Gold profiteers have fallen out with a nun who is leading a community protest against their greed. She is protesting against the Dominican Republic’s government for not sharing profits from a gold mine. “It’s a shame that naturally rich communities live in poverty and whose basic needs go unmet. “Our communities are among the poorest Read more
Apartheid challenger. Bishop Desmond Tutu’s biographer. Friend of Nelson Mandela. Fighter for justice. Dauntless South African journalist. Allister Sparks – RIP. He was 83. Sparks was the editor of South African newspaper The Rand Daily Mail. This paper was the voice of liberal opposition to the white Pretoria government and a champion of majority rule. Read more
Peace for Aleppo will come from God. The Catholic Bishop of Aleppo says the Christian faith is still practised in Aleppo. This is despite endless bombardment and a US strike which killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. Bishop George Khazen said a Mass of thanksgiving for Mother Teresa’s canonization on Sunday. “The church was full, the Read more
Last month China’s, State Council released a draft of the new ‘Regulations on Religious Affairs.’ It is a revision of the 2005 law of the same name. When the two laws are placed side by side, the consistent trends, and the new directions to China’s religious policy quickly emerge: greater control and regulation. Religious scholars Read more
Ex-priests and nuns along with Catholic priests in India have united. They aim to bring together people who have issues with the Catholic church. The new initiative is called the ‘Open Church Movement’. Members will be free to follow and practice traditions according to their wishes. Open Church Movement coordinator George Abraham Malayat said the Read more
Anti-semitism claims are being inflated by Israel’s allies. An employee of a state-funded charity in Belgium says the aim is to distract from the allies’ treatment of Palestinians. Brigitte Herremans, who works for Catholic organisations Broederlijk Delen and Pax Christi, made the comments on Flemish Radio 1. Read more
Euthanasia approval for a terminally ill Belgian 17-year-old makes him the first minor to be helped to die in Belgium. Age restrictions on euthanasia requests were removed in Belgium two years ago. The head of the country’ federal euthanasia commission Wim Distelmans said the teenager was “suffering unbearable physical pain”. “Fortunately there are very few Read more
School prayers are banned in Kenya. The Catholic Church supports Kenyan Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s ban on school prayer days in the third term. The ban is because of cheating in exams. Nyeri Archbishop Peter Kairu said schools do not need to hold such days: God answers individual prayers. “The love for money has Read more
Chief exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, who founded the International Association of Exorcists and served as exorcist for the diocese of Rome for 30 years, died on Friday at the age of 91. Father Amorth was known for his blunt words about the devil and his works, always insisting that Satan’s greatest triumph is getting people Read more
Service not politics should be your focus, Pope Francis told his papal ambassadors (nuncios) last week. In a special Jubilee audience with nearly all of his 108 ambassadors around the world, Pope Francis thanked them for their dedication, and encouraged them to continue their work in humble service, without getting caught up in useless politics. Read more