Inequalities and double standards characterise the treatment of prisoners in Thailand, according to an annual report on the Thai penitentiary system from two global rights groups. The 56-page report, jointly compiled by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), was released on March 19. It covers developments, trends, Read more
World
Syracuse Catholic parish wins national environmental prize
Thursday, March 21st, 2024When Kathy Gosh and Marijane Reilly founded the Caring For Our Common Home Task Force at All Saints Church in Syracuse, New York, in 2015, they could never have imagined that their group would win multiple grants and awards. It all began in 2015 after Pope Francis published his encyclical about environmental care, “Laudato Si’, Read more
Vatican reshuffles Synod process, pushes controversial issues to 2025
Monday, March 18th, 2024
The Vatican has postponed discussions on contentious doctrinal, ethical and pastoral issues until June 2025. It has redirected the focus of the upcoming synod towards synodality itself. The decision comes amidst growing anticipation about key matters such as women’s access to the diaconate and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich clarified that the Read more
Pope Francis has no plans to retire despite health concerns
Monday, March 18th, 2024
In his newly released autobiography “Life: My Story Through History” Pope Francis asserts that he has no plans to retire despite ongoing criticism and health challenges. The autobiography, co-authored with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, delves into key moments of his life and papacy, shedding light on his stance amidst controversies surrounding his leadership. At Read more
Priest sues diocese over “false” sexual abuse allegations
Monday, March 18th, 2024
A priest in Indiana, USA, is suing his diocese for fraud and defamation after he was suspended over what the clergyman claims were false sexual abuse allegations. Fr James DeOreo claims the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana violated diocesan policy and committed both fraud and defamation when it said, in March 2022, that he had been accused Read more
Confession unaffected by new Hong Kong security law
Monday, March 18th, 2024
Hong Kong’s Catholic diocese says confession will remain confidential despite the city’s upcoming national security law change. The proposed legislation the diocese is referring to is Article 23, a locally developed national security bill that Hong Kong is fast-tracking into law. It follows the one Beijing imposed in 2020 after quashing pro-democracy protests in Hong Read more
Priest shortage – Spain considers options
Monday, March 18th, 2024
An ongoing rural ministry priest shortage in the Spanish region of Castile has bishops, vicars and deans looking for new ways to serve. The problem is urgent, as what worked in the past when there were plenty of priests doesn’t work today. “We cannot expect things to change if we always do the same thing” Read more
Catholic education saves taxpayers billions
Monday, March 18th, 2024A groundbreaking study has confirmed the immense financial benefits of parental school choice in Australia. Non-government schools save taxpayers at least $4.59 billion annually in recurrent funding costs. The research from Catholic Schools NSW, published March 14, reveals that if all schools received their full government funding entitlement, the yearly recurrent savings provided by non-government Read more
Banned priest Tony Flannery to break silence on fate of the Catholic Church
Monday, March 18th, 2024Banned Redemptorist priest Tony Flannery plans to question the survival of the Roman Catholic church at a public talk in Galway shortly before Easter Sunday. Fr Flannery (77), suspended from public ministry by the Vatican in 2012, intends to give his views on whether “religious belief as we have known it can survive in modern Read more
Minister for Women ‘considers’ hospital funding tie to abortion
Monday, March 18th, 2024Australian Federal Minister for Women Katy Gallagher says the government should do more to make abortions accessible to women. She has left open the possibility of tying hospital funding to abortion provision in her National Press Club address on gender equality held last week. Answering a journalist’s direct question about whether the Labor government would Read more