Pope washes feet in Holy Thursday rite at Rome youth prison
Vatican City AP In a Holy Thursday ritual symbolising humility, Pope Francis washed and dried the feet of a dozen residents of a Rome juvenile prison, assuring them of their dignity and telling them “any of us” can fall into sin. The Casal del Marmo facility on the outskirts of Rome is the same juvenile […]
Ukrainian forces cling onto besieged city, China pressed to help end war
Near Bakhmut, Ukraine Reuters Ukrainian and Russian forces battled in Bakhmut, the devastated eastern city which has become a symbol of Kyiv’s defiance, while seven civilians were reported killed by Ukrainian artillery strikes in Russian-controlled areas. Ukrainian soldiers in trenches just outside Bakhmut said they were ready for a long-anticipated counter-offensive once the weather improves. […]
Good Friday
Remembering Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday…
Pope, appearing recovered, gives message of unity on Holy Thursday
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis, appearing fully recovered from a bout of bronchitis, on Thursday began an intense four days leading to Easter urging priests to avoid fomenting division in the church and seek harmony if they wanted to win back lapsed faithful. Pope Francis presides over the Chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at the […]
“Judas betrayal”: Indigenous Australians denounce opposition for rejecting referendum
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Senior Indigenous leaders on Thursday criticised Australia’s main opposition party’s “Judas betrayal” for declaring it would campaign against a proposal to constitutionally recognise the country’s Aboriginal and Torres Island people. Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton announced on Wednesday the party would campaign against a national vote to enshrine an Indigenous consultative body in […]
Great Works: The Cosmati Pavement
As Westminster Abbey prepares to open the world-famous Cosmati Pavement to the public, LUCY DONKIN, author of ‘Standing on Holy Ground in the Middle Ages’, takes a look – in an article first published on The Conversation – at its history…
Canada unveils revised $C23 billion compensation deal for Indigenous children
Ottawa, Canada Reuters Canada’s Federal Government and a group of Indigenous people have reached a revised $C23.34 billion agreement to compensate First Nations children and families for the decades of harm caused by a discriminatory welfare system. The terms of the deal, announced by the Canadian Government in a statement on Wednesday, were revised to […]
On the Screen: ‘Allelujah’, a love letter which ventures into the sometimes shocking world of aged care
DAVID ADAMS watches ‘Allelujah’…
In the US, report details “staggering” church sex abuse in state of Maryland
Baltimore, US AP More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused over 600 children and often escaped accountability, according to a long-awaited state report released Wednesday that revealed the scope of abuse spanning 80 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups. The report paints a damning […]
UN chief condemns Taliban ban on Afghan women working for UN
United Nations/Kabul, Afghanistan Reuters UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a ban by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities on Afghan women working for the United Nations, calling it “an intolerable violation of the most basic human rights” that should be immediately revoked. The United Nations has told some 3,300 Afghan staff – of which about 400 […]