Monsignor Georg Ratzinger contributed to a “culture of silence” at a prestigious German boys boarding school. More than 500 boys suffered abuse at the hands of dozens of teachers and priests at the school that trains the Regensburg Cathedral boys’ choir reports, Ulrich Weber. Weber, an independent investigator, was appointed by the Regensburg diocese to look into Read more
Nanotechnology has proven the man whose image is stained on the Shroud of Turin had been tortured, stabbed in the side and crucified. Many people believe the shroud is the cloth Christ was wrapped in for the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection. They also believe his image is the one on the Read more
Controversy over a gas pipeline’s proposed route through Pennsylvania has reached a new impasse in the form of a community of nuns and their chapel. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, who own a strip of the land earmarked for the pipeline, have considered it “sacred ground” for nearly a century. Believing the pipeline Read more
Pope Francis’s use of social networking tools has seen him attract 35 million Twitter followers. Launched by Benedict XVI in December 2012, the account is available in nine languages. Since taking over the @Pontifex account, Francis’s followers have grown steadily, especially in English, which has 11 million followers. There are a further 13 million Spanish language Read more
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has a new undersecretary, with Pope Francis appointing Monsignor Giacomo Morandi to be its second highest-ranking official. Morandi, who is from Italy, is a Biblicist (i.e. a person who interprets the Bible literally). He had already been chosen by the pope in 2015 to be the Read more
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI’s aide Archbishop Georg Gänswein says it’s a “fantasy” to publish reports that set Benedict up against Pope Francis. Those who do so are “stupid people,” he adds. The reports originated after Gänswein read a message from Benedict at last week’s funeral of German Cardinal Joachim Meisner. In the message, Benedict alluded Read more
Nearly one in three British people who answered a poll said they thought Jesus was an extremist. In view of this result, Christians say they have growing concerns about government plans to crack down on “non-violent extremism”. Read more
The Philippines bishops’ conference has elected a new president: Archbishop Romulo Valles. Since 2012 Archbishop Valles, 66, has headed the Archdiocese of Davao, on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. Davao is the largest city in the region. About 80 per cent – or 80 million people – in the Philippines are Catholic. Read more
A Vatican newspaper has accused Steve Bannon, chief strategist for US President Donald Trump, of supporting “apocalyptic geopolitics”. It also claims Trump’s team promotes an “evangelical fundamentalism” that twists scripture to promote conflict and war. The article in the Argentine issue of La Civiltà Cattolica by editor-in-chief Fr Antonio Spadaro and Argentine Presbyterian pastor Marcelo Read more
Vatican prosecutors have charged the former president and the ex-treasurer of Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital with diverting money from the hospital’s fundraising foundation. This is the first time the Vatican has publically announced a prosecution using measures introduced in 2009 to fight money-laundering and financial crime. The two accused, Giuseppe Profiti and Massimo Spina, Read more