The president of the Spanish bishops’ conference has appealed for a former Catalan bishop to have his privacy respected, following media reports he moved in with an erotic fiction writer two weeks after resigning his see. “I share the pain of his family and the Church of Solsona, which has been touched by this, along…
Pope: You can’t be missionaries if you stop adoring the Lord Addressing Claretians, who are in Rome for their General Chapter, Pope Francis noted that the theme of their meeting – “Rooted and Bold” – “presupposes a life of prayer and contemplation that allows you to contemplate the mirror, which is Christ, so that you…
UK bishops criticise upcoming arms fair A major arms fair in London has drawn fire from Catholic bishops and justice and peace groups who say the trade in weaponry fuels conflict around the world. In a joint statement, they criticized the DSEI arms fair, which will bring together more than 1,600 companies that develop, manufacture…
The mortal remains of the first three Korean Catholic martyrs have been recovered more than two centuries after their deaths, announced the Diocese of Jeonju. Ucanews.com reported that following historical research and DNA tests, it has been confirmed that the remains are of Paul Yun Ji-chung and James Kwon Sang-yeon, both beheaded in 1791, and Yun’s brother,…
President Joe Biden last Thursday announced a “whole-of-government” response to “ensure” abortion access in Texas, after the state’s pro-life law went into effect September 1. In a September 2 statement, the president – a Catholic – directed his administration to examine “what steps the Federal Government can take to ensure that women in Texas have…
A Catholic diocese announced last Wednesday that kidnappers had freed a priest seized in Cameroon’s restive Anglophone region. In a statement circulated September 1, Fr Sebastine Sinju, chancellor of the Diocese of Mamfe, said that Msgr Julius Agbortoko Abbor was released without payment of a ransom, reported ACI Africa. “After three days in captivity, we are glad…
Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick pleaded ‘not guilty’ September 3 to several charges of sexual assault, while appearing for the first time in a Massachusetts court. McCarrick, 91, has been charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14, incidents which allegedly took place in the 1970s. Each of the…
The Anglican bishop of Ebbsfleet stepped down from office after announcing that he will become a Roman Catholic. The resignation of Bishop Jonathan Goodall was announced by Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury in a September 3 statement released by Lambeth Palace. Bishop Goodall is a former ecumenical secretary to a previous archbishop of Canterbury…
Cardinal Parolin urges cooperation and friendship in North Korea speech The Vatican Secretary of State said last week that the Holy See supports cooperation over confrontation in efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivered a virtual keynote speech to the South Korean government’s annual forum to discuss issues…
Peace Prize nominee urges Biden to protect Iraqi Christians After the last US forces left Afghanistan last week, an interfaith coalition implored President Joe Biden to keep American troops in Iraq to protect Christians and other persecuted religious minorities. “We beseech you on behalf of two historic and endangered peoples, Assyrian Christians and Yazidis, to…