A video on homophobia posted in Facebook that parodies the Eucharist and says it tastes “like cardboard” and smells “like hate” has drawn criticism from Bishop John Keenan of Paisley. He said the video posted by BBC Scotland “is ridiculing and demeaning the faith of ordinary Catholics, especially at a time when Catholics are experiencing Read more
The heads of the Anglican and Catholic churches in the United Kingdom produced their first joint Facebook Live video last week. Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols took part in an unscripted discussion from Lambeth Palace. They answered questions that came in and spoke on a variety of topics including Pentecost and prayer. One Read more
Italy’s singing nun, Sr Cristina Scuccia, has chosen Madonna’s controversial hit “Like a Virgin” as the first single in her debut album. Earlier this year, Sr Cristina achieved worldwide fame when she won Italy’s version of The Voice. Sister Cristina, 26, says her version of Madonna’s pop song is a “testimony of God’s capacity to turn Read more
While New Zealand is becoming less religious overall, there’s greater diversity to the country’s religious make-up, according to the latest census. Most people who consider themselves religious identify as being Christian, however other religions are growing. The three that saw the biggest increase in followers between 2006 and 2013 are Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. Meanwhile, the Read more
Prime Minister John Key has expressed alarm over a video showing two men being beaten by Fiji police. Key said the New Zealand government was taking reports of the attack seriously. “And we expect the Fijian authorities to deal with them appropriately and hold those people who have undertaken those beatings to account,” Key said. Read more
A Jesuit priest has called for the establishment of a General Ecumenical Council to bring all Christian Churches together, and eventually all religions, in order to face together the challenge of the secularisation of society. Fr Michael MacGreil told the Irish Catholic that with the current state of religion in the world and the advance of Read more
