Sri Lankan police have arrested a prominent Muslim lawmaker and his brother over suspected connections to the Easter Sunday suicide bombings in 2019 that killed 269 people. Rishad Bathiudeen is a former Cabinet minister who currently leads an opposition party in Sri Lanka’s Parliament. He and his brother, Reyaj Bathiudeen, were arrested in the capital Read more
World
New sex abuse claims against Legion of Christ
Thursday, April 29th, 2021The Legion of Christ, a Catholic order disgraced by sexual abuse committed by its founder and other clergy, is facing new allegations of molestation of children in lawsuits filed this month in Connecticut. Five men and a woman sued the order in federal court on April 14 and 15, saying they were victims of sexual Read more
Spain’s bishops accused of ‘complicity’ in sexual abuse of minors
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Spain’s bishops have been accused of “complicity” in the “sexual violence” committed against children by a leading member of the country’s government. The accusation has further damaged already strained Church-State relations. “Too many times in our country, the Catholic Church has been complicit in covering up sexual violence. This must stop,” said Ione Belarra, Spain’s Read more
Catholic laypeople demand local synod
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Catholic laypeople in the Archdiocese of Cologne want a local synod on how clergy sexual abuse is handled in the archdiocese. “We must make every effort to reestablish a genuine dialogue between the cardinal, senior members of the diocesan leadership and the grassroots of the church,” says Tim Kurzbach, president of the Cologne archdiocesan council Read more
Archbishop attacks rule criminalising church services
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has called for a new rule criminalising church services to be suspended. The government introduced the rule last week in a surprise move. Archbishop Eamon Martin (pictured) says the penal provisions associated with the new regulation are “provocative” and “draconian”. They also potentially infringed religious freedom and Read more
Catholic Scientists to hold conference on non-human intelligence
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
The Society of Catholic Scientists (SCS) will hold its 2021 conference in Washington D.C. on the subject of non-human intelligence. The conference titled “Extraterrestrials, AI, and Minds Beyond the Human” will take place at the Hilton Hotel from June 4-6. The event will also be live-streamed. Conference discussions will provide scientific and theological insights on Read more
Explosion of religious hatred driven by ‘weaponising technology’
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021
Extremists groups are fostering religious hatred by ‘weaponising technology’ according to the recently published Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 (RFR). The RFR also says that persecution of faith groups has drastically increased in more than 95 percent of the world’s worst-offending countries. The report was produced by the international Catholic charity Aid to Read more
Vatican launches two Sign Language programs on YouTube
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021Deaf and hearing impaired Catholics will now be able to follow Pope Francis’ Masses, prayers and speeches as the Vatican launches two new Sign Language channels on YouTube. “I reiterate the need to make available suitable and accessible means for handing on the faith,” Pope Francis said in 2020 in his message on International Day Read more
First United Methodist drag queen candidate ‘speaking in a new way to new people’
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021A few things were different about Sunday’s virtual service at Hope United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Illinois. For one, there were a few more wigs on screen. There also was “a little bit more makeup,” said Ms. Penny Cost, that Sunday’s preacher. Hope Church celebrated Drag Sunday on Sunday (April 11) with a message by Read more
Vatican pays tribute to Prince Philip
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021On the day of the funeral for Prince Philip, in Windsor Castle, a remembrance service was held in Rome’s All Saints’ Anglican Church. The Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth, died on 9 April, aged 99. The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States also participated in the memorial service held in Rome. Archbishop Paul Read more