A video has emerged on social media that shows five Catholic priests, a nun, and three others who were kidnapped last month in Cameroon’s Mamfe Diocese pleading with their local ordinary to secure their release. On September 16, unidentified gunmen attacked St Mary’s Catholic Nchang Parish of Mamfe Diocese in Cameroon. Nine people were abducted and buildings on the…
Pope Francis expressed his hope that a new centre for Catholic-Jewish relations in Poland will “foster appreciation of the common heritage, not only of the two religions, but also of the two peoples”. Speaking to Polish pilgrims at his weekly general audience October 19, the Pope noted the inauguration two days earlier of the Abraham…
by Cindy Wooden Saying it is committed to “respectful dialogue” with China’s communist government and to “fostering the mission of the Catholic Church and the good of the Chinese people,” the Vatican announced it has renewed its agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. In the past four years only six bishops have been…
As soon as the lights dimmed for the start of the show in the tiny Vatican movie theatre, the crack of beer cans being opened joined the quieter crunch of popcorn. After all, when there is a private showing of The Greatest Beer Run Ever, starring Zac Efron and a green duffel bag full of…
Maradona ‘hand of god’ football to go for over €2.8m The football that was at the feet – and hand – of Diego Maradona as he shocked the world with acts of both gamesmanship and breath-taking skill in Mexico 36 years ago has been put up for auction and is expected to sell for at…
US bishop renews plea to launch mental health ministry After announcing Bishop John Dolan lost his sister to death by suicide, the Diocese of Phoenix renewed his “urgent plea to get mental health ministry underway”. “Our hearts are breaking as we make known the loss of Mary Elizabeth Dolan, youngest sister of Bishop John P.…
by Jonah McKeown A study that claims to be the largest national survey of Catholic priests conducted in more than 50 years has found that despite relatively high levels of personal well-being and fulfilment among priests as a whole, a significant percentage of priests have issues with burnout, distrust in their bishop, and fears of…
Eritrean authorities are continuing to detain Catholic Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity, who was arrested at the Asmara International Airport October 15. After the Catholic Church queried about the situation and his whereabouts, government authorities confirmed the bishop, who turned 52 October 23, is in their custody. Bishop Tsalim was picked up soon after…
Academy for Life defends appointment of economist despite abortion posts Convinced that poverty, inequality and economic systems are killing millions of people each year and threatening the dignity of many more people, Pope Francis appointed an economist to the Pontifical Academy for Life. But the nomination of Mariana Mazzucato, a professor of the economics of…
Dear Editor, Despite deep disquiet, expressed in a recent National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) public consultation, it is now almost certain, that a new intensified mandatory sex-education programme will be imposed upon schools. It will be part of an expanded SPHE module. This is the third wave of sex-ed programmes, each of which…