Lithuanian archbishop backs hard line against Russia

The president of the Lithuanian bishops’ conference warned that his country and its neighbours could be targeted if Russian President Vladimir Putin imposes his will on Ukraine. Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius, who is also president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, urged Western countries to maintain a “hard line of deterrence. “We’re in…

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Renewing the Faith under St Patrick

Staff reporter The Pope’s representative in Ireland has thrown his weight behind a new initiative for the renewal of faith through an all-island novena which follows in the steps of St Patrick. Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo visited St Patrick’s Church in Saul on the feast of Candlemas as part of a St Patrick’s novena. Archbishop…

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Family News

Weather warning over falling iguanas in Florida People in Florida have been warned that immobilised iguanas could fall out of trees due to unusually cold temperatures across the region. “Iguanas are cold-blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s (4-9 Celsius). They may fall from trees, but they are not…

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In Brief

US pastor resigns after discovering invalid baptisms Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix said baptisms performed by a priest during years of ministry in the diocese are invalid, leading to the resignation of the clergyman, February 1. In a January 14 letter to the diocese, Bishop Olmsted said diocesan officials learned from the Vatican Congregation for…

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First Irish Redemptorist reaches 100

Born in the same year as the Irish Free State came into existence, Fr Tony Mulvey CSsR is the first Irish Redemptorist to reach 100 years of age. But achieving this milestone doesn’t mean he has retired, he insists. “There’s no retirement for Redemptorists. The only place you retire is into the box when you’re…

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Nicaragua revokes legal status of Catholic projects

The Nicaragua national assembly ordered the revocation of the legal status of five universities – including a Catholic university – along with several Catholic educational and charitable projects, marking the latest act of repression targeting supposed opponents of President Daniel Ortega. Projects that would be forced to close in the Diocese of Estelí include an…

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Pakistan receives first Servant of God

When a suicide bomber attempted to enter a Catholic church in Pakistan in 2015, a 20-year-old volunteer security guard blocked him. “I will die but I will not let you go in,” he reportedly told the terrorist armed with explosives. The attacker then set off a bomb, immediately killing himself and the man now recognised as…

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The Church as Sacrament

The Spirit of Catholicism,  by Vivian Boland OP (Bloomsbury, £16.99/€18.50) by Frank Litton As somebody who spent a good part of his career teaching organisation analysis, helping students understand organisations and the problems of organising, I have wondered why we pay so little attention to the Church as an organisation, subject to the failings that…

Vatican Roundup

New UAE Apostolic Nunciature opens in Abu Dhabi The Substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, presided over a ceremony to officially open the new Apostolic Nunciature to the UAE on Friday. The event took place on the same day as the world marks the International Day of Human Fraternity, which commemorates…

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