As Congo celebrated 60 years of independence from Belgium, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa said the “great dreams” of the people had been shuttered by successive regimes. “We have known successive autocratic regimes that have come to power like the colonialist without any concern for the will of the people, and this continues today: by…
Archives reveal Schonstatt movement founder accused of abuse Documents uncovered from the recently opened archives of the pontificate of Pope Pius XII revealed allegations of sexual abuse and abuse of power against the founder of the Schonstatt movement, Fr Joseph Kentenich. Reports of the apostolic visitation made in the early 1950s written by Dutch Jesuit Father Sebastiaan…
Glenmary Challenge editor wins St Francis de Sales Award John Feister, assistant editor of Glenmary Challenge, is the recipient of the 2020 St Francis de Sales Award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. The award – named for the patron saint of writers and journalists – recognises “outstanding contributions to…
The US should appoint a special envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region to “focus like a laser beam” on the attacks by Boko Haram and other Islamic militants, according to one of the main architects of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Former Congressman Frank Wolf said such a move was necessary…
The US Diocese of Springfield has released a report submitted by retired Superior Court Judge Peter Velis documenting his investigation into a claim of sexual abuse by the late Bishop Christopher Weldon and his finding the claim “to be unequivocally credible”. The report also covers how the diocese handled this complaint and opportunities for improvement…
Although he said “I would never go to war” over the proper age to administer the sacrament of Confirmation, Archbishop Rino Fisichella has said too often it seems that the Sacrament is delayed to “blackmail” young people into continuing to come to church. The archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, made…
An ongoing dialogue between Catholic and Muslim educators took a very concrete turn on June 25 when the United Arab Emirates sent a plane carrying 50 tons of humanitarian aid to a Peruvian city overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Vatican News, the plane carried masks, gloves, medical oxygen and food aid that will…
According to a recent report in Corriere della Sera, Italy’s paper of record, an Italian financier now based in London named Raffaele Mincione has filed two civil suits against the Vatican’s Secretariat of State before Britain’s High Court of Justice, both related to a now-infamous land deal in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood he brokered in 2013.…
Pope says world needs fewer complainers Some people always will want to destroy unity and stifle prophets, Pope Francis said on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul. And yet, Jesus challenges everyone to be – like Peter – a rock for building a renewed Church and renewed humanity, and – like Paul – a…
Archbishop says truth of saint’s ministry is in love of indigenous Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez has asked Catholics of the archdiocese to invoke the intercession of St Junipero Serra “for this nation that he helped to found”. “In this hour of trial in our nation, when once again we are confronting America’s shameful legacy…