It was encouraging to see the leaders of the men’s and women’s religious congregations in France this past week call for a re-evaluation of the language they use in their communities, especially in how they describe and address those who – like themselves – hold positions of authority. Their reason for wanting to modify certain Read more
New Zealand’s National Synod Synthesis has been compiled and released to the public. The diocesan documents were synthesised at a national meeting held in Wellington in June. The introduction to the national document says participants throughout the country “spoke positively and with love about the place the Church has in their lives. “They want the Read more
In his new book, “Il Velo del Silenzio” (“Veil of Silence”) Italian journalist and author Salvatore Cernuzio writes of meeting a childhood friend who had joined a cloistered community of nuns. Ten years later, a “tribunal” of older sisters decided she did not have a vocation and sent her packing. Just days earlier, Jesuit Father Read more
“I don’t get it. My husband and I have been in couples counseling for nine years already, but life at home is getting worse,” says a woman to her clergyperson, her fingers fidgeting with her phone. “First, the constant sarcasm, then the silent treatment and not knowing what’s really going on with our finances. When Read more
The Vatican’s report into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has raised uncomfortable questions the Holy See will have to confront going forward, chief among them what it’s going to do about current and future clergy who abuse their power to sexually abuse adults. Priests, lay experts and canon lawyers alike say the Vatican needs to revisit how Read more
An article in a Jesuit magazine describing alleged exploitation of nuns in Catholic convents has been criticized as an attempt to silence members of women’s religious orders who have begun to speak out against sexual abuse by priests. “I think there is a possibility of a revolt of religious sisters,” said Lucetta Scaraffia, the former Read more
Police have freed more than 300 young men from torture and abuse in a Quranic school in northern Nigeria. A police raid on Oct. 14 found them chained and subjected to various physical abuses inside the boarding school based in Katsina. Katsina’s police chief Sanusi Buba told reporters that the house had more than 300 Read more
The Holy See has announced it will lift the diplomatic immunity of its ambassador to France, who is accused of inappropriate touching and groping by numerous men. As a result, the path is cleared for Archbishop Luigi Ventura to be prosecuted by the French authorities over the allegations, with one incident said to have taken Read more
The government has agreed on six principles to guide how its agencies and the Crown respond to the Royal Commission into historical abuse in state care and in the care of faith-based institutions. The Minister for State Services, Chris Hipkins, said setting out the principles was an important step in rebuilding trust between the government Read more
A lack of clarity surrounding key terms of the Historical Abuse in State Care Royal Commission is raising serous concerns around the Commission’s scope. The terms causing concern are “faith-based institutions” and “in care”. The confusion emerged after the Government announced the Royal Commission will look into both state and faith-based institutions. On Tuesday commission Read more