Pope Francis is either an anarchist or a man with an unshakable faith in the work of the Holy Spirit. Of course, he could actually be both. How else does one describe what the 85-year-old pope did on May 29 when he announced a consistory for late August during which he intends to make 21 Read more
The synodal consultation gives insight into the issues shaping the lives of local Catholics. Although themes such as child abuse, clericalism, and priestly formation are emerging internationally, these issues do not drive local synodal processes with the same intensity or to the same degree. A synodal process is a local event as much as an Read more
If you want to understand a nation, listen to its national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner” urges Americans to look out for the flag that waves over “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” “La Marseillaise,” the anthem of republican France, calls its citizens to arms. But the UK’s national anthem is Read more
Parliament’s newly passed charities law expects more transparency over funding, fewer administration requirements and an easier appeals process. Increased powers have been given to Charities Services – the sector administrator – and to the Charities Registration Board. Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan says New Zealand’s 28,000 or so registered charities make a great Read more
Meet any group of Catholics today and within minutes someone will mention that their diocese or local area is undergoing a “re-organization”. Parishes are being combined, the ordained ministers being spread more thinly around communities, and the access to gathering for Eucharistic activity is being curtailed. The process is sometimes given an elegant name derived Read more
Highlighting the importance of forgiveness, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, says Prince Andrew is trying to “make amends”. His comments refer to Andrew’s fall from grace following accusations of sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre two decades ago when she was 17. Although he did not admit wrongdoing, the Queen’s son paid an undisclosed sum earlier Read more
Australian Catholics could soon acknowledge the land’s traditional owners on which their churches, schools and parishes stand with a ‘Welcome to Country’ before Mass and meetings. The recommendation to open meetings with ‘Welcome to Country’ is contained in proposals to the Church’s Plenary Council. The proposal will be voted on at an assembly of bishops Read more
There is a real danger in NZ Politics that when you attack policy as racist to Māori we play the ‘is it racist’ game where everyone screams it is or isn’t, everyone goes back to their polarised corners, nothing progresses. We’ve done it with Police shootings, we’ve done it with Police taking photos of kids Read more
Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, is warning of a looming disastrous global food crisis. The Italian version of the paper devoted most of its 24 May front page to the matter saying the crisis will be particularly catastrophic in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. The paper says the food shortage is a direct Read more
Over the weekend, as Australia elected a new prime minister and Beauden Barrett landed a drop goal to secure the Blues a win against the Brumbies, a clip from an Australian podcast went viral on TikTok. On the latest episode of Jordan Simi’s Grouse & A Few Reds podcast, released on May 20, the topic Read more