The Pope offered a global gathering – jokingly described as a ‘conclave of comedians’ – a cheerful welcome and a serious message when they met him at the Vatican last Friday. Pope Francis had invited the 107 comics, stand-up comedians and humorists to the meeting. They included Sister Act star Whoopi Goldberg and big name Read more
The sermon preached by a priest in the French overseas department of Réunion in the Indian Ocean has caused a stir on the internet. According to media reports, the priest made fun of the religions represented on the island in his sermon. “I don’t believe in this fat, seated man with a beautiful belly who Read more
Australian Catholic University has welcomed the Victorian Government’s commitment to an explicit teaching and learning approach, including structured phonics, in classrooms. ACU executive dean of education and arts, Mary Ryan, said Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll’s announcement to mandate the practices as part of an update to the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model was a Read more
When Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer attended Catholic schools in the 1960s, the landscape of Catholic education was such that there were typically only Catholics in Catholic schools; the schools were almost exclusively run by religious, and it was as if every parish had one. Times have since changed, and those past realities are, for the most Read more
According to a news release from the general secretariat of the synod, a group of 20 theologians concluded an evaluation of 107 synod reports from national bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches following nearly two weeks of meetings in Rome. The theologians, who met on 4-14 June, were asked to provide an analysis of the Read more
The Vatican Observatory will host a conference bringing together prominent physicists to discuss the mysteries of the cosmos. The meeting will also honour Georges Lemaître, the priest who first proposed the Big Bang theory. The event, scheduled for 16-21 June, will feature 40 leading experts in cosmology, relativity and quantum theory. The gathering aims to Read more
Two prominent cardinals have reaffirmed that only men can be ordained to the priesthood, aligning with Pope Francis’s recent statements. “Women cannot be called to this office” Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller stated during an interview with Swiss portal kath.ch on 7 June. Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, explained Read more
As athletes gear up for the Paris Olympics, over 120 faith leaders including a significant contingent of Catholic chaplains are preparing to provide spiritual support to approximately 10,000 competitors. This initiative aims to assist those coping with the pressures and challenges of the Games, particularly those facing disappointment. Jason Nioka, a former judo champion and Read more
Women religious in Africa suffer at the hands of some priests. Abuse and sexuality are taboo topics in Africa and women religious were reluctant to speak about their experiences, even in a safe environment with one of their own. Women religious and priests Sister Mary Lembo from Togo says she had to work for several Read more
“Missionary Message for the Modern World” is the theme of this year’s Australian Catholic Communications Congress from 28 to 30 August in Sydney. The conference, sponsored by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Australian Catholic Media Council and the Australasian Catholic Press Association, aims to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in sharing the Gospel Read more