The Coptic Orthodox Church has given monks and nuns a month to shut down their social media accounts, patriarch Tawadros II has decided. Within that time frame, they will have to take leave of the forms of communication considered unsuitable for monastic life. Any failure to comply will result in canonical penalties. Read more
World
Catholics offer to mediate Zimbabwe election
Monday, August 6th, 2018Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe are offering to mediate in post-election disputes, to prevent further violence. Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro, the Catholic Commission of Justice and Peace (CCJP) chairperson says: “As Church, we condemn the killing of the demonstrators and all the ruthless force used by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the Zimbabwe Republic Police on 1 Read more
Vatican former auditor general Libero Milone: not guilty
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
Vatican former auditor general Libero Milone, who has been cleared of alleged espionage and embezzlement charges, has opened up about why he resigned, returned, and his views on his arrest. His reason for resigning was compelling, he says. Once presented with the charges against him, he felt he must sign a resignation letter on the Read more
UK law allows feeding tubes and hydration removal
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
A UK law change is wrong says an English bishop. The Supreme Court has agreed to allow feeding tubes and hydration to be removed from patients in a permanent vegetative state without having to wait for the court’s permission. So long as physicians and families agree, that is. While he recognises the challenges the patients’ Read more
Israel’s new nation-state law is discriminatory
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
Israel’s new nation-state law is discriminatory and violates domestic and international law, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem said in a statement. The Church says the legislation violates the UN resolution that led to Israel’s founding, as well as Israel’s Declaration of Independence. The law, which was passed last week: states that “the right to exercise Read more
Church loses lawsuit over Christmas advertising
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
The Church has lost a lawsuit challenging the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATAs) advertising policies. The lawsuit was lodged last year by the Washington Archdiocese after the transit company rejected the Christmas advertisement (ad) the Archdiocese wanted to put on a bus. The ad showed silhouetted images of the three wise men and a Read more
African-American sainthood causes to be promoted
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018
Work to promote African-American canonisation causes has received a boost with the opening of a resource centre at Xavier University in New Orleans. The resource centre will be constructed by the university’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies. It will include compilations and educational exhibits of the lives of African-Americans whose sainthood causes are open. When Read more
Pope Francis accepts Archbishop Philip Wilson’s resignation
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018Pope Francis has accepted Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide’s resignation. In May this year Wilson was convicted of covering up the sexual abuse of minors in the 1970s. Read more
Catholic counseling group offers services to same-sex couples
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018An Irish Catholic counseling group is offering its services to same-sex couples. To maintain state funding, the marriage guidance group must agree to counsel same-sex couples. Same-sex marriage was legalised in Ireland in 2015. Read more
St Vincent de Paul in Paris leads effort to resettle migrants
Thursday, August 2nd, 2018Members of St Vincent de Paul in Paris are helping migrants by providing practical and spiritual help. Coordinating Catholic aid is Jerome Perrin, president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. Read more