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Catholic church

This Month

A nativity scene in the Vatican featured the baby Jesus lying on a keffiyeh.

Churches sowed the seeds of antisemitism but have lost control of field in post-Christian age

The shift in Christian teaching can have a limited effect when the worst prejudices come from the radical, secular left.

  • Benjamin Elton
Pope Francis during the ceremony in  St. Peter’s Basilica at The Vatican at the weekend.

Australian-based bishop among Pope’s new cardinal picks

At 44 years of age, Mykola Bychokthe, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, is also the youngest cardinal.

  • Nicole Winfield

October

Donald Trump and Melania Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden.

Trump’s team backpedals after racist rally remarks

His campaign issued a rare statement distancing itself from a comedian’s offensive joke about Puerto Rico.

  • Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Swan and Michael Gold
An image of Carlo Acutis is unveiled during his beatification ceremony celebrated by Cardinal Agostino Vallini in the St Francis Basilica, in Assisi, Italy, in 2020.

This Nike-wearing millennial saint is shaking up Catholicism

Nobody doubts the short life of Carlos Acutis was one of piety and kindness – but is the teen’s rapid rise to sainthood simply a marketing ploy by the Vatican?

  • Mick Brown

July

 
Labor will survive Fatima Payman and talk of a Muslim teal-style insurgency in electorates in Western Sydney and suburban parts of Melbourne.

Labor’s pledge is a bulwark against identity politics

Some say Labor’s caucus discipline is outdated in modern, multicultural Australia. In reality, it is more vital when individualism has infected the party of late.

  • Nick Dyrenfurth
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June

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks with National Rally president Jordan Bardella at party headquarters on EU election night.

France’s far-right ‘dream ticket’ chases election victory

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen anointed her youthful protege as prime minister in waiting, but the office may come sooner than either expected as France votes.

  • Leila Abboud

Rich Lister buys Manly’s most expensive home

Maas Group’s Wes Maas and his wife Emma have emerged as the buyers of Manly’s most expensive home for around $35 million.

  • Bonnie Campbell

April

A food bank in Melbourne: even many working Australians live below the poverty line.

Lift the minimum wage and help to close the poverty gap

Almost 5 million Australians live at or below the poverty line. Even a 4.9 per cent rise would go some way to help those in insecure work.

  • Michael Kennedy

March

Allan Myers has quit the Melbourne Club, and not gone quietly.

Allan Myers quits Melbourne Club over racism claim

Despite so much in common, Allan Myers and the Melbourne Club have parted ways. And not amicably.

  • Myriam Robin

January

Danielle Funston with daughters Audrey, 12, and Adelaide, 8.

Why high-fee private schools took the biggest price hit in 2024

School fees are rising faster than inflation, and the most expensive schools are charging the biggest increases.

  • Julie Hare

December 2023

Cardinal Becciu has denied any wrongdoing.

Cardinal guilty of mass fraud in Vatican ‘trial of the century’

The former papal confidant, who oversaw the management of Holy See funds, faces jail time after the verdict in the landmark court case.

  • Anthony Faiola and Stefano Pitrelli
Education Minister Jason Clare

Too many Australian students still failing

Only just over half of the country’s 15-year-olds can demonstrate more than elementary skills expected at their year level.

  • Jennifer Hewett

October 2023

ASIO Director-General of Security Mike Burgess.

ASIO on high alert as Middle East explodes

ASIO boss Mike Burgess says the agency has increased its vigilance since the Hamas attacks on Israel.

  • Matthew Cranston
Pope Francis.

Francis the feminist pope puts women centre stage

The church’s three-week long synod will consider whether women should be ordained and be given roles of authority.

  • NICOLE WINFIELD and TRISHA THOMAS

August 2023

Kouri Richins was arrested in May, accused of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home.

Why you’re probably fascinated by women who kill

Reports of domestic murder underscore fears about society’s most fundamental institutions: home, family and community.

  • Dianne Berg
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July 2023

Jason Clare speaks with teachers and students as part of a ministerial reference group meeting on Friday.

Time that teachers were taught properly too

For two generations, Australian teachers have been sent into classrooms without the knowledge on how humans learn, how to run their classrooms or how to lead learning.

  • Elena Douglas

February 2023

Italian Red Cross volunteers and coast guards recover a body after a boat broke apart in rough seas.

Dozens dead after migrant boat breaks apart near Italian coast

The incident reopened a debate on migration in Europe and Italy, where the right-wing government’s tough new laws for migrant rescue charities have drawn criticism from the United Nations and others.

  • Frances D'Emilio

Pell endured ‘modern-day crucifixion’, Abbott tells funeral

The former PM used his eulogy to rail against George Pell’s since-overturned conviction as John Howard, Peter Dutton, Alan Jones gathered for the Sydney service.

  • Samantha Hutchinson

January 2023

Richard Leder and David Kearney believe doing child abuse work for the Catholic Church is tough, but ultimately important.

Catholic Church’s go-to lawyer joins rival firm after Corrs saga

Richard Leder says he believes his lucrative church clients will follow him to his new firm after Corrs sensationally dropped them as a client for child abuse work last July.

  • Hannah Wootton
Pope Francis gives a blessing for George Pell during his funeral at the Vatican.

‘Unwavering courage’: Vatican holds funeral for George Pell

Pope Francis gave a final blessing for the Australian cardinal who lamented that the current papacy was a “disaster” and a “catastrophe”.

  • Frances D’Emilio

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/catholic-church-1lya