Catholic bishops in Texas, USA, thanked a federal appeals court for issuing a stay of execution for a mentally ill inmate. Scott Panetti was due to be executed just hours before the stay. “The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops today expressed appreciation to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for granting a stay of execution Read more
There are many hidden saints: men, women, fathers and mothers of families, sick people, priests who every day put into practice the love of Jesus; and this gives us hope, Pope Francis said Friday morning during Mass at Casa Santa Marta. It is not enough to say that you have faith. The true Christian puts the Read more
Irish bishops are warning Catholics in Ireland that presenting same sex-partnerships as equivalent to marriage would be akin to saying that the union of man and woman is no longer the foundation of society. In a pastoral statement aimed at presenting the Church’s teaching on marriage ahead of a vote on same-sex marriage due to Read more
The 2013 papal conclave that elected Pope Francis is news again now that four cardinals have denied a new book’s claim that they campaigned for Pope Francis to be elected — though the book’s author has clarified the Pope himself was not a part of their supposed campaign. The London-based Catholic journalist Austen Ivereigh, in Read more
Pope Francis, Tuesday, joined Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and other Christian world faith leaders to sign a joint declaration of their commitment to end the eradication of modern slavery. The Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery underlines that modern slavery is a crime against humanity. The religious leaders’ goal is to have slavery eradicated Read more
Retired Hong Kong Cardinal, Joseph Zen, Wednesday, was released from custody by Hong Kong Police after joining the protest demanding for universal suffrage in Hong Kong. Zen, along with Occupy Movement organisers, earlier, surrendered to police after signing a document defending freedom in Hong Kong. The form stated they took part in a rally from September 28th, admitted the rally was Read more
Two surveys of American views show a preference of the church having nothing to do with civil marriage. A survey of 2,000 American adults, the Nashville-based Christian research company found: Nearly six in 10 Americans (59 percent) say marriage should not be “defined and regulated by the state.” Nearly half (49 percent) say “Religious weddings should not be Read more
It is important to understand that the Synod is not a parliament according to Pope Francis. Francis made the comments during a press conference to journalists during a 46 minute in-flight journey on the way home from a three day trip to Turkey. “The Synod is a path, it is a journey, firstly. “Secondly the synod Read more
Doctors in the Netherlands are proposing to harvest organs from euthanised people to increase the number of life-saving organs available for transplant. If approved, the procedures would be binding on hospitals and doctors throughout the country. The move is spurred on by what transplant surgeons consider the waste of healthy organs. “An estimated 5 to 10% of Read more
Pope Francis urged Swiss bishops to maintain a lively faith, lest their country’s religious buildings become nothing more than dust-filled museums. The Holy Father also used the opportunity to encourage the bishops to live their episcopal fatherhood; to uphold the ministerial priesthood; to engage in frank ecumenism; and to maintain the Church’s witness to the Gospel. “Your Read more