Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has inadvertently accepted a book that labels Pope Francis as the vicar of the anti-Christ. The book was full of messages by the self-styled Italian “seer” Franca Miscio, who is better known as “Conchiglia”. According to Vatican Insider, Conchiglia claims to receive messages from God, Jesus and Mary. Her “prophecies” describe Read more
Australia’s Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter titled “Don’t Mess with Marriage” as debate on same-sex marriage gains momentum. Released by the bishops’ Commission for Family, Youth and Life, the letter highlights the meaning of marriage and also spells out implications of redefining marriage. The bishops state that in issuing the letter, they want Read more
Scottish MPs have overwhelmingly rejected a bill that sought to legalise assisted suicide. The bill, which would have allowed those with terminal illnesses to seek the aid of a doctor to help end their lives, was defeated 82-36 in a free vote in the Scottish Parliament. A Scottish parliamentary committee recently concluded that the bill Read more
The latest verbal sparring between Rome and Beijing could be preliminary moves in which both sides establish the ground rules for future relations. Last week, Pope Francis called on Chinese Catholics to attach themselves to “the rock of Peter on which the Church was built”. This means giving allegiance to Rome, rather than the government-sanctioned Read more
Pope Francis has revealed that he hasn’t watched television since 1990, as a result of a promise he made to Our Lady of Mt Carmel. In a long and personal interview in Argentinean newspaper La Voz del Pueblo, the Pope said that he made this promise on the night of July 15, 1990. “I told Read more
Cardinal George Pell has said he is willing to travel to Ballarat to give evidence at a royal commission that is hearing horrendous accounts of child abuse. Abuse victims have called on Cardinal Pell to give evidence to the inquiry to answer questions about the Church’s response to the abuse. “So far I have not Read more
English Cardinal Vincent Nichols has told married couples that even a broken marriage remains a source of grace for those involved in it. Cardinal Nichols was speaking at a special Mass at Westminster Cathedral in thanksgiving for the sacrament of Matrimony. More than 500 married couple celebrating milestone anniversaries attended. In his homily, Cardinal Nichols Read more
Pope Francis wants to create a “listening magisterium”, says German Cardinal Walter Kasper. Speaking at a conference in Washington, DC, Cardinal Kasper said Francis wants to retool the Catholic hierarchy. This will result in a hierarchy that not only defines and enforces Church teachings, but also listens and responds to how laypeople understand God’s will. Read more
A warning has been issued about the spiritual dangers of the social media phenomenon “Charlie Charlie Challenge” in which young people invoke a demon. The challenge, which has been trending on Twitter, is seen as a poor man’s Ouija board. In a demonstration of the increasing power of social media, in slightly more than two Read more
The Catholic Church in Ireland needs a “reality check”, the Archbishop of Dublin said, in the wake of an overwhelming referendum vote for same-sex marriage. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin also said the Church needs to ask itself if it has drifted away from young people. In the referendum on May 22, voters were asked if they Read more