On 24 July the Scottish Episcopal Conference announced that after careful study it had, like so many other Anglophone episcopal conferences, opted for the English Standard Version-Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) for its publication of a new lectionary. The bishops noted that they had carefully considered the matter, noted the learned opinion supporting their decision, and then Read more
While religious leaders play a vital part in conveying messages of peace, solidarity and harmony, a prominent Catholic leader in Myanmar has used that important role to decry the hunger and food crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, who advocates for peace, minority rights and economic justice, has Read more
Wars have always caused needless suffering, destruction and death. But 75 years ago, the hell of war reached a new all-time immoral low when on August 6, 1945 a United States Boeing B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima instantly killing over 70,000 – mostly civilian – children, women and Read more
I’ve had too many close encounters with death and dying lately. I guess it comes with the territory as you hit the slide side of 60. Too many funerals. There have been the inevitable losses of parents, something for which, despite the inevitability, you’re never quite prepared. And the sudden passing of those mates you Read more
What is the power of prayer, religion or faith when it comes to infertility? In a study of some 200 women undergoing embryo transfers, the half that had people praying for them had much higher pregnancy rates than those that didn’t. Of course, that could be correlative: People who belong to prayer groups might have Read more
In recent weeks there have been unsubstantiated claims in New Zealand media by pro-euthanasia, retired doctors or ‘veteran medical specialists’ around the End of Life Choice Act, which will be voted on during the upcoming referendum. As specialist doctors trained in palliative medicine and currently practising in New Zealand, we’re extremely concerned at their argument Read more
A common argument in favour of legalising cannabis is that alcohol is legal and is more harmful to people and society than cannabis, and therefore cannabis should be legal too. This is a somewhat spurious argument along the lines of “Would you rather be eaten by a lion or a bear” or “Would you rather Read more
Two weeks back, La Croix and The Tablet both reported on an interview with the president of the French bishops’ conference, Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort. During the interview, he envisioned that “the Holy See will one day be led by the Pope surrounded by a college of cardinals in which there would be women.” The Read more
As Alicia Nava flipped through family photographs the morning of July 25, she said solemnly from behind a floral print mask, “We were taking precautions.” Three weeks before, she was in the hospital battling COVID-19, as were five of her relatives. Three remain hospitalized for the virus, including her father, Adolfo, who has been on Read more
While stories of the Church denying both its call and Christ to pursue affection and belonging in the culture of its day are not uncommon. Thank God there are also many stories where the Church embraced the cross of their day, to be slain by the political and economic lords, in order to be a Read more