A priest in the Philippines who scolded and harangued an unwed teenage mother at her baby’s Baptism has apologised, but may face sanctions. A video of the incident at a church in Cebu province was posted on Facebook by the 17-year-old’s grandmother. The video was also posted on Brute Show’s YouTube account, which provided an English Read more
The Louisiana Supreme Court in the southern United States has issued a decision that may require a priest to violate the secrecy of confession. The case involves the possible confession of a 12-year-old, who was allegedly abused by a parishioner in 2008. The complainant said she told the priest in three separate confessions of her Read more
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun of Hong Kong has asked Pope Francis not to visit China, saying the Pontiff would be “manipulated”. Cardinal Zen told an Italian newspaper that this is the message he would give the Pope. Improving relations between Beijing and the Vatican has resulted in speculation that the Pope could reach out to Read more
A new president has been announced for the scandal-plagued Vatican bank, as it was revealed that the institution’s 2013 net profit had plunged. Some 3000 accounts have been also purged from the bank in the last year, with almost 400 not meeting stricter client criteria, requiring a close link with the Church. French financier Jean-Baptiste Read more
The Vatican has refused a royal commission request that it hand over all information relating to child sex abuse committed by priests in Australia. The head of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Justice Peter McClellan, told a victims’ group he had written to the Vatican on the matter. He sought Read more
Documents provided by Pope Francis have been used in a trial which saw two retired Argentine military officers found guilty of murdering a bishop. Bishop Enrique Angelelli of the north-western La Rioja diocese in Argentina was murdered in 1976 when the vehicle he was driving was forced from the road. This was at the beginning Read more
For the first time, a woman has been appointed to lead one of Rome’s seven pontifical universities, established directly under the Pope’s authority. The Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education announced that Franciscan Sr Mary Melone has been appointed rector of the Pontifical University Antonianum. The Antonianum is run by the Order of Friars Minor. Sr Read more
The confidentiality of the confessional will no longer stop Australian Anglican priests reporting serious crimes they hear in confession to police. Representatives of the Anglican Church of Australia approved this on July 2 at the church’s General Synod in Adelaide. The ruling covers serious offences that would attract a jail term of five years or more, Read more
To truly understand Pope Francis, one must understand the Latin American mindset, the Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith says. Cardinal Gerhard Müller spoke about the Pope during an interview with the Austrian Pontifical Missions magazine Alle Welt. Cardinal Müller said the Western world would have to learn to see problems Read more
The Vatican has officially recognised the International Association of Exorcists, which has 250 member priests in 30 countries. Last month, the Congregation for Clergy officially recognised the association, whose members perform ceremonies to “liberate the faithful from demons”. The association was introduced in Italy in 1991 by veteran exorcist Fr Gabriele Amorth to share experiences Read more