The Legion of Christ, a Catholic order disgraced by sexual abuse committed by its founder and other clergy, is facing new allegations of molestation of children in lawsuits filed this month in Connecticut. Five men and a woman sued the order in federal court on April 14 and 15, saying they were victims of sexual Read more
News Shorts
Vatican launches two Sign Language programs on YouTube
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021Deaf and hearing impaired Catholics will now be able to follow Pope Francis’ Masses, prayers and speeches as the Vatican launches two new Sign Language channels on YouTube. “I reiterate the need to make available suitable and accessible means for handing on the faith,” Pope Francis said in 2020 in his message on International Day Read more
New Plymouth church café gives away more than $100k despite offering free meals
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021The Cathedral of St Mary café is a popular spot for locals in New Plymouth and although hospitality has taken a hit over the past year, this servery is doing a roaring trade. For a once-a-week offering, the customers are many. “We get huge numbers through – 100-200 a day, sometimes more,” says head chef Read more
First United Methodist drag queen candidate ‘speaking in a new way to new people’
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021A few things were different about Sunday’s virtual service at Hope United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Illinois. For one, there were a few more wigs on screen. There also was “a little bit more makeup,” said Ms. Penny Cost, that Sunday’s preacher. Hope Church celebrated Drag Sunday on Sunday (April 11) with a message by Read more
Timaru’s Sacred Heart Basilica finalist in heritage awards
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021Timaru’s Sacred Heart Basilica has been named as a finalist in the biennial Canterbury Heritage Awards. The basilica is one of six finalists in the seismic category which also includes the Christchurch Town Hall, Muse Art hotel and the Rakaia Gorge No 1 Bridge. The church reopened in November 2020, following almost two years after Read more
Vatican pays tribute to Prince Philip
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021On the day of the funeral for Prince Philip, in Windsor Castle, a remembrance service was held in Rome’s All Saints’ Anglican Church. The Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth, died on 9 April, aged 99. The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States also participated in the memorial service held in Rome. Archbishop Paul Read more
Closed progressive Catholic community in Paris demands meeting with archbishop
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021Members of a recently closed-down, progressive Catholic community in central Paris have called for a meeting with Archbishop Michel Aupetit after the French prelate publicly accused them of anti-evangelical behavior. The archbishop, who on March 1st closed the Halles-Beaubourg Pastoral Center (CPHB) at the Parish of Saint-Merry, told a Catholic radio station the center’s members Read more
Harrods stops selling Ganesha handbag after backlash from Hindus
Monday, April 19th, 2021
Harrods has stopped selling a luxury handbag after the accessory caused offence among the Hindu community. The bag, from the New York label Judith Leiber is favoured by Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. It sculptures the Hindu god Ganesha into a leather clutch. Many Hindus saw the image of the god on a handbag as demeaning Read more
Chicago company behind Catholic prayer app raises $12 million
Monday, April 19th, 2021Hallow, a Catholic-centric prayer and meditation app, raised $12 million in funding, a sign of confidence that interest in religious-based technology will continue even as churches begin to reopen. Downloads of Hallow have grown sevenfold during the past year while Covid-19 spread, with spikes in demand during the recent Easter season and Lent, said founder Read more