The Charity Commission is putting the safeguarding organisations of Catholic dioceses under the spotlight following growing concerns about the way they are managed. This week it revealed to The Tablet that it is considering holding an inquiry into Westminster archdiocese, in the light of damaging evidence that has emerged about its handling of cases of Read more
World
Democratic candidates: Protecting abortion is ‘what we do and what we stand for’
Monday, November 25th, 2019Democratic presidential candidates struggled to respond when asked if pro-life politicians have a place in the party during a debate on Wednesday night. The candidates, however, did pledge their support for abortion and exhorted voters to do the same. “I believe that abortion rights are human rights. I believe that they are also economic rights,” Read more
Vatican appears to rebuke new US West Bank settlement policy
Monday, November 25th, 2019In what appears to be a rare public rebuke of U.S. foreign policy, the Vatican issued a statement Thursday, reaffirming its support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and calling on Israel to reside “within the borders recognized by the international community”. ”The communique follows this week’s controversial announcement that the U.S. government is reversing Read more
Unexpected: Vatican replaces financial watchdog head
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
Amid a brewing financial scandal over the Holy See’s investments in London real estate, Pope Francis, Monday, announced he will replace the Vatican’s top financial watchdog official. Announcing René Brülhart’s replacement, the Vatican said Pope Francis has chosen a new president but does not name him or her. The three-sentence announcement said Francis thanked Brülhart Read more
Religious fundamentalism is a plague, says pope
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
An important way to oppose the plague of religious fundamentalism is through interreligious dialogue, says Pope Francis. It is an effective means of countering accusations that religions sow division, he told representatives from the Argentine Institute for Interreligious Dialogue this week. In “today’s precarious world, dialogue among religions is not a weakness. It finds its Read more
Nuclear weapons “immoral” says Pope ahead of Japan visit
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
In a video message to the people of Japan, Pope Francis says he prays that nuclear weapons will never again be used. The message was released prior to Francis’ visit to Japan, November 23-26. Japan “is very aware of the suffering caused by war,” the pope said in his native Spanish. “Together with you, I Read more
Catholic deselected as UK election candidate
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
The Liberal Democrat (Lib Dem) Party, UK, deselected Robert Flello, a practising Catholic as an election candidate. Just 36 hours beforehand Flello was announced as the Lib Dem candidate for the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. The Party concluded his values diverged for theirs. The British media report that Flello’s views on abortion and same-sex marriage are Read more
Chinese underground bishop on the run from authorities
Thursday, November 21st, 2019
Chinese underground bishop Msgr. Vincenzo Guo Xijin (Guo), is being hounded by public security agents to force him to sign up to an “independent Church” in exchange for government recognition. The Chinese Communist Party also wants Guo to attend a meeting of the “independent” clergy of the Fujian, where he is the bishop, after he Read more
Jesus would not have got a UK visa says Archbishop of Canterbury
Thursday, November 21st, 2019Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says Jesus would not have got a UK visa under the points-based system being proposed by the government. “Our founder Jesus Christ was of course not white, middle class and British – he certainly wouldn’t have got a visa – unless we’re particularly short of carpenters,” Welby told the CBI Read more
Bishop launches Live Simply cookbook
Thursday, November 21st, 2019The Bishop of Salford has officially launched The Live Simply Book of Recipes and Tips which was written and produced by a group of dedicated volunteers in Oxford. Last week, Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, celebrated Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Wheatley, part of Corpus Christi Parish in Oxford, to help launch the Read more