The Mormon church is planning to arm its missionaries with 32,000 iPad minis, as well as broadening its social media outreach. This comes after a test programme last year which saw 6500 Mormon missionaries in the United States and Japan equipped with the devices. Mormon leaders say using iPad minis has helped missionaries keep in Read more
World
500 sets of twins attend twin saints feast in India
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014More than 500 sets of twins have gathered in India for the celebration of the feast of twin saints, in a tradition that is growing each year. Celebrations were held in Kerala last month in a Syro-Malabar parish named for Sts Gervasis and Prothasis. The saints were twin brothers who were scourged and beheaded for Read more
Child sex abuse in Australian institutions far more than expected
Friday, July 4th, 2014
The scale of child sexual abuse in Australian institutions is far wider than expected, a royal commission has reported. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse delivered its interim report to government on June 30. So far the commission has received allegations of child sexual abuse in more than 1000 individual institutions. Read more
Anti-gay rights prelate investigated for sexual impropriety
Friday, July 4th, 2014
An American archbishop who has prominently opposed gay marriage is under investigation for alleged sexual relationships with other men. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Twin Cities, Minnesota, is being investigated by a prominent Minneapolis law firm hired by his archdiocese. Archbishop Nienstedt authorised the investigation himself. Numerous allegations have reportedly been received against Nienstedt, alleging he Read more
Elton John says Jesus would support gay marriage
Friday, July 4th, 2014
British musician Sir Elton John says Pope Francis is wonderful and that Jesus would support gay marriage. One of the world’s most prominent gay celebrities, Sir Elton said in an interview that the leader of the Catholic Church is a sign of hope. “He’s excited me so much by his humanity and taking everything down to the humility of faith Read more
US Supreme Court backs Christian firms over contraception
Friday, July 4th, 2014
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that some businesses can’t be forced to pay for employee health insurance that includes contraception. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that two businesses have protection on religious grounds against a Government mandate requiring coverage of contraceptive services in employee health plans. The contraception mandate is included Read more
Aussie bishop charged with sexual assault of child
Friday, July 4th, 2014
The Australian Bishop who heads the Church’s military diocese has been charged with child sex offences that allegedly took place in 1969. Bishop Max Davis was not ordained at the time of the alleged offending, and he “emphatically denies” the charges, which will be defended. It is understood he is the first Australian bishop and Read more
Nigerian bishop bans women from bringing hand-bags to Mass
Friday, July 4th, 2014A Nigerian diocese has banned women from attending church services while carrying hand-bags. Bishop Calistus Onaga of Enugu diocese directed all his parish priests to announce this during recent Sunday Masses. The hand-bag ban is a security measure in response to recent incursions by Boko Haram militants, especially a foiled bomb attack at a church. Read more
Archbishop suggests ban on naming godfathers to combat mob
Friday, July 4th, 2014An Italian archbishop has proposed a 10-year moratorium on naming godfathers of baptised children, as a way to stem the influence of mob bosses. Archbishop Giuseppe Morosini of Reggio Calabria made the suggestion to Pope Francis last month. Initially the Pope rejected the proposal, but appears to have rethought the matter after visiting Calabria, home Read more
Bishop warns of eucharistic famine unless changes made
Friday, July 4th, 2014An Austrian bishop has warned that the Eucharist is in danger of “drying up”, because the Church is not prepared to change rule on who can be a priest. Former Vienna auxiliary Helmut Krätzl has called on bishops to take up Pope Francis’s request to “make courageous suggestions” in order to stop eucharistic scarcity. “We Read more