Canada’s Liberal Party won’t accept new candidates who don’t support its pro-choice abortion stance. This was announced by Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau, who is a Catholic. Federal elections for the Ottawa House of Commons are scheduled for next year. Mr Trudeau described the new rule as part of a screening process that includes questions Read more
A planned re-enactment of a satanic black Mass by a Harvard University student club was cancelled only hours before its scheduled start on May 12. After protests that the event was offensive to Catholics, the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club initially decided to move the event off campus. But another venue could not be found, Read more
Hundreds of Orthodox Jews have protested against the visit of Pope Francis to a Jerusalem holy site later this month. The Pope is scheduled to celebrate Mass in the Cenacle, believed to be the site of the Last Supper, during his visit to the Holy Land from May 24-26. The site is also held by Read more
In a letter to Pope Francis, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church Tawadros II has proposed making one date for Easter celebrations for all Christian Churches. Differences in Easter dates are based on differences between the Julian calendar, which eastern churches follow, and the Gregorian calendar of western churches. Finding one Easter date for Read more
Pope Francis is to beatify his predecessor Pope Paul VI on October 19, the Vatican has confirmed. The Vatican announced that Francis has approved a decree attributing a miracle to the intercession of the Italian pope, and his beatification will take place at the conclusion of the bishops’ synod on the family. On May 6, Read more
The Archdiocese of Boston has condemned plans for a re-enactment of a “black mass” satanic ritual by a Harvard University student club. The re-enactment was to be at a pub on the Harvard campus on May 12 (US time). Archdiocesan officials are organising Eucharistic adoration at a nearby church at the same hour, in response. Read more
A major leadership group of US women religious says two years of meetings with the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has resulted in mistrust. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious said in a statement released on May 8 that communication had broken down with the congregation and, as a result, “mistrust has developed”. On April 30, at Read more
The Christian Brothers have paid more than A$20 million to victims of sexual and physical abuse in Australia. The figure was revealed at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse at hearings in Perth on May 6. The payments by the order and Catholic Church insurance were made to 531 people, usually Read more
The University of Notre Dame in the United States has launched a campaign highlighting how it practises inclusion for gay athletes. A video to kick-off the campaign is titled “At Notre Dame, if you can play, you can play”. About 50 other US universities have made similar videos. On the video, Notre Dame athletic director Read more
The United Nations Secretary-General has told Pope Francis he is counting on the Catholic Church to work with the UN to promote a life of dignity for all. In Rome, Ban Ki-moon hailed the personal commitment by Pope Francis to eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development. Mr Ban and heads of major UN agencies had Read more