More than 3,000 men and women leave religious life every year, according to new figures from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Revealing the figures in Rome on October 29, the congregation’s leader, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo pointed to the “young age” of the majority of those leaving, and…

A call to establish safeguarding children committees in every parish in the Diocese of Cloyne was endorsed by Bishop William Crean at the second biennial Safeguarding Children Conference last month. The conference heard that the work associated with fully implementing the comprehensive safeguarding children policies and procedures in the diocese has impacted significantly on the…

Jesuit social justice campaigner nominated by Lord Mayor of Dublin

Controversial Vatican accountant Msgr Nunzio Scarano has been transferred to house arrest from the prison where he has been held since his June arrest in connection with the smuggling of €20 million. The monsignor has denied the charges, but his arrest has resulted in a major investigation into his employer, the Administration of the Patrimony…

Fr Patrick Devine received the 2013 International Caring Award in Washington DC last week

Jordan – The leader of the country’s arm of Caritas Internationalis has warned that the flow of refugees from Syria will overwhelm Jordan within four months. Already struggling to cope with migrants from Iraq and Egypt, Caritas Jordan director Wael V. Suleiman said that 70,000 Syrians are now crossing the border every month and that…

The Vatican has warned Catholics not to participate in events where the alleged Medjugorje visionaries promise apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a letter to the bishops of the United States, dated October, but only coming to light this week, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano insists that “clerics and the faithful are not…

The executive summary of the ACP review of the Murphy Report

Fr Eddie Moore retires after 50th anniversary

Britain – The Tower of London was the venue last week for the official launch of The 1535 Society, a new initiative of the Catholic Church aimed at promoting awareness of the role of Catholic martyrs in British history. Together with Bishop Richard Chartres of London, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster led a ceremony to…