Cardinal George Pell said Friday that the recent testimony of Cardinal Angelo Becciu at the Vatican finance trial “was somewhat incomplete”. He drew particular attention to a lack of evidence regarding payments of more than $1.6 million made to Neustar Australia, an information services firm, in 2017 and 2018. Cardinal Becciu, who was the second-ranking…
An Irish inter-faith gathering has said EU governments should recognise the unique role churches and faith communities play in maintaining “the soul of Europe”. The comments come in a report submitted to the Conference on the Future of Europe, based on a meeting between Irish churches and faith communities in Dublin City University. Participant The…
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, founded by Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, issued a brief statement May 2 saying it had fired an employee possibly over an incident involving some unwelcome advances. “The accusations against this employee surrounded events in the employee’s personal life, not the Word on Fire workplace, and did not involve…
Staff reporter Bishop Fintan Gavin said that everyone can help promote vocations to the priesthood, as the diocese of Cork and Ross launched a fresh appeal for people to consider becoming priests. Bishop Gavin launched a diocesan prayer card for vocations at St Joseph’s Church, Glanmire, Co. Cork on Saturday May 7. Speaking at the…
A Catholic diocese in Nigeria has announced “with joy” the release of a priest held captive for 40 days. The Diocese of Zaria in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, said that Fr Felix Zakari Fidson was released on May 3, reported ACI Africa. Diocesan chancellor Fr Patrick Adikwu Odeh said: “With hearts filled with joy, we announce the return of…
Current and former members of Accord Newbridge gathered to celebrate 50 years supporting marriages and relationships in the parish and wider area. Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and President of Accord Catholic marriage care Denis Nulty celebrated Mass to mark the event, May 6. Bishop Nulty congratulated the members “on their commitment, dedication and their…
Swiss Guard recruits encouraged to ‘grow as Christians’ Pope Francis on Friday encouraged 36 new recruits of the Pontifical Swiss Guard to “grow as Christians” during their service in Rome. The Pope, who currently uses a wheelchair due to a knee condition, met with the new candidates for the world’s smallest but oldest standing army on May…
The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church said Russia’s reasons for attacking Ukraine are nothing more than an excuse to justify its ultimate goal of wiping out the country and its people. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych said that although Russian President Vladimir Putin has said “demilitarisation and denazification” are the primary reasons for invading…
There’s no evidence that introducing euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide reduces incidences of suicide UK bioethicist David Jones tells Jason Osborne A recent peer-reviewed study from the UK’s Anscombe Bioethics Centre has debunked claims that legalising euthanasia or assisted suicide (EAS) leads to fewer non-assisted suicides. Prof. David Jones, Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, with this…
Australia’s Catholic bishops have elected Archbishop Timothy Costelloe as their new leader. Archbishop Costelloe, a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco, is the first member of a religious order to serve as president of Australia’s bishops’ conference. The 68-year-old archbishop of Perth, Western Australia, succeeds Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who was president of the Australian Catholic Bishops…
Ruadhán Jones