Fr Franz Jalics, a Hungarian Jesuit whose 1976 detainment by Argentina’s military dictatorship raised questions about Pope Francis’ role during his country’s Dirty War, has died at age 93. The priest died on February 13 in Budapest. Jalics found himself reluctantly at the centre of a controversy in March 2013 when Jorge Bergoglio, his former…
Category: World Report
Supreme Court rebukes California’s strict lockdown rules for churches
California’s strict coronavirus rules banning indoor worship were blocked and revised by a US Supreme Court injunction late February 5 night, drawing praise from figures like Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. He emphasised the importance of in-person religious gatherings and stressed that the Catholic Church is following “reasonable measures” to limit the epidemic. “This is a very…
Church leaders criticise Scottish hate crime bill
An unprecedented alliance of Catholic and Evangelical church leaders are urging the Scottish Government to drop part of its proposed Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill to allow time for “detailed consideration of crucial provisions”. The bill, which would potentially criminalise any criticism of Transgender ideology has been criticised by the Catholic Church, the Free…
Vatican Roundup
Vatican releases programme for papal trip to Iraq Pope Francis said his upcoming trip to Iraq would be an important sign of his concern for the region’s Christians, but also an important opportunity to build fraternity through interreligious dialogue. “In our time, interreligious dialogue is an important component of the encounter between peoples and cultures.…
In Brief
‘Church shouldn’t stay silent,’ says Russian Catholic official The secretary-general of the Russian bishops’ conference defended his Church’s right to speak out during police repression, as the country’s Catholic archbishop demanded “substantial, concrete answers” to societal problems that are the subject of current massive protests. “Young people have gone out in freezing temperatures and tried…
For Lent, ask if one’s life is centred on God or oneself, Pope says
Lent is a time to reconsider the path one is taking in life and to finally answer God’s invitation to return to him with one’s whole heart, Pope Francis said.
Lent is a time to grow in hope and love Pope says in 2021 message
As Christians pray, fast and give alms during Lent, they also should consider giving a smile and offering a kind word to people feeling alone or frightened because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said. “Love rejoices in seeing others grow. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need,”…
Australian ‘conversion therapy’ ban has dangerous flaws say religious leaders
A proposed ban on “conversion therapy” for sexual orientation or gender identity in Australia’s Victoria state is far too broad and could target normal prayer and conversations between children and parents, Catholic bishops and Muslim leaders warned this week. “Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t just ban outdated and insidious practices of coercion and harm, which we…
Priest says thousands of refugees in Tigray deported amidst conflict
In the midst of the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, thousands of Eritrean refugees who fled oppression and authoritarianism have been deported back to their home country, said an Eritrean Catholic priest. Fr Mussie Zerai, a priest of the Archdiocese of Asmara, Eritrea, who works with migrants, said the refugees were in Schimelba and Hitsats…
Biden makes abortion part of family planning program
President Joe Biden’s decision to rescind a regulation governing the Title X family planning programme that was enforced by the Trump administration “will force abortion” to be part of the programme and “may be unlawful,” said the chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee. “We have long supported efforts to ensure that the provision and…