Digital cyberslums where cyberbullying, pornography and abuse are running rampant need the Church’s presence, a Vatican conference found. The conference, Wednesday, entitled “Stop threats on the internet” was organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Reports of one out of three young people in Europe being cyberbullied is evidence of a “new form of Read more
A nativity war has broken out in France after a court’s ban on a nativity scene in the La Roche-sur-Yon town hall. The French court’s ban is to preserve France’s secular traditions and has sparked a fierce backlash, reports The Guardian. “Why not ban Christmas and the public holidays that go with it?” screamed Le Parisien; its headline ran Read more
The Anglican Communion might not hold together according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Archbishop Welby told the Times of London that the issue of the ordination of women and full rights for LGBT people are significant areas of disagreement. Acknowledging the strength of the individual churches he said the differences among them remain “profound”. “I Read more
Responding to an invitation from Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera to seek reconciliation with Christ during the season of Advent, nearly 5000 Catholics stood in line for hours to receive the Sacrament of Confession. According to the Archdiocese of Mexico City’s News Service, some 30 priests spent 12 hours in shifts hearing confessions at the Cathedral Read more
A German newspaper is reporting that retired Pope Benedict XVI says he would have liked to be known after his resignation as “Father Benedict” — a title that would have distinguished him more clearly from the current pontiff. The German-born Benedict has been known as Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI since retiring last year. The Frankfurter Read more
The Legion of Christ (Legionaries) is being sued by Mary Lou Dauray, who says her late aunt, Gabrielle Mee, would not have given over US$60 million if she knew its founder, Marcial Maciel, secretly fathered three children and molested seminarians. She argues her aunt, a devout Catholic, was manipulated into donating tens of millions of dollars Read more
The Vatican’s murky finances have been spotlighted again by economy secretariat head, Cardinal George Pell. Late last week, at a news conference, Cardinal Pell said hundreds of millions of euros had been found, squirrelled away in various Holy See departments. The millions did not appear on the Vatican’s statements of financial position. Pell was quick Read more
Head of the Swiss Guards, Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig will leave his position on January 31. The man whose colleagues considered him a dictator is being removed at the request of Pope Francis. “The Holy Father has ordered that Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig end his term on 31 January, at the conclusion of the extension Read more
According to Pope francis, the Church needs more women theologians. The Pontiff made the comments on Friday during a meeting with the International Theological Commission; it is the beginning of the Commission’s new five-year mandate. Noting the contribution women bring to the “intelligence of faith”, Francis described the five women now serving on the Commission as “the strawberries on Read more
Brooklyn and Queens Diocese, New York, is reaching out to young people, suggesting it is ‘hip’ to be prayerful. An Ad campaign that includes a picture of a church with a velvet rope accompanied by a slogan “Everyone’s on the list,” will soon be scattered across the diocese. CBS reports residents are ‘chuckling’ because the Read more