A finding from the annual child safety compliance plan of the US Conference of Catholic bishops warns of a “growing complacency” about child protection. The report mentions around 30 dioceses as failing to provide safe environment training for all children in parishes or schools. The auditors said several dioceses assumed that the children had undergone the training Read more
A recent US study of those who took their perpetual vows in 2011 shows that new religious are younger and more educated than in the past. “We are encouraged by the report’s findings that men and women are considering a vocation at a younger age,” said Mercy Sister Mary Joanna Ruhland, associate director of the Read more
Four days after Pope Benedict left Cuba, 43 dissidents have been detained in Cuba in a new wave of repression. Former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer and his wife, Belkis Cantillo, a member of the Women in White, were among those arrested. “We have been able to confirm that 43 dissidents have been detained – Read more
Gruesome re-enactments of Jesus’ crucifixion are an increasing Good Friday tourism drawcard in the Philippines. “There are few places on earth where religious fervor is matched in such graphic shows of penitence and resolve to do better”, Asian Pearl Vision, a small luxury travel designer in the Philippines writes on its website. In an article “Crucifixion in Read more
Holding a tall lit candle, Pope Benedict introduced light to a pitch-black and packed Vatican Square, Easter Saturday night. Picking up from the darkened surrounds, the Pontiff wove his homily around the theme of darkness and light. “Life is stronger than death. Good is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Truth is stronger Read more
As bells rang throughout Havana, Cuba, on Good Friday, only around 100 attended the city’s main cathedral where Cardinal Jamie Ortega presided at the ceremony. Authorities also allowed Cardinal Jamie Ortega to transmit the Good Friday service on State Television. It is the first time in 50 years Cubans were granted a public holiday on Read more
Fr Tony Flannery, founder of the Association of Catholic Priests, is under investigation by the Vatican for some of his liberal views, reports The Irish Catholic. The investigation comes just two weeks after the report of the Apostolic Visitation that described “widespread dissent” from traditional Catholic teaching by priests, religious and lay people. It is Read more
Before a crowd of 45, 36-year-old Nadine Schweigert from Fargo, North Dakota, USA, recently married herself. During the ceremony Schweigert declared her vow, “I, Nadine, promise to enjoy inhabiting my own life and to relish a lifelong love affair with my beautiful self,” and presented herself with a ring. At the time the bride and Read more
Any potential international military action would have negative repercussions for the entire Middle Eastern region according to Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Syrian regime has no future, Pizzabella told the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need. “Syria is going through a civil war, even if we do not refer to it Read more
Evangelisation is one of Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong’s key pastoral concerns, and fruit of his initiative saw 3,500 adult catechumens baptised as Catholics the Hong Kong diocese on Easter Saturday night. In his Easter letter, Tong thanked all those involved in bringing these people to baptism. In particular, he highlighted the important role catechists. Read more