Leaders of the global response to HIV and AIDS who gathered in Montreal for the International AIDS Conference praised faith leaders for their contribution to fighting the four decade-old pandemic. “Faith leaders have helped to keep us on track. You have provided hope to millions of people living with HIV and to HIV activists with Read more
World
Printing troubles spark Catholic bible shortage in Hong Kong
Thursday, August 4th, 2022Catholics in Hong Kong are bracing for a shortage of Chinese-language bibles amid the unwillingness of publishing houses in mainland China to print the sacred Christian scripture, says a religious order specialising in biblical and archaeological studies. The Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF) of Hong Kong, run by the Franciscans, announced last week that the society Read more
Pope Francis encourages Outreach, LGBTQ ministry
Thursday, August 4th, 2022Pope Francis has responded to his being sent a brochure from the Outreach LGBTQ ministry conference held recently at Fordham University. Writing a letter to Fr James Martin, SJ, Francis encouraged Martin to keep working in the ministry “I encourage you all to keep working in the culture of encounter, which shortens the distances and Read more
Pope’s August prayer intention is for small businesses
Thursday, August 4th, 2022Pope Francis in his prayer intention for the month of August invites Catholics to pray for small and medium-sized businesses, so that in the midst of economic and social crisis, they find ways to continue operating and serving their communities. “Stores, workshops, cleaning businesses, transportation businesses and so many others. The ones that don’t appear Read more
Pope discusses changing Church teaching on contraception
Monday, August 1st, 2022
“Could the Church teaching on contraception change?” a journalist asked Pope Francis on Saturday during his return flight to Rome from Canada. “This is very timely,” Francis replied. “But know that dogma, morality, is always in a path of development, but development in the same direction.” Tradition can really be preserved and handed down only Read more
Anglican Communion row flares over same-sex marriage
Monday, August 1st, 2022
A meeting of leaders of the Anglican Communion say they will refuse Holy Communion from bishops with gay partners and from those who support same-sex marriage. Friday’s announcement at the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England came from the Global South orthodox bishops as they pressed for re-affirmation of traditional teaching on marriage. The Global South Read more
New bishop replaces priests who have run ministry for 65 years
Monday, August 1st, 2022
A group of priests who have run the Catholic ministry at Ohio State University for 65 years will depart at the end of July following a decision by the new bishop of the Diocese of Columbus. Bishop Earl Fernandes, who was installed on May 31, is the Catholic Church’s first Indian-American bishop. Fernandes advised the Read more
Calls to crisis lines double after Pope’s apology for ‘deplorable evil’
Monday, August 1st, 2022
The number of calls being made to crisis lines in Canada has doubled following the Pope’s apology for the ‘deplorable evil’ committed by members of the Catholic Church. “After (the apology) people just came in droves to us,” said Nola Jeffrey, executive director of Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, a substance abuse and trauma help centre Read more
Lord’s Prayer to continue to be read in Australian Senate
Monday, August 1st, 2022
Australian Senate leaders have confirmed the tradition of reading the Lord’s Prayer in parliament will continue, despite calls from the Upper House’s new president, Sue Lines, for it to end. Senator Lines sparked an outcry on Thursday after telling The Australian that as an atheist, she did not want to say the prayer, which has Read more
Everyone’s talking about the Doctrine of Discovery
Monday, August 1st, 2022
The Doctrine of Discovery is making headlines, especially in Canada. Numerous individuals and groups want it gone. The Doctrine is a collection of papal teachings beginning in the 14th century. The teachings (called papal bulls) blessed explorers’ efforts to colonise and claim the lands of any people who were not Christian. The explorers would then Read more