A Catholic aid organisation is sending emergency support to the faithful in Ukraine as Russia invades the country. “The situation is getting worse every day. We live now from hour to hour” said Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of Kharkiv, in a Thursday press release. He leads one of the dioceses that Aid to the Church in Read more
World
Pope Francis told to sit out ceremonies because of knee pain
Monday, February 28th, 2022Pope Francis has abandoned plans for a trip to Florence this weekend and will be unable to preside over Ash Wednesday services next week because of acute knee pain, the Vatican said on Friday. The pope’s doctor had “prescribed a period of greater rest for his leg” because of “acute gonalgia”, or knee pain, the Read more
If today you hear his voice: Lenten gospel enquiry programme
Monday, February 28th, 2022Catholics from Australia and New Zealand are invited to join a virtual Lenten Gospel enquiry programme. Participants spend forty days listening to the Word of God, reflecting on its application to our lives and to the society in which we live, and then looking for ways of bringing others to Christ through all that we Read more
Vietnam authorities urged to respect religious freedom
Monday, February 28th, 2022Hanoi Archdiocese has described government officials’ interruption of a Mass celebrated by its archbishop and priests as an offence against Catholics’ faith, urging the government to respect religious freedom. Father Alfonse Pham Hung, head of the Office of Hanoi Archbishop House, said two government officials from Vu Ban town in Hoa Binh province stormed into Read more
Russia puts humanity in danger
Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Russia is putting humanity in danger, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said on Tuesday. “Today all of humanity has been placed in danger — that the powerful have a right to impose themselves on whomever they wish, with no regard for the rule of law,” he said. “It is Read more
Businessman with Vatican links a suspect in new hospital fraud case
Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Search warrants have been executed across northern Italy this week by Italian financial police investigating an Italian businessman who is a suspect in racketeering, fraud and criminal corruption. The investigations targeted broker Gianluigi Torzi who, along with four others, is currently on trial in the Vatican. The group are allegedly involved in packaging bad debt Read more
Ukraine crisis: Pope asks world leaders to make “serious examination of conscience”
Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Expressing great sadness at the worsening situation in Ukraine, Pope Francis asked world leaders on Wednesday to make a “serious examination of conscience before God”. During his general audience on February 23, the pope called for people to fast for peace on March 2, Ash Wednesday. He prayed that “the Queen of Peace will preserve Read more
Choosing voluntary celibacy or marriage “does not touch the priesthood in itself”
Thursday, February 24th, 2022
Voluntary celibacy or marriage – the call for priests to be able to choose which state they prefer is growing stronger in Germany. German bishops’ conference president Bishop Georg Bätzing (pictured) and Archbishop Ludwig Schick have added their support to Cardinal Reinhard Marx who spoke strongly in favour of voluntary celibacy at the beginning of Read more
Church is non-partisan – but on social and moral issues is never neutral
Thursday, February 24th, 2022
The Catholic Church ‘can and will never be neutral’ in the face of social and moral issues, even though it is otherwise non-partisan. Caritas Philippines national director Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo (pictured) spoke out about the Church’s position on social and moral issues in a published statement on Monday. “We will proclaim what is true, Read more
Ex-Lefebvrists get exemption from Old Mass restrictions
Thursday, February 24th, 2022Pope Francis has decreed that the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), a group of traditionalist catholic clergy originally part of the schismatic Lefevbrist movement, can continue to celebrate Mass and other sacraments according to the Tridentine Rite. The decree, which was signed by Francis on February 11 and appeared on the FSSP website this Read more