LEBANESE priest Fr Fadi Salame believes the global response to the deadly August 4 explosion in Beirut is God’s way of blessing the people of Lebanon after years of corruption. The parish priest of St Maroun’s Church, Greenslopes, said the deadly blast has brought other countries closer to Lebanon, which was already spiralling out of control from economic strife and ... Read More »

TWO cardinals joined 74 other religious leaders in a written statement that condemned the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs as “one of the most egregious human tragedies since the holocaust”. Jakarta Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo and Yangon Archbishop Cardinal Charles Maung Bo called for “prayer, solidarity and action to end these mass atrocities”. Other Catholic leaders like England and Wales ... Read More »

AFTER a massive fire triggered a deadly explosion in Beirut, Pope Francis called for prayers and a united effort to help Lebanon overcome “this serious crisis”.” “Let us pray for the victims and their family members, and let us pray for Lebanon so that with the effort of everyone in society – political and religious – it may face this ... Read More »

HOSPITALS in the Lebanese capital are overwhelmed with those suffering injuries from a massive explosion in Beirut’s port, causing widespread damage to the city and rocking the tiny Mediterranean nation already devastated by the coronavirus and its worst financial crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. “People won’t be able to rebuild their homes, businesses, livelihoods. There are reports of hospitals ... Read More »

MARONITE Catholic priest Fr Fadi Salame was on his way to his parish church when he saw “the worst news from Beirut” –  a massive explosion had wreaked havoc on his country’s capital. The parish priest of St Maroun’s Church, Greenslopes, which caters to the Maronite community in Brisbane, watched in horror as the explosion rocked Beirut’s port and the ... Read More »

WITH Friday Islamic prayers to be recited in Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years, Christian leaders around the world have expressed deep regret at Turkey’s decision to change the status of the famous place of worship. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge and the head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Archbishop Makarios expressed ... Read More »

BRISBANE’S evangelisation director believes a new instruction from the Vatican for the renewal of parishes will help the Church to “look, feel and sound more like Jesus”. Deacon Peter Pellicaan, of Evangelisation Brisbane, which serves parishes and communities across Brisbane archdiocese, said a new instruction issued by the Congregation for Clergy on Monday (July 20) was a “powerful vision” of ... Read More »

POPE Francis said he was “pained” by the decision to revert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque following a ruling by a Turkish court on its status. “My thoughts go to Istanbul,” Pope Francis (pictured) said while thinking of seafarers on Sea Sunday last week. “I think of Santa Sophia and I am very pained.” He made the off ... Read More »

CONCERN and frustration with delayed and failed responses to abuse scandals in Poland culminated in a desperate appeal to Pope Francis to help “rebuild our church.” More than 600 Polish lay Catholics pooled together enough money to buy an ad in an Italian newspaper at the end of June in a last-ditch effort to make sure the Pope would hear ... Read More »