Monsignor Tomáš Halík, a prominent Czech theologian, has emphasised the importance of taking seriously those who report having no religious affiliation (‘nones’) and spiritual seekers. Halik recently visited Sydney and addressed various Catholic audiences, including educators, parish leaders and youth. He stressed that ‘nones’ and spiritual seekers are a growing demographic in Australia and other Read more
Catechumen and candidate numbers in Brisbane and Sydney dioceses are continuing to rise as hundreds of people are choosing to become Catholic. They – catechumens (those who have never been baptised) and candidates (who have been baptised, but not as Catholics) – will all become members of the Catholic Church this Easter. Numbers up In Read more
Cardinal Christophe Pierre has been apostolic nuncio to the United States since 2016 and, at Pope Francis’ request, he will continue in this role for the foreseeable future, he told America’s Vatican correspondent in an exclusive interview in Rome in early October. After graduating from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains Vatican diplomats, in 1977, Read more
Pope Francis, in his ongoing catechetical series on apostolic zeal, spoke about the example of Sts Cyril and Methodius, the ninth-century “apostles of the Slavs” whose mission was built on three pillars: unity, inculturation, and liberty. At the centre of the pope’s Oct 25 general audience was an emphasis on the relationship — and harmonisation Read more
The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, is upbeat about the changing role of the Church. “There are new opportunities to evangelise right in front of us”, he observed enthusiastically after visiting the Archdiocese of Brisbane. During his visit, he found himself alongside Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge aboard a helicopter flying high above a Read more
During a recent event Pope Francis stressed the importance of prioritising the care of people and evangelisation in the application of the Catholic Church’s canon law. Francis spoke at a February 14-18 course sponsored by the Roman Rota, a Vatican tribunal that deals primarily with marriage cases. The pope challenged the idea that canon law Read more
“Christendom has come and gone,” Bishop William Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida told the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) in a recent interview. “We’ve reached the end of Christendom,” according to Wack. However, he said that the church’s goal should not be to restore a supposed golden age of Christianity or rebuild a political culture where the Read more
Despite the difficulties evangelisation in Japan presents, the Catholic Church still finds ways to proclaim the Gospel, says Tokyo’s Archbishop Isao Kikuchi. He says it’s been difficult for the Church to move into mainstream Japanese society, which has faced persecution and genocide since 1549. “In Japanese society, it is difficult to find tangible success in Read more