the deacons will wear specific vestments. “You Read more
Most Catholics don’t want Biden to run for a second term
Thursday, October 6th, 2022Most Catholics believe that President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, should not run for a second term in 2024, according to a new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research Poll of likely Catholic voters released on Monday. The poll, conducted September 12–19, shows Biden continues to face challenges in garnering support among Catholic voters in Read more