A nun trained as a seamstress and designer runs a thriving second-hand wedding gown business from her convent in Italy. The story begins 600 years ago with St Rita, who was married off when she was 12 to an abusive husband. Read more
World
Justice and a fair go for Cardinal Pell
Monday, May 22nd, 2017
Justice for Cardinal George Pell must be allowed to run its course says the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher. “He has cooperated in every way with multiple police, parliamentary and Royal Commission investigations,” Fisher said. “Everyone supports just investigation of complaints, but the relentless character attacks on Cardinal Pell, by some, stand the principle of Read more
Australian Catholic schools funding blowup
Monday, May 22nd, 2017
Australian Catholic schools are a not pleased with the way the extra $18.6 billion earmarked for all Aussie schools will be allocated. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the funding under the “Gonski 2.0” plan model last week. Under this model, he says government funding will be allocated on the sole basis of the needs of Read more
5 very diverse new cardinals announced – none Italian
Monday, May 22nd, 2017
The names of five new cardinals from five very different countries were announced yesterday. Pope Francis says on 28 June he will hold a consistory to appoint the cardinals, who come from El Salvador, Laos, Mali, Spain and Sweden. They will add diversity to the church, Francis says. Apart from Spain, none of the countries Read more
Reformation, Catholics and today’s unity
Monday, May 22nd, 2017
The Reformation’s 500th jubilee is important to Catholics as well as Protestants, says Sr Joyce Ann Zimmerman. Zimmerman is a Sister of the Precious Blood, and a professor of liturgy from Dayton, Ohio. Although the Catholic Church has been involved in a number of divisions over the millennia – including the Protestant Reformation – it Read more
Cuba has first new Catholic church for decades
Monday, May 22nd, 2017
A new Catholic church in Cuba is being built – the first for 60 years. Funding for the church is being donated by a parish in Florida, USA. Father Ramon Hernandez, who with his parishioners bankrolled the project, says he is looking forward to the inauguration Mass taking place early next year. Hernandez, who comes Read more
Pope’s first foray into feature film
Monday, May 22nd, 2017Documentary and feature film makers don’t usually expect Popes to collaborate with feature film makers and answer hot questions from around the world. Francis is the first Pope to do this in a new feature film. Read more
Synod dedicated to Amazon mooted
Monday, May 22nd, 2017Pope Francis would like a Synod to be dedicated to the indigenous people of the Amazon. The Synod would include Amazonian people in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Read more
Terrorism’s battle between good and evil
Monday, May 22nd, 2017A battle between good and evil, rather than between religions is behind the global war on terror, President Donald Trump says. It is not a war between “different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations,” he said in a speech to leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority nations. Read more
North Korea most fears Gospel’s light
Thursday, May 18th, 2017
The North Korean regime fears the Gospel’s light being spread above all other threats, the first annual World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians was told last week. Former North Korean Christian missionary Kim Chung-seong went on to explain why the country is so afraid: “[It is] because the Bible and the Gospel speaks the Read more