German Bishop Heiner Wilmer has claimed that the Catholic Church “utterly gambled away” people’s trust in the institution by the way it has mishandled the clergy sex abuse crisis. “Protecting the institution and the perpetrators was always the most important factor for the Church. (Protecting) the victims, on the other hand, simply did not occur,” Read more
A Polish Catholic priest faces a disciplinary hearing at one of Poland’s leading universities for his comments attacking a colleague who promoted the infamous anti-Semitic “blood libel.” Fr Alfred Wierzbicki, a professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, will appear before a university disciplinary committee on Friday. He will answer the allegation Read more
The suicide rate in Thailand, especially among teenagers, is on the rise, with experts attributing it to increased stress and despondency fueled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and resultant economic problems. According to data from last year, the nationwide suicide rate has risen to 7.37 per 100,000 people from 6.64 the year before. Among Thai Read more
Townsville Bishop Tim Harris has mandated all Townsville Diocese agency employees and volunteers, excluding staff of Townsville Catholic Education schools and colleges, be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 17. “The safety and protection of our parishioners, employees and volunteers continues to be a high priority. We’ve seen witness to this over the past 18 months Read more
Archbishop Eamon Martin has launched the 2021 interactive digital Advent Calendar, which will go live on on the first Sunday of Advent, 28 November. Now in its eighth year, the unique digital Advent Calendar offers resources for the parish, school and for families which can be accessed behind a virtual door each day during the Read more
For the 12-year-old student at St Francis of Assisi School, wearing a favorite old tee shirt with a gay pride message on “Dress Down Day” was nothing new. She had worn it before on relaxed-dress-code days with no problem, she told The Brew. But this past Friday, at the end of the mass that she Read more
The theme “Moved by Hope” inspired hundreds of short film submissions from young people from across the world to a new Catholic-run international film festival. The festival strives to embrace, encourage and empower every young person to become the voice of hope and solidarity. “You, young people, are the architects of the future, signs of Read more
A group of prelates joined in a walk of solidarity with victims of child sexual abuse following the end of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) fall plenary held in Baltimore, Maryland. Billed as the Pathways to Prevention, Healing and Justice Inaugural Sunrise Walk, it coincided with the annual day of observance for the Read more
The Archbishop of Brisbane has issued an ultimatum to clergy in the archdiocese – they must be double vaccinated within a month, or be suspended. Archbishop Mark Coleridge sent a letter this week to all priests and deacons to comply with double-dose vaccination by December 15 or stand aside. In the strongly worded letter on Read more
Pope Francis urged young Catholics on Sunday to “be the critical conscience of society”. During his celebration of a Mass marking the 36th World Youth Day, Francis praised young people for their efforts to protect the Earth’s environment. Calling them “friends”, Francis told his young congregation “we are not here to be enchanted by the Read more