When the head of an international religious order visited Japan many years ago, I was asked to be his translator. One evening at a convent of the order, the superior greeted a large group of nuns, saying what a pleasure it was to be with them for the visitation (shisatsu). I thought I had turned Read more
Some African clergy have likened foreign criticism about gay rights on their continent to a new wave of Western colonialism. Support for government legislation criminalising homosexual acts and levying harsh penalties is widespread among Christians in Africa. A Kenyan religious scholar said homosexuality is not new in Africa, but open promotion and marketing of it Read more
A new study done by the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School found that demands placed on clergy by themselves and others put pastors at far greater risk for depression than individuals with other occupations. The study, published this week in the Journal of Primary Prevention, compared the mental health of 95 percent of Read more
Americans continue to hold the military in high regard, with more than three-quarters of U.S. adults (78%) saying that members of the armed services contribute “a lot” to society’s well-being. That’s a modest decline from 84% four years ago, the last time the Pew Research Center asked the public to rate various professions. But the Read more
A United Nations body charged with child protection has posed a list of tough questions to the Holy See about child abuse by Catholic priests. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has for “detailed information on all cases of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, brothers, or nuns” as Read more
The rate of convictions of Catholic Church personnel for sex abuse in Australia seems “strikingly out of proportion” with the size of the Church compared with other faith communities, according to research by a law professor at the University of Sydney. “While there are some similar patterns in terms of victims’ age and gender, the Read more
Several Protestant clergy and Catholic priests in Pakistan have called on their churches to consider relaxing attitudes towards Christian polygamists, or risk a drop in Church membership. Their concerns follow the strong impact of Islamic society on religious minority families. Continue reading
It may shock traditionalists but vicars have taken to the catwalk to model the latest fashions in clergy robes. The modelling ministers are showing off the latest designs at an annual Christian event nicknamed The Ideal Church Show this week. But some of the outfits, from an electric blue dress for female clergy to a Read more
A Canadian bishop urged prelates attending the Synod of Bishops in Rome to address the reality of distrust and disappointment that sex abuse scandals left in the church. Bishop Brian Joseph Dunn of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, told the gathering of Church leaders that with the sex abuse crisis, Catholics have experienced “a great disorientation that Read more
The Catholic Church in the Australian state of Victoria denied claims by police that it deliberately covered up paedophilia and talked victims out of reporting sex abuse. Church spokesman Father Shane Mackinlay said the church knew “bad decisions” were made in the past where accused priests had been given “treatment” and a “fresh start”. But Read more