Theologian says persecution of early Christians is a myth

Growing up Catholic in England, Candida Moss felt secure in life, yet was told in church that Christians have been persecuted since the dawn of Christianity. Now, as an adult and a theologian, she wants to set the record straight. Too many modern Christians invoke, to lamentable effect, an ancient history of persecution that didn’t exist, [...]

Could social media make you a better person?

You often hear about the dangers of social media, including: narcissism, wasted time, envy of the lives of others, lack of integrity or the temptation to restart unhealthy relationships. Of course, these are all concerns, and you need to consider them in terms of what role social media has in your life. But I don’t [...]

Philippine poll irregularities ‘becoming more brazen’

A Church-based election watchdog today said fraud, including vote buying and vote selling, was “bolder and on a bigger scale” in this year’s midterm election compared to past polls. “[Politicians] did everything to entice people to vote for them,” said Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. De Villa said [...]

Calls for bishop to be fired for redevelopment plan

Catholics in the city of Maasin in Southern Leyte province have called for the removal of their bishop whom they accuse of “arrogance,” extortion and attempting to turn a Catholic school into a shopping center. Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Maasin has become the target of a ‘hate campaign’ after announcing plans to convert part of [...]

Catholic growth rates widen between Asia and Europe

Catholicism is spreading faster in Asia and Africa than anywhere else in the world, according to comparative data released yesterday by the Vatican that shows it stagnating and even declining in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. Statistics show that the growth of Catholics in Asia greatly outpaces that of the general population. Between 2010 and [...]

Church groups play politics to maintain relevance

Religious groups around the country have recently become more aggressive in playing politics, apparently to preserve their influence, if not their relevance, in society. Catholic Church leaders, Protestant pastors, and emerging faith-based organizations have become crucial players in politics, some even trying to harness their “authority” in exchange for material or political favors. During elections, [...]

Cardinal Tagle: ‘Save our elections’

The country’s top churchman called on the public to ‘save’ the upcoming local and national elections, which he said had been marred by controversies in the past. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said people should help each other “to save our country” against efforts to kill clean elections on May 13. “It has to [...]

Clergy complain about a club called The Church and a DJ called Jesus

A row has erupted between a town’s churchgoers and a nightclub owner after he opened a venue called The Church which depicts Jesus as a disc jockey. Church leaders were left disgruntled at the sight of a crucified Jesus silhouetted as a DJ outside the nightclub in Botchergate, Carlisle. The club’s landlord has further enraged [...]

Philippines’ Roman Catholic Church’s influence wanes

In cathedrals around the Philippines, huge black-and-red banners are asking the faithful to choose between “Team Life” and “Team Death,” with priests warning the nation’s soul is at stake. The signs are part of efforts by the Catholic church to assert influence in the coming week’s midterm elections, with politicians who supported a birth-control law [...]

Understanding the ‘Catholic vote’

Many people will liken the notion of a “Catholic vote” to the alleged bloc vote of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. First, we must explain what it is not. The Catholic vote is not a bloc vote according to the dictates of the clergy. It would not be acceptable for the bishops and priests to dictate [...]

Why all the fuss?

Frankly, some bishops are making too big a deal over the so-called “white vote,” with one, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, saying that endorsing candidates is not a good idea, adding that the candidates who voted against the Reproductive Health (RH) bill should be elected, but the Church must guide, and not dictate. Being a bishop, Villegas [...]

The waning of everything

The SWS survey said that 1 out of every 11 Catholics considers the possibility of changing religions. It seems not too surprising. Not surprising too is the idea that religiosity is waning even here. Why shouldn’t it if it is waning everywhere else in the planet? The clergy has, of course, questioned the veracity of [...]

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