The Vatican’s ambassador to Syria has warned that Syria has started its descent into hell, but speaking on Vatican Radio, Nuncio Mario Zenari would not comment on whether Syria was in the midst of a ‘civil war’. “Syria has started its slide into hell. In addition to material destruction, the conflict is tearing at the heart. Read more
The biggest rift between Church and state for centuries is how the Church of England has described British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s plan to allow couples to have a same sex marriage. Responding formally to the Conservative Government’s proposals, the Church of England said the move would change the “intrinsic nature of marriage as union Read more
Responding to the Vatican’s offer of a personal prelature, akin to a diocese without boarders, the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) says the offer could lead to a new round of discussions. SSPX Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay said doctrinal difficulties with the teaching of the Vatican II and the subsequent liturgical reform were Read more
Accused of promoting radical feminism and promoting social issues incompatible with the Church, United States Leadership Committee of Women Religious President Sister Pat Farrell and Executive Director Sister Janet Mock said they “were grateful for open dialogue” with Cardinal William Levada, and Archbishop Peter Sartain, on Wednesday. The nuns, who requested the meeting, told Reuters Read more
Vatican radio is reducing is use of Short and Medium Wave radio transmissions to most of Europe and the United States, and replace them with new communications technologies. The move, announced by Director General of Vatican Radio, Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, is to happen on July 1. Lombardi said newer developments in communications technology meant Read more
The Holy Father told participants of the World Seminar for Civil Aviation Chaplains focussing on new forms of evangelisation, to embody the world’s airports in the Church’s mission, to make airports as places where people encounter God. Airports “are places that increasingly reflect the globalised reality of our time. Here one finds people of a Read more
The International Eucharistic Congress opened in Ireland on Sunday, with the Archbishop of Dublin, mindful of the scandal which is rocking the previous bastion of Catholicism. Martin was mixed in his remarks. He spoke with deep regret and sorrow for the past but held out hope for the future, saying the Church is on the Read more
Over 172 German priests and deacons in the Archdiocese of Freiburg have openly stated they regularly give communion to divorced and remarried couples. “In our communities, remarried divorcees take communion and receive the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick, with our approval,” the priests say on their website. Calling their actions a Read more
Sport is integral to the development of the person, Pope Benedict said on Friday. Sports teams can help develop participants and spectators in important values, including ‘brotherhood’ generosity, honesty, self-sacrifice and respect for one’s adversaries, the pontiff told players and fans of the European Soccer Championship. Benedict XVI said that if sport is understood in this way, it Read more
The Holy See, a sovereign state, has hit back at Italian authorities for taking documents intended for the Pope, during a raid on the home of ousted Vatican Bank chief, Ettore Gottti Tedeschi. Calling for Italy to respect the law of an independent state, the Vatican says it expects Italian authorities to respect the Vatican’s status in Read more