By CIndy Wooden Although many nations may be tempted to cut development aid in the midst of the international financial crisis, the crisis itself shows that an economic system focused only on making money for financial investors is bound to fail, said Cardinal Renato Martino.   VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Although many nations may be tempted to cut development aid in the midst o...

After the Church was accused in the morning newspaper last week of bigotry over its attitude to same-sex marriages, Archbishop Barry Hickey wrote down his thoughts for The Record.   Children naturally have a father and a mother, and they have a natural right to be raised by both parents. This natural state of affairs is not altered by the fact that some children lose one or both pa...

By Cindy Wooden Final Synod message says Catholics should own - and use - a Bible.                                                                                        ...

The beloved Abbot of New Norcia, Placid Spearitt OSB, was farewelled on October 21 after dying suddenly in England. Catholics and non-Catholics alike turned out in force to say goodbye to their dear friend. Fr David Barry OSB who presided at the Mass paid a heartfelt and at times emotional tribute to his fellow monastic.           &...

Your Eminence, Dear Brother Bishops, Dear Young Friends, “Proclaim the Lord Christ  and always have your answer ready for people who ask the reason for the hope that is within you” (1 Pet 3:15). With these words from the First Letter of Peter I greet each of you with heartfelt affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his kind words of welcome and I also thank the representativ...

By Sylvia Defendi  Thousands flocked to their local Church over Holy Week to attend ceremonies throughout the city of Perth, where parish priests noted unprecedented attendance. According to Dean of  St Mary’s Cathedral, Monsignor Thomas McDonald, the closure of St Mary’s due to construction works made very little difference; hundreds spilled out of St Joachim&rsqu...

The Record presents a translation of Magdi Cristiano Allam’s account of his conversion to Catholicism. The former  Muslim journalist, who works for the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera  was baptised by Benedict XVI at the Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. Allam sent this letter to Corriere della Sera’s director, Paolo Mieli. Pope Benedict XVI bapt...

By Paul Gray Advocacy groups have come out strongly in criticism of a decision by Australia’s state and federal Attorneys-General to defer a decision on introducing R18+ as a new classification category for computer and video games. Video games such as Grand Theft Auto have alarmed many with the violent nature of their play The Standing Committee of Attorneys-General have d...

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In the darkness of night in St Peter’s Basilica as well as under dark skies unleashing torrents of rain on St Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI said the risen Christ vanquished the darkness of sin and death. “It is true: In the solemn Easter Vigil, darkness becomes light, night gives way to the day that knows no sunset,” he said on...

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