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Pope Francis refuses resignation of German cardinal, commends his courage

Although agreeing with him that the clerical abuse crisis is a “catastrophe,” Pope Francis rejected the resignation presented to him by German Cardinal Reinhard Marx as archbishop of the archdiocese of Munich. “You tell me that you are going through a moment of crisis, and not only you but also the Church in Germany is […]

Catholic group founding conservative university in Warsaw

An increasingly influential Polish Catholic legal institute inaugurated a university in Warsaw that aims to educate a new generation of conservative lawyers in central Europe who it hopes will also shape wider European culture. The institute, Ordo Iuris, works to promote conservative causes, including restrictions on abortion and opposition to same-sex legal unions as its […]

12 Australian media companies fined for breaking Pell order

A judge on June 4 ordered a dozen Australian media compa-nies to pay fines from 1,000 Australian dollars ($766) to AU$450,000 ($345,000) for breaching a gag order by publishing references to Cardinal George Pell’s since-overturned convictions in 2018 for child sexual abuse. Dozens of companies, repor-ters and editors were initially charged with contempt and breaching […]

Pope orders sweeping change of abuse law

Pope Francis has ordered a sweeping revision of the Church’s Canon Law, toughening up regulations on abuse which now include lay people who commit offences while in office. The changes were made after a 14-year process of study of the Church’s laws, and is the most significant updating of Canon Law since the 1983 code was […]

Pope acknowledges ‘pain’ for boarding school discovery, no apology

Pope Francis expressed closeness to all Canadian people traumatized by the shocking discovery of the remains of 215 children in the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Canada’s largest indigenous boarding school. Though he spoke of pain and suffering, the pontiff avoided apologizing. “I follow with sorrow the news coming from Canada,” Francis said at the end […]

Burkina Faso bishop deplores village attack that left 160 dead

A Catholic bishop in Burkina Faso has condemned an Islamist attack on a north-eastern village which left at least 160 people dead and urged residents to “keep faith and stay united.” “They executed them, purely and simply, and then burned the market, houses and shops, and the vehicles, lorries and transport parked outside,” Bishop Laurent Dabire of […]

Hong Kong Masses remember Tiananmen Square protesters

The protesters killed in Tiananmen Square in mainland China on June 4, 1989, used to be remembered in Hong Kong with an annual candlelight vigil in the city’s expansive Victoria Park, attended by crowds as big as 130,000, all holding flickering candles. Now the lawful gatherings seem to be limited to seven Catholic churches. The […]

Pope names South Korea bishop prefect for clergy

Pope Francis has appointed South Korean Bishop Lazarus You Heungsik of Daejeon as the new prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. The Vatican made the announcement June 11, adding that the outgoing prefect, Italian Cardinal Beniamino Stella, 79, would remain at the congregation until the new prefect could assume his role. The new prefect […]