The Holy See has told the UN novel forms of social accounting are needed so as not to replace old problems with new ones. Uniting the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development is not easy since they have so often been considered separately, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN, Read more
World
Seven new saints canonised on weekend
Monday, October 15th, 2018
Pope Francis canonised seven new saints on Sunday in front of 70,000 people. The new saints are: Pope Paul VI, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Francesco Spinelli, Vincenzo Romano, Maria Caterina Kasper, Nazaria Ignazia of Saint Teresa of Jesus and Nunzio Sulprizio. St Paul VI was like St Paul, who “spent his life for Christ’s Gospel,” Francis Read more
Ukraine schism forcing Russian Orthodox split from Constantinople
Monday, October 15th, 2018
The Russian Orthodox Church says it is being forced to split from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Metropolitan Ilarion, the head of the Russian Orthodox church’s external relations, says Constantinople’s decision allowing the Ukranian Orthodox church to establish itself as an independent church is behind the move. Ilarion says the Constantinople Patriarchate synod’s decision to Read more
Cardinal Donald Wuerl resigns over US abuse crisis
Monday, October 15th, 2018
Cardinal Donald Wuerl has formally resigned as Archbishop of Washington. He has been under increasing pressure to step down since a Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy abuse criticised his handling of abuse cases when he was Bishop of Pittsburgh. Last month, Wuerl went to Rome to ask Pope Francis to accept his resignation. In Read more
Some married men would become priests if asked
Monday, October 15th, 2018
Some married men would become priests if they were invited to, a Belgian bishop told the Synod of Bishops on behalf of Belgium’s bishops’ conference. Bishop Jean Kockerols said the vocations of Christian marriage and “celibacy for the kingdom” of God “deserve to be equally promoted by the church.” Kockerols said Christians are expected to Read more
Superior general sues brothers
Monday, October 15th, 2018
The superior general of the Brothers of Charity order has sued two of its Belgian members for misuse of one million euros over the Belgian province’s decision to allow euthanasia at its psychiatric hospitals there. The accused brothers have denied the order’s charge that they misused the province’s funds. They say the province had agreed Read more
Bishop sets up exorcism squad
Monday, October 15th, 2018An exorcism squad has been set up in Ireland by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan. Cullinan says he is establishing a “Delivery Ministry”. One priest in Cullinan’s diocese of Waterford and Lismore will start training clerics in the practice of exorcism. Cullinan says he made the decision after receiving a number of requests for help in warding Read more
Morals policing in Malaysia to be reduced
Monday, October 15th, 2018Malaysia’s morals policing is likely to be reduced. The new Malaysian government is taking tentative steps to curb abusive and obtrusive so-called moral policing some hard-line Islam followers favour. Read more
Catholic fashion exhibit more popular than Tutankhamun
Monday, October 15th, 2018The Catholic fashion exhibit at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art attracted over 1.5 million visitors between 10 May and 8 October. “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” has beaten the museum’s record for the institution’s best-attended show. The record had been held since the 1978 presentation of “Treasures of Tutankhamun,” which drew 1.4 Read more
Kim Jong-un speaks of Pope visiting North Korea
Thursday, October 11th, 2018
Kim Jong-un has spoken of how he would “ardently welcome Pope Francis” if Francis were to agree to visit Pyongyang. His invitation is seen as a gesture designed to highlight peace on the Korean peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in will relay Kim’s desire to host a papal visit when he visits the Vatican later Read more