Migrants rescued from the Mediterranean were taken to shore in Malta on Wednesday after being kept at sea while European nations argued over who was responsible for them. Pope Francis had issued a public plea last Sunday for European governments to demonstrate “concrete solidarity” with the 32 migrants rescued on 22nd December and 17 others […]
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The Austrian Catholic Church will officially begin a year of honour from 11th January to remember the founder of Austria’s Catholic Habsburg Empire, Maximilian I, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death. The country’s decision to publicly honour a former Catholic ruler, who died 12th January, 1519, marks a noteworthy change in mainstream Austrian […]
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Months after Indonesia’s military was summoned to unclog Jakarta Bay, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo has joined a chorus of disapproval of the nation’s growing plastic waste problem by calling parishioners to action. Ucanews.com reported that, through a video messaged shown across all parishes nationwide last weekend, the prelate appealed to all Catholics to reduce their use […]
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The Bishop for Migration and Asylum has called for asylum seekers crossing the English Channel to be treated with dignity and has spoken out against the dehumanising rhetoric that has characterised debate in recent weeks. “All people fleeing their homes and seeking to build a better life here should be recognised as human beings and […]
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Pope Francis has sent condolences and a blessing to the Hong Kong Diocese following the death of Bishop Yeung Ming-cheung. Bishop Yeung died of liver failure on 3rd January, aged 73. The pope also named Cardinal John Tong Hon, retired bishop of Hong Kong, to administer the diocese until a new bishop is appointed by […]
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Police are investigating vandalism at St Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport where someone painted a swastika on the cathedral doors. Police discovered the vandalism the morning of 4th January. No arrests had been reported in the vandalism as of midday on 7th January. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, who has been on a seven-day retreat […]
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A French cardinal took the stand in court on 7th January, the first day of a civil trial for Church officials accused of covering up abuse by a priest. Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, 68, testified in the case against him and others accused of covering up abuse by Fr Bernard Preynat, who has confessed to abusing […]
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A British parliamentary report criticised the Indian government for failing to protect religious minorities from violent Hindu hard-liners. A report by the British All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief said the rise of nationalist ‘Hindutva’ ideology – which defines ‘Indian’ as exclusively Hindu – has led to an increase in religious […]
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A former head of the Philippines’ Catholic bishop’s conference, has called on people to ignore President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated rants against the Church. In his New Year message, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said those who call God stupid and teach that it is useless to go to church are “anti-Christ,” ucanews.com reported. “Do not […]
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The clerical abuse crisis and the ‘crisis of credibility’ it created for the US bishops have led to serious divisions within the US Church and to a temptation to look for administrative solutions to problems that go much deeper, Pope Francis told the US bishops. Without a clear and decisive focus on spiritual conversion and […]
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