Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, 64, said he won’t resign following the publication of the report on the handling of clerical sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Cologne. “To simply take the moral responsibility with me and to go to protect the reputation of the office of bishop and of the Church – I think that’s…
Category: World Report
Ecuador to host International Eucharistic Congress in 2024
The Vatican announced March 20 that Pope Francis has designated the Archdiocese of Quito in Ecuador the host of the 2024 International Eucharistic Congress. The conference, in its 53rd edition, will also take place during the 150th anniversary of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “This great ecclesial meeting will manifest…
US officer killed in mass shooting recalled as ‘man of character’
Officer Eric Talley, an 11-year veteran of the Boulder Police Department, was the first to arrive at the scene of a mass shooting at a King Soopers grocery store the afternoon of March 22 and the first of 10 to be killed. A Catholic, Talley often stopped by St Martin de Porres Church just across…
Vatican Roundup
Pope approves pay cuts for cardinals, top management at Vatican With the need to reduce costs and make sure employees are not laid off, Pope Francis has approved pay cuts for cardinals, clergy, religious and upper management officials who work in the Roman Curia and other Vatican entities. The pay cuts will go into effect…
In Brief
Philippine bishop chides govt over church gatherings ban The Philippine government should have consulted Church leaders before trying to ban religious gatherings, Manila Archdiocese’s apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said March 24. His comment came in a pastoral letter in which he questioned a March 20 government order banning religious gatherings for two weeks to…
Pope: Christ’s cross a beacon of hope in stormy seas
The commemoration of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection during the Easter triduum brings much-needed hope to a world beset by uncertainty, Pope Francis said
Abuse report exonerates Cologne cardinal but Hamburg archbishop resigns
A much-anticipated report on the handling of abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne exonerates Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki but Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße has requested “immediate release” from his duties following the report. The report by the law firm Gercke Wollschläger accuses Cardinal Woelki’s predecessors, the deceased Cardinals Joseph Höffner (1906-1987) and Joachim Meisner…
Faith leaders as important as health workers in pandemic response
Faith leaders have an important role to play as the world continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and the ups and downs of vaccine distribution, participants in a webinar heard. That role is based on trust and accurately sharing information, said Kathryn Kraft, senior research adviser for faith and development at World Vision International.…
Poverty hitting Syrians hard as fighting wanes
Food, cooking fuel, jobs and, especially, hope are hard to come by in Syria, said two Catholic leaders reflecting on the 10th anniversary of the war. “We feel forgotten. The sanctions have thrown the country further into desperation: 83% of the population is below the poverty line. We can’t do it anymore. Enough,” said Maronite…
US Pro-lifers say ERA would invalidate pro-life laws
If the Equal Rights Amendment were to become part of the US Constitution, its opponents say, it will actually harm women’s interests and invalidate pro-life policies, such as the federal Hyde Amendment and all state restrictions on tax-funded abortions. Its supporters say it will protect women from discrimination in the workplace, domestic violence and sexual…






Ruadhán Jones



