A new law in Queensland says priests must break the confessional seal to report child sex abuse to police. If they don’t comply, they could face three years in jail. Echoing recommendations from Australia’s Royal Commission Into Child Sexual Abuse, Queensland’s Parliament passed the new law on Tuesday. Australia’s Catholic leaders have always vowed to Read more
German Catholic delegates for the Synodal Path have held their latest plenary assembly in five locations across the country. Rather than meet as a single group in Frankfurt, the 230 delegates met in smaller groups due to the coronavirus pandemic. About 40 people took part in the discussions in Berlin. The Synodal Path (or journey) Read more
The youth ministry is an important feature of the Church and the real meaning of “synodality” is well understood by young people, Pope Francis says. Young people have lessons they could teach the Church about synodality, Pope Francis says. “They have asked us in a thousand ways to walk alongside them — not behind them Read more
The Vatican tourism revenue has been hit hard by the pandemic. Like other major visitor hotspots, the Vatican is predicting big losses and has had to make cutbacks. The museums (which include the Sistine Chapel) cost about €20 (about $NZ35) to visit. Normally, tens of thousands of people arrive every day, generating millions of dollars Read more
Attacks on French churches have moved back up to their “normal” level after a reduction during the country’s March 17 to May 11 lockdown. A spokesperson for an organization led by young Catholics, Protège ton église (Protect Your Church) says during the pandemic attacks continued on a smaller scale. This was despite the lockdown rules Read more
The Danish parliament is scheduled to consider a bill proposing a ban on non-medical circumcisions. Henri Goldstein, the president of the Jewish Community in Denmark, says the measure represents “the worst threat since World War II” to the country’s Jews, who traditionally circumcise baby boys on their eighth day of life, a ritual known as Read more
When Jimmy Macdonald found himself drowning in the waters of Lake George in New York next to his tipped kayak, he thought he might die. He had been enjoying a relaxing August day on the lake with his family, meditating and snapping pictures. He kept his lifejacket in the boat – he didn’t think he Read more
Preparations for World Youth Day – WYD 2023 – in Lisbon resumed on Saturday, marking the beginning of the new pastoral year. According to Archbishop Américo Aguiar, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon and president of the “WYD Lisbon 2023 Foundation”, Pope Francis is following the preparations for World Youth Day “quietly” and with “excitement.” Last Wednesday, Read more
The first international organ festival will be held under the nearly 2,000-year-old dome of Rome’s Pantheon and above the relics of early Christian martyrs. The melodies of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers will be played on the organ this month in an effort to use beauty to reconnect people with the mystery of God. Read more
Pope Francis will sign his new encyclical next month in Assisi. Focusing on what the world should look like following the Covid-19 pandemic, Francis is calling the new encyclical “Brothers and Sisters All” (“Fratelli Tutti”, in Italian). The encyclical examines the social, political and economic obligations that flow from a belief that all people are Read more