Republican Christian voters are being called on in a new political advertisement to turn against Donald Trump this November, arguing the president’s rhetoric and actions are out of step with their faith. The ad, released on Tuesday (July 14), features several self-identified Republicans discussing Trump and his presidency as a piano softly plays the hymn Read more
World
Priests face ‘crisis of conscience’ as bishops differ over Communion on the tongue
Monday, July 20th, 2020Priests have spoken of a “crisis of conscience” as bishops in England and Wales issue differing guidelines on the reception of Holy Communion. The bishops’ conference recommends that Communion only be received in the hand, but individual bishops have the authority to make policy for their dioceses, and have adopted varying guidelines. A spokesperson for Read more
Caritas warns against double pandemic: COVID-19 and hunger
Monday, July 20th, 2020Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican’s charitable organization, joined Pope Francis in his call for the debt forgiveness for the poorest countries, while condemning the fact that for many regions “there are two pandemics,” COVID-19 and hunger. “Two major crises require immediate and determined action by people of goodwill, leaders and all members of the human community,” Read more
Catholic hospitals in Syria working to help indigent patients
Monday, July 20th, 2020Three Catholic-run hospitals providing life-saving services free of charge to vulnerable Syrians hope to aid some 50,000 patients by the project’s end next year. “Institutions in Syria now are having a lot of difficulties … So, this project supporting these hospitals is helping them to go on,” said Flavia Chevallard, project coordinator for “Operation Open Read more
Canonisation of Charles de Foucauld troubles historians
Thursday, July 16th, 2020
The canonisation of Blessed Charles de Foucauld is bothering some historians. They say his legacy is tied too closely to French colonialism in Algeria where he was murdered in 1916. In May, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints said a miracle had been attributed to the intercession of Blessed Charles, enabling his canonization to Read more
Several bishops needed, 30% say “no”
Thursday, July 16th, 2020
Several new bishops will be appointed in France over the next year and a half as by the end of next year, 15 bishops will have already reached retirement age of 75. Others may ask to be relieved of their duties for health reasons. There are currently four dioceses in France that are without a Read more
Streamlining formation of priests considered
Thursday, July 16th, 2020
The formation of priests is under the spotlight in Germany because of an ongoing reduction in candidates for the priesthood. Where there were 594 candidates in 2011, this has whittled to just 211 at present, says Heinrich Timmerevers, Bishop of Dresden-Meissen. The decline in candidate numbers has had Germany’s Catholic bishops considering ways of streamlining Read more
World Council of Churches appeals Hagia Sophia mosque decision
Thursday, July 16th, 2020
The World Council of Churches has written to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to change his mind about turning the Hagia Sophia museum back into a mosque. The Council, which represents 350 Churches and over 500 million Christians, says the move would sow division. The Hagia Sophia has been a museum since 1934. The president Read more
Cardinal Dolan sends Next Pope book to cardinals
Thursday, July 16th, 2020
A newly-released book, The Next Pope: The Office of Peter and a Church in Mission, is about desirable qualities in a future pope. Copies of George Weigel’s book have been sent to all 222 cardinals across the globe, courtesy of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan. In doing so, he broke with a longstanding practice that Read more
A megachurch reels after learning pastor let his professed pedophile son work with kids
Thursday, July 16th, 2020The leaders of a California evangelical megachurch are under fire for bungling the church’s response to a youth ministry volunteer’s confession that he was attracted to minors. The Menlo Church volunteer in question first told Senior Pastor John Ortberg about his feelings two years ago, though congregants weren’t officially notified about the situation until January. Read more