President Robert Mugabe is bringing the Catholic church into disrepute by continuing human rights abuses. At the same time he attends Mass and pretends to be a devout Christian. Remnant Church founder and renowned anti-Mugabe pastor, Patrick Mugadza, said he will petition Pope Francis, requesting Mugabe’s excommunication Mugadza rose to fame after his arrest last Read more
Catholic aid workers in Haiti are waiting for huge winds to subside before assessing the damage left by Hurricane Matthew. The city of Les Cayes and coastal towns and villages in the south west of Haiti experienced the most destruction. Les Cayes and surrounding areas are the focus of concern for Catholic Relief Services. Matthew Read more
Amoris Laetitia is a ‘consensus document,’ says Washington’s Cardinal Donald Wuerl. He says the document – in English: The Joy of Love – was the result of a two-year process of consultation. He says despite its detractors, it fits appropriately amid the teaching of the church since the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council. Read more
Journalists be truthful. The Pope’s latest prayer intention is for journalists’ work to always be motivated by strong ethics and respect for the truth. The Pope’s prayer video, released this week, opens showing scenes of a television studio, recording studio, writing desks and satellites, which flash across the screen as the Pope speaks. Read more
The death penalty in the United States is being re-examined. Two cases are in front of the Supreme Court at present. There are also three referendums on state ballots in the November election. In the two death penalty cases before the court, both from Texas, one examines information given to jurors. The other questions whether Read more
Rent a priest? It’s possible – but not legal as far as the Catholic Church is concerned. Former Catholic priests in the southern Indian state of Kerala have launched an underground “rent a priest” service. Catholics who do not use services from their parishes can hire a priest. The service aims to help Catholics who have Read more
Gender theory – where people choose their gender – is destroying marriage, Pope Francis says. He said it is a global war against marriage, which he described as God’s most beautiful creation. He was speaking to a group of religious men and women and pastoral agents in Georgia. “Today, there is a global war trying to Read more
Religious gatherings must stop in parts of China. House churches where members meet in private houses are targeted. The ban has closed house churches in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Anhui and Henan provinces recently. The latest ban has closed a house church in Sichuan province. It has to stop meeting under rules that govern religious gatherings. This is because Read more
Public death threats against drug dealers and addicts in the Philippines aim to scare them into stop selling drugs and to discourage would-be users. President Rodrigo Duterte openly compares his bloody anti-crime war to Hitler and the Holocaust. He says he would be “happy to slaughter” three million addicts. The Catholic Church in the Philippines is Read more
Islamic terrorism doesn’t exist because religion is not about murder, President Barack Obama says. He is defending his refusal to speak about “Islamic terrorism”. He wants us to “make sure that we do not lump these murderers into the billion Muslims that exist around the world who are peaceful … responsible … fellow troops and police Read more