In the 2010’s, the term ‘woke’ became a popular word, implying political and social awareness, although critics say the term signals a sort of pretentiousness or elitism about one’s understanding of any given issue. In his new book, Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, Rod Dreher – author of the New York Times…
One of Europe’s leading cardinals has criticised the continent’s political leaders, and those throughout the west, for abandoning Afghani refugees, focusing more on numbers than on how best to help those fleeing violence. Speaking to SIR, the news outlet of the Italian bishops, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, archbishop of Luxemburg and president of the Commission of Bishops’…
The Faithful still long to practice their faith free from harassment, writes Elise Ann Allen For Iraqis, the first week of August 2014 will forever be etched into their memory as the start of one of the worst episodes of religious and ethnic persecution the country has ever seen when the so-called Islamic State overtook…
What is probably the Vatican’s highest stakes trial yet began last week, featuring a cast of both new and familiar characters being indicted for an array of financial crimes. However, a surprising face reappeared on the sidelines. For those who followed the 2015-2016 “Vatileaks 2” saga, which culminated with four people being charged over the…
Pope Francis’s decision to restrict celebration of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, effectively rolling back wider permission granted under Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, is being met by predictably mixed reaction from Catholics around the globe, with some praising the move as prophetic and others calling it a stain on Francis’s legacy. Speaking to Crux, liturgy…
While the Vatican is embroiled in its own battle against gender politics in Italy, the Cuban bishops are facing a similar dilemma, and have issued a statement criticising a resolution that would make so-called “gender ideology” part of school curricula. The bishops argue that the resolution is unscientific in that it denies basic biological differences…
Myanmar Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon urged citizens Sunday to hold onto hope as fighting in the country escalates, telling them to pray for the leaders of the nation’s violent coup and insisting that hatred will never lead to a solution. Pointing to the day’s Gospel reading in which Jesus calms a storm threatening to…
An expert on Chinese affairs has called Jesuit Fr Stephen Chow, the newly-named bishop of Hong Kong, a balanced choice for the Vatican as it attempts to navigate the complicated and rapidly changing on-the-ground status of the territory. Speaking of the appointment, Fr Bernardo Cervellera, head of AsiaNews, said that from what he can tell,…
China’s new regulations for religious personnel came into effect May 1, obliging those who hold any formal role in a religious group, among other things, to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and to resist foreign interference. Many Catholic observers have voiced fear the new rules not only violate China’s agreement with the Vatican…
Pope Francis on Easter offered consolation to all those still struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and he urged speeding up production of Covid-19 vaccines amid global delays and ensuring they reach the poorest countries. In his Easter Urbi et Orbi address, the Pope said the resurrected Christ is a sign of “hope…