Suffering is an essential ingredient of our faith and humanity. One who doesn’t suffer with suffering brothers . . . must question himself on the sincerity of his faith and of his humanity, Pope Francis says. His comments were made in the context of the Rohingya minority, who are persecuted in Myanmar. Read more
World
Cardinal Reinhard Marx and EU’s lack of vision
Thursday, December 7th, 2017Cardinal Reinhard Marx has spoken out about the lack of vision some of the European Union’s (EU) leading members are showing. Marx, who is the president of the German bishops conference, says the EU’s broken promises, the exaggerated personal ambitions of some of its leading members and lack of vision have eroded people’s trust in Read more
Holy Sepulchre’s age determined
Thursday, December 7th, 2017The Holy Sepulchre’s age has been tested by archaeologists. The Holy Sepulchre is believed to be Christ’s burial place. The archaeologists found the mortar and marble slab covering the original burial bed dated back to about 345 AD. This coincides with the time period that Constantine was believed to have built the shrine around the Read more
HIV/AIDS mission: Brisbane nun laundered money
Monday, December 4th, 2017
HIV/AIDS was a killer in the 1980s. At the time Queensland’s premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson, thought it was a punishment from God. Mike Ahern, who succeeded Bjelke-Peterson as premier in 1987, claims health officials warned Bjelke-Peterson HIV/AIDS could wipe out entire Queensland communities unless action was taken. Nonetheless, Bjelke-Peterson refused to allow indigenous Australians and Read more
Vatican bank deputy CEO removed
Monday, December 4th, 2017
The Vatican bank deputy CEO was removed from his position and escorted from the Vatican on Monday last week. The news of Giulio Mattietti’s removal from the bank (correctly called the Institute of Religious Works) has been confirmed by the Holy See press office. It is not clear why Mattietti was removed, although Italian media Read more
Australian Catholic teachers strike
Monday, December 4th, 2017
Thousands of Australian Catholic teachers and support staff are said to be at “boiling point” after their Catholic employers put an enterprise agreement to a vote without gaining union endorsement. Catholic teachers from about 350 schools in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) walked off the job yesterday to attend rallies. Read more
China bans tours to Vatican
Monday, December 4th, 2017
China has banned its citizens from visiting the Vatican. The Vatican is a popular destination with Chinese tourists. The recent resumption of diplomatic talks between the Vatican and China has prompted an increase in the flow of tourists-pilgrims. If he realises they are at the Vatican, Pope Francis greets them personally and poses for selfies Read more
Rohingya refugees – Pope appeals for international help
Monday, December 4th, 2017
Pope Francis wants the international community to take “decisive measures” to resolve the problems causing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee Myanmar. He also says it is “imperative” for world governments to immediately provide assistance to help the Bangladeshi government cope with Asia’s worst refugee crisis in decades. Bangladesh has opened its borders Read more
Australia’s Catholic Church in crisis
Monday, December 4th, 2017During the past 12 months, Australia’s Catholic Church has had to face several moral issues. These include a sex abuse crisis as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse published reports about abuse at Catholic schools and institutions, losing the same-sex marriage referendum and Victoria government’s upper house voting to allow euthanasia. Read more
Avoid Christmas decorations, carols in Advent
Monday, December 4th, 2017What’s missing? Many Catholic churches appear almost stark in comparison with almost everywhere else in the lead up to Christmas. That is, apart from for Advent wreaths and maybe some greenery or white lights. “The chance for us to be a little out of sync or a little countercultural is not a bad thing,” said Read more