Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, a Belarusian citizen appointed to Minsk in 2007 after serving as a bishop in Russia, was barred from returning to Belarus after his pastoral letter was read at churches. The letter warned of civil war, as security forces confronted demonstrators protesting the election of President Alexander Lukashenko. Archbishop Kondrusiewicz said he had…
Pope Francis will visit the Italian town of Assisi on October 3 to sign a new encyclical. In a statement released on Saturday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said the encyclical is entitled Fratelli tutti or ‘All brothers and sisters’ on fraternity and social friendship. The title, whose official English-…
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has urged Catholics to take encouragement from the spirit of volunteerism that has been on display in parishes and communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking as he announced the annual clerical changes for the diocese, Bishop Leahy said that the combined issues of the vocations crisis and ageing priests is…
US President Donald Trump has released a letter addressed to “pro-life leaders and activists” indicating his intention to advance legislative and administrative priorities against abortion if he is elected to a second term. “As I seek re-election this November, I need your help in contrasting my bold pro-life leadership with Joe Biden’s abortion extremism,” Mr Trump’s…
Trócaire has announced the decision to permanently close its Cathedral Street office in Dublin city centre from the end of September. The charitable agency of the Church recently reviewed the sustainability of the office, coming to the conclusion that it is no longer viable. They have been in operation on the site since 1983. Trócaire CEO…
Pro-life advocates have been asked to create a flag for the movement which is open to pro-life designers around the world. Irish pro-life group The Life Institute has partnered with the Pro-Life Flag Project, an initiative aimed at facilitating the creation of a universal, freely-reproducible pro-life flag. Niamh Uí Bhriain of The Life Institute said…
Bishop Donal McKeown has said that correcting someone is meant to help people, “not nourish my spiritual ego”. In a homily delivered in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Co. Derry, over the weekend, Bishop McKeown spoke about Church community and the challenges of a culture that does not forgive. He said: “John the Baptist, Jesus and the…
Catholic leaders in the US have welcomed the news that one of the world’s biggest vaccine producers has decided to discontinue a polio vaccine derived from an abortion foetal cell line. Sanofi-Pasteur will instead use an ethical animal cell line in the production of its polio vaccine. The company, among the three largest vaccine manufacturers…
A group of Catholics in southern India has accused Bangalore Archdiocese of being party to a multi-million dollar financial scam linked to overseas donations. Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore denied the allegations and said he was ready to face any probe. All Karnataka Catholic Christian Association (AKCCA) accused the archdiocese-owned Asha Charitable Trust of misappropriating some three billion…
Pope Francis calls for solidarity at first audience with pilgrims after lockdown In his first Wednesday audience with pilgrims since Italy’s lockdown, Pope Francis has called for solidarity to reawaken unity and bring God’s love to a suffering world. “In the midst of crises and storms, the Lord challenges us and invites us to reawaken…