The rate of people attending Confession in England and Wales has increased “dramatically” during the Year of Mercy, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has said. Speaking during a press conference last week, the cardinal said: “Diocese by diocese, parish by parish”, the rate of people going to Confession had “increased dramatically during the past six months”. Continue Read more
World
Benedict XVI celebrates 89th birthday
Tuesday, April 19th, 2016Pope Francis has said thanks should be given for Benedict XVI on the Pope emeritus’s 89th birthday “Today is Benedict XVI’s birthday,” Francis tweeted on April 16. “Let us remember him in our prayers and thank God for giving him to the Church and the world.” Continue reading
Signs Pope might extend SSPX Confession authorisation
Friday, April 15th, 2016
Pope Francis has reportedly promised to extend indefinitely his recognition of Confessions heard by priests of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X. Last September, Francis decreed that during the Holy Year of Mercy, anyone who confesses their sins to an SSPX priest will be considered validly forgiven. Now, SSPX superior Bishop Bernard Fellay has Read more
Historic Irish synod backs lay-led liturgies
Friday, April 15th, 2016
A proposal to develop and support lay-led liturgies has received strong support at the first synod to be held in Ireland in half a century. A three-day diocesan synod in Limerick was attended by 400 delegates. More than 90 per cent of delegates backed the lay-led liturgies proposal. At the synod, Fr Eugene Duffy, a lecturer Read more
Aussie students told to destroy sex issue page of workbook
Friday, April 15th, 2016
Students at a Melbourne Catholic school have been told to destroy a page in a workbook referring to premarital sex and homosexuality. Year 9 students at St Francis Xavier College in Berwick were gathered in the school hall on March 24 and were told they couldn’t leave until the page was removed. A handful of Read more
Vatican bans abuser archbishop from World Youth Day
Friday, April 15th, 2016
A Polish archbishop who molested seminarians has been warned by the Vatican to stay away from public church celebrations, including World Youth Day. Media reports had stated Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, formerly of Poznan, saw no reason he could not participate in commemorations of the foundation of Christianity in Poland. The commemorations, from April 14-16, will Read more
Aust Telstra drops out of same-sex marriage debate
Friday, April 15th, 2016
Australian telecommunications giant Telstra has declared it will no longer drive further debate on same-sex marriage. But the company denied it had changed its position on the issue, after pressure had come from the Catholic Church. Telstra was one of several major Australian corporations to sign an Australian marriage equality petition last year. In May, Read more
C9 cardinals discuss bishop appointment process
Friday, April 15th, 2016The council of cardinals advising the Pope on Church governance have discussed the way bishops are chosen for dioceses around the world. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, said the cardinals’ council reflected on what criteria is currently used to select prelates “in the light of their pastoral identity and mission”. The cardinals have also Read more
Exposing kids to porn is child abuse, Aussie bishops say
Friday, April 15th, 2016Exposure to pornography harms children so much that it should be considered child abuse, Australia’s Catholic bishops have said. A commission of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference gave a statement to a senate committee in their nation last month. The committee was making an inquiry into the harm of Internet pornography. “Children have a right Read more