Pope Francis says if martians came to earth he would baptise them if they wanted to be. The pontiff made the interplanetary approach during a speech during mass at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican City to highlight how there were no closed doors to the Holy Spirit. He said the Spirit blows where it Read more
Seeing Jesus on a slice of toast? It’s common for people to see non-existent features because human brains are uniquely wired to recognise faces, scientists say. Whether glimpsing the blessed Mary in a grilled cheese or eyeing up Nebuchadnezzar in a freshly crisped bagel, we all know that Americans are constantly beset by visions of Read more
Noah’s Ark could have floated even with two of every land animal in the world packed inside, scientists have calculated. Although researchers are unsure if all the creatures could have squeezed into the huge vessel, they are confident it would have handled the weight of 70,000 animals without sinking. A group of master’s students from Read more
A professor in Massachusetts noticed recently that religion’s decline in America coincided with the rise of the Internet. He theorized that the two may be connected. Headline: “Is the Internet bad for religion?” It’s utter nonsense, of course. The decline of mainline churches began in 1965, not in the 1990s when the Internet became commercially Read more
The new movie Heaven Is For Real has people talking about heaven. But which one? Over time, Christians (along with other religious people) have developed several versions of what heaven might be. So which of our heavens do you believe in? And what makes it a Christian heaven instead of something that simply reflects our Read more
Ted Neeley, the original lead in “Jesus Christ Superstar” is back four decades on as the son of God in the hit musical in Rome, and hopes Pope Francis will be in the audience. The pontiff will be “just down the street and we’re hoping he’s going to come visit us and see the show. Read more
Australians may be among the largest consumers of Easter eggs in the world, with Cadbury Australia alone producing more than 270 million Easter eggs each year, which equates to about 12 eggs a person, but the Easter bunny is falling out of favour. But in recent years the Bilby has been put forward as a replacement Read more
Father Ray Kelly again took the mic at the end of Chris and Leah O’Kane’s wedding. But instead of closing the ceremony as planned, he unleashed a big surprise for the couple. Father Kelly launches into a rewritten version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” He has customised it just for the new married couple. And this Read more
When you meet the Pope wear conservative dress : dark suits for men, long sleeved, high-neck dresses or suits for women. It is customary – although not obligatory – for women to wear mantillas to private papal audiences. For diplomats attending certain papal ceremonies dress is white tie and tails and a black (not white) Read more