Eritrean authorities are continuing to detain Catholic Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity, who was arrested at the Asmara International Airport October 15. After the Catholic Church queried about the situation and his whereabouts, government authorities confirmed the bishop, who turned 52 October 23, is in their custody. Bishop Tsalim was picked up soon after…
Academy for Life defends appointment of economist despite abortion posts Convinced that poverty, inequality and economic systems are killing millions of people each year and threatening the dignity of many more people, Pope Francis appointed an economist to the Pontifical Academy for Life. But the nomination of Mariana Mazzucato, a professor of the economics of…
The Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations told a committee of the world body that “civilian populations continue to be victims of widespread and systematic attacks”. Where there is “credible evidence” of such attacks, “there must be accountability,” he said. “Crimes against humanity are among the most serious crimes under international law and their…
A New York judge opened the door to legal recognition of multi-partner relationships while ruling in a housing court case. In a ruling on a dispute over a rent-stabilised apartment, Judge Karen May Bacdayan of the Civil Court of the City of New York opined that the legal protection of same-sex relationships shouldn’t be limited…
Catholic bishops in the southern Indian state of Kerala expressed shock over the human sacrifice of two women as part of a ritual to gain wealth and prosperity. Fr Jacob G. Palakkappilly, spokesman for the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, said the incident, which came to light October 11, has shaken the collective consciousness of Indian…
Cardinal: Church in Asia must be ‘prophetic’ and ‘relevant’ The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences must restructure itself to make the Church “relevant and responsive” to the people of Asia, a top-ranking cardinal said. Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, a member of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals, stressed there was a great need to restructure…
Pope Francis has selected a French Jesuit theologian and a Jewish law professor as winners of the Ratzinger Prize. The winners for 2022, announced by the Vatican October 7, are: Jesuit Fr Michel Fédou, professor of dogmatic theology and patristics at the Centre Sèvres of Paris and dean of the faculty of theology. He is…
On the date marking 700 days of war in Ethiopia’s region of Tigray, Bishop Tesfasellassie Medhin of Adigrat restated his call to the local and international community to act to save millions of people. People must “exercise their moral duty (to) be a voice of the voiceless and enforce international treaties to save more than…
Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” after hearing the news of one of the world’s worst mass shootings at a day care centre in northeast Thailand. In a message sent October 7 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, the Pope offered prayers for the victims “of the horrific attack” that claimed the lives of…
New cardinals appointed as members of dicasteries Pope Francis appointed several recently created cardinals to be members of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Vatican announced. Among the new appointments announced by the Vatican October 7 was Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego, who will serve as a member of the Dicastery for Laity,…