The attorney general of Sri Lanka has requested the chief justice appoint a special trial-at-bar to hear cases against 25 suspects accused of involvement in the 2019 Easter attacks that killed 279 people, including 37 foreign nationals in three cities. The 23,270 charges filed include conspiracy, preparation, aiding and abetting, collection of explosives and weapons,…
English bishop calls for prayers after man murders five before killing self
An English bishop called on Catholics of his diocese to pray for the victims of a shooting spree in which a 3-year-old girl and four others were murdered. Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth, a diocese that covers the southwest corner of England, described the August 12 massacre as “terrible.” “It is with a deep sense…
Catholic faith of potential Angela Merkel successor’s aide attacked
An anti-Catholic video targeting the election campaign of a potential successor to Angela Merkel has drawn criticism from bishops and politicians in Germany amid growing concerns about a wider erosion of religious freedom in an increasingly secular Europe. The video was published online and shown at an election event of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in early…
Cardinal injured and priest dead after earthquake in Haiti
Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes and president of Haiti’s Bishops’ Conference, has been injured, while a Catholic priest died early in the morning of August 14 after a 7.2 intensity earthquake shook Haiti. Speaking to ACI Prensa, Akim Kikonda, Director for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Haiti, said that Cardinal Langlois “is hurt,…
Faith in the Family
It is not that easy being a mother Christina Malone While on holiday my four-year-old developed a very bad habit of whinging. If you have children, you might know it can be hard to ignore. My nine-year-old started to develop an attitude that makes you wonder what is going in her little head and my…
Vatican Roundup
Inventors of CRISPR gene editing appointed to Pontifical Academy of Sciences Pope Francis has appointed the co-inventors of the CRISPR genome editing technology to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who discovered CRISPR fewer than ten years ago, were appointed to the Vatican’s scientific academy consecutively August 10-11. Their discovery sparked…
In brief
Lima archbishop proposes replacing priests with laity as pastors The Archbishop of Lima last month presented his proposal to replace priests with lay people in parishes in the Peruvian capital. Archbishop Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio said during a July 21 conference that he is asking the Vatican for permission for lay persons to be given…
Family News
Bronze handle suggests ‘lions used’ in Roman Britain executions An unearthed bronze key handle suggests lions were used in executions in Roman Britain, archaeologists have said. The handle, which shows a “Barbarian” grappling with a lion, was excavated from under a Roman town house, off Great Central Street in Leicester. It also shows figures of…
Changing emphasis from material to spiritual
Dear Editor,I have read with much interest the article regarding bishops giving the green light for celebration of the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation [IC 05/08/2021]. This is a praiseworthy and needed concern on the part of the seven bishops. I congratulate them and thank them for their courageous leadership at this difficult…
Bishops to proceed with sacraments undeterred by renewed Govt advice
Bishops are to continue with First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies this month despite the Government renewing an appeal that the ceremonies be delayed. It was revealed last week that bishops in Waterford & Lismore, Elphin, Raphoe, and Killaloe had given priests the green light to proceed with Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies if they…