Dáil committee told commercial surrogacy led to ‘exploitation’ The Department of Justice has warned that commercial surrogacy in other countries has resulted in “exploitation”, and that children are being given to parents with whom they have no genetic link. An Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy was told that “bad actors” have exploited surrogate mothers, children…
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said it appeared Ukraine could keep Pope Francis safe if he made a wartime trip to Kyiv, but the Pope’s safety was not the Vatican’s only concern. During his trip to Malta April 2-3, Pope Francis had told reporters that a proposal for him to visit Kyiv…
Staff reporter Vatican officials are reportedly discussing extending Pope Francis’ trip to Lebanon in June so he can fly to Jerusalem to meet Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who has backed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their first meeting in 2016 was the first between a Pope and a leader of the Russian Church since the Great Schism…
The Legionaries of Christ received four new allegations of sexual abuse against members of the congregation between March 2021 and March 2022, and new allegations also have been made against priests already undergoing canonical procedures after being named in previous reports. The Legionaries’ 2021 “Annual Report: Truth, Justice and Healing” was released April 6 with…
Approximately 40 Burmese soldiers forcibly took control of a Catholic cathedral in Mandalay prior to a Lenten prayer service on Friday and detained an archbishop and dozens of other worshippers, including a correspondent for CNA. The soldiers entered Sacred Heart Cathedral at 2:30 pm local time April 8 and refused to allow worshipers to leave.…
‘Stolen’ Darwin manuscripts anonymously returned Two Charles Darwin manuscripts that were reported as stolen from Cambridge University Library have been anonymously returned in a pink gift bag, with a typed note on an envelope wishing a Happy Easter to the librarian. The precious items were found to be missing in 2001, but at the time…
US bishops receive Blessed Carlo Acutis relic The US bishops recently welcomed a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. It is the teenager’s pericardium, or the sac that protected his heart. “I now bring to you the relic of the pericardium, which is the membrane that surrounds the heart of a new blessed,” Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino…
Mark Pattison Mark Wahlberg, the Catholic star of the new movie “Father Stu,” has been hitting the interview trail to support the film. He’s got skin in the game, as he’s one of the movie’s producers, financing “Father Stu” largely with his own money. Not that it was his idea to make “Father Stu.” Rather,…
Staff reporter Senator Sharon Keogan has warned that a bill seeking to establish safe access zones around abortion facilities bans “peaceful and respectful citizens from praying silently for pre-born children”. The Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021, which would establish “safe access zones” of 100m around premises that provide abortion and contraception…
Two members of a group called Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising said April 5 that five foetuses taken by the police a week earlier from the Capitol Hill residence of one of the activists were “proof of illegal abortions” being performed at a Washington abortion clinic. Activists Lauren Handy, 28, and Terrisa Bukovinac, 41, made the comments…