Monthly Archives: July 2013

(From Austen Ivereigh in Rio de Janeiro) It is hard to overestimate the impact which World Youth Day – “JMJ2013” in its Portuguese translation —  is having in Rio de Janeiro. Crowds of young pilgrims from across the world are … Continue reading →

Pope Francis has appointed a new commission tasked with curial reform, this time to consider changes to the Vatican’s “economic and administrative structures” (see Reuters here). The eight-person commission is tasked with the “simplification and rationalisation of the existing bodies … Continue reading →

The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act has become law, heralding what the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales describes as a “profound social change”, severing the link between marriage and gender complementarity, and removing from civil marriage law its key purpose, … Continue reading →

Recent stories concerning the spiritual benefits of following World Youth Day on Twitter bring together what seem to be bizarrely incompatible themes in ways that are journalistically irresistible. The apparently unlikely marriage of the latest technology and indulgences — inevitably framed as … Continue reading →

After two marathon debate sessions in the lower house of the Irish parliament, culminating in a 127-31 vote on Friday in favour of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, it seems inevitable that abortion is to be introduced in … Continue reading →

Pope Francis last Saturday unexpectedly addressed 6,000 pilgrims visiting Rome who were exploring or have recently embraced a vocation. Among them was Laura Keynes, who will be training as a CV speaker in the Autumn (see her article here). She writes:  … Continue reading →