Disillusioned by their experiences in Catholicism, some Romans are turning to paganism and finding a connection to their roots through worshipping the gods of antiquity, whom they see as more welcoming than the church. “Rome is pagan,” Pope Francis told members of the Roman clergy during a closed-door meeting January 14, when he urged them Read more
Shortly after my ordination and assignment to Japan, an elderly Japanese priest told me about an experience he had as a young man sometime before World War II. A European bishop was visiting Tokyo, and the then-young priest was assigned to be his tour guide for a day. In the morning, they went to the Read more
A “Satanic” campaign to buy warm clothes for disadvantaged people has been blessed by an Auckland reverend, while drawing the ire of Family First. Satanic New Zealand has launched a “Soles for Satan” Givealittle page to “buy new socks, hats, and warm clothing for homeless shelters and children living in poverty”. Co-founder Frankie Astro Seven Read more
The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has warned against trying to adapt Christ’s teaching to today’s often pagan lifestyles. Speaking to Die Tagespost on June 6, Cardinal Gerhard Müller rejected placing “any so-called lived realities” on the same level as Scripture and tradition. This is “nothing more than the introduction of Read more
In Tonga, the ancient ritual of “Uiui Tevolo” which means “calling up the dead” or more literally “calling up the devil”, has been regarded as something of pagan origin unacceptable to churches and Christians in general. However, in recent weeks there has been a sort of revival of this ancient ritual among some villagers in Read more