A papyrus dubbed “the Gospel of Jesus’ wife” appears to have been of ancient origin, testing has revealed. Harvard University biblical scholar Karen King, who first revealed the papyrus, hopes questions over whether it is a modern fake will now fade. It consists of just eight lines and 33 words of an interrupted conversation, which Read more
The Catholic Church is the only institution still functioning in the war-torn Central African Republic, an African archbishop says. “The state no longer exists,” said Archbishop Samuel Kleda from Cameroon. “The only institution that is functioning [in the CAR] is the Catholic Church,” he said. “Actually, the displaced are living in Catholic parishes,” Archbishop Kleda Read more
Most United States Catholic parish leaders who responded to a liturgy survey find the new English translation of the Mass “awkward and distracting”. Half of the 539 parishes who responded to questions from Georgetown’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) agreed that the translation “urgently needs to be revised”. The translation went into Read more
Pope Francis gave away tens of thousands of free pocket-sized copies of the gospels to crowds filling St Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus on April 6 It was given as an encouragement to read the Word of God, reported the Catholic News Agency. They were handed out among the crowd by volunteers. “Last Sunday Read more
A Dominican sister whose comments at a US Catholic school about sexuality ignited a storm has cancelled speaking engagements and has gone on leave. On March 21, Sr Jane Dominic Laurel, a Nashville Dominican sister, told students at Charlotte Catholic High School that studies have shown that gays and lesbians are not born with same-sex Read more
A new study suggests the figure on the Shroud of Turin was crucified with his hands over his head, rather than to his side. The scientist leading the study suggested that being crucified in a “Y” shape would be very painful and would probably cause asphyxiation for the victim. Scientists at the Liverpool John Moores Read more
Millennials, young people born between 1980 and 2000, want neither conservative nor contemporary worship styles, according to US researchers. The style of worship is not their primary focus, wrote Dr Thom Rainer in the Christian Post. Their focus is on theologically rich music, authenticity and quality in worship, which reflects adequate preparation in time and Read more
A top Vatican investigator has been appointed to examine claims of sexual misconduct involving clergy in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. The former archbishop in Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, resigned amid scandal last year. Maltese auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna has been asked to listen to and report the testimony of past and present Read more
African Christians will be killed if the Church of England accepts gay marriage, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has suggested. Speaking on a phone in at UK radio station LBC, Archbishop Justin Welby cited first hand experience of this. He said he had stood by a mass grave in Nigeria of 330 Christians who Read more
A Catholic scientist known for his public defence of evolution is to receive a prestigious honour from a top American university. Professor Kenneth Miller, a biologist at Brown University, is to receive the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal. A previous recipient was President John F. Kennedy. “Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic Read more