Bishops’ conferences from Francophone West Africa have pledged solidarity with Christian communities after a spate of Islamist attacks and urged governments and religious leaders to do more to counter “unlooked-for menaces, tragedies and catastrophes”. “Terrorist outrages are sowing desolation and disorder, especially in Christian communities – with hearts full of emotion and sadness, we think…
Abortion is never the answer to couples seeking a way to deal with a prenatal diagnosis of serious illness or disability, Pope Francis has said. Addressing participants at a Vatican meeting on medical care for “extremely fragile” babies and on the pastoral care of their parents, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church’s total opposition to…
Abortion pill legal challenge defeated again A pro-life group in Scotland has, for a second time, lost a legal challenge against the government’s decision last year to allow women to self-administer abortion pills at home. “We are greatly saddened by this decision. We have been convinced all along that the policy decision by the Chief…
Bishop Edward Burns of Dallas questioned an affidavit and a dramatic raid by local police who descended on Church property in the Texas diocese wearing “ski masks and SWAT gear” in mid-May saying they were looking for documents related to abuse investigations. The Diocese of Dallas has fully cooperated with police and has been transparent…
Dr Leandro Rodríguez Lastra, an OB-GYN in Argentina, was found guilty on Monday of having prevented an abortion, after he decided to save the life of an unborn baby whose mother had taken an abortion pill. After three days of arguments in the Rio Negro Court in Argentina, Judge Álvaro Meynet found Rodríguez guilty of…
Pope Francis has said that each bishop has a duty to have a strong, close relationship with his priests with a firm warning that episcopal aloofness and favouritism weakens the mission of the Church. “The relationship between us bishops and our priests is, unquestionably, one of the most vital issues in the life of the…
Catholic leaders in Burkina Faso appealed for unity and solidarity after two attacks on Catholics in two days left 10 laypeople and a priest dead. “We have been working together for years – Muslims, Protestants, Catholics and followers of traditional religions, always walking hand in hand,” said Archbishop Seraphin Rouamba of Koupela. “In view of…
The office for Vatican Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life announced the theme Pope Francis has chosen for the next World Meeting of Families, which will be in Rome June 23-27, 2021– it is: ‘Family love: A vocation and a path to holiness’. The dicastery asked that in preparation for the meeting, families and…
Vatican advances sainthood cause of Brazilian ‘Mother Teresa’ Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of four men and four women, including Blessed Dulce Lopes Pontes, the ‘Mother Teresa’ of Brazil. The Pope signed the decrees on May 13 during a meeting with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. The Vatican published the decrees on May 14. The Pope…
One month after a fire destroyed the roof and spire of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Archbishop of Paris released an update on reconstruction efforts and the donations received thus far. Of the €1 billion publicly pledged in the emotional aftermath of the fire, only €13.5 million has been collected so far,…