Emulating Pope Francis, Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP invited the city’s most vulnerable to come to lunch at St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt on Friday. Hundreds of people responded to the invitation. Over 100 volunteers fed them in the spirit of community and charity. The Archbishop, who joined the diners for the meal, spoke of his Read more
A Polish priest has created a small chapel in the city of Poznan, which besides an altar, lectern, chairs and crucifix, offers an AI-powered programme allowing visitors to ask questions about Catholicism and faith. Priest Radek Rakowski’s parish initially planned to build a traditional church, before opting for a more modern chapel installed on the Read more
A jury awarded a Catholic Michigan woman US$12.7 million (NZ$21.6m) in a religious discrimination lawsuit after her former employer — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) — refused to give her a religious exemption from the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and fired her. The woman, Lisa Domski, submitted a religious exemption request to the Read more
Speaking on November 14 to participants at a conference on martyrdom, Pope Francis said that the Church should recognise all those who die for Christ, including those who are not Catholic. The Pope pointed to the Orthodox martyrs of Libya: “They were martyrs, and the Church venerates them as her own martyrs,” he said. “With Read more
Sotheby’s auction house is auctioning off the oldest known stone tablet with the Ten Commandments. The auction house announced that the approximately 1,500-year-old tablet with the ancient Hebrew text is to be auctioned on 18 December. The tablet is dated to the period between 300 and 800. It is the only completely preserved example from Read more
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has resigned following mounting criticism of his handling of the John Smyth abuse scandal, with calls for other senior clergy implicated in the case to follow suit. An independent review, led by safeguarding expert Keith Makin, condemned the Church of England for its failure to report the “abhorrent abuse” Smyth Read more
In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Vatican and Microsoft have partnered to create a digital replica of St Peter’s Basilica, offering an immersive online and in-person experience. Using advanced AI and photogrammetry, this project will provide millions of people throughout the world a virtual gateway to one of Catholicism’s holiest sites. The launch coincides with preparations Read more
In a landmark decision, Australia’s High Court has ruled that the Catholic Church is not vicariously liable for child abuse committed by priests not directly employed by the institution. This ruling overturns a 2023 Victorian court decision that held the church responsible for the abuse of a five-year-old by assistant priest Father Bryan Coffey. The Read more
A recent study by research company Censis for the Italian Bishops’ Conference reveals that, while 71% of Italians identify as Catholic, fewer than half attend church regularly and individualistic approaches to faith are on the rise. The report, released just before Italy’s first Synodal Assembly, highlights a shifting landscape in Italy’s religious practices and challenges Read more
One week after former President Donald Trump’s re-election, US Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore, committing to defend immigrants and the poor despite anticipated challenges. Leaders of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) emphasised that they would champion vulnerable communities and work towards immigration reform. “As the successors of the Apostles and vicars of Christ Read more