The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, once again attacked the Catholic Church in the Central American country, accusing it of “calling for bloodshed,” and said, “I never had respect for the bishops.” The Sandinista dictator made the statement December 19 during the 25th commencement for graduates in police sciences from the Walter Mendoza Martínez Police…
Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila called it irresponsible and a “flat out lie” for The Denver Post daily newspaper and some other local media to scapegoat Catholic teaching on human sexuality as contributing to hatred against transgender people and the wider LGBTQ community that led to a mass shooting at a Colorado gay bar. He made…
Cardinal Angelo De Donatis said December 23 that the Diocese of Rome learned only recently about the accusations of abuse against Fr Marko Rupnik, a Jesuit priest and artist who has served in the diocese for decades. In a statement, Cardinal De Donatis said “the diocese of Rome, which was unaware until recently of the…
The US Supreme Court said December 27 that a federal public health rule that allows immigration officials at the border to quickly turn away migrants seeking asylum could stay in place while legal challenges to the policy played out. In a 5-4 decision, the justices stopped a trial judge’s ruling that would have lifted the…
Fire breaks out in Brazil’s Aparecida shrine A fire broke out in the Chapel of the Candles at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The fire started around 8am local time. According to the Marian shrine, the fire started because a candle had been placed on a pew.…
Love comes first, Pope says in letter on St Francis de Sales The most important question a Christian can ask when making any decision in life is “where the greatest love is to be found,” Pope Francis wrote in a letter marking the 400th anniversary of St Francis de Sales, a doctor of the Church.…
‘Vivid’ history of women religious launched A “vivid” account of the experience of women religious in Ireland from 1530-1700 was launched at the Poor Clare Monastery, Galway, recently. The book, Irish Women in Religious Orders, 1530-1700, is the first comprehensive study of the lives and experiences of women religious for that period and shows how…
The consecrated women who cared for Pope Benedict XVI in his retirement gently stroked his hands before his body was carried on a red-covered stretcher to a van for its last journey to St. Peter’s Basilica. The women, members of Memores Domini, along with Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the late Pope’s personal secretary, and Dr Patrizio…
The President, Taoiseach and Tánaiste have led Irish tributes to the late Pope Benedict XVI, who died this morning. President Michael D. Higgins said in his message that Benedict will be remembered for “his untiring efforts to find a common path in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world”, including for maintaining a “steadfast interest”…
Just a few hours after retired Pope Benedict XVI died in his Vatican residence December 31, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, provided a few early details of what to expect in the coming days. The 95-year-old pope’s remains will be in St Peter’s Basilica beginning the morning of January 2 for people…
Ruadhán Jones