Australian bishops have written a pastoral letter denouncing Victoria state’s “new, and deeply troubling chapter of health care”, as voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide became legal last Wednesday. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 took effect on June 19. In a letter earlier this month, the bishops of Melbourne, Ballarat, Sale, and Sandhurst wrote that “we…
The California Catholic Conference commemorated the fourth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home’ by issuing a pastoral statement calling for heightened attention to ecological issues in the state that could affect future generations. The document from the conference, which includes all of California’s bishops, focused on the encyclical’s…
Burundi’s Catholic bishops have expressed their concern at rising political intolerance in the east African country. “We are worried about the progressive increase of political intolerance which, in different parts of the country, provokes clashes,” the bishops said in a statement at the end of their four-day plenary meeting in the capital, Gitega. Burundian authorities…
Catholic Relief Services is monitoring the health situation in Uganda, following two confirmed deaths from the Ebola virus. “We consider even one case a very serious development,” said Niek De Goeij, Uganda Country Representative for Catholic Relief Services. “But while Ebola is a frightening disease, we’ve seen almost a year of critical preparedness efforts on the part…
A priest in Mexico City has been arrested for murder barely a week after he celebrated a funeral Mass for the victim. Fr Francisco Javier Bautista was arrested on June 19 and was charged with the murder of Hugo Leonardo Avendano Chavez, 29, who had recently graduated with a master’s degree from a Catholic university,…
Archbishop calls for dialogue between US, Iran Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the US Archdiocese for the Military Services called on President Donald Trump’s administration to seek “sustained dialogue…to de-escalate the current situation that is a danger to both the region and the world”. The archbishop’s call…
Christians must respond to migration crisis humanely – Pope The Vatican recognises how difficult it is for nations to manage the flow of migrants and refugees, but one thing is certain: “We must respond in a humane manner, a Christian manner, and we must try to help people, not harm them,” said the Vatican foreign…
US Cardinal Raymond Burke has resigned from the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, saying it has become “more and more identified with the political program” of Steve Bannon. In a letter posted on his Twitter feed, Cardinal Burke said yesterday (June 25) he had urged the institute to return to its original purpose of promoting the respect…
Pope Francis said today that there is no room for selfishness in the Christian life, pointing to the example of the lives of the early Christians in the Acts of the Apostles. “The community of believers banishes individualism in favour of sharing and solidarity. There is no place for selfishness if you are a Christian,”…
As massive protests continued in Hong Kong, the auxiliary bishop pledged to remain with those opposing a controversial extradition bill and the resignation of the Chinese territory’s leader. Although chief executive Carrie Lam announced on June 15 that she had suspended the bill, Hong Kong people were not satisfied and turned out in even greater…