A Canadian man who was believed to have been in a vegetative state for more than a decade has upset medical assessments by showing that he can communicate. Scott Routley, 39, was asked questions while having his brain activity scanned in a machine that measured the real-time activity of the brain. Different parts of his Read more
The task of evangelisation is closely linked to the work of ecumenism, Pope Benedict XVI has told participants in a plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. “We cannot follow a truly ecumenical path while ignoring the crisis of faith affecting vast areas of the world, including those where the proclamation of Read more
As the controversy over the sexual abuse of children continues in Australia, politicians and editorial writers are calling for Catholic priests to be forced to break the seal of confession in sex-abuse cases. Independent Senator Nick Xenophon labeled the seal of confession an anachronism and told reporters: “This is a medieval law that needs to Read more
A majority of arts and science faculty members at the University of San Diego have supported a vote of no-confidence in the Catholic university’s president after she rescinded a visiting fellowship for a British theologian who supports same-sex marriage. The motion approved in a 99-16 vote declared that Dr Mary Lyons had “shown herself to Read more
A family and their parish in Minnesota are in conflict after a teenage son missed out on the sacrament of confirmation because of his Facebook post in support of same-sex marriage. Lennon Cihak, 17, was on track to be confirmed at Assumption Church, Barnesville — until parish priest Father Gray LaMoine saw the teenager’s photo Read more
The Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has been restructured. The main change is an office to promote the development and use of appropriate liturgical art, architecture and music. The office will provide advice, encouragement and guidance, but it will not attempt to impose specific styles, according to Marist Father Anthony Ward, undersecretary Read more
The Catholic bishops of the United States have endorsed the cause for sainthood of social activist Dorothy Day — who was famously quoted as saying, “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.” Day, who died in 1980, established with Peter Maurin the non-violent, pacifist Catholic Worker movement, which claims Read more
The death of a pregnant woman who repeatedly asked for an abortion, but was told “this is a Catholic country”, has ignited the abortion debate in Ireland. Savita Halappanavar, a Hindu dentist originally from India, died of blood poisoning in Galway University Hospital. She was aged 31. Her husband, Praveen Halappanavar, told news media that Read more
Cardinal George Pell of Sydney says priests should refuse to hear confessions from suspected child abusers to ensure they were not then bound by the confidentiality of the confessional. “If the priest knows beforehand about such a situation, the priest should refuse to hear the confession, that would be my advice. I would never hear Read more
What is the fastest growing religion? Worldwide, it is Islam. But outside Europe, the growth of Christianity is still ahead. This is the conclusion of Philip Jenkins, a distinguished scholar at Baylor University in Texas, who specialises in religious history. He points particularly to phenomenal growth of Christianity in Africa. “During the twentieth century,” Jenkins Read more