The Borgias — the most infamous family in the history of the papacy — were victims of a “bad press”, according to a new book. As for Lucretia, she was innocent of incest and poisoning, and died a devout woman. Journalist and historian Mario Dal Bello drew on documents from the Vatican Secret Archive to Read more
Responding to widespread pressure, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a royal commission into institutional responses to sex abuse across the nation. Her decision followed new revelations about a Catholic religious order at a parliamentary inquiry in Victoria and the launching of a commission of inquiry into police handling of abuse by Catholic priests Read more
The Catholic Church in Scotland is outraged after its leader, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, was named Bigot of the Year by Britain’s largest gay advocacy. Stonewall, a charity which claims 10,000 members, made the award at an annual ceremony in London in reaction to the cardinal’s stance against the Scottish government’s intention to legalise same-sex marriage. Read more
An image of Jesus Christ under the title of the Divine Mercy was dedicated at the international airport of Samoa, Faleolo, last Wednesday. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi spoke at the unveiling. He said the “only correct image now looks over the national gateway”. “Faleolo Airport is Samoa’s front door to the world. It is Read more
At the sound of a bell from the altar, relayed over loud-speakers, about 50,000 people at an open-air mass last month in the Polish capital dropped down to kneel in the street. It was a powerful symbol of Poland’s deeply felt Roman Catholicism, a reminder of the scenes in the 1980s when, inspired by Polish Read more
The future Blessed Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli’s vision stretched far, very far. Vatican II had to return to its evangelical roots and get rid of the shell that had built up around it over the centuries, driving it further and further away from its Master. “There will never be a Pius XIII”: to Read more
The principal purpose for the Synod of Bishops, which commenced Oct. 7, is to study how the New Evangelization affects the mission of the Church. The Holy Father has asked the synod to study about “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” As the theme indicates, the focus is on the “transmission” Read more
The 25th Synod of Bishops began Sunday, this one dedicated to “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” New evangelization is the apple of Pope Benedict XVI’s eye, so the synod, held every couple of years or so since 1967, is being touted by the Vatican, along with the Year of Faith Read more
As my recently deceased spiritual guide, Peter Steele, would never tire of saying: ‘There are only two conditions in the spiritual life — you’re either growing or you’re dying.’ What makes for spiritual growth? In my childhood and adolescence, it was all about going to Sunday Mass, confessing your sins once a month at least, going Read more
On Sunday, October 7, 2012 I went to an ecumenical sharing service in Wellington in honour of Hildegard of Bingen being made the 35th Doctor of the Catholic Church. At approximately the same time the Opening Mass for the Synod on the New Evangelisation was being celebrated in St. Peter’s in Rome and the doctorates Read more