Ecuadorian bishops have denounced those who take advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to get rich fraudulently as a “very serious crime”. In a declaration entitled ‘Crisis and hope’, the bishops stress that the “serious health crisis has highlighted the endemic defects of the State that have never been addressed in a clear and decisive way”.…
A bishop in Lebanon has said that Catholic schools in the country could close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has called on intervention from the West to save them. Bishop Michel Aoun of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites says the economic crisis has overwhelmed the country and 80% of Catholic schools could close because…
Pope transfers Vatican Data Processing Centre Pope Francis has transferred the Vatican’s Data Processing Centre (CED) from the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) to the Secretariat for the Economy (SPE). The Holy Father made the shuffle in the Roman Curia, which was announced by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro…
Female appointed as Swiss Catholic bishop’s delegate Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian to succeed the present episcopal vicar. Marianne Pohl-Henzen will succeed the present episcopal vicar for the German part of the diocese on August 1 Pohl-Henzen, 60, studied theology and philology, and for the past…
The postulator and the commission involved in investigating the life of Pope John Paul II for his sainthood cause found no evidence that the Pontiff knowingly neglected or covered up abuse scandals, the postulator said. Msgr Slawomir Oder, the promoter of the cause, told reporters in Rome during an online meeting that he and investigators…
An influential umbrella organisation for bishops across the European Union has warned that restrictions on public Masses and other ceremonies are a risk to religious freedom. In a statement the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) has that basic freedom is at stake in the continent’s battle with the coronavirus. Fr…
Just hours after the publication of a controversial open letter, one of the signatories – the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments – said he did not sign it. Cardinal Robert Sarah denied signing the letter, titled ‘Appeal for the Church and the World’, which says the coronavirus has been exaggerated…
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has urged the Faithful across the country to join a day of prayer to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. Pope Francis accepted a proposal from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for May 14 to be a day of prayer, fasting and works of charity to call for divine…
A Pakistan Catholic figure says the easing of coronavirus restrictions by the country’s leader is a “risky move”. Despite a record spike of new cases in a single day (1,523), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan last week announced the lifting of the nationwide lockdown. Fr Saleh Diego, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Karachi, hopes…
Marie Le Tran Thuy Vi and her friends are living their Faith through preparing, cooking and packing food at Phu Trung Church to hand out to the poor of Ho Chi Minh City. Vi, 22, and her group with 10 youths hand out 150-175 servings within 45 minutes each night. Recipients include homeless people, lottery…
Michael Kelly