A German Cardinal covered many topics in a recent media interview – blasphemy, the pope, LGBT and the German bishops featured in Cardinal Gerhard Müller’s comments. One comment was that Pope Francis should correct and, if necessary, punish some German bishops. Müller was referring to those who have approved “heretical texts” and “proposals directly against Read more
Parish mergers, further sale of parish and diocesan land and building of a new Christchurch Catholic Cathedral have halted until the diocese hears back from Rome. The news was delivered by a letter read on behalf of the Bishop of Christchurch, Michael Gielen, at all Sunday Masses. Christchurch diocese parishioners told CathNews that Gielen had Read more
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation each year on March 25. The date was chosen from the very beginning for two reasons: it falls nine months before we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and it conforms to an ancient belief that God became incarnate during the spring equinox. However, our liturgical texts Read more
At a recent dinner with the Vicar General of an Australian diocese, he quipped, “to the parish priest who has everything, give him another parish.” The five priests seated with him laughed at this. But, as the conversation turned to the realities of our failing diocesan infrastructures, the tone became more serious. Two priests were Read more
Hunting season doesn’t normally begin in most places in the United States until the autumn. But some self-appointed US Catholic intelligentsia members apparently agreed that, this year, it would start on March 13th. That was the day we marked the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ election to the papacy. And while writers generally used the Read more
During a special 24-hour event called “24 Hours for the Lord”, Pope Francis has urged the faithful to avoid religious hypocrisy and to being overly spiritual. In his sermon, the pope criticised those who consider themselves better than others because they follow religious rules but lack a genuine relationship with God. “Let us not hide Read more
A photo of candidates for this year’s Launch Out for lay pastoral leaders shows a lot of smiling faces. But not one of them is a male. There have been 38 candidates going through the the Archdiocese of Wellington’s lay leadership programme since 2002, including this year’s six; fewer than originally hoped for. Established in Read more
A booklet arguing that “to abolish clericalism, we must abolish the clergy” has ignited controversy among Catholics in Belgium. The proposal was made in a booklet titled “Let’s return the Church to the People of God! Putting an end to clericalism,” authored by nine Catholics working in healthcare for the Diocese of Liège. The group Read more
Pope Francis discussed the possibility of revising the Western discipline of priestly celibacy in a wide-ranging interview for his 10th anniversary as pope last week. Francis spoke with Argentine journalist Daniel Hadad. “There is no contradiction for a priest to marry. “Celibacy in the Western Church is a temporary prescription: I do not know if Read more
The future of Christchurch’s Catholic Cathedral precinct is suddenly looking shaky. The ground shifted when the City Council revised its CBD roading plans. Developers – those putting up millions and encouraging growth – don’t want one-way streets near their sites. Not when they were supposed to be two-way streets. One of the many projects caught Read more