Retired Catholic bishop charged with sexual offenses in northwest Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A retired Catholic bishop has been charged with sexual offenses including child abuse in a remote part of Australia’s northwest.
Asian news from Vatican
Ukraine summit fails to provide coherent path to peace
Was the first so-called “Summit on Peace in Ukraine”, held in Switzerland on June 15 to 16, a failure? Certainly not, if you listen to the fairly upbeat reactions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western backers. And, to be fair, the summit has enabled Zelensky to keep Russia’s war against Ukraine high on the international agenda.
Who will be Iran’s next supreme leader?
The recent death of Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash will not only trigger new presidential elections. Many commentators believe that Raisi was slated to become the next supreme leader of Iran.
Philippine divorce bill’s passing hailed by women’s rights groups, but conservatives vow to fight back
Known as the Absolute Divorce Act, the bill was passed in the House on its third reading on Wednesday with 131 affirmative votes, with the count updated from its earlier announcement of 126 votes.
Vatican makes fresh overture to China, reaffirms that Catholic Church is no threat to sovereignty
ROME (AP) — The Vatican made another big overture to China on Tuesday, reaffirming the Catholic Church poses no threat to Beijing’s sovereignty and admitting that Western missionaries had made “errors” in past centuries in their zeal to convert the Chinese faithful.
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has added a stop in Luxembourg to a trip to Belgium in September, a three-day visit that will come as he is recovering from a much longer and challenging trip to Asia.
Frail pope to travel to Singapore and other parts of Asia in September in his longest-ever trip
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will take his first overseas trip of the year and the longest of his 11-year papacy, travelling to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore from Sept 2 to 13, the Vatican said on Friday (April 12).
Pope will travel to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore in longest trip of papacy
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore in September, the Vatican announced Friday, confirming the longest trip of Francis’ papacy that is sure to test his health, stamina and mobility.
Transgender inclusion? World’s major religions take varying stances on policies toward trans people
The Vatican has issued a new document rejecting the concept of changing one’s biological sex – a setback for transgender people who had hoped Pope Francis might be setting the stage for a more welcoming approach from the Catholic Church.