English newspaper The Times will no longer have a specialist religion correspondent, after the departure of Ruth Gledhill who held the post for 25 years. Writing in The Tablet, former religious affairs correspondent for The Times Clifford Longley lamented the move. “In the case of newspapers, they will continue to report on religion, though less Read more
World
Chilean priests involved in baby snatching for adoption ring
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Authorities in Chile are investigating allegations that Catholic priests were in a network that took newborn babies from unmarried mothers. The babies were illegally given away to be raised by married couples in “traditional” Catholic families. The motivation was the social stigma attached to being an unmarried mother in middle-class families in Chile in the Read more
Former Vatican secretary of state in funds handling probe
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Former Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is reportedly being investigated over handling of funds from Vatican accounts. According to German tabloid Bild Zeitung, approval was given for 15 million euros to be transferred from the Vatican bank to an Italian television production company, later identified as Lux Vide. The company is owned by Read more
Pope Francis says if we destroy creation, it will destroy us
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Pope Francis has sounded a clear warning about respect for the environment – if we destroy creation, then creation will destroy us. At his general audience on May 21, the Pope said polluting or destroying the environment amounts to telling God one doesn’t like his creation. Safeguarding creation is safeguarding a gift from God, he Read more
Filipino cardinal shocked at Vatican family survey responses
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
A cardinal who will run a session of October’s synod on the family says he is shocked at responses to a Vatican questionnaire on the topic. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila told the Catholic News Service he found the responses “shocking, if I am allowed to use that word”. “Shocking because almost in all Read more
Pope says Archbishop Romero cause proceeding well
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Pope Francis has assured the bishops of El Salvador that the cause for sainthood of murdered Archbishop Oscar Romero is proceeding well. The bishops reportedly asked him to come to El Salvador to preside personally over the archbishop’s hoped-for beatification. Archbishop Jose Escobar Alas said he and three other Salvadoran bishops met the Pope at Read more
Jackie Kennedy letters to priest withdrawn from sale
Friday, May 23rd, 2014Deeply personal letters from former United States first lady Jackie Kennedy to a priest have been withdrawn from sale. All Hallows College in Ireland announced that the letters would not be put up for auction as first planned. The Tablet reports this decision came after members of Mrs Kennedy’s family intervened. Mrs Kennedy corresponded with Read more
Jesus does not hold copyright to book, German court rules
Friday, May 23rd, 2014A German court has ruled that Jesus Christ does not hold the copyright to a book by a dead American psychologist. Helen Schucman, who died in 1981, had claimed that Jesus dictated the contents of her book “A Course in Miracles” during “waking dreams”. A German Christian academy published extracts from the book last year, Read more
More Americans would consider voting for an atheist
Friday, May 23rd, 2014An increasing percentage of Americans are willing to consider voting for an atheist as president of the United States. According to a new Pew Research study, 41 per cent of those surveyed said a candidate’s lack of belief didn’t matter to their vote. This was up from a figure of 32 per cent seven years Read more
Pope Francis shuns bullet-proof vehicles for Holy Land visit
Tuesday, May 20th, 2014
Pope Francis doesn’t want to use bullet-proof vehicles during his upcoming visit to the Holy Land. Rather, the Pope wants to travel by an ordinary car during his visit from May 24-26. Most heads of state use bullet-proof transport in the Middle East. Fears about security for the pontiff have been rising in Israel amid Read more