Bonfires commemorating a Protestant victory over Catholics in 1690 Ireland are sinful. That’s the Rev. Frank Sellar’s view, anyway. Sellar, who is the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland said the bonfires are “a means by which we pass on to succeeding generations the sins of our fathers.” The fires are lit in loyalist Read more
An artist who stole and sold consecrated Hosts for an exhibit has had the charges against him dismissed. The Spanish court ruled the theft did not disrespect the Catholic faith. The artist, Abel Azcona stole more than 240 consecrated hosts from Masses, taking them by hand and keeping them. He then arranged them on the Read more
The German football squad has had some friendly advice from Pope Francis. “Remember your are role models for so many young people and children, and the great responsibility this entails…” he said. Read more
The Paris prosecutor says four men have been arrested over a failed attack on a suburban Parisian church last year. They were arrested separately on Tuesday. France’s LCI television said they may have provided logistical help to chief suspect Sid Ahmed Ghlam. Read more
Filmmaker Michael Moore has challenged white Americans to stand up for minorities and women. He says they have been coming under attack since the election of Donald Trump. Read more
The Mafia-Catholic Church relationship is not static, but has changed over the past 30 years says Rossella Merlino. She says the Church is very far from the brotherhood these days. This hurts the members she says as they have what she calls a “complex and varied” relationship with the Church. They rely on the Church Read more
IVFs sorry legacy is that many IVF “babies” may inherit their parents’ fertility problems. They are also more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and cancer. Although the difference between the health outcomes from IVF babies and others is small, research shows genes behave differently in IVF babies. IVF – or in vitro fertilisation – Read more
Pope Francis’s concern about Donald Trump’s leadership focuses on poor people, especially refugees and migrants. If the President-elect hurts those on life’s margins, Francis says he will step in. Otherwise, he wants to give Trump a chance. Francis consistently shows concern for the poor and marginalised. On Friday, as the Jubilee Year of Mercy came Read more
Ex-priests, their wives and families were surprised by a visit from Pope Francis last Friday. The visit marked the end of the Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy. In an interview last December, Francis said the Holy Year is a response to the world’s need for a “revolution of tenderness” from which “justice and all the Read more
Donald Trump has spoken about his immediate plans in a CBS interview. These include strategies for Mexican border controls, abortion and gay marriage. He says he is still determined to build a barrier between Mexico and the United States. It is not yet clear who will pay for the barricade. He says it may include Read more