Access to clean, fresh water is a fundamental human right that must be defended. This is especially so in poor areas where people are suffering the deadly effects of climate change, Pope Francis said on World Water Day last week. Commemorated annually on 22 March, the day provides a way of concentrating efforts to resolve Read more
A bishop has spoken out about Catholics who identify as “faith-filled” while spreading fear and mistrust of immigrants, particularly Muslims. Irish Bishop Kevin Doran says he has come across people – some of whom classify themselves as traditional Catholics and faith-filled people – who say “oh well, these Muslims are putting our civilisation at risk Read more
Pope Francis has accepted Chilean Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati’s resignation and immediately named a temporary replacement. Ezzati’s resignation came after he was placed under criminal investigation in the country’s spiralling church sex abuse and cover-up scandal. Spanish-born Capuchin friar and current bishop of Copiapo, Chile, Monsignor Celestino Aos Braco will replace Ezzati in the interim. Ezzati, Read more
Pope Francis has honoured four priests and a nun for their distinguished service to the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste. Holy See representative, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, presented the missionaries with the Decoration of Honor. This honour is given by the pope to laypeople and clergy for outstanding contributions to the Church. Read more
An international Jewish education charity has signed a deal with Pope Francis to extend a programme that brings children from different societies, cultures and religions together. World ORT announced that it had shook hands on an extension to the pontiff’s Scholas World Youth Encounter, which will allow a huge “youth encounter” to take place in Read more
A new Human Rights Watch report says young Burmese women are being trafficked to China as ‘brides’ then locked in rooms and raped until they become pregnant. Read more
A multi-faith ceremony may take the place of the Lord’s Prayer each day before the state parliament in Victoria, Australia opens. Since 1918 the Our Father has been said before the state parliament opens its daily sessions. The proposal is being reviewed by a Victoria Legislative Council committee, the state parliament’s upper house. Gavin Jennings, Read more
A former Catholic priest has been chosen to serve as interim bishop of Uruguay, the most secular country in South America. Daniel Genovesi was consecrated in Buenos Aires Cathedral last Saturday. He and his wife Mercedes, a former nun, will start their new ministry on 1 April. Difficulties involving personnel, finances and a gradual reduction Read more
Pope Francis rejected Cardinal Philippe Barbarin’s offer to resign after they met in the papal office on Monday. Barbarin (68) offered his resignation as the archbishop of Lyon after receiving a six-month suspended prison sentence for the non-disclosure of sexual abuse against minors. He is appealing the sentence. He immediately offered his resignation for the Read more
Using the wrong pronoun on Twitter after a debate on transgender children resulted in a five-month police investigation of a Catholic reporter. The transgender person’s mother, Susie Green – who has since dropped the charges – informed the Police of the pronoun offence. The reporter, Caroline Farrow, then became the subject of a police investigation Read more