Three successive bishops in an Australian diocese knew a paedophile priest was abusing children and one of them warned bishops in England, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea about him, an inquiry has been told. The priest, Father Denis McAlinden, also moved from Maitland-Newcastle diocese to New Zealand for several months in 1984, relieving in Read more
The American archdiocese of Milwaukee has released 6000 pages of documents relating to clergy sex abuse, including the personnel files of 42 priests and the depositions of Church leaders including New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Cardinal Dolan, now the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was formerly archbishop of Milwaukee. Cardinal Dolan’s Read more
On what Catholic bishops called a “tragic day for marriage and our nation”, the United States Supreme Court has issued two major rulings in support of same-sex marriage. The court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), defining marriage as between one man and one woman, and refused to rule Read more
An Israeli appeals court has asked Catholic bishops to join proceedings to help them decide a divorce case involving a Maronite couple. The court overturned a lower court ruling that awarded compensation to the husband because his wife refused to change her religion so he could divorce her. Maronites, founded in Syria, form the only Read more
Bishops should be pastors — not princes, Pope Francis has emphasised in an address to papal nuncios, whose duties include sending to the Vatican the names of candidates for the episcopacy. The Pope said he wants these candidates to be “pastors who are close to their people, fathers and brothers, who are meek, patient and Read more
Catholic bishops in Brazil have given their support to the massive demonstrations sweeping across the nation, which Pope Francis is scheduled to visit during World Youth Day activities in July. Millions of Brazilians have taken part in protests over an increase in the cost of public transportation, the high costs of the 2014 World Cup, Read more
Catholic bishops’ conferences in the G8 nations have urged G8 leaders “to take steps to improve nutrition, reduce hunger and poverty, and strengthen just tax, trade and transparency policies for the common good of all”. “In a world that has made great strides in improving food production and distribution, far too many of God’s children Read more
Invoking just-war criteria, the United States Catholic bishops have questioned the moral legitimacy of the Obama administration’s use of drones in counter-terrorism actions. “Targeted killing should, by definition, be highly discriminatory,” said letters from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to National Security Advisor Thomas Donilon and members of Congress. The letters questioning the use Read more
A campaign by a pseudo-Catholic group from the United States to promote condoms to Kenyans has been condemned by the country’s Catholic bishops. The group called Catholics for Choice says its billboard and newspaper advertising campaign gives “an authentically Catholic message”. The “Good Catholics Use Condoms” advertisements show a smiling couple with the wording: “We Read more
Ireland’s Catholic bishops have denounced proposed legislation on abortion, saying it “appears to impose a duty on Catholic hospitals to provide abortions”. Supporters of the Irish abortion bill say it would give “conscience-clause” protection to health-care personnel who did not wish to be involved in abortions, but the bishops question that claim. Ironically, the proposed Read more