The Vatican has formally suppressed the famous Santa Croce, Cistercian abbey in Rome, where a community of monks has been based for more than five centuries. The basilica had become a hub for the Friends of Santa Croce, an aristocratic group, and had been criticised for some unorthodox practices including opening a hotel with a Read more
The head of the Dutch Salesian order, Father Herman Spronck, has been placed on “administrative leave” for his part in a Dutch Catholic pedophile scandal. Over the weekend, Spronck, known as the Delegate, said that sexual relationships between children and adults were not always damaging. “Formally I always say that everyone must obey the law. But Read more
Aborting female foetuses in India means there are 7.1 million fewer girls than boys aged up to six. The gender-gap has widened by a million in the last 10 years. Selective sex selection Indian families where the first child has been a girl, more and more parents with access to prenatal ultrasound testing are sex-selecting Read more
When Australian, Neil Richards answered a lesbian couple’s advertisement in a magazine to use his sperm to conceive, he said they agreed he should be involved in his daughter’s life but exactly how was never decided. Richards, the “donor dad”, provided sperm to Jesse Star, paid $5000 for her fertility treatments, paid for the midwife, Read more
“Make love tonight and create another baby for Australia”. Australian trucking magnate Lindsay Fox’s shared his perspective on population at a media appearance for charity on Wednesday, saying everyone should have six kids. Fox was asked about a report published by Leadership Management Australasia that says baby boomers are more of a headache for managers rather than Generation Read more
The 19th General Assembly of Caritas International is taking place in Rome this week and is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the confederation. Over 300 delegates are working on plans to strengthen their service working alongside and on behalf of the poor. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is represented by Director Michael Smith Read more
Herman Poronck, head of the Dutch Salesian order of priests, confirmed on Saturday that a Salesian priest served on the board of an organisation that promotes pedophilia. Widely reviled, but not outlawed, the “Martijn” association advocates the acceptance of pedophilia and the legalisation of sexual relationships between adults and children. According to RTL Nieuws, which broke the Read more
Assisted suicide advocate Dr Jack Kervorkian is in hospital with pneumonia as well as a recurring kidney ailment. Kervorkian, known as “Dr Death” for helping more than 100 people end their lives, was re-admitted after being in hospital several weeks ago. He has a history of heart problems and hepatitis C. Kervorkian’s attorney, Mayer Morganroth Read more
The study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, which concluded there was no single cause or predictor of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, is not likely to put to rest questions about the cases of sexual abuse by priests and the cover-up by bishops. Some victims Read more
A new John Paul statue at Rome’s central Termini railway station has attracted criticism from experts and the Vatican. The unconventional statue shows the former pope as a giant hollowed out figure and was meant to round off celebrations marking the beatification of John Paul and mark the former pontiff’s 91st birthday. An outstretched arm Read more