Evangelisation doesn’t depend on big parishes, says Hanoi’s Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien. Even tiny ones, like those with just 70-200 parishioners each, can still evangelise others. The way Catholics live out their faith is what’s important, he says. They should trust in God, who always loves and blesses them. They should also try to Read more
A prominent Vatican theologian says Catholic teaching on contraception is open for “theological discussion, within the Church, and even the possibility of dissent”. Father Maurizio Chiodi (pictured) made the comments in an interview conducted by Fabrizio Mastrofini, the communications and social media manager of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Chiodi, who has been a member Read more
According to a well-known US bishop, dumbing down the Catholic Church by making it more simple and appealing to the mainstream culture has proved disastrous. In his Sunday sermon, Bishop Robert Barron said, “Dumbed down Catholicism has not helped evangelisation. Quite the contrary, we did this to ourselves”. The bishop is a controversial figure on Read more
An Irish bishop has said Communion at Mass should be available for all, even if others think they are unworthy. In his homily in Knock on Sunday, Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran, said he would seriously question the “cancelling” of an invitation to Communion. “When the Eucharist is thought of as a prize, there seems Read more
The Roman Curia looks likely to be reformed when the world’s cardinals meet in Rome tomorrow. Vatican commentator Thomas Reece says after Pope Francis creates 17 new cardinals, he wants to discuss his plans for reforming the Curia. The Curia is the bureaucracy the pope uses to help him exercise his pastoral office and universal Read more
Pope Francis has ordered that the Holy See and connected entities move all financial assets to the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican bank. The pope’s rescript, issued on 23 August, clarifies the interpretation of a paragraph in the new constitution of the Roman Curia, Praedicate Evangelium, promulgated in March. Read more
Two state-sponsored church bodies in China have elected new leaders who promised to invigorate the Catholic faithful pastorally in line with the socialist principles of the Chinese Communist Party. The three-day 10th National Congress of Catholicism in China ended in Wuhan, the capital of Hebei province in central China, in August. The national conference is Read more
Four Nuns who were kidnapped in Nigeria’s southern Imo State on Sunday, 21 August, have been returned to their community. Sisters Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu and Benita Agu were freed unconditionally – meaning without the payment of a ransom – according to a statement issued on 23 August by members of the Sisters Read more
A Vatican source has said Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s apparent invitation to participate in a high-profile meeting of cardinals next week represents a personal gesture on the part of Pope Francis. But it does not necessarily mean Becciu’s rights as a cardinal, stripped by the pope two years ago, are being restored. Over the weekend, Read more
The cardinal accused of sexual assault against a woman in a class-action lawsuit in Canada has denied any inappropriate behaviour and will not face a Vatican investigation into the claims. Cardinal Marc Ouellet (pictured) issued a statement via the Vatican press office after the Holy See said an investigation into the woman’s allegations determined the Read more