Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, has thanked experts from Moneyval – the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism – for helping the Holy See in its efforts to ensure transparency and international cooperation in its financial dealings. The cardinal welcomed the…
The head of the Salesians announced that the order has raised nearly €8 million to help thousands of families worldwide who have been financially affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Specifically, €7.9 million have been collected, a very significant amount that has reached 62 Salesian provinces around the world, in response to 143 projects in support…
Archbishop Anthony Fisher and archdiocesan staff welcomed a commitment by the government of New South Wales to enact anti-slavery legislation passed by the Australian Parliament more than two years ago. The state of New South Wales endorsed the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and supported, in principle, a recommendation to implement the act before the end…
US Secretary of State and Vatican official s ex change views on China The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Holy See’s top diplomats had a “respectful” exchange of views on China, the Vatican said October 1. Responding to questions from journalists, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said that Mr…
US pandemic stimulus bill excludes Catholic school students and their families The chairman of the US bishops’ education committee said October 1 “it is unconscionable” the HEROES Act stimulus bill proposed in the House is excluding Catholic school students and their families. The bill includes $225 billion for education, including $182 billion for K-12 schools,…
Catholic leaders and academics have voiced their support following President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacant seat on the US Supreme Court. Tributes to the Catholic judge and nominee followed Ms Barrett’s official presentation in the White House Rose Garden Saturday evening, after a week of speculation that she was…
The chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee applauded President Donald Trump’s signing the ‘Born Alive Executive Order’ to ensure babies born alive receive care. The order, which Mr Trump signed the evening of September 25, means “babies born prematurely or with disabilities receive a basic medical assessment and appropriate care as required by our federal laws”, said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann…
Germany’s Catholic bishops agreed this week to a uniform system for compensation payments to abuse survivors. Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference, announced the agreement September 24 at the end of the bishops’ plenary meeting in Fulda, central Germany. Under the new system, survivors of abuse by Church workers will be entitled…
Sudanese people can now “worship and practice their various religious beliefs without fear”, said the general secretary of the Sudanese bishops’ conference. The official, Fr Peter Suleiman, welcomed Sudan’s decision to separate religion and state. In early September, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Abdel al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North rebel group, signed…
Good Samaritan letter reiterates condemnation of assisted suicide and euthanasia On Tuesday, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the publication of a letter approved by Pope Francis on June 25 and entitled ‘Samaritanus bonus (The Good Samaritan): On the Care of Persons in the Critical and Terminal Phases of Life’. It bears…