A faulty gun likely saved Archbishop of Florence, Giuseppe Betori from being shot on Monday, in an attack which injured his secretary, reports Associated Press. The archbishop and Fr Paolo Brogi were returning to Florence in the Archbishop’s car when the aggressor reportedly asked to speak with Betori, but the secretary who was also the Read more
A brazen topless protester from the Ukrainian women’s rights group Femen sneaked past security and partially stripped in front of St Peter’s Basilica just after the Pope’s Sunday Angelus message. Alexandra Shevchenko was arrested at the Vatican after dropping to her knees in St. Peter’s Square, holding up a sign reading “Freedom for Women” and removing Read more
The 80th birthday of disgraced former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law was a lavish spread in a four-star Italian hotel, where guests rolled up in Vatican Mercedes sedans, reports the Boston Herald. People left the celebration singing the praises of the fallen prelate promoted to his Vatican post of archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Read more
Controversial Anglican Archbishop John Hepworth has denied offering to drop demands for action over rape allegations against a senior Adelaide priest. Hepworth hit out at reports he was considering dropping his claim, saying there has been no change in the standoff between both parties. Archbishop Hepworth claims he was raped by the priests over a period of Read more
“Ridiculous” is how Vatican spokesman, Fr Frederico Lombardi, SJ, describes the claims circulating online that the German bishops disrespected Pope Benedict during his recent visit to the country. A YouTube video showing the Pope and German president Christian Wulff has been misconstrued by bloggers and other members of the media, Lombardi said. Some have claimed Read more
According to former top banker, Ken Costs, the market economy had lost “its moral foundations with disastrous consequences.” Costa, a former chairman of UBS Europe and Lazard International, spoke out after being appointed by Bishop of London Richard Chartres to lead an initiative aimed at “reconnecting the financial with the ethical.” Writing in the Sunday Read more
Chances of reconciliation between the traditionalist Society of St Pius X and the Vatican look slim. Father Paul Morgan, a district head in Britain, said in a November newsletter that despite recent talks between society leaders and Vatican officials, the group is far from agreeing to Rome’s proposal. On September 14 at the Vatican presented Read more
A leading priest in Ireland has launched a stinging shower against the Catholic Church hierarchy, accusing them of sticking their heads in the sand over a number of crucial issues. Fr Joe McGuane warned that if the current church regime continued, financial problems facing the church could leave some clerics “filling supermarket shelves at night or Read more
The Catholic primate of Ireland, Sean Brady, says he’s profoundly disappointed at the Irish government’s announcement that it is to close its embassy to the Vatican. “I wish to express my profound disappointment at this decision which means that Ireland will be without a resident ambassador to the Holy See for the first time since Read more
A new law Wisconsin, America permitting residents to carry concealed weapons has the Catholic bishops in the diocese asking parishioners to not bring their guns to church. “Intuitively, we understand that acts of violence, destruction, and murder are antithetical to the message and person of Jesus Christ and have no rightful place in our society, especially Read more