Six years after she converted to Scientology to marry actor Tom Cruise, actress Katie Holmes has divorced her high-ranking Scientologist husband and returned to the Catholic Church in which she was raised. Holmes and the twice-divorced Cruise were married in 2006 at a 15th-century castle in Italy, in a Scientology ceremony. They already had a Read more
A caution against “excessive” use of concelebration — the practice of several priests participating together in the celebration of Mass — has been sounded by the head of the highest judicial body in the Catholic Church. Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, said the practice could result in the Read more
Census figures revealing a sharp decline in Catholic numbers in Brazil have been released a year ahead of Pope Benedict’s planned visit to attend World Youth Day 2013. Out of 191 million Brazilians, 123.2 million define themselves as Catholics — more than in any other country in the world. But in the 10 years to Read more
A newly ordained Chinese bishop who had been active in the government-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association publicly cut ties with the association at his ordination on July 7. “After today’s ordination, I would devote every effort to episcopal ministry. It is inconvenient for me to serve the CPA post any more,” Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin Read more
About half of the world’s episcopal conferences have implemented guidelines for handling sex-abuse cases, according to a Vatican official. Monsignor Charles Scicluna said bishops’ conferences in Africa have lagged behind — because they face other urgent problems — but guidelines have been submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from most other Read more
Authorities in Northern Ireland have announced plans for a criminal investigation into the killing of 13 civilians by British troops on “Bloody Sunday” in 1972. An earlier investigation, the Savile inquiry, concluded that soldiers of the Parachute Regiment had opened fire on unarmed Catholic demonstrators in the town of Derry without provocation. To date no Read more
The Holy See has suffered its largest budget deficit for 10 years, but growing numbers of visitors to the Vatican Museums gave the Vatican City State a healthy surplus. The Holy See finances for 2011 recorded a deficit of 14.9 million euros ($NZ22.9 million). Its budget covers the Vatican Secretariat of State and its worldwide Read more
Brother Guy Consolmagno, a researcher and spokesman at the Vatican Observatory, has described the probable finding of the Higgs boson particle, the so called “god particle”, as an important achievement. While it has no direct bearing on theology or revelation, the scientific discovery hailed by some as the “god particle” is an important achievement, Br Read more
The first liturgical texts have been approved for worldwide use by the personal ordinariates for former Anglicans now in communion with the Catholic Church. The Order for Funerals and the Order for the Celebration of Holy Matrimony were promulgated by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments. They are to be Read more
Pope Benedict has expressed full confidence in his Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, in a personal letter clearly intended to end speculation that the cardinal might be replaced. The letter, released on July 4, was dated July 2, just before the Pope left on his summer vacation at Castel Gandolfo. In it, the Pope Read more