The leaders of dozens of religious groups have joined the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Southern Baptist Convention in signing an open letter opposing the Obama administration’s contraception mandate. They highlighted the threat to conscience posed by the mandate requiring almost all employers to cover contraception, sterilisation and abortifacient drugs and devices Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Catholic’
Catholics join Lutherans to mark Reformation anniversary
Friday, June 21st, 2013
Putting aside centuries of hostility and prejudice, Lutherans and Catholics have agreed to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. In a joint document — entitled From Conflict to Communion — the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation said there is little purpose in dredging up centuries-old disagreements. The lengthy text Read more
The image of the Catholic Church — what if?
Friday, June 21st, 2013
The Catholic Church has had little trouble finding its way onto the front pages of Australian newspapers in recent weeks and months, though it’s usually been — not unlike many other Western countries — to report on something related to the sexual abuse of minors. With two state inquiries and a national Royal Commission all Read more
Unity message from Pope and Archbishop Welby
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
Pope Francis and the new Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury have met for the first time, committing themselves to the search for reconciliation and unity between the Catholic and Anglican communions. The Pope gratefully recalled that Archbishop Welby prayed for him during the ceremony when he took possession of Canterbury Cathedral. “Since we began Read more
Dawson’s Christendom and Catholic intellectual life
Friday, June 14th, 2013
Although largely ignored in its day, Christopher Dawson’s Christendom trilogy is the masterwork of one of the 20th century’s greatest thinkers. As it turned out, the Christendom trilogy served as the last great work of English-Welsh historian and man of letters Christopher Dawson (1889-1970). Sort of. The trilogy derived, originally, from lectures Dawson had delivered while teaching Read more
Victoria’s sexual abuse total rises by 37 per cent
Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
The Catholic Church in Victoria has revised its figures for the number of people abused by priests and religious, producing a total 37 per cent per cent higher than previously given to the state’s parliamentary inquiry. In a new submission the Church said it has now identified 849 victims and 269 offenders. The previous submission Read more
Rebuilding the Vatican Bank’s reputation
Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
The president of the “bank” of the Holy See, in this interview with Vatican Radio, opens his campaign to restore credibility to the controversial institution. With more integrity, more transparency, more communication Q: President Ernst von Freyberg, do you like your job, coming from Frankfurt down to Rome, working inside the Vatican? A: It is Read more
The heresy that may help Pope Francis
Tuesday, June 11th, 2013
First of all, I would like to congratulate Pope Francis I on his election, becoming the first South American to head the Vatican. Although the Church has been having some serious trouble over the last decade with numerous scandals and harsh although often warranted criticism, I feel his election is an appropriate step in the Read more
Last Supper site to return to Catholic control?
Friday, May 31st, 2013
A long-awaited agreement between the Vatican and Israel on the status of Church institutions in the Holy Land appears to be near finality, with Israeli sources indicating that the Cenacle in Jerusalem — on the site of the Last Supper — will return to Catholic control. The same sources say that the tax status of Read more
Catholics advocate respect after US Scouts admit gays
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013Catholic Scouting groups in the United States have called for respect for all people while reiterating the Church’s teaching on sexuality following the Boy Scouts of America’s decision to admit gay youth. Some Catholic dioceses have stated that they will continue to sponsor Scouting groups under the new policy. Other dioceses, and the National Catholic Read more