Catholics resisting the acceptance of migrants and refugees into their communities is a worrying trend says Pope Francis. To help counter this, at his weekly audience on Wednesday Francis launched a two-year education campaign “Share the Journey” which is about the plight of migrants. Aimed especially at countering mounting anti-immigrant sentiment in the US and Read more
This year’s Ratzinger prize in theology has been awarded to three leaders from the Orthodox, Lutheran and Catholic faiths. The prize was established in 2010 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as the premier international prize in theology. Although it is usually given to those performing scholarly research in Sacred Scripture, patristics and fundamental theology, there Read more
The state parliaments in Victoria and New South Wales are being urged to reject the assisted dying bill in front of them. Both states are considering legislation for euthanasia. The Catholics who have written to their state parliaments are supported by 101 oncologists, who have written to their Victorian MPs calling for them to refuse Read more
Cardinal Timothy Dolan says honesty, humbly and openly sharing the “wounds” and shortcomings of the church, might bring those who are alienated back to the practice of the faith. Using the image of the church as “our supernatural family … [which] priests, are called to image,” Dolan says human weakness has been a part of Read more
In India Christian priests and nuns working in legal the profession have created a forum to help them bring justice to the poor and downtrodden. Read more
A Vatican official says sexist attitudes must change and women should be recognised as having equal worth as men and be allowed to fully exercise their human rights. This is an increasingly urgent issue because of the “resurgence of divisions in today’s world,” Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Some conservative Catholics say parts of Amoris Laetitia amount to heresy and have sent Pope Francis a medieval “filial correction”. Pope Francis published Amoris Laetitia last year after two synods on the Family. Sixty-two clergy, theologians, academics and a bishop from the Society of St.Pius X – a Catholic break-away cult – have written to him Read more
We can end human trafficking with a multi-pronged approach that fights trafficking and aids victims, Archbishop Paul Gallagher told global leaders at a United Nations (UN) event last week. Ending this “modern slavery” has been a major priority for Pope Francis, Gallagher said. The Catholic Church is collaborating “with both the public and private sectors, Read more
Jesuit priest Father James Martin has been invited to address Cardinal Blase Cupich’s Chicago archdiocese over two nights during the next Lenten season. The invitation comes after Martin had speaking engagements cancelled and negative comments leveled at him by far-right Catholic groups. The ultra-conservatives disapprove of Martin’s recently published book on lesbian, gay, bi-, transgender Read more
Nukes won’t save the world. They are “a force for instability and any claims they promote peace are chasing illusions,” Archbishop Paul Gallagher told a United Nations conference on Friday. Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister, urged nations to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which the Vatican signed in 1996. “Nuclear arms offer Read more