Posts By Date - Catholic Herald

January 14, 2016

Last year the ‘worst in modern history for Christian persecution’, says group

January 14, 2016

Open Doors list of most dangerous countries dominated by Islamic nations

Be courageous in building a world of peace, Pope Francis urges teenagers

January 14, 2016

Don't spread hate, make friends instead, the Pope says in a Year of Mercy message

The mercy of God is more life-changing than a David Bowie concert

January 14, 2016

In his interview with Andrea Tornielli Pope Francis recalled his first encounter with God's mercy

The idea that Communion for the remarried is a burning issue for the Pope is basic political spin

January 14, 2016

The whole issue has acquired its own sense of urgency even though, on cool reflection, there is not a lot to base this on

In brief

January 14, 2016

Pope announces prayer intentions with video Pope Francis is to announce his prayer intentions via video for the next 12 months. The video messages will be available at thepopevideo.org. In his first message he asked people to pray that inter-religious dialogue would lead to “peace and justice”. Remains of St Pio to be venerated at

‘Canonise India’s butchered martyrs’

January 14, 2016

An Indian cardinal is seeking the canonisation of nearly 100 Catholics slaughtered in mob violence in 2008. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the most senior Catholic cleric in the sub-continent, said he would personally ask Pope Francis to start the process to canonise the “martyrs of Kandhamal” in the eastern Odisha province. The cardinal has ordered Church

I could have become a convict, says Pope

January 14, 2016

Pope Francis has admitted that whenever he visits a prison he thinks: “Why them and not me?” In a book-long interview with the Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli, the pontiff said: “Every time I go through the gates into a prison to celebrate Mass or for a visit, I always think: ‘Why them and not me? I

Find balance on migrants, Pope tells Europe

January 14, 2016

Pope Francis has said European countries must “find the right balance between its two-fold moral responsibility” to protect its citizens from terrorism and welcome migrants and refugees. The Pope’s comments came in his annual address to the diplomatic corps in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. He said the “immense influx” of migrants to Europe

Vatican paper laments Charlie Hebdo cover

January 14, 2016

A world that carefully adheres to the dictates of being “politically correct” yet refuses to respect people’s faith in God is a “sad paradox”, the Vatican newspaper has said. The January 6 article, headlined “The Charlie Hebdo question: Manipulated faith”, came in response to the front cover of the latest issue of the French satirical

In brief

January 14, 2016

Hilton foundation helps Irish vocations The Conrad N Hilton Foundation is to give $290,000 (£200,000) to fund vocations in Ireland, The Irish Catholic has reported. The funding, spread over three years, will enable umbrella group Vocations Ireland to support and nurture vocations to the consecrated religious life. Bishop and minister to meet over refugees Bishop

Be a hero and save your family’s souls

January 14, 2016

This time last year a senior cardinal boldly suggested that men were in special need of evangelisation because they were being sidelined by the modern Church. In an interview with a website called the Catholic Emangelisation Project (sic), Cardinal Raymond Burke said that a “feminised” Church had “led many men to simply opt out”. Many

Catholic billionaire dies aged 87

January 14, 2016

The billionaire philanthropist who founded the supermarket chain Kwik Save has died aged 87. Albert Gubay, who once made a “pact with God” to leave half his wealth to the Church, died at his home in Cheshire. His firm, the Derwent Group, announced: “It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the