The Vatican has released a document that establishes norms and principles for women who dedicate their lives as consecrated virgins, outlining their place in the life of the Church. Presenting the new document at the Vatican press office, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of…
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (75), an experienced diplomat, died in the US where he was receiving medical treatment. The French head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue had been living with Parkinson’s disease, and led a Vatican delegation to Saudi Arabia in April. He died in Hartford, Connecticut. It was his role as ‘proto-deacon’ or…
Hearts that are closed to welcoming migrants and refugees are similar to those of the Pharisees, who often would preach sacrifice and following God’s law without exercising mercy to those in need, Pope Francis said. Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees’ “insidious murmuring” is “a finger pointed at the sterile hypocrisy of those who do not…
The Archbishop of Adelaide was sentenced to a 12-month sentence on Tuesday after being convicted in May of failing to report allegations of child sexual abuse disclosed to him in the 1970s. Archbishop Philip Wilson is likely to serve his sentence under house arrest, and be fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet, according to media…
Religious liberty advocates were pleased with the US Supreme Court’s order to send Arlene’s Flowers vs State of Washington and Arlene’s Flowers vs Ingersoll back to the lower court for review. Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, declined a customer’s request to make custom floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding. She…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should talk with the country’s religious leaders in person and not use representatives, according to a senior Church official. Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs committee of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said “actual dialogue” with the president would be better. Early this week, Duterte named a four-man team to…
The pastoral centre of the Diocese of Matagalpa in central Nicaragua, whose bishop was in Rome to inform the Pope of the situation in his country, has been attacked by men armed with machetes. The attack occurred last week after two months of protests against Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega which have resulted in violence and…
The Archdiocese of Baltimore offered their prayers for the victims and first responders of a shooting at a US newspaper which killed five people. An active shooter, who was taken into custody, was reported at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland at about 2.30pm Eastern time. At least five people were killed in what…
Do not fear the Cross, Pope tells Christians during homily For Jesus, suffering and glory go hand in hand, Pope Francis said, urging Christians not to fall into the temptation of running from the Cross, but to imitate Christ in bending down to embrace the weak and vulnerable. In his homily for the June 29 Solemnity of Ss Peter and Paul, the official patrons…
Elise Harris In his latest prayer video, Pope Francis asked Catholics to dedicate the month of July to giving a spiritual gift to their pastors by praying for them, especially the priests who are tired or lonely. “The tiredness of priests…Do you know how often I think about it?” This is the opening line…