The word made law!
VATICAN (SE): Pope Francis said on April 24 that the Holy Spirit enables believers to “go forward along the path of the Spirit without compromise, without rigidity.”

Sister in Syria honoured

WASHINGTON (SE): Melania Trump bestowed the International Women of Courage Award on 13 women in early April, including Salesian Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh, who works in Aleppo, Syria.

“She has worked tirelessly to support the needs of Syria’s most vulnerable populations, particularly internally displaced persons and children,” a citation from the State Department in the United States of America which gives the award reads.

Church out of kilter?
DUBLIN (SE): Father Tony Flannery says that Catholic doctrine “no longer makes sense to the modern mind.”
The Irishman has been silenced by the Vatican since 2012 over his public statements in opposition to the established Church. He said that Church teaching is routinely ignored or rejected even by practicing Catholics, because the Church has not adapted to modern times.
In January, Father Flannery, who is one of the founders of the Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland, defied a Vatican directive by celebrating Mass and preaching in public.

Bolivian Church finds unexpected ally
BOGATA (SE): The Church in Bolivia has found an unexpected ally in its opposition to a proposal that would legalise abortion for poor families in the feminist movement, which sees the legislation as a threat to the autonomy of women living in poverty.

Duterte’s words don’t translate to policy

MANILA (SE): Since his ascent to power, Rodrigo Duterte has overseen a remarkable shift in his country’s foreign policy, particularly towards China.

During his high-profile state visit to China last year, he snubbed both Washington and Tokyo in favour of Beijing.

Knife attack during Mass
KUWAIT (SE): A man armed with a long kitchen knife disrupted Mass at the cathedral in Kuwait City on March 19, local media reported.

He entered the sanctuary, asked to see the pope and attempted to grab a microphone. Police were present and ushers escorted the man from the church.