The synod’s final document on young people, faith and vocational discernment will be drafted by 12 synod members including Australian archbishop Peter Comensoli. The document will be given to Pope Francis. Those preparing the final document include five cardinals, three bishops and four priests who come from or work in Italy, India, Ghana, Ukraine, Mexico, Cuba, Read more
Pope Francis says the devil is behind the sex abuse crisis. He is alive and well and “working overtime” to undermine the Church. Francis is asking all Catholics for their help in driving Satan away. “The Church must be saved from the attacks of the malign one, the great accuser, and at the same time Read more
Two Chinese bishops attending the youth synod, warmly welcomed by Pope Francis, are full of praise for the provisional agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese government. In welcoming Bishops John Baptist Yang Xiaoting and Joseph Guo Jincai to the synod, Francis wept, saying: “The communion of the entire episcopate with the successor of Peter Read more
Archbishop Oscar Romero’s canonisation this weekend will be a special time for Brisbane man, German Silva. Romero was shot dead while celebrating Mass 38 years ago. Silva – who met Romero in El Salvador, says he will remember “a spiritual father” who offered “many key messages” throughout their five-year friendship. Describing Romero as a humble Read more
A new Chaplaincy Innovation Lab is seeking to gather theologians, academics and chaplains to share research and practical strategies for effective chaplaincy. On Tuesday, the Lab launched its website and related social media platforms. The website will include a series of webinars hosted by chaplains. The goal is to create community and discover best practices Read more
Pope Francis warned youth attending the synod in Rome not to be taken in by populist ideologies that exclude others. Populisms that make us see the other, the foreigner, as evil, as an enemy to be pushed away are to be avoided he said. “Today populisms are fashionable, which have nothing to do with the Read more
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will reduce the time spent on Sunday meetings from three to two hours. From January, the church’s Sunday meeting schedule will consist of a 60-minute sacrament meeting and a 50-minute class alternating each Sunday between Sunday School, Priesthood quorums, Relief Society and youth meetings. Read more
Toronto’s Sick-Children’s hospital (Sick Kids) has published policies and procedures for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) that include scenarios where parents aren’t informed until after their child dies. The article by Sick Children’s doctors, administrators and ethicists and backed by the University of Toronto’s Joint Centre for Bioethics was published last month in British Medical Read more
The Papal envoy to Medjugorje, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, says the Medjugorje message (allegedly delivered by Our Lady) can be “put at the same level as those delivered in Lourdes and Fatima.” “With regard to the international phenomenology, they are very similar,” Hoser says. “These [Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje] are certainly the three greatest pilgrimage sites. Read more
The Vatican archives containing Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s files are to be reviewed, says Pope Francis. A statement Francis has released from the Vatican says he has decided to combine the results of an investigation into McCarrick begun last year with a new, “thorough study” of all the documentation about him contained in the Vatican archives. Read more