Christians find unity in restoring holiest Jerusalem church
Jerusalem, Israel AP The three Christian communities that have uneasily shared their holiest site for centuries are embarking on a large-scale project to restore the ancient stone floor of the Jerusalem basilica. The project includes an excavation that could shed light on the rich history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old […]
Attacks target US Catholics: Bishops seek answers in vandalism of churches and symbols
ALEJANDRA MOLINA, of Religion News Service, reports on the rising number of incidents targeting Catholic churches in the US…
Death of pregnant woman ignites debate about abortion ban in Poland
Warsaw, Poland Reuters The death of a pregnant Polish woman has reignited debate over abortion in one of Europe’s most devoutly Catholic countries, with activists saying she could still be alive if it were not for a near total ban on terminating pregnancies. Tens of thousands of Poles took to the streets to protest in […]
Essay: A Catholic theologian argues for a death row inmate’s right to have the pastor’s touch in the execution chamber
DORIAN LLYWELYN, president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, argues, in an article first published on The Conversation, highlights in the importance of physical touch for those facing execution…
Essay: A century after partition, Ireland’s churches are cooperating more closely than ever
In an article first published on The Conversaton, Irish-born academic GER FITZGERALD looks at the “deepening” cooperation between Ireland’s Catholic and Protestant churches…
Biden to nominate Joseph Donnelly as Vatican ambassador
Washington DC, US RNS President Joe Biden has announced his intention to nominate former lawmaker and anti-abortion Democrat Joseph Donnelly to serve as his Vatican ambassador. The White House unveiled the impending nomination to the Holy See post on Friday, setting in motion the confirmation process weeks before a meeting is rumoured to be taking […]
Trump expanded evangelical support in 2020, but Biden gained with other white Christians – survey
Washington DC, US RNS A new survey reports former President Donald Trump expanded his robust support among white evangelicals in the 2020 election, but President Joe Biden won in part by making significant gains among Catholics and non-evangelical Protestants. That’s according to Pew Research’s new “Behind Biden’s 2020 Victory” study unveiled on Wednesday. The findings, based […]
Catholic sculptor wishes to restore Catholic credibility amid modern evils
Vatican City RNS A Catholic sculptor wants to keep the church relevant with his art, but as mounting secularism and the COVID-19 pandemic challenge the institution, the artist claims the devil is in the details. “Today we want to pretend that evil doesn’t exist,” said Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, but Christianity, and Catholicism in particular, […]
Clergy call for an end to kidnaps, murders as Uganda marks Martyrs Day
Namugongo, Uganda Top Catholic and Anglican bishops in Uganda have condemned the wave of violent crimes including kidnaps, torture and murders that have gripped the country. Speaking during the celebrations to mark Uganda Martyrs’ Day on 3rd June at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, Wakiso District, the bishops appealed to whoever is perpetrating the violent […]
Mary Queen of Scots’ gold rosary beads stolen in castle raid
London, UK Reuters The gold rosary beads carried by Mary, Queen of Scots, to her execution in 1587 were among historic treasures worth more than £1 million stolen in a raid from a castle in the south of England. Mary, a Roman Catholic, was ousted from the Scottish throne then imprisoned, accused of treason and […]