Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta was sentenced to four and a half years in prison on Friday, March 4, after an Argentine court found him guilty of sexually abusing seminarians. Bishop Zanchetta, 58, pleaded not guilty to the charge of “aggravated continued simple sexual abuse committed by a recognised minister of religion” on February 21. He was…
Anthony Redmond Vincent van Gogh and the Good Samaritan: The Wounded Painter’s Journey by Henry Martin (Darton, Longman & Todd, £12.99/€15.50) One of the greatest of the post-impressionists painters Vincent van Gogh led a troubled, somewhat unhappy life searching for love and recognition as an artist. He wrote countless letters to his devoted brother, Theo,…
Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic and Orthodox leaders in Europe have appealed to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, urging him to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine. In an open letter published March 2, Romanian Orthodox Father Ioan Sauca, acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, told…
The chairman of the German Catholic bishops’ conference has called for changes to Church teaching on sex outside of marriage and homosexuality. In an interview with the German magazine Bunte published on March 4, Bishop Georg Bätzing agreed with the journalist’s assertion that “no one” adhered to the Church’s teaching that sexuality should only be practiced within…
Pope Francis to visit Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan in July, the Vatican has announced. The Holy See press office said March 3 that the Pope would visit the African nations July 2-7, “at the invitation of their respective heads of…
Dear Editor, A few weeks ago, the bishops’ conference recommended the continuation of a number of protective measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the vulnerable or anxious members of the congregation. This included the suspension of a handshake as the sign of peace. At a recent meeting in my diocese, it was discussed that…
Pray, fast for peace this Lent, Archbishop Martin urges Archbishop Eamon Martin is urging families to pray together and fast for peace this Lent, saying “we can never take peace for granted”. Speaking ahead of Ash Wednesday, the archbishop of Armagh reflected that “our Lenten journey this year begins as we watch the distressing and…
The national flags of Ukraine and Poland are held by nuns in St Peter’s Square as Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking the square at the Vatican February 27, 2022. Photo: CNS Pope Francis appealed on Sunday for an end to the Ukraine conflict. In his first direct public…
The president of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, rejected the February 22 Constitutional Court’s decision to depenalise abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. “We are facing a decision that concerns the entire Colombian society and five people cannot propose something as atrocious to a nation as allowing a life to be interrupted up to six…
Staff reporter A Donegal-based priest has praised Minister Charlie McConalogue’s “new determination” and greater understanding of the plight of Irish fishermen. Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough, Co. Donegal, told The Irish Catholic that new proposals and moves from the minister show “he has a better understanding of the plight of Irish fishermen and new…