A report from the Australian Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council into sexual abuse has linked priestly celibacy and child abuse. It is the first time the Church has made such a link. However the finding is not a first step to ending celibacy for priests. The 40 page report touches briefly on celibacy, saying “Obligatory celibacy may also Read more
Oceania, New Zealand and Australia do not feature in the ‘global’ research of Pope Francis’ popularity. The Pew Research Centre global survey, released Friday, however shows most of the rest of the world seems to love him. A charmer of global opinion since he was elected pontiff last year, he has championed causes such as Read more
Sr Cristina Succia, the singing nun and winner of the Italian version of “The Voice” is in YouTube’s Top 10 videos for 2014. Sr Cristina’s very first video performance joins the list of social media’s who’s who including adorable animals, a multi-million dollar Super Bowl commercial, the iPhone 6 Plus bend test, and Simon Cowell’s “Bars Read more
Nuns in India want priests and bishops to join them raiding Kolkata’s brothels. The call comes from Sr Sharmi D’Souza, a member of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, who says the nuns will be more effective supported by their pastors. As well as the lack of priests, the nuns are also disappointed that some Indian police refuse Read more
The Missionaries of God’s Love are marking the year of Consecrated Life with an animated guide to discernment. The guide’s creators created the resource targeting young people. The four-part ‘Discernment for Dummies’ animated series, focuses on helping those seeking to know where to begin in the process of discerning their vocation. The resource seeks to explain what discernment Read more
God is like a mother, He loves us unconditionally. However, too often we want to take control of this grace in a kind of a spiritual book-keeping, Pope Francis said during his homily at Mass this morning in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta. “God’s closeness is such that he is presented like a mother, Read more
Pope Francis expressed in a message at the major U.N. climate change summit in Peru this week that the consequences of environmental change represent a “serious ethical and moral responsibility,” and warned that the time for action is running out. Francis warned Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of the Environment of Peru and President-Designate of the conference, Read more
Theological differences do not impede the witness of a shared love of God and neighbour. The comment made by Pope Francis came during a first private audience with a Salvation Army delegation led by General André Cox. Catholics and the Salvation Army, together with other Christians, recognise that those in need have a special place Read more
In preparation for the 2015 Synod on the Family, the Vatican is asking more questions about the same, 2014 Synod, “hot button” issues. The lineamenta, (preparatory document) including specific questions, will be sent to bishops’ conferences by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops within the next few days. It is the second time in two years the Vatican Read more
The Catholic Church must find ways of welcoming divorced and remarried, and gay Catholics, Pope Francis said. The Pontiff made the comments in a wide-ranging interview by Argentine daily, La Nacion. Addressing the turmoil his papacy is causing with conservative-minded groups, Francis says he’s pleased the issues are in the open. It’s a “good sign” that Read more