A Syrian priest who was kidnapped by ISIS and escaped five months later says we should boycott Saudi Arabia. The priest, Father Jacques Mourad, had been the prior of a pilgrimage centre. It was destroyed when ISIS captured the nearby city of Al Quaryatayn last August. The city was liberated in April this year. In Read more
World
Human trafficking – Catholic Mission’s fight
Friday, October 21st, 2016Human trafficking is something we can all help stop. Every person can make a difference in the fight against it. This message inspired more than 70 attendees at the second Is She Safe? gathering hosted earlier this month by the Catholic Mission Perth Office in Western Australia. The Catholic Mission said human trafficking is the Read more
The Princess and the Pope
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein had an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, as part of a one-day official visit to Rome. She was visiting as the UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson of International Humanitarian City (IHC). The Princess and the Pope discussed world hunger. Both seek to end hunger for the millions Read more
Bob Dylan, St John Paul II and tryin’ to get to heaven
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
Bob Dylan, who once sang for Saint John Paul II, has received the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Nobel citation says he is honored “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Commentators say he deserves to share the stage with “a charismatic pope who understood the power of the arts Read more
Hacked Clinton organisation email reveals “breathtaking anti-Catholic bigotry”
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
“The most powerful elements of the conservative movement are all Catholic.” This remark is contained in a hacked email exchange between current Clinton Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri and John Halpin, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP) Halpin described the conservative Catholic position as a “an amazing bastardization of the faith.” “They Read more
Seven new saints canonised
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
Seven new saints were canonised on Sunday. During his homily the Pope said “saints are men and women who enter fully into the mystery of prayer. “[They are] Men and women who struggle with prayer, letting the Holy Spirit pray and struggle in them.” The seven include one Argentinian, two Italians, two from France, a Read more
Venezuelan elected as new Jesuit superior general
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
Venezuelan Jesuit Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal is the Society of Jesus’s new superior general. He is the Society’s first non-European to lead the order. The 212 voting delegates to the Jesuit general congregation elected Sosa , who is 67. His election was held during the order’s 36th general congregation early this month. The delegates represent the Read more
United Nations new Secretary General against abortion, marriage equality and gay rights
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
United Nations new Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s appointment is not everyone’s choice. The ninth man to lead the UN in its 71-year history has drawn opposition from gay rights and women’s groups. Guterres will replace Ban Ki-moon when he retires at the end of December. The devout Catholic is against abortion, marriage equality and gay Read more
Ageing brings intense prayer, awareness of judgment says Benedict
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016Ageing brings intense prayer and awareness of judgement, says 89 year-old Emeritus Pope Benedict. He says retirement has given him the gift of silence to enter more deeply into prayer, especially with the Psalms and the writings of early Church theologians. He also says the approach of death makes his failings and God’s judgment a Read more
Australian court may prosecute archbishop if he hid sex abuse
Tuesday, October 18th, 2016An Australian court may prosecute an archbishop if can prove he hid sex abuse The archbishop failed for a second time last Friday to stop a criminal prosecution against. He is defending allegations he covered up for a pedophile priest. Archbishop Philip Wilson, 66, was charged in April last year with concealing serious child sexual Read more