Two UK church leaders have written to the Israeli Ambassador and the British Prime Minister, criticising Israel’s government’s proposed plan to annex Palestinian land this year. The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, both oppose Israel’s plans for Israeli armed forces to unilaterally annex parts of the West Read more
The Holy See Press Office on Friday announced papal appointments to two positions in the Vatican. Pope Francis appointed Dr. Raffaella Vincenti as office head of the Vatican Apostolic Library. Dr. Vincenti had previously served as secretary of the Library. Pope Francis also named Professor Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi as a Member of the managing board Read more
Following a decision by prosecutors not to charge retired Wyoming bishop Joseph Hart for sexual abuse against minors, his alleged victims are looking to the Church’s canonical process as a last chance for the 88-year-old prelate to be brought to justice. As first reported by the Kansas City Star on Tuesday, and confirmed by Crux Read more
Sabahan singer Zizi Kirana has politely requested for people to stop bashing her on social media after she decided to stop wearing the hijab. The 35-year-old had donned the headscarf during Ramadan this year but chose to remove it recently, telling mStar that she wasn’t ready for the commitment yet. She also admitted to feeling Read more
Christians in the communist nation of Laos continue to face discrimination, harassment and ridicule over their beliefs. “They say in our village that there is no Christian god and that our ancestors were all animist,” a villager living in mountainous northern Laos recently told Radio Free Asia. Christianity is little understood among many Laotians, most Read more
Millennials’ family life radically differs from past generations, according to a new study. Catholic leaders and scholars say this presents particular challenges for passing on the faith and building the Catholic community. Last month’s Pew Research Center analysis revealed millennials are slower than previous generations to build their own households. Most choose to delay marriage Read more
A priest felt pressured into holding a wedding at his Welsh Catholic church during the coronavirus lockdown. Father Sebastian Jones performed the ceremony on May 12, after the parents ‘insisted that it take place immediately’. Wedding ceremonies and christenings were banned in Wales when lockdown began on March 23. The Archbishop of Cardiff George Stack Read more
The Catholic laity became more discerning about the quality of worship services and preaching during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, says the head of Germany’s Catholic bishop’s conference. Speaking from his own experience, Bishop Georg Bätzing says he has noticed when he preaches “dialogically” (ie in a dialogue-like way), he gets a lot of feedback from Read more
Pope Francis spoke out against the sin of racism in a speech about George Floyd’s death that was broadcast around the world. He said the sin exists among those who say they fight for all human life – yet it doesn’t fit with the belief system that defends human life at all stages. “We cannot Read more
The Vatican has jailed an Italian banker for extortion, embezzlement, aggravated fraud and money laundering. The arrest warrant for Gianluigi Torzi, who had acted as an intermediary for the Holy See in the 2018 purchase of a luxury building in London, was issued last week by the Vatican’s civil court. It has been carrying out Read more