Cardinal John Henry Newman, one of the most influential and controversial Christian figures of the 19th century and a leading Anglican before converting to Catholicism, will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Monday. Canonisation will take place at the Vatican on October 13, it said in a statement, after Pope Francis decreed recognition Read more
World
Dalai Lama apologises for saying female successor must be attractive
Thursday, July 4th, 2019The office of the Dalai Lama has said that he is “deeply sorry” for again saying that his successor could only be a woman if she was also attractive. The Spiritual Leader of Tibetan Buddhism, 83, made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with the BBC last week. In 2015, he first said that while Read more
Vatican says ‘no human power’ can compel priests to violate confessional seal
Thursday, July 4th, 2019As California is currently embroiled in a battle over whether to punish priests for not breaking the seal of confession in cases when child abuse is revealed, the Vatican has issued a statement reaffirming the “inviolability” of the confidentiality of confession, and saying political pressure in this regard is a breach of religious liberty. “Every Read more
Police to open Vatican graves in murder investigation
Thursday, July 4th, 2019
Two graves in a small Vatican cemetery will be opened in a renewed search for Emanuela Orlandi, a young woman who disappeared in Rome 36 years ago. Orlandi was a Vatican City resident and the daughter of a Vatican employee. She disappeared in Rome on 22 June 1983 when she was 15. In March this Read more
PM defends Folau’s right to religious freedom
Monday, July 1st, 2019
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison is vowing to bring in new laws to protect religious people after rugby star Israel Folau was sacked for sharing a message from the Bible. Morrison says he wants to make a bipartisan deal to bring in the new laws. When asked if he thinks Folau has been persecuted for Read more
Curia reform focus is on mission, not doctrine
Monday, July 1st, 2019
The Vatican’s progress report on the future constitution governing the Roman Curia is “An intense work of consultation and mutual listening”. Doctrine alone is no longer enough to reach an increasingly post-Christian world, says Bishop Marcello Semeraro, Secretary of the Council of Cardinals. He points out that a “fundamental perspective” of Pope Francis’s reform efforts Read more
There is only one Pope, but Church unity is endangered
Monday, July 1st, 2019
There is only one pope leading the Church, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI emphasises. “The Pope is one, it is Francis,” Benedict said in an interview with an Italian magazine last week. “The unity of the Church has always been in danger, for centuries,” he continued. “It has been for all its history. Wars, internal conflicts, Read more
Vatican expands child protection to lay movements
Monday, July 1st, 2019
The Vatican is making child protection a priority for new movements and lay associations. Its new focus extends its work to eliminate clerical sexual abuse and to strengthen diocesan bishops’ accountability. Last month, the Vatican Dicastery (office) for Laity, the Family and Life met with about 100 representatives of Catholic associations and movements to develop Read more
Dalai Lama speaks of pretty women and Europe for Europeans
Monday, July 1st, 2019
Europe could become ‘Muslim or African’ if migrants are not returned to their home countries, the Dalai Lama warns. The Dalai Lama (83), the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, has been living as a refugee in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959. In a recent interview with the BBC, he opened up about his views on Read more
Pope Francis reinstates falsely accused Indian cardinal to diocese
Monday, July 1st, 2019Pope Francis has restored full administrative powers of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in Kerala to Cardinal George Alencherry. The Cardinal was temporarily suspended following the start of a judicial proceeding that saw him involved in an alleged illegal sale of land belonging to the local Church. The Cardinal has been definitively acquitted of all charges. Read more