Login      Register  
Subscription

Survey of bishops reveals how pandemic has shaken diocesan, parish life

Nearly every bishop responding to a survey said the coronavirus pandemic has seriously affected the celebration of the sacraments and rites and sacramental preparation programs in their dioceses. Confirmations, first Communions, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and other sacramental preparation were the ministries most often cited by the bishops as being affected, according […]

Italy: Study shows increase in prayer, religious fervour amid pandemic

The uncertainty and restrictive measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic caused an increase in prayers and religious fervor in Italy, a recent study said. The study, which was released on May 22, was conducted by the State University of Milan, to “daily monitor public opinion during the COVID-19 emergency” and the impact it […]

Moldova’s church blasts ‘anti-Christian’ Covid vaccine

Moldova’s powerful Orthodox Church has warned the country’s government against using a potential vaccine against Covid-19 on the population, claiming that a “global anti-Christ system” plans to take remote control of people via 5G technology. The Church said it felt great concern about “technology allowing people to be micro-chipped through a vaccine that would insert […]

Woman appointed as Catholic bishop’s delegate

Swiss Bishop Charles More-rod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian to succeed the present episcopal vicar. On 1 August, Marianne Pohl-Henzen will succeed the present episcopal vicar for the German part of the diocese. Pohl-Henzen (60) studied theology and philology at university and has three children and four grandchildren. For the […]

Northern Ireland to introduce ‘drive-through’ churches

Churches in Northern Ireland may soon be rolling out “drive-through” services in a bid to serve their congregations during the current coronavirus lockdown. The innovative services, which have been popularised in the United States, were suggested as an alternative form of church gathering in a new proposal by the Northern Ireland executive outlining plans to […]

Church That Defied Coronavirus Restrictions Is Burned to Ground

A message at the scene that said, in part, “Bet you stay home now,” has led the police in Mississippi to suspect arson. First Pentecostal Church in Holly Springs, Miss., after the fire. Credit… Kelly Mcmillen/Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, via Associated Press. The burning of a church in northern Mississippi is being investigated as arson […]

Religious freedom in jeopardy as China passes new Hong Kong ‘security laws’

A Hong Kong cardinal told CNA that changes to Hong Kong’s status in China could threaten the religious freedom of Catholics and other religious believers. The legislature of China on May 28 approved a resolution to impose new “security laws” on its formerly autonomous region, Hong Kong— a move pro-democracy protestors and Catholics in the […]

Vatican exiles leader of Bose monastic community

The Vatican has disciplined another charismatic religious leader, exiling the founder of an Italian monastic community over governance problems. Enzo Bianchi, a Catholic layman who founded the Bose Monastery in northern Italy, had enjoyed the blessing of three popes for his outreach to other Christians. He was appointed an ecumenical expert for Vatican meetings in […]