A physically healthy 29-year-old woman was allowed to end her life through physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands on the grounds of depression. The decision has sparked renewed debate about the sanctity of life and legislation. Zoraya ter Beek died by euthanasia on May 22. Despite being physically healthy, the woman from Oldenzaal, a town near Read more
World
Pope to participate in dialogue with Asia-Pacific students ahead of September trip
Thursday, June 6th, 2024Pope Francis will engage in an online dialogue with regional students ahead of his ambitious trip to the Asia-Pacific and Oceania in September. Once again, this will allow young people to engage in frank conversations with the pontiff about the challenges facing their lives and the church in the modern world. Students from Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Read more
One million United Methodists quit the church after sex rule change
Thursday, June 6th, 2024More than one million United Methodists have quit the church overnight over new rules about homosexuality. During a North Carolina conference in early May, the United Methodist Church – a global denomination of Protestantism based in the US – changed some regulations to allow gay pastors and same-sex marriage. The Ivory Coast division – which Read more
Bishop Bätzing surprised by Pope’s stance on women’s ordination
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
Bishop Georg Bätzing, head of the German Bishops’ Conference, expressed surprise and confusion over recent comments by Pope Francis rejecting the idea of women’s ordination in the Catholic Church. “I have never heard him speak like that before and have often spoken to him personally about these issues” said the Limburg bishop. “Let me say: Read more
Halik: Catholic Church needs radical transformation
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
Renowned religious philosopher Msgr Tomas Halik has urged the Catholic Church to undergo a radical transformation. In an interview with Austrian newspaper “Kleine Zeitung” Halik emphasised the need for the Church to move away from a perceived attitude of arrogance and exclusivity. “The Church must shed the pride and arrogance of those who possess the Read more
Florida priest charged for biting woman in Communion dispute
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
A priest in Florida has been charged with battery after biting the forearm of a woman in a Communion dispute at St Thomas Aquinas Church in Orlando last Sunday. Father Fidel Rodriguez, 66, admitted to police that he bit the woman after she allegedly reached into the ciborium, damaging Communion hosts. Rodriguez claimed he acted Read more
Modern slavery toolkit will help Catholics beat the scourge
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
Modern slavery practices in Australia are in for some hard-nosed opposition. A newly released toolkit aims to help Catholic parishioners in Brisbane stamp out exploitation practices. It also aims to raise parishioners’ awareness of the significant presence of slavery in Australia today. Brisbane archdiocese’s Legal, Governance and Risk team developed the modern slavery toolkit in Read more
False child sex abuse charges against priest dropped
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
A Queensland Catholic priest accused of child sex abuse has had all charges against him dropped. Father David Lancini’s lawyer, Justin Greggery, told the court that claims Lancini abused a boy in the 1970s were either fabricated or mistaken. Lying collusion Detectives and witnesses colluded in Lancini’s arrest last December. Greggery told the court witnesses Read more
Pope Francis apologises for unintentional vulgar gay slur
Thursday, May 30th, 2024
Pope Francis has apologised for what has been taken as a vulgar, homophobic slur. He “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended” says Holy See press office chief Matteo Bruni. The remarks are at odds with the pope’s track record to date. He has Read more
A calm classroom is a learning classroom: How Catholic schools are turning the behaviour tide
Thursday, May 30th, 2024A quiet revolution is taking place across 10 Catholic schools in the Canberra and Goulburn Diocese in Australia. The schools — including the ACT’s St Clare’s College, Merici College and St Thomas the Apostle School in Kambah — are piloting a program this year that sounds old-fashioned but is backed by the latest research into Read more