Posts Tagged ‘Catholic’

Vatican-China deal: things worse for Catholics

Thursday, November 10th, 2022
Vatican-China deal

The Vatican’s decision to renew the secretive Vatican-China deal amid Beijing’s crackdown on religious freedom conditions is making things worse for Catholics, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) members say. USCIRF Commissioner David Curry (pictured) says “USCIRF is disappointed that the Vatican had decided to renew the provisional agreement with the Chinese government Read more

Catholics and Buddhists join to erase Vietnam War hostility

Monday, May 23rd, 2022

Simon Duong Ngoc Hai pays regular visits to his close Buddhist friends, plays chess with them, discusses social and religious issues and learns practical skills such as growing bonsai, yellow apricot flowers and orchids from them. Hai also invites them to attend Christmas parties at his home and enjoys their frequent visits. Many of them Read more

Sting’s enduring Catholic imagination

Monday, August 23rd, 2021
Sting’s enduring Catholic imagination

Back in 2000, sociologist Andrew Greeley wrote a book called “The Catholic Imagination,” in which he looked at the enduring power of Catholic stories, images and sensibilities in shaping the experiences of artists through the ages — from the 16th-century Italian sculptor Bernini to the film director Martin Scorsese. Now there’s a new addition to Read more

The tree of Abraham

Monday, May 31st, 2021
Discernment

It is a blessing to have a Pope who sees a world of religious multiplication rather than religious division. Many of us grew up in an era of “We are right and the others are wrong.” Christian churches seemed to have high fences around them, and religions that were not Christian were often labelled “Heathen” Read more

Survivors have little hope in churches changing

Thursday, March 18th, 2021
little hope in churchese

Survivor groups are not hopeful that the Royal Commission into the Abuse in Care will bring around change in churches. A spokesperson for the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-Based Institutions, Liz Tonks, told RNZ that “victim-survivors were not hopeful because their experiences of churches is they have not been able to trust them Read more

Being Catholic

Monday, March 1st, 2021
teenage christianity

When I’m asked why I am a Catholic, the simplest answer is: “Because it works.” Sometimes, that hasn’t been enough. People have wanted detail, a comprehensive answer to their “why?” The explanation can be long and tedious. Do they want a personal journey? Or something about Catholic teaching? It is one thing to talk about Read more

Catholic guilt and work ethic the secrets of my success says Arsene Wenger

Monday, November 23rd, 2020
arsene wenger

One of the world’s best soccer managers is crediting his Catholic upbringing and hard-working family values for his success. Former Arsenal manager, Arsen Wenger, told BBC Radio 4, “Desert Island Discs” that he was driven to succeed in the high-pressure world of football because of his family’s deep Catholic faith and a legendary work ethic. Read more

“Don’t you kiss his ring” says Joe Biden’s Catholic mother

Thursday, August 20th, 2020
joe biden

In spring of 1980, Pope John Paul II had one of the longest meetings of his fledgeling papacy. It wasn’t with a world leader, a U.S. president or even a secretary of state. It was with a 37-year-old Joe Biden, a U.S. senator barely a year into his second term. According to a Catholic News Read more

I’m gay and why I still go to Church

Thursday, July 9th, 2020
gay

“Bakla” is the most fearsome word in my life. It means “gay” in Filipino, a label I wanted to stay far away from, growing up. Like many Filipinos, I was raised in a devoutly Catholic home and went to an all-boys school run by priests most of my life. My family, teachers, and friends never Read more

Pope Francis wants full communion with Orthodox

Monday, December 2nd, 2019

Pope Francis, Sunday wished Patriarch Bartholomew a blessed feast of Saint Andrew and praised their shared friendship. He then went further, expressing his desire for full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Following a long-standing custom, the Holy See sent a delegation to Istanbul to celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew, the patron saint Read more