The Philippine president blamed “foreign terrorists” for a bomb blast that killed four people at Mass on Sunday. The blast wounded dozens of other Catholic worshippers in the south and sparked a security alarm, including in the capital, Manila, where state forces were put on alert. The suspected bomb, which the police said was made Read more
World
Transgender students ok at Catholic women’s university
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Transgender students are now permitted to enrol at a women’s-only Catholic college in Indiana Its board-approved nondiscrimation policy followed the putting together of the College’s “President’s Task Force for Gender Identity and Expression” earlier this year. St Mary’s Catholic College’s updated policy says it “considers admission for undergraduate applicants whose sex is female or who Read more
Civilians, clergy forced to flee Myanmar cathedral amid army takeover
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Civilians, including elderly residents and patients seeking refuge, were compelled to evacuate a Myanmar cathedral as junta soldiers forcibly seized control on November 27. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe of Loikaw and clergy members, alongside a congregation of worshippers, found themselves displaced from Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw due to the intrusion. “It’s sorrowful to Read more
Catholic peacemaker receives Mother Teresa Award
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
US-based Catholic peacemaker Heidi Kuhn has been honoured with this year’s prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice for her tireless efforts in transforming war-torn areas plagued by landmines. Over the last 25 years Kuhn’s humanitarian organisation, Roots of Peace, has turned war-damaged areas into sustainable agricultural land in 11 countries. Abraham Mathai, founder-chairman Read more
It’s time to understand homosexuality
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Homosexuality is misunderstood. It should not be a criminal offence says Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson. People should be helped to understand the issue better, Turkson says. La Croix International reports that the comment is at odds with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ conference, and has stoked outrage on social media. “The position of the Catholic Church Read more
Laughter in the Confession line
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Catholic penitents and priests alike are not used to hearing laughter while lined up for confession. The solemn setting of people seated or kneeling in a confession line waiting to confess their sins is typically marked by quiet reflection. Peering out of the confession booth one day, Fr Joseph Krupp saw that his broad-chested, 32 Read more
Catholic Church unity under pressure
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Catholic Church unity is facing challenges on multiple fronts, driven by tense dialogues between bishops, open criticism of Pope Francis, claims the Synod report will damage the Church, and the perception of internal persecution. Synodal Way dispute escalates At the Council of European Bishops’ Conference in Malta, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, Germany and Archbishop Read more
Pope’s participation in COP28 Summit cancelled at doctors’ request
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Pope Francis’ physicians have asked him not to undertake his scheduled journey to Dubai to participate in the COP28 Summit, and he has accepted their advice “with great regret.” A statement to participants in a seminar on “Ethics in Health Management” Francis indicated that his health has improved, he not longer has a fever. He Read more
Antisemitic incidents in Germany rose by 320% after Hamas attacked Israel
Thursday, November 30th, 2023A group tracking antisemitism in Germany said that it documented a drastic increase in antisemitic incidents in the country in the month after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7. The RIAS group said it recorded 994 incidents, which is an average of 29 incidents per day and an increase of 320% compared to the same Read more
Russian drone damages Kyiv’s Catholic cathedral
Thursday, November 30th, 2023Russia’s extensive drone attack on Kyiv Nov 25 damaged the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Russia launched close to 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones at Ukraine’s capital as Ukrainians marked Holodomor Remembrance Day. The day commemorates the 7 million to 10 million victims of an artificial famine waged by Soviet dictator Read more