The Catholic Church in Ireland needs a “reality check”, the Archbishop of Dublin said, in the wake of an overwhelming referendum vote for same-sex marriage. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin also said the Church needs to ask itself if it has drifted away from young people. In the referendum on May 22, voters were asked if they Read more
Ireland’s former president, Mary McAleese, has spoken of her son as a devout young Catholic who was made to feel lonely and was bullied because he was gay. Mrs McAleese said her son Justin was a “willing and happy” altar boy and an enthusiastic member of his local Catholic youth club. But he went through Read more
A Colombian bishop who linked same-sex orientation with one of Jesus’ disciples and Mary Magdalene has apologised for his use of words. In a conference at a Colombian university, Bishop Juan Vicente Córdoba of Fontibón said there is no explicit rejection of homosexuality in the Bible. “We don’t know if one of Jesus’ disciples” had Read more
The Archbishop of Dublin says society could cherish gay people’s rights and relationships, while respecting the uniqueness of the male-female relationship. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was speaking to a group of diocesan communications officers, ahead of Ireland’s referendum on legal same-sex marriage on May 22. “There can be an ethic of equality which is an ethic Read more
One of Canada’s best known Catholics has become an Anglican, saying he could no longer worship with integrity in the Catholic Church. Broadcaster and author Michael Coren, whose books include “Why Catholics are Right”, was formally welcomed into the Anglican Church of Canada in Toronto recently. Mr Coren had been worshipping privately in an Anglican Read more
Ireland’s Catholic bishops have warned that the Church may no longer perform the civil aspects of weddings if same-sex marriage is legalised. Ireland is to have a referendum on legal same-sex marriage next month. If the bishops’ warning comes to pass, it would mean couples married in the Catholic Church in Ireland would have to Read more
The Archbishop of Dublin has condemned intemperate language that is sometimes used about gays and lesbians as “obnoxious” and “unchristian”. Speaking at a meeting of the Iona Institute, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said much of the discussion on marriage and family in Ireland today is polemical. The archbishop referred to some correspondence he has received in the Read more
Media have this week reported that Peter Westmore, the head of the leading Australian Catholic-based lobby group campaigning against same sex marriage in Australia, attended his daughter’s wedding to another woman in New Zealand last November. The headline for the news item read “Catholic crusader Peter Westmore blesses daughter’s gay marriage in New Zealand.” Liberal Read more
An Irish bishop has expressed regret about comments he made about gay people as parents in the lead up to Ireland’s referendum on same-sex marriage. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said in a media interview that a redefinition of marriage was also a redefinition of parenthood. When asked about gay people who are already parents, Read more
Family First NZ has received notification that Charities Services, previously called the Charities Commission, intends to continue its attempts to deregister the charity. Family First is appealing the decision and it will be heard in the High Court at Wellington early next year. The group was advised in 2013 the Charities Commission intended to deregister the Read more