A South African cardinal has admitted signing a letter to Pope Francis criticising the make-up of a commission which includes New Zealand’s Cardinal John Dew. Cardinal Wilfred Napier of Durban told Crux that he shares concerns about “the choice of the people that are writing up the final document” for the synod. Pope Francis appointed Read more
Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for recent scandals that have taken place in Rome and in the Vatican. This statement came during his general audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday. The Pope said: “Before beginning the catechesis, I would like to ask forgiveness in the name of the Church for the scandals that Read more
The Vatican has reportedly revoked the press credentials of a priest doing media reports on the synod on the family. This came after Fr Nicholas Gregoris challenged Canadian Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher after a press conference on October 6. Fr Gregoris, who had been covering Vatican news for 15 years, was told to leave the Sala Read more
France has reportedly dropped its attempt to appoint a gay Catholic diplomat as its ambassador to the Vatican, after a nine month standoff. In January, President Francois Hollande named Laurent Stefani as ambassador to the Holy See. The Vatican did not accept his credentials, but did not explicitly reject him. Mr Stefani, who is President Read more
A UK archbishop has signalled that the circumstances under which Anglicans can receive Communion at Catholic Masses could be broadened. Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, who is Catholic co-chair of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) stressed he was expressing a “personal view”. In an interview with the Church of Ireland Gazette, he said Read more
Mercy towards those not following Church teaching is emerging as a prominent theme at the synod on the family. According to a media briefing on Saturday, another prominent issue in the first week of synod discussions was the Church’s vision on the indissolubility of marriage. Vatican Radio journalist Romilda Ferrauto told the briefing that the Read more
Former Irish President Mary McAleese has been in a testy exchange with a US archbishop over whether homosexuals are “disordered”. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia spoke to media about Ms McAleese’s recent claim that the Church’s description of homosexuality as “instrinsically disordered” with a tendency to “evil” led to homophobia. The archbishop stated: “I’ve read Read more
A “normal” Catholic Italian girl has been dubbed “Lady Jihad” because of her recruiting prowess for ISIS. Former call centre worker Maria Giulia Sergio, 28, converted her entire Italian family to Islam and bullied them into starting new lives in Syria with ISIS, it is alleged. Maria is now known as Fatima Az Zahra. Italian Read more
Britain’s Chief Rabbi has warned that the UK is in danger of falling prey to an addiction to social media at the expense of real human relationships. Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the ancient Jewish principle of observing the Sabbath or a day of rest is an “antidote” to such an addiction. The orthodox Jewish interpretation Read more
Britons are increasingly returning to the pagan custom of being buried with their most prized possessions. New research among UK undertakers has shown that some of the most popular items put in coffins include packets of cigarettes, cans of beer or bags of lollies. Many people are buried with their favourite football scarf, or accompanied Read more