The US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago said July 28 that a Catholic high school in Indianapolis and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis have a constitutional right to hire staff who will uphold their core religious teachings. The case, Starkey v Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, involves Lynn Starkey, a former guidance…
Category: World Report
Skills training and education ‘only way out of misery’ for Pakistan’s poor
To improve the lives of Pakistanis, many of whom are desperately poor, the Archdiocese of Lahore has ramped up its educational and vocational training efforts. “We evaluated and studied that – through education and then skill training and some other professional training – that is the only way out of misery,” said Archbishop Sebastian Shaw…
‘Our angels have wings’ Zelenskyy says on Ukrainian Statehood Day
Ukrainians will fight for their statehood to the last and will not stop until they liberate the last metre of Ukrainian land, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address for Ukrainian Statehood Day July 28. The day marks the 988 Baptism of “Kyivan Rus,” the origin of Christianity in the region, but this is…
In brief
St James honoured with procession in Cuban city A large number of Catholics from the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba participated in a procession July 25 to celebrate the feast of their patron, St James the Apostle. The special event also commemorated the 507th anniversary of the founding of Santiago (St James) de Cuba. Archbishop…
Spanish bishop warns that the Synod can’t re-invent the Church’s mission
The bishop of Córdoba, Spain, Demetrio Fernández, warned about the challenges facing the Synod on Synodality, an initiative that he acknowledges “has stirred up the waters of the Church” but that cannot “invent” the mission of the Catholic Church. In his weekly pastoral letter, which concludes by quoting the Letter to the Hebrews — ”Jesus…
Philippine diocese appeals for aid after magnitude seven quake
A diocese in the northern Philippines appealed for aid July 27 after a magnitude 7 earthquake that killed at least four and injured dozens. The Archdiocese of Tuguegarao in northeastern Luzon said churches and historical sites sustained cracks and were damaged, but it also needed help to repair hospital infrastructure and equipment. Patients were evacuated…
Vatican Roundup
Vatican asks Catholics to share experiences helping migrants and refugees As the Church prepares to commemorate the World Day of Migrants and Refugees in September, Pope Francis launched a video campaign meant to highlight the spiritual and cultural contributions that migrants bring to people’s lives. “Migrants and refugees offer us a great opportunity for the…
‘Astonished’ German leaders take issue with Holy See’s latest warning
The latest warning by the Holy See about the risk of a new schism from Germany arising from the “Synodal Way” has been rejected and met with “astonishment” by its organisers, who in turn accused Rome of not acting like a synodal Church. However, at least one German bishop and a reform group welcomed the new intervention…
Portuguese Inquisition documents to become available online
Rare documentation of the Portuguese Inquisition with detailed information about the sentencing trials which took place 500 years ago have been digitised for the first time in the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People Jerusalem’s National Library of Israel. The documents include printed versions of sermons preached by two priests at the…
Lack of upkeep poses danger to historic churches in France
French parliamentarians warned that thousands of historic churches, many dating from the Middle Ages, will have to be sold or demolished unless government officials allocate resources to maintain them. “Like other Western countries, France faces questions over the future of its religious heritage given society’s growing secularisation,” a report for the French Senate said. “As…