The clerical abuse scandals have caused everyone in the Catholic Church “pain and unbearable suffering”, Pope Francis said, but it also is a call to repentance and the renewal of the Church. “Our humble repentance, which remains silent between our tears for the monstrosity of sin and the unfathomable greatness of God’s forgiveness, this, this…
Category: World Report
Catholic prelates aghast at ‘unspeakable’ suffering in Syria
Catholic prelates in Syria, accompanied by Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, president of Caritas Internationalis, visited the eastern Ghouta region outside of Damascus and saw “unspeakable suffering”. “In every face, mostly the children” was a “very confused” expression, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan said. The visit was part of the annual session of…
Education of female refugees vital, says new report
A new report released just two days before International Women’s Day has stressed the urgency of making sure refugee girls and young women receive an education. The report, “Her Future: Challenges and Recommendations to Increase Education for Refugee Girls” by Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is based on the observations of JRS workers around the world and…
Doctors to be ‘silenced’ over assisted suicide survey
Four British doctors are attempting to take their professional body to the High Court over an assisted suicide survey they believe is illegal. The doctors, two of whom are Catholic, say they believe the Royal College of Physicians has acted “unfairly and unlawfully” by setting a super majority of 60% of votes to retain the…
Vatican Roundup
Ash Wednesday reminds us of the world to come, Francis says Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and the promise of eternal life, Pope Francis has said. In his homily at the Dominican-run Basilica of Santa Sabina last week, the Pope…
Irish cardinal backs opening of Pope Pius XII archives
An Irish cardinal has praised Pope Francis’ recent announcement regarding the opening of the Vatican Secret Archives from the wartime pontificate of Pope Pius XII. “I am grateful to His Holiness for taking this welcome step and allowing scholars to examine the records of Pope Pius XII’s pontificate during the Second World War,” Cardinal Timothy…
Judge sentences Cardinal Pell to six years in prison on abuse charges
Cardinal George Pell, 77, was sentenced to six years in prison today, just over two weeks after a Melbourne court allowed the publication of news that he had been found guilty of sexually abusing two boys. Cdl. Pell, who continues to maintain his innocence, will try to appeal the verdict. The court has set June…
Indonesia Church calls for better protection as violence against women rises sharply
The number of reported cases of violence against women in Indonesia shot up by nearly 14% last year, according to the National Commission on Violence against Women. In its annual report issued on March 6, two days before International Women’s Day, the commission said there were 406,178 reported cases of violence against women in 2018 compared…
French cardinal convicted of failing to report abuse
French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon, was found guilty today of failing to report to authorities the alleged sexual abuse of a priest in his diocese. He was given a six-month suspended prison sentence. French tribunal president Brigitte Vernay declared Cdl. Barbarin guilty on March 7 “of non-denunciation of ill-treatment” of a minor. Cdl.…
Secret wartime documents of Pope Pius XII to be opened
Declaring that the Catholic Church is unafraid of history, Pope Francis announced that documents in the Vatican Secret Archives relating to the wartime pontificate of Pope Pius XII will be open to scholars in 2020. Researchers, particularly those interested in Catholic-Jewish relations, have pressed the Vatican to open the archives and allow a full study…