The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece issued a statement on Monday referring to the Covid19 coronavirus outbreak, maintaining that Holy Communion does not transmit the virus. The new, controversial statement comes after days of heated public debate in Greece about whether the Church of Greece should adopt more drastic measures to limit Read more
World
Virus-hit Philippines calls off ritual crucifixions
Monday, March 16th, 2020The Philippines’ crucifixion reenactments will be canceled this year as coronavirus cases climb, said authorities in the city where the annual tourist spectacle is held. About a dozen Catholics regularly have themselves nailed to wooden crosses on Good Friday as penance for their sins. The event attracts thousands of tourists. This year’s rituals were planned Read more
Pope Francis announces a 2022 synod on synodality
Monday, March 16th, 2020The next ordinary Synod of Bishops will be a synod on synodality, the Vatican announced March 7. In October 2022, bishops from around the world will meet in Rome to discuss the theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.” The concept of “synodality” has been a topic of frequent discussion by Pope Francis, Read more
Islamic scholar who called Wuhan virus “God’s Punishment” gets infected
Monday, March 16th, 2020Shi’ite Iraqi Islamic scholar Hadi Al-Modarresi thought that the Wuhan Virus was divine and a tool by which God was smiting his enemies. He thought he would sit back as all of his beliefs were proven right as the virus swept across the lands of heathens. He thought he’d go untouched. He thought wrong. According Read more
Pope asks prisoners to write Good Friday meditations
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Prisoners, guards and the chaplain of a prison in Padua, Italy have been asked by Pope Francis to write this year’s Way of the Cross meditations. The service will take place on Good Friday, at Rome’s Colosseum. In a public letter, the pope said he chose the parish community so the meditations would reflect on Read more
St Peter’s Square closed, Masses cancelled
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
St Peter’s Square has been closed to the public. The Diocese of Rome has cancelled masses until 3 April and announced a day of prayer and fasting. Instead of meeting thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis held his general weekly audience and delivered his catechism via livestream from the privacy of his Read more
Our religious sisters are burning out
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Religious sisters all over the world are burning out. The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome has set up a three-year study to find ways to respond to religious sisters’ needs. Stress and burnout are major reasons many women abandon religious life. The UISGs initiative was highlighted in the monthly women’s supplement of Read more
Secret Masses during coronavirus ban
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Secret Masses are being celebrated in northern Italy during the coronavirus crisis. Some churches are closed in response to edicts from the bishops, some are open although Mass is suspended, some are hosting Masses not intended for “the people,” although visitors may stay. The coronavirus situation has fired-up critics of the bishops’ with some Catholics Read more
Cardinal George Pell awaits HIgh Court decision
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
The verdict on whether to overturn the conviction of Cardinal George Pell will come later, Australia’s highest court said on Thursday. Pell is seeking to appeal the Victoria Appeal Court’s two-to-one decision last year that came down in favour of sustaining his 2018 child sexual abuse conviction. Bret Walker, Pell’s lead barrister, outlined a case Read more
Dublin cancels St Patrick’s parade
Thursday, March 12th, 2020Dublin’s iconic St Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled due to fears over the spread of coronavirus. Authorities had initially insisted that the festivities – which mark St Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland in 432 – would go ahead, but bowed to pressure from doctors and announced the cancellation. A new Cabinet subcommittee on COVID-19 Read more