World

Pope Francis says so far he hasn’t thought about resigning

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

Pope Francis has said that up to this point in his papacy he hasn’t thought about resigning. The Pope was asked about the subject by two young YouTube stars at a function at the Vatican on Sunday. He was asked if he has ever considered resigning because he finds the demands of his job too Read more

Missal translation stoush looming for French-speakers

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

The French-speaking Catholic world is heading for a tug-of-war over the translation of the Roman Missal. The Vatican is insisting on a precise translation from the Latin text approved in 2002, as it did for the translation into English. The planned new translation will be for French-speaking parts of Europe, Canada, Africa and the Caribbean. Read more

Cardinal could be prosecuted for ‘gay empire’ jibe

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

LGBT and feminist activists want to have a Spanish cardinal penalised for hate speech after he said a “gay empire” is one of the threats to the family. On May 13, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Valencia delivered a homily in which he stated the family has become a target in various ways. “The family is Read more

Irish bishop says media, politicians want Church gone

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

A Catholic bishop in Ireland has accused politicians and media of seeking the destruction of the Church. Bishop William Crean of Cloyne said the goal of such people seems to be the elimination of the Church from public debate. “Ireland through its political and media establishment seems determined to eliminate the engagement of the Catholic Read more

Jesus would be banned from UK universities: Oxford prof

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

Counter terrorism law and a trend of student “safe spaces” would see Jesus Christ banned from speaking at UK universities today, an Oxford professor says. Professor Timothy Garton Ash, a professor of European Studies, made this comment while warning that universities must “hold the line” against the “salami slicing” of free speech. At a festival in Read more

UK Catholic and Anglican heads in first live Facebook event

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

The heads of the Anglican and Catholic churches in the United Kingdom produced their first joint Facebook Live video last week. Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols took part in an unscripted discussion from Lambeth Palace. They answered questions that came in and spoke on a variety of topics including Pentecost and prayer. One Read more

Conservative prelate to head US Amoris Laetitia committee

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

An archbishop known for his conservative views is to co-ordinate a committee of US bishops working on the implementation of Amoris Laetitia. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia will lead a working group of five bishops. The group’s purpose is “to support our Holy Father in furthering the reception Read more

Prelate publicly scolds Argentine government over poverty

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

Argentina’s president and his allies have appeared to receive a public scolding from the Archbishop of Buenos Aires over prioritisation of the poor. President Mauricio Macri heard Archbishop Mario Poli speak at the traditional May Revolution Day service at the local cathedral. The Archbishop said “Attention should be prioritised toward children and the elderly, the Read more

Cardinal says Mass in refugee boat next to German cathedral

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

A cardinal has celebrated Mass standing in a refugee boat in front of a German cathedral. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who stood in the boat outside Cologne Cathedral on Thursday, called for compassion for migrants and refugees. Hundreds of people witnessed the liturgy. The boat had been formerly used to transport refugees across the Mediterranean. Read more

Worship prefect calls for Masses celebrated towards east

Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

The Vatican’s liturgy chief has called on priests to celebrate parts of the Mass facing the east, as this is what Vatican II wanted. The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah, made this call in an interview with a French Catholic magazine. Cardinal Sarah said Read more