German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki is calling for a fresh start in Cologne, Germany’s largest Catholic archdiocese, but raised eyebrows after describing the pope as an “old man.” The cardinal wants to remain archbishop, but is placing his fate in the hands of the pope, Woelki told a closed diocesan pastoral council meeting in the Read more
World
Canadian indigenous give pope moccasins, ask him to walk with them
Thursday, March 31st, 2022
Members of the Métis National Council, a Canadian Indigenous people, gave Pope Francis a set of beaded moccasins and asked him to walk with them on the path of truth, justice and healing. Mitch Case (pictured with Cassidy Carron), a member of the provisional council of the Metis Nation of Ontario, said the gift is Read more
Secular universities funded to create institutes of Catholic thought
Thursday, March 31st, 2022
US secular universities will benefit from a US$3.6m grant to create a national network of independent institutes of Catholic thought. Several secular universities are already home to many of these institutes. The aim of the plan is to help make Catholicism’s intellectual tradition a vital aspect of academic life, foccusing on the theology, arts, politics Read more
Dialogue with the local community a key to Catholic school
Thursday, March 31st, 2022
Dialoguing with the local community while protecting and promoting the Catholic school’s identity are vital components of the modern Catholic school. The instruction comes in a new document about Catholic schools from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. “The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue” focuses on the schools’ obligations to Read more
Catholic dioceses appeal bishop’s right to sell property
Thursday, March 31st, 2022
Two Catholic dioceses in the Indian state of Kerala have made an appeal to the Supreme Court (pictured) over the state’s High Court judgment that held Bishops have no authority over diocesan properties unless linked with spiritual matters. The Catholic Diocese of Thamarassery and Eparchy of Bathery filed the Special Leave Petitions challenging the remarks Read more
Catholic bishop admits covering up sexual abuse allegations
Thursday, March 31st, 2022
The former bishop of the diocese of Albany, New York, has acknowledged covering up allegations of sexual abuse against children by priests. Howard J Hubbard made the admission during a deposition taken last year. He said he didn’t take action in part to avoid scandal and protect the reputation of the diocese. Hundreds of people Read more
Court allows giant statue of Virgin Mary to be built in Brazil
Thursday, March 31st, 2022São Paulo State’s Court of Appeals has reversed a 2019 decision that stopped the building of a giant steel statue of the Virgin Mary in Aparecida, the city where Brazil’s major Catholic shrine is located. The 164-feet stainless steel sculpture portraying Our Lady of Aparecida – taller than Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer – Read more
Jews say making daylight saving time permanent threatens morning prayer
Thursday, March 31st, 2022American Jews say they were blindsided by the US Senate’s lightning-fast passage of a bill to make daylight saving time year-round and intend to fight it. The Sunshine Protection Act, which passed the Senate on March 15, will make it nearly impossible for Jews to pray communally in the morning, Jewish advocates say, and still Read more
Earliest mention of ‘Yahweh’ found in archaeological dump
Thursday, March 31st, 2022An ancient tablet discovered near the Palestinian city of Nablus may contain the earliest known mention of God’s name in proto-alphabetic Hebrew. Scott Stripling, director of the Archaeological Studies Institute at The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas, announced the discovery of the lead tablet Thursday (March 24). He said it could push back the written Read more
‘The Bible in a Year’ podcast tops the charts, with 238m downloads
Thursday, March 31st, 2022The story began in a humble fashion. Father Mike Schmitz had a pretty typical Minnesota Catholic upbringing; 22% of the state identifies with the Catholic faith. “I did not like going to mass. I would say I hated going to mass,” Schmitz said. “(But) when I was 15 years old, I had this awareness … Read more