Catholic doctors have been told: they must speak up for the right to life. When he met with a delegation of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC) earlier this week, Pope Francis reminded them the church is pro-life. “Your qualification as Catholic physicians commits you to a permanent spiritual, moral and bioethical formation Read more
The Pope believes Ireland and Europe are lost to the Catholic Church according to a New York Times article. The article says Pope Francis has given up on turning the tide of secularism in Ireland and Europe and is focusing his efforts on keeping South America, Africa and Third World countries close to the church. Read more
New Zealand representative at the pre-synod meeting Isabella McCafferty from Wellington said she was struck by “the uniqueness of the opportunity”. “For the first time, the Pope had called a meeting of young people from all over the world in Rome to talk about what really matters to us and how the Church can accompany Read more
Gay men who “practice homosexual acts,” or who have “deeply rooted” homosexual tendencies shouldn’t be allowed into the seminary. Pope Francis is alleged to have told Italian bishops: “If you have even the slightest doubt, it’s better not to let them enter because these acts or deep-seated tendencies can lead to scandals and can compromise Read more
Connecting Islam with terrorism “may be on the lips of many, but that equation is a foolish lie,” says Pope Francis. Francis spoke of this and many other topics in an interview with the director of the Echo of Bergamo newspaper. Read more
Pope Francis is lamenting the haemorrhaging of nuns and priests in Europe. God only knows how many seminaries, monasteries, convents and churches will close because fewer people are being called to lives of religious service, he says. Read more
Pope Francis has confirmed the heroic virtues of 12 Servants of God. His decree has promulgated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Those whose heroic virtues the Pope recognized include American-born Servant of God Norbert McAuliffe (born: John). McAuliffe was a professed religious of the Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Read more
The first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in Britain has resigned after four years in the job. Commissioner Kevin Hyland says government interference in his role in the Vatican-sponsored Santa Marta Group led to his resignation. “At times independence has felt somewhat discretionary from the Home Office, rather than legally bestowed,” his resignation letter says. “I hope Read more
Fourteen new cardinals have been named by Pope Francis. The new cardinals include prelates based in Madagascar, Peru, Mexico and Japan as well as Iraq and Pakistan, where Christians are a vulnerable minority. “The countries of provenance express the universality of the church, which continues to announce the merciful love of God to all men Read more
All 34 of Chile’s bishops resigned on Friday after Pope Francis accused them of “grave negligence” and of destroying evidence of sex crimes. Their resignation followed four sessions with Francis in which they had to explain their actions. Francis then wrote to them. He asked them to make a “frank discernment in the face of Read more