Pope Francis has said a theology of prosperity, where God rewards a just person with wealth, is wrong. Preaching during Mass at his residence on Thursday, the Pope said Christians err when think such a theology is valid. “You cannot serve God and wealth,” the Pope said, reflecting on a passage from the letter of Read more
World
Archbishop condemns Malawi killings of albino persons
Tuesday, May 24th, 2016An archbishop in Malawi has said that the killing of albino persons in that country is evil and must be condemned. Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye told a Malawi Primary Justice Day that prayer is needed for God’s intervention to stop this “evil act”. The archbishop said the devil is leading people to do such evil things Read more
Vatican PR aide decries Catholics who spout online hate
Friday, May 20th, 2016
A Vatican communication aide has chided Catholics for turning the Internet into a cesspool of vitriol in the name of defending the faith. Fr Thomas Rosica told a World Communications Day event in New York that sometimes Catholic conversation online is more “culture of death” than “culture of life”. “Many of my non-Christian and non-believing Read more
Sister calls for men and women to be on deacon commission
Friday, May 20th, 2016
A leading religious sister has called for men and women to be on the Pope’s future commission to study the issue of women deacons. Sr Carmen Sammut, the president of the International Union of Superiors General (IUSG), also said sisters globally would be better equipped to carry out their work if they could become deacons. Read more
Auschwitz death camp visit will be profound for Francis
Friday, May 20th, 2016
Pope Francis is likely to question humanity and the depths to which it can fall during his visit to the Auschwitz death camp in July, a confidante says. Francis will visit the camp while he is in Poland for World Youth Day. He will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, St John Paul II Read more
Resist ideological colonisation says worship prefect
Friday, May 20th, 2016
The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship has urged Catholics to resist both “ideological colonisation” and the removal of God from society. Cardinal Robert Sarah did this during a speech at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, on May 17. The Guinean cardinal spoke of a religious persecution and threat being visited on Read more
Campaign sees girl allowed to wear pants to Catholic school
Friday, May 20th, 2016
A Melbourne Catholic school will let a girl wear pants instead of a tunic to school after a social media campaign to change its uniform policy. The campaign started after media coverage of grade 1 pupil Asha Cariss’s objections over not being allowed to wear pants to school. The school’s previous uniform policy was that Read more
Pope warns against clericalism in making laity deacons
Friday, May 20th, 2016In a wide-ranging interview, Pope Francis has spoken about sexual abuse, the Society of St Pius X and clericalising laity by making them deacons. Pope Francis told French newspaper La Croix that it is often a mistake to “clericalise” talented laity by turning them into deacons. “In Buenos Aires, I have known many good priests Read more
Cardinal in charge of Vatican property under investigation
Friday, May 20th, 2016An Italian cardinal responsible for managing the Vatican’s real estate holdings is being investigated for embezzlement. Italian prosecutors are reportedly investigating Cardinal Domenico Calcagno over an alleged misappropriation of funds in his former diocese. The matter concerns funds at an institute to support the clergy in Liguira and real estate investments. Cardinal Calcagno is the Read more
Jesus’ baptism site to be cleared of land mines
Friday, May 20th, 2016Land adjoining the site of Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan is to be cleared of thousands of land mines. A British trust is to work on clearing the mines at Qasr al-Yahud on the West Bank of the Jordan, with the co-operation of Israeli and Palestinian authorities and eight churches. Work is expected to Read more