A man abused by notorious paedophile Christian Brother Edward “Ted” Dowlan is suing Cardinal George Pell, alleging the disgraced Cardinal did nothing to protect him. The man was a student at East Melbourne’s Cathedral College when he was abused by Dowlan, who was first jailed in the 1990s for abusing boys in the 1970s and Read more
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Pell’s new trial: accusers say he failed to protect victim from paedophile
Thursday, June 13th, 2019Vatican bank reports decreased profits in 2018
Thursday, June 13th, 2019The Institute for the Works of Religion, often referred to as the Vatican bank, made a profit of 17.5 million euros (about US$19.8 million) in 2018, just over half the profit reported in the previous year, according to its annual report. The bank, which had made a profit of 31.9 million euros in 2017, said Read more
Argentine bishop at heart of phone porn scandal charged
Thursday, June 13th, 2019Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, one of Pope Francis’s first episcopal appointments in his home country, has been formally accused of sexually abusing seminarians and could face 3 to 10 years in prison. The information was released on Friday by the prosecutor’s office in the Argentine northern province of Salta. The bishop was charged with “aggravated Read more
Parishioners lead funerals and baptisms as priest numbers dwindle
Monday, June 10th, 2019
Parishioners are leading funerals and baptisms in parts of Australia because many small towns have long periods without the presence of ordained ministers. A Catholic pastoral worker in the north-west of New South Wales, Mary Anne Gordon, says she spends about half of her time on the road conducting funerals, baptisms and other services in Read more
Don’t wait for theologians – share the Eucharist now
Monday, June 10th, 2019
Until now, church officials have always said theological agreement between the various Christian churches is needed before Christian unity or Eucharistic sharing could be possible. That may have changed during an in-flight press conference on Sunday as Pope Francis returned to Rome after visiting Romania. Asked what advice he could offer Romanians about the relationship Read more
Pell may face Vatican court next
Monday, June 10th, 2019
Australian Cardinal George Pell’s days in court may continue for some time, with a Vatican court trial on the cards. He is currently in custody, waiting for three senior judges to consider his appeal against his conviction for child sexual abuse. Pell was jailed in February for six years, with a non-parole period of three Read more
Cardinal says married priests possible later this year
Monday, June 10th, 2019
Married priests could be a possibility if prelates ask Pope Francis to allow it, German Cardinal Walter Kasper says. Kasper, who is considered one of Francis’s close theological advisers, says such a change could be made during this year’s Synod of Bishops on the Amazon set for this October, if the prelates were to ask Read more
Conservative heavyweights meeting to shape Catholic Moment
Monday, June 10th, 2019
Next month a conference on the theme “This Catholic Moment” will be held at the Napa Institute, the so-called headquarters for the anti-Pope Francis resistance in the United States. John Meyer, the Executive Director of the Institute, says the conference will be an opportunity to discuss “Catholic renewal in a time of great crisis in Read more
Israel Folau ‘sacked by Qantas’: One Nation politician attacks
Monday, June 10th, 2019Rugby Australia (RA) boss Raelene Castle and Qantas have been attacked in New South Wales parliament by the state’s One Nation leader Mark Latham. Among various statements, Latham said Australians were concerned about the loss of religious freedom. “How in 2019 do we look at Israel Folau and wonder how a football player and resident Read more
Vatican cardinal, other priests to return ousted bishop’s cash gifts
Monday, June 10th, 2019A cardinal at the Vatican and eight other Catholic clerics pledged on Friday to return money to the diocese of West Virginia after revelations that the bishop there used church funds to give cash gifts of $350,000 to fellow clergymen. Over 13 years, until his recent ouster for alleged sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, Bishop Read more