A Catholic church serving more than 300 Christian families in Pakistan’s commercial capital of Karachi was demolished Aug. 24 despite resistance from a civil society group and warnings from UN human rights experts. The Save Karachi Movement, a group of lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists and minority activists, confirmed the demolition of St. Joseph Church Read more
World
Israel’s rabbinate asks Pope Francis to explain comments about Judaism
Monday, August 30th, 2021Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has written a letter to Pope Francis conveying its “distress” at comments he made suggesting Jewish law, as written in the Torah, is obsolete. The letter, first reported on by Reuters, was sent by Rabbi Rasson Arousi, chair of the Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel for Dialogue with the Holy Read more
India vaccinates 10 million in one day
Monday, August 30th, 2021India has given more than 10 million Covid-19 jabs in a single day for the first time, authorities said Saturday, as the South Asian giant bolsters its defences for a predicted new surge. The health ministry said the 10 million landmark was passed on Friday, beating the country’s previous daily record of 9.2 million. The Read more
Cardinal offers way out of pandemic stress
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
A Vatican cardinal has some suggestions for people suffering from pandemic stress. Doing so could result in positive results, he explains. The cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who is the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples – offered his ideas last week. He had been asked what people who feel more anxious, Read more
Commission for female deacons to hold first meeting
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
It is almost two years since Pope Francis said he would re-form the commission on female deacons. Although he announced the new members’ names in April 2020, their meetings have been delayed as a result of COVID 19. On Monday, however, the new commission confirmed it will hold its first meeting in Rome in the Read more
Archdiocese of Chicago requires priests and all staff to be vaccinated
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
The Archdiocese of Chicago announced all staff and clergy (including Catholic Charities and Misericordia) would be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the delta variant surges. The archdiocese’s vaccination policy will take effect on 4 Oct, giving unvaccinated employees six weeks from FDA approval to get their vaccination. This is an additional week to the Read more
Call for Australia to take 20,000 Afghan refugees
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
Jesuit Priest and human rights lawyer Father Frank Brennan says Australia should take in 20,000 Afghan refugees rather than the 3,000 being proposed. “There are lots of people, including our veterans, who know these Afghans. They want us to do more. We can do much better than 3,000,” Brennan told Sky News Australia. There are Read more
Real power comes from service
Thursday, August 26th, 2021
Governments get their legitimacy from service to the people says Cardinal Charles Bo. “Real power, as Pope Francis often cited, comes from service. Not imposing power on the innocents,” the Myanmar cardinal said recently in a homily. “For any government, in any just country, the government is not above the people. “The government is one Read more
‘Basic racism’: Pacific workers struggle to get training and promotions
Thursday, August 26th, 2021Pacific workers want to get ahead, but many find they are stuck in a narrow range of jobs because employers keep “the brown ones on the floor”, says the employment rights watchdog. Commissioner of Equal Employment Opportunities Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo has launched an inquiry into Pacific people, New Zealand’s lowest paid workers. The scope Read more