A group Spanish priests have criticised the Church for getting sponsorship for the Pope’s visit to World Youth Day (WYD) in August. In a rare break in public loyalty, the 120 priests told their archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, that the sponsorship deals reinforced the impression the Church was a privileged institution. The Church Read more
It cost over $300 million to execute each of 13 prisoners in California over the past 30 years, a study by a Loyola Law School professor and a senior judge has found. The study by U.S. 9th Circuit Judge Arthur L. Alarcon and Professor Paula M. Mitchell found that state and federal government have spent Read more
One of Syria’s most respected bishops is condemning the violence in Syria but is also defending the Syrian government’s response to the uprising there. He said the insurgents are “fanatics” who seek “destabilization and Islamization.” “The fanatics speak about freedom and democracy for Syria but this is not their goal,” said Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Read more
Nearly half of university educated women aged between 32 and 46 are career driven and are childless, a study has revealed. Research carried out by the Center for Work-Life Policy – a New York-based think-tank – has revealed that 43 per cent of university-educated women from Generation X were childless. This is despite about three-quarters Read more
A Vatican sponsored executive summit on ethics for the business world has called for the employment of ethical business policies within companies and bringing economic justice to the wider world. According to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, the real challenge is taking common principles and translating them into concrete action that will Read more
Mercedes-Benz is making a hybrid Popemobile for Benedict XVI, often dubbed the ‘green Pope’ by Italian media. According to the German weekly paper Wirtschaftswoche, it is expected the green Popemobile would be ready for Benedict’s visit to Germany in September. Vatican Spokesman Federico Lombardi told news agency AFP that the car, which is currently under Read more
Christians just want to pick a fight over homosexuality and it’s motivated by politics, according to Tervor Phillips, Britain’s Human Rights Commissioner. “I think for a lot of Christians, they want to have a fight and they choose sexual orientation as the ground. I think that whole argument isn’t about the rights of Christians. It’s Read more
Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg is considering sending his three sons to the London Oratory, one of the most sought-after schools in the country. Clegg, an athiest and an opponent of faith-based schools has toured the Catholic school, despite several schools being more conveniently located near their home. The schools admission policy requires parents Read more
“You are all welcome here, gay or straight, rich or poor, young or old, black or white” is the message St Cecilia’s priest, Fr John Unni delivered to his parishioners last Sunday. His homily was in direct defiance of the Archdiocese’s policy but brought a standing ovation, the first any parishioner can remember. “Here, you Read more
A special “no agenda” meeting called by Pope Benedict at the Vatican on June 13 discussed several concerns about Religious Life. Respected Vatican journalist, Andrea Tornielli reports that while there was no public agenda, the meeting involved the leaders of the Roman Curia and covered the importance of maintaining separation between men’s and women’s religious communities the need Read more