Pope Francis expressed gratitude, Friday, for the cease-fire in the Holy Land. “My thoughts turn to the events taking place these days in the Holy Land,” Francis said, referring to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. “I thank God for the decision to halt the armed conflicts and acts of violence, and I Read more
Protestant and Catholic worshippers in Germany defied Church teaching on Sunday by participating in each other’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper at an Ecumenical Convention in Frankfurt. Bettina Limperg, the Lutheran co-president of the Ecumenical Church Congress, received Holy Communion in a Catholic church. Thomas Sternberg, fellow co-president and head of the influential lay Central Read more
After placing restrictions on churches that were blocked by the Supreme Court, the state of California owes $1.3 million to a Pasadena congregation. A U.S. district judge last Friday released an order “permanently” enjoining the state from issuing or enforcing “any capacity or numerical restrictions on religious worship services” that are prohibited by recent Supreme Read more
Authorities in Taiwan have placed capital Taipei and surrounding areas on high alert and restrictions for two weeks following an upsurge in Covid-19 cases, forcing the closure of businesses, offices and worship places including churches. Taiwan has recorded more than 1,000 new cases in the past week, triggering new curbs from the government to limit Read more
An unapologetic Israel Folau says he has no regrets about his controversial religious views as he aims to resurrect his sporting career at an amateur Gold Coast rugby league club, with backing from billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer. The former rugby union and rugby league international has signed with Southport Tigers, who play in Gold Read more
Pacific churches have condemned the media blackout in West Papua, military crackdown in parts of the territory and the silencing of dissenting voices. They have also criticised the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) for “allowing Indonesia into their fold”. In a statement, the Suva-based Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) said it had noted with deepening concern Read more
Pope Francis is urging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to put down their arms and spare the children, in the latest round of hostilities between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The injury and death of so many innocent people puts the entire area at risk of sinking into “a spiral of death and destruction,” he says. Read more
Catholic women in Germany have taken part in a day of action as they strive for permission to give homilies during Mass. For the second year in a row, Ulrike Göken-Huismann was one of twelve women in twelve different locations who took part in a nationwide action called “Preachers’ Day”. “Our goal is to make Read more
It is good to get together and sing and play the guitar, but that’s not what consecrated life is about, Pope Francis told two religious institutes celebrating 50 years of consecrated life. Consecrated life means “consecrating oneself every day” and should be understood in “dialogue with reality,” he says. Pope Francis made the comments in Read more
The newly appointed bishop of Hong Kong says he believes prudence and dialogue were a way forward in the challenges facing his diocese. Bishop-elect Stephen Chow Sau-yan told journalists that he did not think it would be wise to comment on especially controversial issues, particularly on China, the day after his appointment. “That would be Read more