Catholicism and “the Russian world” of Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill
From Pacem in terristo the March 2024 Moscow document on “a holy war defending the unified spiritual space of Holy Russia.”
Pope’s visit to Southeast Asia: What influence does Catholicism hold in Asia?
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Southeast Asia beginning of September, making stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. According to recent statistics, one in nine Catholics worldwide resides in Asia.
‘Pope Francis shuts down the cafeteria,’ priest writes in Wall Street Journal op-ed (Wall Street Journal)
Father Raymond De Souza, a Canadian priest who has criticized the Synod on synodality, writes in The Wall Street Journal that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new document, Dignitas Infinita, is in strong continuity with Pope Benedict XVI’s magisterium, particularly his encyclical Caritas in Veritate. “Unusually for Pope Francis, the text quotes […]
Cardinal Gregory notes lack of priests at October Synod (CNS)
In an interview with Catholic News Service, Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, DC noted the “lack of parish priests present” at the October Synod. “If the Synod is going to be a success, it really needs to keep its roots in the Sunday pew,” he said. While the upcoming world meeting of priests in Rome” […]
Cleveland diocese among least transparent in addressing abuse, groups charge (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
BishopAccountability.org, which hosts the largest public collection of information on the clergy abuse crisis, and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests charged that the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, is among the least transparent dioceses in the nation in addressing the sexual abuse of minors. The diocese lists on its website 50 priests credibly […]
Australian state enacts elaborate conversion therapy ban (Religion Clause)
The government of New South Wales (map), Australia’s most populous state, has enacted the Conversion Practices Ban Bill, which practices that are “directed to changing or suppressing the individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” Those who violate the law face up to five years of imprisonment. The law states that the following actions do not […]
Chaldean Patriarch rededicates parish desecrated by ISIS (AFP)
Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, inaugurated the newly restored Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city. The church was desecrated in 2014 when the Islamic State took control of the city. “During IS rule, all marks of Christianity were removed, and not a single […]
Vatican announces 11-day papal trip to Indonesia, 3 other nations (Vatican Press Office)
Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, has announced that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore from September 2 to September 13. Indonesia (map), with 279 million people, is the world’s fourth most populous nation and has more Muslims than any other country. The nation is 80% Muslim, […]
Solemn proclamation of Jubilee set for Ascension Thursday
Pope Francis is set to preside at the celebration of Holy Mass for the Solemnities of the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Most Holy Trinity, with the latter also being observed as the first World Day of Children. Read all
Former pornographic actress finds faith after falling ‘deeply in love with the Catholic Church’
Former porn star Bree Solstad embraced Christianity and turned away from pornography, warning that we ‘are breaking down society, marriages, families, and relationships through the pornification of our culture.’