The Legion of Christ still has a long road of reform ahead and it must practice conversion, Pope Francis told a meeting of the religious order of priests meeting in Rome. Even though it is 10 years since the Vatican ordered the religious order of priests to rid itself of its pedophile founder’s toxic influences, Read more
The coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in China has had a surprising outcome – a 25% drop in carbon emissions. The “unprecedented” reduction in emissions volume followed Chinese attempts to contain the virus. Entire cities have been locked down, highways emptied, airplanes grounded, factories shuttered and millions of people confined to their homes. Finland-based climate researcher Lauri Read more
The Vatican has “got it badly wrong about China” in its efforts at rapprochement with the administration of Xi Jingping, says Hong Kong’s last governor, Baron Patten of Barnes. “It is very sad, but under Xi Jingping things have gone backwards in China,” he said. For the Vatican to try and drive for a normalisation Read more
A hospice in Canada is being forced to close after refusing to offer and perform medically assisted suicides. Lat week the Irene Thomas Hospice in Delta, British Columbia, lost $1.5 million in funding and its license to operate as a hospice. Fraser Health Authority, one of the six public health care authorities in the province, Read more
A guide to fighting abuse in lay movements has been ordered by the Vatican. If an organisation is led by a charismatic leader who is followed uncritically and commands or demands control over members, the members are at risk of cases of physical, sexual and psychological abuse, Father Hans Zollner SJ says. The Vatican office Read more
The Vatican denies Pope Francis has the Coronavirus, calling it a “slight indisposition”. Pope Francis fell sick in Rome — a day after publically shaking pilgrim’s hands and kissing babies; his usual practice. Since then he has cancelled several public appearances including three larger audiences with groups but has continued private audiences. On Sunday Francis Read more
Jewish representatives have thanked the Vatican for opening its archives of wartime Pope Pius XII to allay suspicions that he turned a blind eye to the Holocaust. Catholic leaders said they would open the vault to scrutiny on Monday but suggested this week that the paperwork would show that the controversial pontiff – dubbed ‘Hitler’s Read more
The Roman Catholic Church has joined up with IBM and Microsoft to work on the ethics of artificial intelligence. Leaders from the two tech giants met senior church officials in Rome, and agreed to collaborate on “human-centred” ways of designing AI. Microsoft president Brad Smith admitted some people may “think of us as strange bedfellows” Read more
It took ten parishioners to restrain Thomas Eisel after he attacked a deacon during an anticipated Mass on Saturday. Deacon George Labelle was tackled by Eisel, 28, while the clergyman offered a homily Feb. 22 at St. Coleman Catholic Church in Pompano Beach, about 40 miles north of Miami. “The Archdiocese is grateful no one Read more
There’s been a rapid spike in coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, cases in South Korea, and about half of the 433 confirmed cases are linked to a secretive religious group often viewed with suspicion by more traditional religious sects. At least 182 Covid-19 cases have come from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Read more