The Vatican is investigating a church group called the Heralds of the Gospel. It has appointed a commissioner, Brazilian Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, to take charge of the Herald investigation. A similar oversight was ordered for the Legionaries of Christ after a scandal involving its founder and an apostolic visitation. The Vatican says the commissioner’s Read more
A new report says the archdiocese of New York is fully compliant with the U.S. bishops’ safeguarding policies. The U.S. bishops have a zero tolerance policy in relation to abuse. They aim to have no priests or deacons in active ministry that have had claims of abuse substantiated. The report was prepared by Judge Barbara Read more
The flaws in the Coalition’s religious discrimination bill are “so serious” it cannot be supported in its current form, the Sydney Anglican diocese has warned. Bishop Michael Stead has warned the bill would force Anglican youth camps to host Satanist masses at its campsites and has the “perverse effect” of encouraging companies such as Qantas Read more
A Canadian artist’s sculpture has been unveiled in St. Peter’s Square by Pope Francis as part of a Mass for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. “I wanted this artistic work here in St. Peter’s Square to remind everyone of the evangelical challenge of hospitality,” Francis said. The work in bronze and clay by Read more
Popes don’t suddenly become perfect, sinless human beings after they’re elected to papal office. Pope Francis says what being elected does do, is make a pope’s responsibilities greater and his prayer list longer. As far as sin’s concerned though, Francis says he’s basically the same person he was before he was elected in 2013. “The Read more
Clericalism is a direct result of rigidity and linked to a fixation on sexual morality, says Pope Francis. “One dimension of clericalism is the exclusive moral fixation on the sixth commandment [Thou shalt not commit adultery],” he says. “We focus on sex and then we do not give weight to social injustice, slander, gossip and Read more
Pope Francis is urging Silicon Valley giants to be careful when they’re developing new technologies. He’s not alone in his concern. Tech leaders like Elon Musk and Bill Gates are also taking a second look and reporting their concerns. Speaking at a Vatican conference on technology last week, Francis told his audience to make sure Read more
Two women who gave up high-profile careers to join a convent have been told they can’t make their final vows. Their congregation has “grown too small to meet the standards of governance required in the Catholic Church” – so their formation stopped. Martina Purdy – a former BBC News political correspondent and former barrister Elaine Read more
A spike in legal action against the Catholic Church is resulting in calls for Victoria’s state premier to speed up the court system for abuse victims. So far the church in Victoria has been hit with at least 800 new legal actions for child sexual abuse since state legislation allowed new rights for survivors. They Read more