The German bishops, planning to talk with the Vatican about parish reform want laity included in the discussion. News of the move came after a meeting of the bishops’ conference 27 member Permanent Council, reports the German Catholic news agency KNA. The Conference’s permanent council says Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg (pictured), would “accept the Read more
The head of the World Health Organisation, which has been strongly advocating rapid, fair and equitable access to potential Covid-19 vaccines worldwide, voiced support for Pope Francis’ similar call for global protections. Pope Francis made appeals on Twitter and at his weekly general audience insisting that any vaccine developed for the novel coronavirus should be Read more
Priests and all Catholics are being urged to learn the signs of domestic abuse and how to help victims. The National Board of Catholic Women has responded to a surge in pandemic-related abuse, including against gay and transgender people by issuing a booklet advising as to how to detect the signs and to help. The Read more
A Catholic archbishop has taken part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Muslim mosque in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, calling it “a ‘groundbreaking’ symbol of interreligious harmony.” Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak was among five local officials and religious leaders to attend the event on Aug. 21 in Landak district. West Kalimantan Read more
Catholic communities in a northwestern Vietnamese province which refused to accept religions have had their legal status approved by the government after a decades-long wait. On Aug. 21, Lai Chau provincial authorities announced that they had officially allowed Hung Hoa Diocese to establish Lai Chau Parish based in San Thang commune in Lai Chau city. Read more
An open debate on women’s ordination in the Catholic Church is necessary, says Hamburg’s archbishop, Stefan Hesse. “One has to be permitted to think about and discuss the issue.” Hesse says “Ordinatio sacerdotalis,” John Paul II’s 1994 letter stating the church cannot ordain women as priests, was positioned as a response to those who considered Read more
There has been a significant rise in adult baptisms in Belgium. This year 305 adults will be baptized – 61 more than in 2019. The number of adult baptisms in Belgium has been growing for several years. There were 143 in 2010, 180 in 2015, 244 last year and over 300 this year. Although the Read more
In an initiative likened to Netflix for Catholics, the Australian Diocese of Parramatta has created an new online platform that provides free, ‘on-demand’ inspiration. Targeted at families, children, young people and faith communities, The Well – www.thewell.org.au – was initially designed as a solution to supporting the diocese during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. The Diocese Read more
A group focusing on young people’s needs says Beirut’s children are traumatised and need help. The trauma is a result of the huge explosion that caused at least 180 deaths and 6,000 injuries. Many of Beirut’s children are in need of psychological support, according to a delegation from the heart of the recovery effort. Speaking Read more
The validity of some Dearborn, Michigan, parishoners’ sacraments has been called into question after one of its own priests invalid baptism! Father Matthew Hood learned that he was not a baptised Catholic earlier this month after watching a family video of his baptism and where some words were changed. The words used at his baptism Read more