Pope Benedict has been following news of drought-stricken Horn of Africa, especially Somalia with “deep concern”. Benedict is urging the international community to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the drought-stricken area. “Innumerable people are fleeing from that tremendous famine in search of food and assistance. I hope the international community will increase its efforts to Read more
The Vatican’s decision to recall its diplomatic envoy to Ireland is not viewed as a hostile move by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. Bruised under unprecedented criticism resulting from the accusation in the Cloyne Report that the Holy See sabotaged efforts by Catholic bishops to report clerical sexual abuse cases to the police, the Vatican made a Read more
He still believes in God, but Fr Peter Kennedy does not believe in Jesus, rather considering him to be a fable. Kennedy, dismissed from his Queensland parish for unorthodoxy such as allowing women to preach and blessing same-sex marriages, hasn’t entirely given up on God, although he does not believe He intervenes in the lives Read more
In the wake of the horrific attacks in Norway by an extremist right-wing ‘Christian’ and a warrior against Islam, many American conservatives are on the defensive. Religious and political conservatives have for some years sought to connect Islam to violence, and the premature portrayal of the terror attacks as the work of Muslims has left Read more
In a world that may seem increasingly secular to many of us, it is easy to forget that religious belief is a central part of life for hundreds of millions of people. An Ipsos survey conducted between 6th and 21st April 2011 in 24 countries around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel showed that 69 per Read more
A two-day conference on the fate of Christians in the Holy Land took place in London this week. The conference cosponsored by the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, sought to address the threat that Christianity’s birthplace is now under. The risk, as the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Read more
Sexual abuse victims in Ireland may no longer be able to sue the Catholic Church for damages if a landmark court ruling determines priests are not considered as employees. In a case heard this month the Church claimed it is not “vicariously liable” for priests’ actions. This is the first time the Church has used the Read more
A proposed law change by Australian Independent Senator, Nick Xenophon, requiring priests to disclose the sins of penitents, has been dismissed by Fr Brian Lucas, Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “His proposal does nothing to protect children and flies in the face of a fundamental right of people to practice their religion,” Father Read more
Relations between China and the Vatican look set to worsen after China’s state-controlled church said it plans seven more non-Vatican approved bishops. “We have had local elections for bishops and seven candidates have already been submitted and are awaiting approval,” said Liu Bainian, president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the government body which runs Read more
Catholics in the Toowoomba diocese are protesting at the lack of natural justice that forced the early resignation of Toowomba bishop, Bill Morris. Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell labelled protesters as a “predictable chorus” and a “minority.” However spokesperson for the group, Fr Ray Crowley denies both these labels. “We want to show the Read more