East Timor church slams Aus refugee center plan

East Timor’s Church and military have slammed an Australian government plan for a regional refugee processing centre in the country.

Australian church approves ‘water cremation’

The world’s first water cremation center is offering a liquid alternative to cremation and burial, using a process it hopes will revolutionise the funeral industry - and the process has been approved by the Catholic Church.

Australia appoints Syro-Malabar coordinator

Kerala-born Father Francis Kolencherry, has been appointed as the first National Coordinator in Australia for the Syro-Malabar Rite of the Catholic Church.

Pop song for Australia’s saint-in-waiting

Gary Pinto, an Australian singer born of Indian heritage, has released a new pop song honoring Australia’s first saint-to-be Mary MacKillop.

‘I was a scumbag pedophile’, priest tells court

Australian priest Father John Sidney Denham who appeared in a New South Wales court for sentencing on Thursday, described himself as a “scumbag pedophile”, in testimony during sentencing submissions.

Christians protest Muslim cleric’s expulsion

Christian and community groups have protested the forced departure from Australia of an Iranian born Muslim cleric, ordered to leave the country by immigration officials.

Pell ‘blocked’ from Vatican post: Reports

Australian Cardinal George Pell, whose appointment as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops was expected soon, has been dropped from consideration because of former abuse allegations against him, Rome sources say.

‘Culture problem’ caused abuse crisis: Canberra bishop

Australian Archbishop Mark Coleridge has said he accepts there is a cultural problem within the Church that led to the sexual abuse crisis, and an institutional pride that has prevented many from speaking out.

Lankan asylum seekers killed on return, NGO finds

A Catholic refugee advocate says that at least nine asylum seekers returned to Sri Lanka by Australia’s previous government were killed and those sent back in past year have been held in police custody and some assaulted.

Pell bound for Rome: Reports

Rome sources are predicting that Sydney Australia Cardinal George Pell is to succeed Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.