News

04/08/2017

Euthanasia has become a common way to die in the Netherlands, accounting for 4.5 percent of deaths, according to researchers who say requests are increasing from people who are not terminally ill.

In 2002, the Netherlands became the first country in the world that made it legal for doctors to help people die. Both euthanasia, where doctors actively kill patients, and assisted suicide, where physicians prescribe patients a lethal dose of drugs, are allowed…

The launching of the first phase of the multimedia project at Mdina Cathedral, Museum and Archive

04/08/2017

At the beginning of this year, the Mdina Metropolitan Chapter launched a program to modernise the Cathedral, the Museum and the Archives. This program is intended not only to preserve the rich heritage one could find in these three entities, but also to make these entities more accessible for the general public. The project further enhances the Maltese touristic product by offering a better experience of these three unique places…

02/08/2017

Researchers in Oregon have announced that they have successfully altered genes in a human embryo for the first time in the United States, but Catholic ethicists warn that the procedure was morally objectionable for many reasons.

“Very young humans have been created in vitro and treated not as ends, but as mere means or research fodder to achieve particular investigative goals,” said Fr…

01/08/2017

If not for the Society of Jesus, we would not be enjoying some basics taken for granted in the modern world. Nerdy academic Jesuits and their swashbuckling, globe-trotting missionary brothers have made significant contributions not only in astronomy, seismology, mathematics and technology, but also in theatre, botany, medicine and international cuisine.

1. The Calender Christopher Clavius, S.J. (1538–1612), was a renowned German mathematician and astronomer who modified Aloysius Lilius’ initial proposal for the Gregorian Calendar, the internationally-accepted civil calendar we use today, which was promulgated in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII…

01/08/2017

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops has invited the faithful in the 26 Dioceses of the country and all people of good will, to join in praying for the country. In a press statement issued 28 July 2017 at the Catholic Secretariat in Nairobi, by all the Bishops, the prelates propose to start Novena prayers for peaceful elections from 30 July to 7 August 2017…

31/07/2017

Fr Mark Cachia SJ has been appointed as the new chaplain of the University of Malta. Fr Cachia, 35, succeeds fellow Jesuit Fr Michael Bugeja SJ, who had served in the role for the past nine years.

Fr Cachia will lead the Chaplaincy team based at St Thomas More chapel on the University’s Msida campus. The team includes two full-time pastoral assistants – Christian Mintoff and Sara Zingariello – and Martina Laferla, who coordinates the Degree Plus voluntary work programme at University…

30/07/2017

The Spiritual Development in Schools Unit within the Secretariat for Catholic Education organised a seminar as a follow up to the ‘Meditation in Schools‘ seminar held in November, and also to celebrate and share Good Spiritual Practices in Schools.

Around 70 educators participated actively during the seminar and according to Fr Reuben Gauci, responsible for the pastoral ministry in state schools, one could sense that there is an increased interest in spirituality…

29/07/2017

Charlie Gard, the critically ill baby at the centre of a contentious legal battle that attracted the attention of Pope Francis and US President Donald Trump, died on Friday, according to a family spokeswoman. He would have turned one next week.

Charlie suffered from a rare genetic disease, mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which caused brain damage and left him unable to breathe unaided…

28/07/2017

L-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna kien mistieden biex jippresiedi ċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet fl-okkażjoni tal-festa ta’ San Liborju, il-qaddis patrun tal-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Paderborn, il-Ġermanja, bejn is-Sibt 22 u l-Erbgħa 26 ta’ Lulju 2017.

Għal din il-festa ġew mistiedna madwar 20 isqfijiet u kardinali minn 14-il pajjiż. Din kienet l-ewwel darba li l-Arċisqof Scicluna ħa sehem f’dawn iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet.

Il-Ħadd, 23 ta’ Lulju, l-Arċisqof tal-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Paderborn, Hans-Josef Becker, iċċelebra quddiesa pontifikali flimkien mal-isqfijiet u kardinali mistiedna u wara saret purċissjoni mat-toroq tal-belt, bir-relikwi ta’ San Liborju…

27/07/2017

Cardinal George Pell made a brief appearance at an Australian court on Wednesday in a preliminary hearing regarding the accusation of “historical sexual offences”.

His lawyer said he would plead “not guilty” to the charges leveled against him by police in the state of Victoria.

Escorted by Australian police, Cardinal George Pell made his way through a mass of journalists and protesters to arrive at a filing hearing before the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court…