Posts Tagged ‘Reconciliation’

Absolution — a short story

Friday, August 15th, 2014

When I entered the confessional that day I assumed I would be absolved of whatever transgressions I chose to reveal. From what I’ve been told, Father Charles has never been known to withhold his forgiveness and mercy. He understands the frailties of human virtue. He knows about the appetites of the flesh. In fact, I’ll Read more

Challenge of a continent

Friday, June 6th, 2014

With an Argentinian Pope at the helm of the Catholic Church, populist politicians in Latin America are doing their best to enlist him in order to promote their agendas. Within a week of Francis’ election, the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed that the new Pope’s statements on the “option for the poor” were, in fact, Read more

South Sudan: First impressions

Friday, April 4th, 2014

First impressions aren’t always accurate. But in my first days here I have been struck by the extent of trauma people have experienced – and real worries that the violence that has rocked South Sudan since mid-December may not be over. The capital of Juba is calm, but it is only “outwardly” so, one of Read more

Pope announces special day of celebrating forgiveness

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

Pope Francis has announced 24 hours of special opportunities for prayer, Confession and forgiveness on March 29-30. This will happen in Rome and in parishes and dioceses around the world. Continue reading  

Fiji Methodist Church seeks to heal rift

Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

Fiji’s  Methodist Church says it’s preparing itself for the future by trying to bring it’s two rival factions together. A rift in the Methodist Church from over two decades ago will be healed at the beginning of this year’s Methodist Church in Fiji annual conference. In the late 1980s, the tenure of then church president Read more

Unity message from Pope and Archbishop Welby

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Pope Francis and the new Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury have met for the first time, committing themselves to the search for reconciliation and unity between the Catholic and Anglican communions. The Pope gratefully recalled that Archbishop Welby prayed for him during the ceremony when he took possession of Canterbury Cathedral. “Since we began Read more

Catholics conquering depression

Friday, May 17th, 2013

I was motivated to write the book A Catholic Guide to Depression because I believe that our Catholic tradition – including the writings of the Church Fathers and saints – has something important to say to those suffering from this terrible affliction. Depression is often misunderstood; most people mistakenly believe it’s nothing more than intense Read more

SSPX superior reports no progress to followers

Friday, April 19th, 2013

The superior of the Society of St Pius X has told his followers that no progress has been made in achieving a canonical reconciliation with the Holy See. In a letter to SSPX members, Bishop Bernard Fellay said negotiations with the Holy See in 2012 put the society in “a delicate position”. He said the Read more

Methodist Church in Fiji commits to reconciliation

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

On Friday the Standing Committee of the Methodist Church in Fiji announced that the Church is going to be serious with its work of reconciliation. President-elect Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu unveiled the principles of reconciliation in the lead-up to Christmas and the church’s continuing effort in nation-building through grace. Reverend Waqairatu said the principles of reconciliation had Read more

Reconciliation could encourage giving, research finds

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

Encouraging Catholics to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation could have a payoff in the collection plate, according to British research. The study involving a group of devout Catholics found that when they felt absolved of sins and a sense of guilt they were more likely to give generously. Researchers from Royal Holloway College, London, and Read more