Australians have turned to prayer during the coronavirus pandemic, with many wanting to spend more time growing their faith once restrictions are lifted, according to a new study. McCrindle Research said that about a third of Australians increased their prayer and other spiritual activities during the March and April lockdown, with 26 per cent wanting Read more
World
Muslim dad ‘beats and burns daughter for converting to Christianity from Islam’
Thursday, June 4th, 2020A Muslim man allegedly beat and severely burned his daughter because he feared she was converting to Christianity, a religious watchdog claims. Rehema Kyomuhendo, 24, was talking on the phone one night to a Catholic friend of her dad, Sheikh Hussein Byaruhanga Husain, when he woke up and attacked her, she told Morning Star News. Read more
Arrests in Ivory Coast after girl dies following an exorcism
Thursday, June 4th, 2020Five people, including the leader of a self-styled Catholic prayer group, have been arrested in the West African country of Ivory Coast after a 16-year-old girl died during an exorcism. The accused were brought before the public prosecutor’s office on May 28 on charges of “intentional assault and battery” related to the May 18th death Read more
Woman theologian wants to be a Catholic archbishop
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
A woman theologian has written to Pope Francis nominating herself as a candidate to be Archbishop of Lyon. Anne Soupa, who is A 73-year-old journalist and biblical scholar, is one of France’s best known activists for a greater role for women in the Catholic Church. Her request to the pope included a detailed cover letter Read more
Baptism by water pistol!
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
Filling a water pistol with holy water and using it for blessings or baptisms is not right. Several priests have reacted against their brother priests for keeping a social distance and baptising babies with a water pistol. The photos appearing to depict blessings or baptisms by water pistol went viral online. In one photo, a Read more
Australian publishers and journos face trial over Pell reporting
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
Many Australian publishers and journalists will be tried in November for breaking court suppression orders about Cardinal George Pell, when he was convicted of child sex abuse in December 2018. Prosecutors in the state of Victoria say 19 journalists and 21 publications aided and abetted contempt of court by overseas media and breached the trial Read more
Trump calls Church an essential service; he plays golf
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
President Trump is a hypocrite, a CNN political analyst John Avlon has pointed out. Trump pushed for churches to reopen, deeming them essential, but did not attend church on Sunday, Avlon said. Instead, Trump played golf on Sunday – which makes him “more of the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ presidency.” Trump’s Read more
Bishop who suffered 10 years of forced Chinese labour dies at 98
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
A Chinese underground bishop who made world headlines in February has died. The 98-year old Bishop Joseph Zhu Baoyu hit the headlines in February for being the oldest person to recover from coronavirus (COVID-19). His eventful life spanned massive social and political changes which saw him arrested and imprisoned more than once. He survived years of Read more
Hong Kong church leaders divided on protests
Thursday, May 28th, 2020Church leaders in Hong Kong are divided about fresh pro-democracy protests over a new national security measure that China is attempting to pass in the territory, and there is also a degree of disappointment over the Vatican’s silence on the issue. Speaking to Crux, Father Bernardo Cervellera, head of Asia News and an expert in Read more
Many French churches hastily reopen
Thursday, May 28th, 2020Many French churches in Catholic parishes across France reopened for public Mass last weekend in some hurry and disarray after the government, prompted by the country’s chief administrative court, lifted the ban imposed during the coronavirus lockdown. The interior ministry announced last Friday evening that houses of worship could reopen from that weekend if they Read more