Cardinal Raymond Burke thanked health care workers as well as people who have been praying for him as he continues his recovery from COVID-19. In an Aug 28 letter posted on his website, he said he would remain hospitalized as he begins what he described as “intensive rehabilitation.” The cardinal did not disclose his location. Read more
World
Catholic church in New Orleans is emergency shelter during Hurricane Ida
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021After the winds from Hurricane Ida peeled off the roof of the seven-story apartment building in Metairie, Louisiana, Aug 29, St Francis Xavier Church was transformed into an emergency shelter for 34 residents, even though the parish had also lost electrical power. Several parishioners live in the Metairie Towers apartment building across the street from Read more
Australian bishop launches special appeal for Afghan refugees
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has called on Catholics to support a special appeal for Afghan refugees. The Archbishop’s Afghan Refugee Appeal will raise desperately needed funds and commit Archdiocesan agencies and partners to providing pastoral, educational, health and welfare assistance to Afghan families and individuals fleeing their homeland. Archbishop Fisher has also personally contacted Australia’s Read more
Holiness does not come from following rigid rules
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021Redemption is the work of God, not of human beings, so be careful and do not listen to “fundamentalists” who claim holiness comes through following certain laws, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience. The belief that holiness comes by observing particular laws “leads us to a rigid religiosity, a rigidity that eliminates that Read more
Catholic Medical Association and paediatricians sue over ‘transgender mandate’
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The US Catholic Medical Association has joined a lawsuit against a Biden administration rule. They say the transgender mandate – reintroduced in May – tramples the conscience rights of doctors opposed to gender-transitioning procedures. The mandate does not provide exemptions for doctors from performing gender-transitioning procedures after a mental health professional’s referral. It overrules their Read more
Social media posts see Catholic priest denied place as uni chaplain
Monday, August 30th, 2021
Catholic priest Fr David Palmer’s social media posts have seen the University of Nottingham decline to recognise him as a chaplain. “Our concern was not in relation to Fr. David’s views themselves, but the manner in which these views have been expressed in the context of our diverse community of people of many faiths,” the Read more
Pope Francis accepts resignation of Australian bishop
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The Vatican has accepted the resignation of a long-serving Australian Catholic Bishop, leaving the future of its investigation into his conduct unclear. A statement released overnight by the Holy See read, “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Broome, Australia, presented by Bishop Christopher Alan Saunders”. Saunders’ Read more
US Catholic Bishop: “No one is transgender”
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The head of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Va, has written that God and the church teach that a person “is created male or female,” and that “no one is transgender”. In a new document, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge calls gender reassignment “wrong and harmful”. He says everyone is male or female as seen in Read more
Catholic priest helps 14 disabled children flee Afghanistan
Monday, August 30th, 2021
A Catholic priest managed to flee Afghanistan with a group of disabled children and nuns as the Taliban took control of the country during the US withdrawal. Barnabite Father Giovanni Scalese, head of the Catholic mission in Afghanistan, along with five Missionaries of Charity nuns and 14 orphans in their care, landed in Rome on Aug Read more
Vatican dissolves Italy-based community founded by couple
Monday, August 30th, 2021With the approval of Pope Francis, the Vatican has ordered the dissolution of an Italy-based community, which had its headquarters in Verona and communities in Medjugorje and Brazil. The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life determined the Regina Pacis Community was to be “suppressed,” citing problems with a lack of Read more