The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has launched a new fundraising campaign to aid Syrian Christians, whose lives continue to be devastated by violence and poverty. “The war in Syria has still not ended, terrorism has yet to be defeated and our brothers have more need of our aid than ever,” said…
Category: World Report
Congo in crisis after Ebola outbreak, Church warns
Church representatives in Congo have urged international action to contain Ebola, after an epidemic in the country’s eastern provinces was declared an emergency by the World Health Organisation. “The Congolese people have suffered so many troubles in recent years – Ebola is only the latest,” said Msgr Andre Massinganda, deputy secretary-general of the Congolese bishops’…
Vatican roundup
New Vatican press office director appointed Pope Francis has appointed Matteo Bruni to serve as director of the Vatican press office, replacing Alessandro Gisotti, who had been serving as interim director since December 31, 2018. The Vatican announced the appointment last week. Bruni (42), previously served as assistant to the director since 2013, helping organise and coordinate media presence and…
In Brief
Notre-Dame not yet safe to restore – architect l A French architect says that Notre Dame Cathedral still isn’t safe enough for restoration work to begin, more than three months after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the monument. French television showed the chief architect of France’s historic monuments, Philippe Villeneuve, taking Culture Minister Franck Riester…
UK High Court to hear case on medical treatment of comatose girl
The High Court has agreed to hear in September a bid from the parents of Tafida Raqeeb to take her to Italy for treatment. The five-year-old girl has been comatose since February, and UK doctors want to remove her life-sustaining treatment. The UK doctors have barred Raqeeb’s parents from taking her abroad for treatment. Two…
Sri Lankan church re-consecrated after terrorist bombings
One of the churches in Sri Lanka damaged in attacks on Easter was re-consecrated on Sunday. During the ceremony, the Archbishop of Colombo criticised the government’s investigation of the attacks. St Sebastian’s parish in Negombo, nearly 25 miles north of Colombo, was re-consecrated on July 21 by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. The church was one of…
Vincent Lambert’s death ‘murder in disguise’, his father claims
Vincent Lambert, a 42-year-old quadriplegic man, died in a French hospital last week, nine days after doctors withdrew his food and water. “Vincent died at 8.24 this morning,” Lambert’s nephew, Francois Lambert, told AFP News Agency. Lambert died on July 11 at University Hospital in the northern French city of Reims, where doctors had withdrawn his…
Venezuelan bishops call for Maduro to step down
The Venezuelan bishops asked last Thursday that president Nicolas Maduro resign from the office which he “illegitimately” exercises and that a new president be elected in the shortest time possible. “In face of the reality of an illegitimate and failed government, Venezuela is crying out for a change of direction, a return to the Constitution.…
Haitian bishops announce ‘year of prayer’ as country destabilises
The Catholic bishops of Haiti have announced a year of prayer and adoration for the country, which continues to face heightened tensions and instability amid calls for President Jovenel Moise to resign. “The misery has become so sharp and the insecurity so destabilising that the tree of hope has been torn from the ground,” the…
Chile removes statute of limitations on sex abuse crimes
As the Catholic Church in Chile continues to deal with the fallout of clerical sexual abuse and its cover-up, the Chilean government passed a law removing the statute of limitations on sex abuse crimes against children. The new law, which passed the Chilean Congress earlier this month, ensures that there will be no time limit…