“Faith is no refuge for the fainthearted, but something which enhances our lives,” says Pope Francis in his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). “It makes us aware of a magnificent calling, the vocation of love,” he says. “It assures us that this love is trustworthy and worth embracing, for it is based Read more
Three successive bishops in an Australian diocese knew a paedophile priest was abusing children and one of them warned bishops in England, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea about him, an inquiry has been told. The priest, Father Denis McAlinden, also moved from Maitland-Newcastle diocese to New Zealand for several months in 1984, relieving in Read more
Pope Francis has approved the canonisations of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII— in the latter case waiving the requirement for a second miracle. Papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said both canonisations could take place before the end of this year, and Vatican journalists are speculating that both pontiffs could be declared saints at Read more
The Holy See has recovered from one of its worst deficits to post a $NZ3.6 million surplus for 2012, a good news story announced in a week in which “clear failings” were revealed in the processes of the Vatican Bank. In its annual financial statement, the Holy See said better management had helped it recover Read more
Persons with a homosexual inclination must be treated with dignity but dignity means telling them the truth that “homosexuality is against human nature”, the papal theologian has said in an interview. Father Wojciech Giertych, who reviews the speeches of Pope Francis for theological accuracy, was interviewed by LifeSiteNews.com, a Canadian pro-life news website. Asked about Read more
Pope Francis may have to replace the cleric he recently appointed to the key position of prelate of the Vatican Bank, according to a veteran journalist who writes of a “scandal near the point of exploding”. Monsignor Battista Mario Salvatore Ricca was described as a “trusted cleric” when the Pope’s appointment was announced on June Read more
Unpunished attacks on Coptic Orthodox and Catholics led many Christians in Egypt to join the demonstrations that led to President Mohammed Morsi being ousted by the armed forces. “Most of the Christians do not want the president,” said Father Rafic Greiche, the spokesman for the Greek Melkite Catholic Church in Egypt. “We have to be Read more
“Deeply touched” by the recent sinking of a boat carrying migrants from Africa, Pope Francis will visit the Italian island of Lampedusa — a frequent destination for refugees — on July 8. Officially part of Sicilian territory, the isolated island of 5000 inhabitants is less than 115 kilometres from the coast of Tunisia, making it Read more
The American archdiocese of Milwaukee has released 6000 pages of documents relating to clergy sex abuse, including the personnel files of 42 priests and the depositions of Church leaders including New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Cardinal Dolan, now the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was formerly archbishop of Milwaukee. Cardinal Dolan’s Read more
Irish politicians have overwhelmingly approved an abortion bill described by Cardinal Sean Brady as a legislative and political Trojan horse “which heralds a much more liberal and aggressive abortion regime in Ireland”. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill — the first legislation allowing abortion in the Republic of Ireland — passed its second stage Read more