Catholic church
Dicey Topics
Good Weekend
‘I’ve heard some strange theories’: Paul Murray on The Bee Sting’s climax
The Irish writer on his childhood fear of the devil, his superpower – and one of the enigmas of his latest novel.
- by Benjamin Law
Latest
Exclusive
Education
The WA parents joining Catholic churches to get children into ‘ideal’ schools
A WA expert says there is considerable weight to the ‘urban myth’ families join a Catholic church or have their children baptised primarily due to school choice.
- by Holly Thompson
Exclusive
Child abuse
Catholic college ordered to remove paedophile priest from honour roll
Despite apologising and paying more than $1 million to a victim of clerical abuse, Salesian College continued to eulogise a disgraced priest for years.
- by Cameron Houston
Exclusive
Religion
Catholic bishops push for Pope Francis to visit Australia
Darwin has been singled out as the most likely destination for a papal visit, which would be the first by a Catholic pope to Australia in 16 years.
- by Matthew Knott
Parishioners revolt against Catholic Church’s ‘hideous’ building plans
Plans for a six-storey building next to St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney have provoked opposition from churchgoers, heritage experts and a priest.
- by Andrew Taylor
Vatican says ‘no’ to sex changes, surrogacy and gender theory in new document
The release of a 20-page document follows fierce conservative pushback against the doctrinal office’s previous declaration on LGBT issues.
- by Alvise Armellini
Exclusive
Courts
Pope seeks immunity in Australian court over notorious paedophile priest
A lawsuit involving Aboriginal victims of a jailed priest could have international implications for the Vatican as they seek to protect the pontiff from being drawn into a civil damages claim.
- by Chip Le Grand
Exclusive
Big Perth
350 Optus Stadiums: Counting the staggering profit of God’s acres in Perth
From vacant acres on Perth’s fringe to places of worship, schools, commercial buildings and houses, these churches own some of WA’s most valuable private property portfolios.
- by Sarah Brookes and Hamish Hastie
Updated
Pope Francis
Pope soldiers on through Easter Sunday after skipping Good Friday ‘to preserve health’
Pope Francis overcame concerns about his health to preside over Easter Sunday Mass, leading some 30,000 people in a flower-decked St Peter’s Square.
- by Nicole Winfield
Series
Religion
Keeping the faith
In this series, explore how Victoria’s religious communities are attracting worshippers in an increasingly secular Australia.
Keeping the faith: These religious groups are flourishing as atheism takes hold
In a series, The Age explores why Christianity is declining and atheism is growing, while the faithful flock to Pentecostal megachurches, temples and mosques.
- by Melissa Cunningham and Craig Butt