An Indian nun who recently received a global honour for her efforts to combat human trafficking has called upon the estimated 100,000 religious sisters in her vast nation to join the fight. She said that by doing so, “we could save many lives.” Sister Seli Thomas, a member of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Read more
World
Pope keeps a jam-packed Thursday schedule, despite health struggles
Monday, December 4th, 2023Although he was forced to cancel a scheduled trip to Dubai this week due to health concerns, Pope Francis kept a busy Thursday schedule with nine separate appointments. This was despite receiving ongoing antibiotic treatment for a flu-causing lung inflammation. In a statement Wednesday night, the Vatican said that the pope’s condition is “stable” and Read more
Hard-living Irish musician Shane MacGowan received last rites before he died, family says
Monday, December 4th, 2023Irish songwriter and former Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan received last rites before he died on Thursday, his family said. “Prayers and the last rites were read during his passing,” the family said in a written statement on Nov. 30. MacGowan, 65, is best known as the co-author of the 1987 Christmas mega-hit “Fairytale of Read more
Militant bombing kills four at Mass
Monday, December 4th, 2023The Philippine president blamed “foreign terrorists” for a bomb blast that killed four people at Mass on Sunday. The blast wounded dozens of other Catholic worshippers in the south and sparked a security alarm, including in the capital, Manila, where state forces were put on alert. The suspected bomb, which the police said was made Read more
Transgender students ok at Catholic women’s university
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Transgender students are now permitted to enrol at a women’s-only Catholic college in Indiana Its board-approved nondiscrimation policy followed the putting together of the College’s “President’s Task Force for Gender Identity and Expression” earlier this year. St Mary’s Catholic College’s updated policy says it “considers admission for undergraduate applicants whose sex is female or who Read more
Civilians, clergy forced to flee Myanmar cathedral amid army takeover
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Civilians, including elderly residents and patients seeking refuge, were compelled to evacuate a Myanmar cathedral as junta soldiers forcibly seized control on November 27. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe of Loikaw and clergy members, alongside a congregation of worshippers, found themselves displaced from Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw due to the intrusion. “It’s sorrowful to Read more
Catholic peacemaker receives Mother Teresa Award
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
US-based Catholic peacemaker Heidi Kuhn has been honoured with this year’s prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice for her tireless efforts in transforming war-torn areas plagued by landmines. Over the last 25 years Kuhn’s humanitarian organisation, Roots of Peace, has turned war-damaged areas into sustainable agricultural land in 11 countries. Abraham Mathai, founder-chairman Read more
It’s time to understand homosexuality
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Homosexuality is misunderstood. It should not be a criminal offence says Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson. People should be helped to understand the issue better, Turkson says. La Croix International reports that the comment is at odds with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ conference, and has stoked outrage on social media. “The position of the Catholic Church Read more
Laughter in the Confession line
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Catholic penitents and priests alike are not used to hearing laughter while lined up for confession. The solemn setting of people seated or kneeling in a confession line waiting to confess their sins is typically marked by quiet reflection. Peering out of the confession booth one day, Fr Joseph Krupp saw that his broad-chested, 32 Read more
Catholic Church unity under pressure
Thursday, November 30th, 2023
Catholic Church unity is facing challenges on multiple fronts, driven by tense dialogues between bishops, open criticism of Pope Francis, claims the Synod report will damage the Church, and the perception of internal persecution. Synodal Way dispute escalates At the Council of European Bishops’ Conference in Malta, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, Germany and Archbishop Read more