Australia

The Latest

Australian drought.

Catholic school student raises $1 million for Australia's drought affected farmers

Sep 10, 2018

With severe drought conditions continuing to affect farmers in Australia, a fourth grader at a Catholic school has raised more... Read more

Australian unions seek limits on religious groups' hiring freedom

Aug 7, 2018

A group of trade unions in Australia last month passed a motion saying that they will lobby to restrict the... Read more

Abortion bill a matter of life and death, Australian bishop says

Aug 2, 2018

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia encouraged members of parliament to look beyond the “worn-out ideologies and tricky language” behind... Read more

Australian state hesitates to require priests to break seal of confession

Jul 12, 2018

The Australian state of Victoria has said a recommendation by the royal commission that it pass a law requiring priests... Read more

Australia could boost funding for Catholic schools with new income ranking

Jul 7, 2018

Catholic schools in Australia could see an increase of up to $74 million a year from independent schools following a... Read more

Archbishop Philip Wilson. Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Convicted Australian archbishop says he'll step down if appeal fails

Jul 6, 2018

By Elise Harris

In the continued fallout of his conviction for failing to report allegations of child sexual abuse, Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson... Read more

Australian priests 'willing to go to jail' rather than break confessional seal

Jun 18, 2018

As Australian states and territories pass and consider laws requiring priests to break the seal of confession to report cases... Read more

Australian bishop protests law requiring priests to break seal of confession

Jun 9, 2018

A new law in Australia will require Catholic priests in Canberra to break the seal of confession to report child... Read more

St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

Australian bishops join national program to compensate child sex abuse victims

May 30, 2018

The Australian Catholic bishops confirmed Wednesday that they will participate in a national compensation program for survivors of child sexual... Read more

Cardinal George Pell speaks with CNA at the Vatican March 17 2016.

Court to consider request for media gag order in Cardinal Pell trial

May 14, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

An Australian court will determine Wednesday whether to accept a request by prosecutors for a “super injunction” against all media... Read more

Cardinal George Pell.

Facing criminal trial, Pell will remain on leave of absence from Vatican position

May 1, 2018

Cardinal George Pell will remain on a leave of absence from his Vatican position as he faces charges of “historic... Read more

Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide.

Charged with concealing abuse, Australian archbishop affirms innocence

Apr 11, 2018

During court proceedings in Australia this week, Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide maintained his innocence, denying allegations that he concealed... Read more

Archbishop Fisher: Priests will suffer punishment before breaking confessional seal

Apr 10, 2018

Amid attacks on the seal of confession in Australia, Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney has said priests will suffer punishment... Read more

Cardinal George Pell speaks with CNA at the Vatican March 17 2016.

Cardinal Pell's court hearing weighs evidence for abuse allegations

Mar 29, 2018

A hearing will that will decide whether Cardinal George Pell will go on trial for alleged abuse came to a... Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, outside Rome's Hotel Quirinale, March 3, 2016.

Australian court hears further testimony in Cardinal Pell abuse hearing

Mar 24, 2018

New accusations were brought forward and others were dropped this week, during a pre-trial hearing in an Australian court regarding... Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, speaks with CNA at the Vatican, March 17, 2016.

Alleged abuse victims testify against Cardinal Pell at Australian court hearing

Mar 15, 2018

Alleged victims of abuse of Cardinal George Pell gave testimonies this week during a hearing in an Australian court which... Read more

Tiwi children.

How one nun's lifelong service changed Australia's Tiwi community

Mar 13, 2018

By Elise Harris

For Sr. Anne Gardiner, a 62-year-long mission serving Australia's remote Tiwi indigenous population began with one simple instruction: “Love them.”  Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, speaks with CNA at the Vatican, March 17, 2016.

Key abuse charge against Cardinal Pell withdrawn

Mar 2, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday, an Australian prosecutor withdrew a charge of abuse against Cardinal George Pell, who is currently undergoing a trial... Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, speaks with CNA at the Vatican, March 17, 2016.

Court likely to withdraw charge of key accuser in Cardinal Pell abuse case

Feb 15, 2018

By Elise Harris

The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard Wednesday that a charge related to a key witness in the case against Cardinal George... Read more

Australian bishops dedicate start of Lent to abuse victims

Feb 13, 2018

The bishops of Australia have called on the faithful of the country to begin the season of Lent with four... Read more