In a high-rise apartment in New York City overlooking the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty, Catholic thought leaders both conservative and liberal gathered. They were there to pray together and share a fine meal over a glass of Cabernet Francis — all in an effort to overcome polarisation. In the Catholic world, it’s Read more
Caritas Luxembourg has created a crisis committee after disclosing around 61 million euros (circa NZ$111 million) is missing from its accounts. The Catholic charity is a member of Caritas Internationalis – confederation of Catholic relief groups. It is one of Luxembourg’s largest charities. Caritas Luxembourg says it is providing counselling for its almost 500 employees. Read more
US President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for a second presidential term is a major event in US history, but also for American Christianity. It marks the end of a generation of Catholics in politics, those who arrived on the national political scene in the wake of World War II and the GI Bill Read more
Pope Francis visited a summer festival at an amusement park last Wednesday. The Holy See Press Office says Francis made the journey to visit Sister Geneviève Jeanningros (81) of the Little Sisters of Jesus who has been caring for homosexuals and transgender people at the park for 56 years. Jeanningros lives at the park with Read more
Nuclear weapons already pose a deeply concerning “existential threat” to the world says the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero. He told the UN committee on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons that the threat is especially dangerous today. He highlighted the global increase in rhetoric and threats about nuclear weapons’ use, Read more
Schism is an entrenched idea within Church History. The conclusion – that some members of the Church have stepped so far beyond the bounds of orthodoxy and propriety that the rest can no longer consider themselves in communion with them – goes back to Antiquity. Schisms of old could be vicious and violent affairs. Just Read more
From one synod session to another, where do we stand? “The Holy People of God has been set in motion for mission thanks to the synodal experience,” declared Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., General Rapporteur of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Invited to exchange ideas using the method of spiritual conversations, Read more
Vatican-Vietnam relations are vastly improved because of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s efforts, says Pope Francis. After learning of the General Secretary’s passing on 22 July, Francis sent condolences to Vietnam’s president and spoke of Trong’s major contribution to the diplomatic process. The Pope’s message expressed his gratitude for Trong’s fostering, promoting and Read more
Recently, United States cultural celebrities addressed an open letter to Pope Francis, opposing further restrictions on the pre-conciliar liturgy. The letter, written by poet Dana Gioia, emphasised the aesthetic value and cultural significance of the liturgy according to the 1962 rite: “It would be short-sighted to deprive the next generation of artists of this source Read more
The U.S. bishops hope to revive the significance of the Eucharist in the life of the Catholic Church. There is a deep concern that many of the faithful lack a proper understanding of the sacrament. Some recent polls point out this lack of understanding. For example, a 2019 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center Read more