German Catholic Church reform assembly calls for same-sex blessings
Berlin, Germany AP A meeting between Germany’s Catholic bishops and lay representatives agreed Friday to call for the church to approve blessings of same-sex unions. The three-day gathering, which is part of the “Synodal Path” launched in 2019 in response to the sex abuse crisis that has rocked the church in Germany and many other […]
Some Anglican bishops reject leader Welby over gay marriage
London, UKAP Several Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific said Monday that they no longer recognize Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby as their leader, deepening a rift within the global Anglican Communion over gay marriage. Some bishops who belong to the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches said they no longer consider Welby […]
Church of England allows blessings for same-sex couples
London, UKAP The Church of England’s national assembly on Thursday voted to let priests bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships, while continuing to ban church weddings for the same couples. Bishops proposed the compromise measure after five years of discussions about the church’s position on sexuality. It was approved by the church’s General Synod, which […]
This Life: Recognising God’s provision
SAMANTHA ELLEY writes about the everyday “coincidences” that reveal God’s blessings…
What is Christianity about?
Sometimes Christianity is sold as a ‘blessing train’ – “get on board and everything will be grand”. PICTURE: James/Unsplash That’s not the Christianity I know. Christianity for me makes sense of the pain, suffering – yet joy and love – in the world. I’ve come to understand that Christianity is the permission and ability to […]
Blessings
When I was younger I prayed that God would bless me. The image in my head when I thought about these blessings was good things happening to me, or material things coming my way. PICTURE: Sixteen Miles Out/Unsplash Blessings were certainly things like health, wealth, comfort, confidence, good relationships and success. Now there are lots of […]
German Catholics to bless gay unions despite Vatican ban
Berlin, GermanyAP Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week. The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in […]
Vatican cardinals defend same-sex union blessing ban amid dissent
Rome, ItalyAP Three cardinals close to Pope Francis defended a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions as the Vatican faced outright dissent from some Catholic clergy and questions about the pontiff’s approval of the document. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican’s laity office, concurred Thursday with the pronouncement that a […]
This Life: Tracing our blessings backward
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article first published on ASSIST News Service, looks at why looking back at how God has blessed us can be a rewarding experience…
THIS LIFE: FINDING BLESSINGS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article first published by ASSIST News Service, on why we shouldn’t take the seemingly mundane for granted but instead reflect on the blessings in our life…