What is a Plenary Indulgence?
By Carol Glatz – Pope Francis said he will grant a plenary indulgence to the faithful who watch or listen to his extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at...
Category: Church History
Full Look At Vatican Wartime Role Will Take Patience, Archivists Say
By Carol Glatz – When the Vatican’s wartime archives are open to researchers, it will be just the start of what should be a long, slow process of studying, analysing and publishing findings, said the...
Leap Year’s Extra Day Has A Catholic Origin
By Donis Tracy – The extra day we get approximately once every four years is a way to adapt the calendar year to the astronomical year. But did you know the present system of...
Three Archbishops Unite to Honour a Fourth
Three archbishops united to honour a fourth one: (from left) Archbishop Emeritus William Slattery of Pretoria, Cardinal Wilfrid Cardinal Napier of Durban, and Abel Gabuza, coadjutor and future archbishop of Durban, stand in Emmanuel...
Two Catholic Heroes Killed by Nazis
Among the many Catholics who died at the hands of the Nazis were two of the founders of the Young Christian Workers movement. STEFAN GIGACZ tells their story.
Why Do Some Reject Papal Primacy?
Browsing through the Internet, I am surprised at the number of Christian websites that contradict the Catholic Church’s understanding of the intent of Matthew 16:18, “You are Peter and on this rock I will...
Does the Bible Support the Use of Images in Devotion?
Many people falsely imagine that Catholics “worship” images. In the second article of his two-part series, PROF MICHAEL OGUNU explains that the Catholic veneration of images has biblical support. The Bible certainly condemns the worship of...
From Our Vaults 68 Years Ago: January 31, 1951
New hierarchy for SA The newly-established hierarchy of South Africa will have four metropolitan archdioceses, which will be headed by Archbishops Denis Hurley OMI (Durban), Owen McCann (Cape Town), John Garner (Pretoria) and Herman...
Looking East: Book On Celibacy Barely Acknowledges Eastern Tradition
By Cindy Wooden – The controversy surrounding retired Pope Benedict XVI’s contribution to a new book on priestly celibacy demonstrates just how much both substance and appearances matter. And, as far as substance goes, the...
The Truth About Venerating Religious Images
Why do Catholics venerate images, and doesn’t the Bible forbid this? Over two weeks, PROF MICHAEL OGUNU will address these and other questions about images in the Church. An image is an imitation or likeness...
How Church Shaped The Movies
Once upon a time, the Catholic Church dictated to Hollywood what was morally permissible in movies, as CHAZ MUTH explains. Movies have enchanted the public since the late 19th century, providing audiences with vivid storytelling on...
Pauline Jaricot: A Journey of Miracles and Fraud
In part 2 of the Pauline Jaricot story, Colleen Constable explains how Pauline was miraculously cured, how she handled betrayal and poverty, and what lessons her life holds for us today. Long before St...
