The Vatican has banned a BBC historian from filming love letter. The letter is kept in the Vatican archives. In the letter from Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn, Henry writes passionately about Anne’s breasts. Read more
World
Abortion’s forgivable but still a grave sin says Pope
Friday, November 25th, 2016
Abortion’s forgivable, says Pope Francis. Any priest can now forgive women who have had abortions. This is a significant change in direction. The new direction was signaled during the Holy Year of Mercy which finished last Sunday. Francis gave all priests temporary ability to absolve women who had abortions during the Holy Year. Until then, Read more
Vatican Commission on women deacons – first meeting today
Friday, November 25th, 2016
The Vatican Commission on Women Deacons meets for the first time today. The 12-members will study how things were in the early times of the Church. This will involve finding out how women served as deacons in the early church. Questions include “were their duties similar to those performed by male deacons” and if so, Read more
Strip and sex club next to convent told to shut shop
Friday, November 25th, 2016
A strip and sex club that opened in 2013 next to a Chicago convent has been told to close. Stone Park suburb’s mayor and liquor commissioner Beniamino Mazzulla ruled on the two-year battle between Club Allure’s owners and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo. The convent includes a retirement home for 15 sisters in Read more
Sindr – the hotline to the Sacraments
Friday, November 25th, 2016
Sindr, an app using GPS technology to get you to Mass and Reconciliation, is now official. It has just been launched at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Next time you’re looking for somewhere to go to Mass or Reconciliation, it may come to your aid. If you’re in Scotland, that is. It will tell you Read more
Mary – heart of next three World Youth Days
Friday, November 25th, 2016
Mary will be at the heart of the next three World Youth Days, Pope Francis says. All three will take participants on a spiritual journey with Our Lady when she finds herself chosen by God. World Youth Day (WYD) sees young people from all over the world work to build and strengthen the bonds of Read more
St Thomas More’s hair shirt on display
Friday, November 25th, 2016St Thomas More’s hair shirt is on display for the first time. He wore the shirt while he was waiting to be executed. He was martyred in 1535 for refusing to accept King Henry VIII of England’s Protestant reforms. The shirt has been enshrined for veneration above an altar at Buckfast Abbey, a Benedictine monastery Read more
Christian heritage monastery ransacked
Friday, November 25th, 2016A Christian heritage monastery in Mosul was ransacked during Islamic States’ two-year occupation. They were finally ousted last weekend. Much of the heritage artifcats, including books, were burnt. Read more
Death is not frightening – trust God instead says Pope
Friday, November 25th, 2016Death is not frightening if you are faithful to God’s teachings. Don’t fear it. Think about the day you meet Jesus and put your faith in God, says Pope Francis. Read more
Conservative Cardinals openly challenge Pope on marriage, gays
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016
Conservative Cardinals have gone public with a letter they wrote to the Pope in September, because he hasn’t answered it. The letter asked him to clarify Church teaching about love and the family. The Cardinals are Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, Walter Brandmüller and Joachim Meisner. The “dubia” (matters they say need specific yes/no answers from Read more