A pastor in Mozambique has died after trying to fast for 40 days, emulating what Christ is said to have done in the Bible. Francisco Barajah, founder of the Santa Trindade Evangelical Church, died at a hospital in the city of Beira, where he was evacuated in critical condition. After 25 days without food or water, he had lost weight to the point where he could not stand up. He was aged 39. He had been taken to hospital at the insistence of relatives and followers. Mr Barajah was diagnosed with acute anaemia and failure of his digestive organs. He … Continue reading Mozambique pastor dies attempting 40-day Jesus fast

Mourners and protesters have gathered – and clashed at the funeral for Cardinal George Pell in his Australian homeland. The Catholic Cardinal died in Rome last month, aged 81, after complications from hip surgery. Formerly one of the Pope’s top aides, Cardinal Pell was Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic. But his public image was tainted by unproven allegations he concealed and committed child sexual abuse. Inside St Mary’s Cathedral, where Cardinal Pell served as Archbishop of Sydney for over a decade, dignitaries including former Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott filled pews. Noticeably absent were Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New … Continue reading Cardinal George Pell’s funeral sees mourners and protesters clash

Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction on child abuse charges shocked the Catholic Church before being quashed, has died at 81. The former Vatican treasurer is Australia’s highest ranking Catholic cleric, and the most senior Church figure ever jailed for such offences. He died of heart complications after hip surgery, Church officials say. Cardinal Pell served as Archbishop of both Melbourne and Sydney before becoming one of the Pope’s top aides. He was summoned to Rome in 2014 to clean up the Vatican’s finances, and was often described as the Church’s third-ranked official. But the cleric left his post in 2017, … Continue reading Controversial Catholic cleric Pell dies aged 81

Almost 200,000 people paid homage to former Pope Benedict XVI during his lying in state over the last three days, the Vatican says. His body has been sealed in a coffin ahead of his funeral on Thursday. Pope Francis will preside over the funeral – the first time a sitting Pope has led his predecessor’s funeral in over 220 years, the Vatican says. The former Pope died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, almost a decade after standing down because of ill-health. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral in St Peter’s Square, in front … Continue reading Around 200,000 people attend lying in state of Pope Benedict XVI

A US preacher who was robbed at gun point of more than $1m in jewellery during a livestreamed sermon in New York has been indicted on charges of fraud and extortion. Lamor Whitehead had watches, diamonds and emeralds taken from him in July. Now he has been charged with a raft of crimes, court documents say. He is accused of defrauding a parishioner out of her retirement savings, attempting to extort a businessman and lying to the FBI. Mr Whitehead was arrested on Monday and will appear in federal court, the department of justice said in a press release. The money allegedly taken … Continue reading US pastor robbed on livestream faces fraud and extortion charges

The head of Atlético Madrid’s medical team has been summoned to the Vatican to help treat Pope Francis, who is suffering from an arthritic knee. The 85-year-old Pope has cancelled various activities in recent months, including a trip to Africa, because of mobility problems. José María Villalón said the Pope was “very nice” but also “very stubborn” as he refused to undergo surgery. The Pope is a big fan of Argentinian club San Lorenzo – not the Madrid club. San Lorenzo’s football base is Buenos Aires, where the pontiff – Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born. Since May the Pope – … Continue reading Top Spanish football medic to treat Pope Francis over knee problem

French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard has been named by the Church as one of 11 serving or former bishops accused of sexual violence. In a statement, the cardinal said he had abused a 14-year-old girl when he was a parish priest 35 years ago and would now withdraw from his functions. A year ago, a panel found evidence of thousands of paedophiles operating in the French Catholic Church for decades. All 11 accused face either prosecution or disciplinary action in the Church. The latest revelations came during the French bishops’ conference in Lourdes in south-western France. Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort told … Continue reading Catholic Cardinal among 11 French bishops accused of abuse

Pope Francis has warned priests and nuns about the dangers of watching pornography online, saying it “weakens the priestly heart”. The Pope, 86, was responding to a question about how digital and social media should be best used, at a session in the Vatican. Pornography, he said, was “a vice that so many people have… even priests and nuns”. “The devil enters from there,” the Pope told priests and seminarians. As to how to navigate social media and the digital world, he said that they should be used but told them not to waste too much time on it. “The … Continue reading LOL: Even nuns watch porn, says Pope Francis

A cardinal at the centre of a Vatican corruption trial asked the city-state’s police in 2020 not to disclose evidence that a woman who was working for him had embezzled money for personal use that was supposed to pay ransom for a kidnapped nun, a police officer told a court on Thursday. Commissioner Stefano De Santis, a financial crimes specialist, testified for the second consecutive day as a prosecution witness against Cardinal Angelo Becciu, once the third-most powerful person in the Vatican and now among 10 defendants on trial on charges of corruption and other financial crimes. All 10 deny … Continue reading Cardinal asked Vatican police to keep woman’s embezzlement secret

An Indian state minister has “requested” Bollywood star Aamir Khan to avoid doing advertisements that “hurt religious sentiments”. The comment by Narottam Mishra, home minister of Madhya Pradesh state, came as a new ad featuring Khan sparked outrage among Hindu right-wingers. The ad, for a bank depicts Khan and actor Kiara Advani as newlyweds participating in Hindu wedding rituals. But critics alleged that the ad attacked Hindu traditions and culture. The latest ad, for a financial services company, shows Khan’s character taking the ceremonial first step into his bride’s home after marriage – a ritual traditionally performed by Hindu brides. … Continue reading Indian Minister asks Bollywood star to avoid ‘anti-Hindu’ ads

Children and older teenagers have been removed from the jungle compound of a Jewish sect in Mexico following a raid by police. It took place against the Lev Tahor group, which was investigated on suspicion of trafficking minors. The children and teenagers are being flown to Israel where they have extended families. Lev Tahor (Hebrew for Pure Heart) is known for extremist practices and imposing a strict regime on members. It advocates child marriage, inflicts harsh punishments for even minor transgressions and requires women and girls as young as three years old to completely cover up with robes. The stricture … Continue reading Children removed from Jewish sect’s jungle compound in Mexico

In his first public remarks in Canada, Pope Francis has asked indigenous residential school survivors for forgiveness. “I am deeply sorry,” the Pope said on the grounds of a former residential school in Maskwacis, near Edmonton. He said his apology is a first step, and that a “serious investigation” into abuses must occur to foster healing. The pontiff is in Canada to apologise for the Church’s role in schools meant to assimilate indigenous children. The government-funded schools were part of a policy meant to destroy indigenous cultures and languages. The papal apology was received by applause from survivors in the … Continue reading Pope Francis says he is ‘deeply sorry’ to Canadian residential school survivors