Pornography is morally acceptable according to a greater proportion of Americans than ever before. The 43 percent proportion has increased more over the past year than in all other years this decade combined, according to Gallup Poll figures released last week. Read more
World
Pope tells German bishops more time needed to consider inter-communion
Thursday, June 7th, 2018
A letter to the German bishops from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says Pope Francis has asked the German Catholic bishops’ conference not to publish nationwide guidelines for allowing Protestants married to Catholics to receive Communion at Mass. The letter signed by Congregation’s prefect, Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria, says Pope Francis has concluded Read more
Vatican releases guidance on sports
Thursday, June 7th, 2018
Giving the Best of Yourself – is the first-ever Vatican document on sports. The document addresses a number of matters, including highly competitive children’s sports, putting political and economic pressures on athletes to win “at all costs”, playing sport on Sundays and unsportsmanlike or violent behaviour. The document, which speaks out about sports-related corruption, over-commercialisation, Read more
World-leading oil executives meeting at Vatican
Thursday, June 7th, 2018
World-leading oil company executives will be attending a conference at the Vatican on Friday and Saturday this week. The executives are from companies such as Exxon Mobil, Eni, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Pemex. The executives have been invited to the “Energy Transition and Care for Our Common Home” conference because the oil and gas Read more
Maleness an indispensable element of priesthood
Thursday, June 7th, 2018
Male-only priesthood should be held as an unchanging and “definitive” part of the Catholic faith says the head of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria. He says maleness is “an indispensable element” of the priesthood and the Church is “bound” by Christ’s decision only to choose male apostles. Ladaria’s opinion reflects Read more
China’s five year plan to develop Catholic Church
Thursday, June 7th, 2018
The Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics and the Council of Chinese Bishops has approved the “Five-Year Plan of Development for the Sinicisation of the Catholic Church in China.” The plan aims to develop the Catholic Church altering religious principles and practices to match Chinese communist ideals and eliminate “foreign influence” ensuring governmental control of all Read more
An apostolic administrator to replace Australian archbishop
Thursday, June 7th, 2018An apostolic administrator will run the Australian archdiocese of Adelaide, as Archbishop Philip Wilson has been found guilty of neglecting to report clergy sexual abuse as a priest in the 1970s. Pope Francis says Bishop Gregory O’Kelly of the neighboring diocese of Port Pirie has been selected as the administrator. Read more
Car wash slavery fought with Church’s app
Thursday, June 7th, 2018Car wash slavery is rife in Britain. However a means to combat it may have been developed. A church-led app is targeting “modern slavery” at Britain’s 18,000 hand car washes to protect children and other vulnerable groups by urging users to report suspected cases to authorities. Read more
Transgender people urged to become vicars
Thursday, June 7th, 2018Transgender people are being urged in two British counties to become vicars. The move is based on Church of England fears that the church’s reputation for tacitly discriminating against them is alienating young people. Read more
Cardinal-elect influenced by Francis of Assisi
Thursday, May 31st, 2018
A Cardinal-elect, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, says a movie about St Francis of Assisi led him to become a priest. Coutts, who is a doctor of philosophy, is the second Pakistani to become a cardinal. The late Joseph Cordeiro was made a cardinal in 1973. Coutts is known for his services for interfaith relations, Read more