Ireland’s former president, Mary McAleese, has spoken of her son as a devout young Catholic who was made to feel lonely and was bullied because he was gay. Mrs McAleese said her son Justin was a “willing and happy” altar boy and an enthusiastic member of his local Catholic youth club. But he went through Read more
Three hermits have been asked to leave an English presbytery after complaints about the behaviour of one of them who campaigns against homosexuality. The self-styled “Black Hermits” say they have been told they have until July 20 to leave the presbytery at St Patrick’s, Millais Road, Corby, in Northampton diocese. One of the members, Br Read more
The Vatican has reportedly delayed approving France’s ambassador to the Holy See, leading to speculation that this is because the nominee is openly gay. Laurent Stefanini, a close aide of French President Francois Hollande, was nominated in early January. According to The Telegraph in London, the usual time frame for official acceptance is a month and Read more
A cardinal touted as the next pope has said that while some Christians are being martyred for their faith, some in the West are trying to water down the Gospel. Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah said this in a book length interview “Dieu ou Rien” (God or Nothing) published in France last month. Italian Vatican commentator Read more
A Belgian bishop has turned down a prize awarded by a gay group, saying he wants to stay independent of interest groups. Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp was nominated for an annual Campaign Award by the Cavaria group. The nomination came because Bishop Bonny had written an open letter before last year’s extraordinary synod on Read more
Philip Birch passed away recently in Christchurch. He had been diagnosed with cancer at the end of last year. Birch, a former priest, was a resident of Mt Victoria for more than 20 years, and an active member of St Joseph’s Parish. In the 1980s, while still in priestly ministry, he worked as a teacher Read more
German Cardinal Walter Kasper has said that African prelates should not tell the rest of the Church what to do about homosexual people. In an interview with Zenit on October 15, after the evening working groups’ discussions at the synod on the family, Cardinal Kasper said homosexuality is a taboo subject in Africa. “Africa is Read more
Christians across the United States are mobilising after the city of Houston in Texas ordered five pastors to turn over their sermons. Houston’s city attorney issued subpoenas in response to a lawsuit related to the city’s new non-discrimination ordinance. The new law, which has yet to take effect, would, among other things, allow men who Read more
There has been a mixed reaction in New Zealand to the Family Synod document relatio post disceptationem – the half-way report drafted by a group of Synod fathers selected by Pope Francis. Wellington-based Catholic moral theologian John Kleinsman describes the statement as “momentous” and says it’s an exciting time to be Catholic. Peter Lineham, Massey University historian. says Read more
A Vatican document released at the halfway point of the synod on the family shows a dramatic shift in the Church’s language about homosexual people. The relatio post disceptationem is a summary of the discussions held at the synod so far. It was read out in the presence of Pope Francis and the synod delegates Read more