May 2018

Cardinal Pell ordered to stand trial on abuse charges

May 1, 2018

MELBOURNE, Australia – After a monthlong pre-trial hearing, an Australian judge ordered Cardinal George Pell to stand trial on multiple charges of sexual abuse of minors, charges the cardinal consistently has denied.

Catholic media must not fall behind in digital age, Pope says

May 1, 2018

VATICAN – In an age when technology is ever-evolving, Catholic news organizations must be willing to adapt to effectively proclaim the Gospel to all, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis leads rosary for peace at Rome shrine

May 1, 2018

ROME – Pope Francis visited Rome's popular Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love to pray the rosary for peace, especially in Syria.

Papal invite for apology on Canadian soil given green light

May 1, 2018

OTTAWA – In a rare show of unanimity, the House of Commons has overwhelmingly supported a motion to call on Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for abuses that occurred at church-run residential schools.

Summer jobs funding policy will be challenged in court

May 1, 2018

OTTAWA – The controversy over the Canada Summer Jobs pro-abortion attestation is moving to the courts.

Either you are with God or with Satan, Pope says

May 2, 2018

VATICAN – Baptism requires rejecting Satan and professing one's full faith in God, Pope Francis said.

Knights of Malta elect interim leader as new grand master

May 2, 2018

ROME – Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre was elected the 80th grand master of the Knights of Malta May 2 and promised to continue the reform of the order begun last year when he was elected its interim head.

Koreans are ready for peace, but reconciliation hits critical stage

May 2, 2018

Koreans are ready for peace, reconciliation and unification, but those hopes are riding on what happens next between North Korea’s Kim Jung Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, Christian experts on Korea have told The Catholic Register.

Debate on Pope's views on marriage and family will unify Church, says Weigel

May 2, 2018

OTTAWA – The long-running debate over Pope Francis’ views on marriage and the family will eventually result in a more unified Church, says a prominent Catholic author.

Survivors hope Pope will act against 'epidemic' of abuse in the church

May 2, 2018

ROME – Three Chilean abuse survivors who met with Pope Francis said his apology to them must be accompanied by concrete actions, not only against those who commit sexual abuse, but against those who cover it up.

Few at Mexico-U.S. border will have asylum claims accepted, priest says

May 2, 2018

MEXICO CITY – The first members of the Central American caravan of migrants have been allowed to make asylum claims, but a Scalabrinian priest said "very, very few" have their applications accepted.

Van attack victim Anne Marie D’Amico remembered for her ‘big heart’

May 2, 2018

• The warm, generous, loving and happy young woman who was the first among the 10 Toronto van attack victims to be revealed to the public was laid to rest May 2 in her family’s parish with 900 friends and supporters crowding St. Clare’s Roman Catholic Church.

Church plays a role in crisis management in aftermath of tragedy

May 2, 2018

Tragedy strikes. It’s inevitable and, unfortunately, constant.

Students’ search for truth lead to campus conversions

May 2, 2018

When relativism is the widely accepted doctrine on university campuses, backed by the feel-good motto of “you do you,” it’s easy to imagine how young Catholics might be swept away by the notion that there is no objective truth.

Speaking Out: Never lose sight of the ultimate goal

May 2, 2018

It has been one year since I graduated from the Bachelor of Commerce program at the University of Manitoba and I can’t help but think back to a time when I was drowning in the stress of exams.

Austrian nuncio laments Church opposition to crosses on Bavarian state buildings

May 3, 2018

VIENNA, Austria – The apostolic nuncio to Austria said Tuesday that he is “saddened and ashamed” that bishops and priests have been vocal critics of the Bavarian government's mandate to display crosses in government buildings.

Halton school board suspends 'Sanctity of life' fundraising policy

May 3, 2018

HAMILTON – A Catholic school board in Ontario has suspended a policy prohibiting students from raising money for groups that support activities contrary to Catholic doctrine.

Bishops around the world adopt Communion guidelines for interchurch couples

May 3, 2018

VATICAN – The German bishops are not the only bishops in the world to propose or adopt pastoral guidelines for allowing an Anglican or a Protestant married to a Catholic to receive the Eucharist under certain circumstances.

Bob Brehl: Cringeworthy court decision over clerical sex abuse

May 3, 2018

Last week’s record financial award to a man abused by a monstrous priest 50 years ago is cringeworthy on many levels.

Vatican issues instruction on improving canon law studies after annulment modifications

May 3, 2018

VATICAN – The changes in canon law Pope Francis made to ensure that marriage annulment cases were handled more quickly, more pastorally and with less expense mean that some changes should be made in the way church law is taught, said the Congregation for Catholic Education.