Indonesian Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura has expressed support for a priest recently questioned by police on treason charges for leading a prayer service attended by members of an alleged Papuan separatist group. Father John Djonga appeared at the police station in Wamena on Feb. 26 after consulting with the bishop. Accompanied by a Read more
World
Pell says Church ‘made enormous mistakes’ in abuse allegations
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
Cardinal George Pell said the Catholic Church “has made enormous mistakes” in dealing with allegations of sex abuse by priests. The Australian prelate made the statement when he testified via video link from a Rome hotel to the Royal Commission sitting in Sydney. “I’m not here to defend the indefensible. The church has made enormous Read more
Pope urges Europe to share burden of helping refugees
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
Pope Francis on Sunday called on European countries to share equally the burden of helping refugees who have been displaced by war and other “inhumane” situations. The pontiff said a “unanimous response” from European countries is needed to “share the burden fairly.” “The plight of refugees fleeing wars and other inhuman situations has always been Read more
Catholic charity expresses concern over cross removal in China
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need expressed concern over the reported increase of incidents of persecution of Christians in China. The concern follows reports that Chinese officials ordered the removal of a cross from a church in Zhejiang province last week. “This incident fits into a pattern of government aggression … involving the Read more
‘Spotlight’ wins Best Picture at Oscars
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
“Spotlight,” a real-life drama about a team of The Boston Globe journalists who reported about sex abuse in the Catholic Church, won Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday. The movie also won best original screenplay. “This film gave a voice to survivors, and this Oscar amplifies that voice, which we hope will Read more
Philippine bishop calls Madonna ‘amoral’ over crucifix dance routine
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
A Filipino Catholic bishop dubbed international pop diva Madonna “amoral” for climbing a stripper pole shaped like a crucifix during her concert in Manila last week. “I never thought there could be people like that who cannot tell the difference between right and wrong and are only driven by desire to make money,” said retired Read more
Pope aide’s mysterious death alarms Vatican
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016Pope Francis’s secretary, 34-year-old Miriam Wuolou of Eritrea, was found dead earlier this week — and the Vatican is calling foul. Wuolou’s body was discovered in her Rome apartment by police after her brother raised concern that she wasn’t answering her phone. She was seven months pregnant and suffered from diabetes, which can prove dangerous Read more
Pope Francis to Ethiopian Patriarch: Martyrs seed of Christian unity
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016Pope Francis urged world leaders to “promote peaceful coexistence” in the face of “a devastating outbreak of violence against Christians” on Monday, when he received the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Pope Matthias I, in the Vatican. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, which rejected the Read more
Cardinals: Don’t use charity as a conversion tool
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016Two top cardinals say that as Catholics engage in charity around the world, they must be careful not to put their desire to convert people to their faith ahead of their missionary work. Speaking at the “Charity will never end” conference organized by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council Cor Unum, an umbrella office to coordinate the Read more
No anointing for people planning assisted suicide: Prelate
Friday, February 26th, 2016
A Canadian archbishop has said that priests should not give the sacrament of anointing of the sick to a person who is intending to die by assisted suicide. Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa said it is inappropriate for a person intent on assisted suicide to request this sacrament. “Asking your priest to be present to Read more