In France, a growing number of Catholic funeral liturgies are now being led by lay people authorised and mandated by Church officials. This shift has raised questions about the role of priests in this cardinal moment of earthly life. Queries have also risen about the impact the shift will have on the faithful. “The heart Read more
In his recent Newsletter, the Archbishop of Wellington drew attention to an article written by a priest from France, Jean-Pierre Roche, entitled “Stop calling me Father.” In his article, Roche says that priests may be able to make some small changes to overcome clericalism if they gave up expecting to be called “Father.” “In August last Read more
Sharron Cole, one of the delegates from New Zealand at the Synod on Families, will raise the issue of contraception in her three-minute speech and a written submission. “It has caused enormous angst [and anxiety], and probably the majority of Catholics, in the western world anyway, ignore the church’s teaching on contraception,” said Cole. “Even Read more
Cardinal Francis Arinze grew up in Nigeria, and in 1965 became the youngest bishop in the world at the age of 32. He was the first African cardinal to head a Vatican office and served as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2002 to 2008. He is the Read more