Follow your conscience, not your ego, said Pope Francis in an Angelus address in which he said Jesus does not want “remote-controlled” Christians who are not free. He gave the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, as a model of attention to the voice of one’s conscience. “When the Lord had made it clear, in Read more
An Australian of Samoan descent has been ordained in the first ordination ceremony conducted by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer since the traditionalist group reconciled with Rome. Father Magdala Maria and a fellow member of the group, Father Yousef Marie, were ordained in Rome alongside Father Massimo Botta of the Priestly Fraternity of Read more
Cardinal George Pell, one of eight cardinal advisors chosen by Pope Francis, believes the new Pope has “set a cracking pace” in his first 100 days in office. But the Sydney cardinal expressed some concern for the Pope’s health under the work regime he has set himself. “He’s not a young man and he seems Read more
The Holy See has said it will co-operate fully with a fraud and corruption investigation into the money-smuggling activities of a senior cleric who headed the office that oversees Vatican property and investments. Monsignor Nunzio Scarano was arrested on a charge of attempting to smuggle €20 million ($NZ33.5 million) into Italy illegally. He was already Read more
Pope Francis has criticised people who masquerade as Christians, either rejecting the challenge of the Gospel or rejecting the joy and freedom the Holy Spirit gives. “In the history of the Church there have been two classes of Christians: Christians of words — those who say, ‘Lord, Lord, Lord’ — and Christians of action, in Read more
The Irish government has unveiled a package of financial compensation, plus health and welfare support, for former residents of the Magdalene laundries. Compensation totalling $NZ58 to 98 million will be paid to the estimated 770 survivors of more than 10,000 women who lived in the dozen facilities from the 1920s to 1996. Justice Minister Alan Read more
To achieve the transparency and accountability he wants in the Vatican Bank, Pope Francis has set up a new commission to allow “a greater harmonisation” with the universal mission of the Church. This was “Pope Francis’ personal choice. It strays from the usual dynamic through which these decisions are taken,” a Vatican official speaking under Read more
On what Catholic bishops called a “tragic day for marriage and our nation”, the United States Supreme Court has issued two major rulings in support of same-sex marriage. The court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), defining marriage as between one man and one woman, and refused to rule Read more
“Given our common roots, a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite!” Pope Francis has declared to a delegation from a broad-based coalition of Jewish organisations representing Judaism to other religions. The Pope said Christians and Jews can work together to challenge the contemporary problems of secularism and disrespect for the human person. “Humanity needs our joint Read more
Priests in Syria are choosing to stay with their people despite the death of a monk who was killed by Islamist rebels involved in the country’s civil war. Father Francois Mourad died at the Franciscan monastery of Saint Anthony of Padua, near the Turkish border, while trying to defend nuns and local Christians who had Read more