“Excessive inequality” threatens cooperation among all people in society, said Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, in the US bishops’ annual Labour Day statement. Bishop Dewane cited Pope Francis, who told factory workers in Genoa, Italy: “The entire social pact is built around work. This is the core of the problem. Because when you do…
Month: September 2017
Korean religious leaders urged to spread peace
The Pope stressed the need for interreligious dialogue and peace in a meeting with the Korean Council of Religious Leaders on Saturday. This comes as North Korea continues to develop and test nuclear weapons, which has created serious tension among world leaders. The US, Russia, and North Korea’s closest neighbours Japan, South Korea and China…
Bishops criticise new Sri Lanka abortion law
Bishops in Sri Lanka have condemned a government move to allow abortion in some circumstances. Cabinet has approved presentation of a bill to parliament to legalise abortion when a pregnancy is due to rape or if a foetus is diagnosed with a “lethal” congenital malformation. The Sri Lankan bishops’ conference stressed that the Church believes…
Vatican Roundup
Laugh at yourself, don’t be vain Pope tells youth Pope Francis told youth to steer clear of modern society’s narcissistic tendencies, which he referred to as a vain “illness”. The Pontiff spoke off-the-cuff to Spanish members of the Catholic Shalom Community during an audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall this week. He said they…
A colourful shalom
Youths from the Shalom Catholic Community pray during an audience with Pope Francis in the Pope Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Photo: CNS
A canny leader with a gentle touch
As Archbishop of Westminster for nearly a decade, 2000 until 2009, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor began his term of office embroiled in a major scandal over an abuser priest, but rode through it to become a much-loved public figure in Britain, known for his soft Irish lilt, jovial good humour, and deep compassion. He was well known…
Where have all the Catholic men gone?
Dear Editor, I fully agree with the points that John Rogers makes (Letters IC 24/08/2017) about the priestly ordination of men. But where are they? The men I mean. Women outnumber men in any Church ceremony or occasion by at least seven to one. Girls so outnumber boys in any youth gathering that one would almost believe…