Australia

The Latest

Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, June 16, 2016.

He escaped Vietnam on a fishing boat, and now he's a bishop

Jun 28, 2016

In the 1970s, a teenager boarded a boat to escape the cruelty of war in his homeland of Vietnam. He... Read more

Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, departs Rome's Hotel Quirinale, where he attended a hearing on sex abuse responses, March 3, 2016.

As abuse hearing ends, Cardinal Pell says he 'should have done more'

Mar 3, 2016

By Elise Harris

Speaking to an Australian committee investigating institutional responses to child sex abuse cases, Cardinal George Pell has expressed his regret... Read more

Indonesia draws international outcry for executing drug traffickers

May 4, 2015

The Australian bishops joined their voices to the international condemnation of the Indonesian government's execution of foreign drug traffickers last... Read more

Australian bishop affirms innocence amid charges of concealing abuse

Mar 18, 2015

An Australian bishop is strongly denying accusations that he concealed a serious sexual abuse offense allegedly disclosed to him in... Read more

Sydney Opera House.

Australians welcome appointment of new apostolic nuncio

Feb 19, 2015

Australia's Catholics have received with joy the news that Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, a Filipino native,... Read more

An officer closes the gate of Kerobokan prison in Indonesia, where Myuran Sukuraman and Andrew Chan are jailed, Feb. 10, 2015.

Jail, not death: appropriate punishment according to Australia's bishops

Feb 12, 2015

With two of their nationals on Indonesia's death row over drug trafficking offenses, the Australian bishops are appealing to the... Read more

A man places flowers as a mark of respect for the victims of Martin Place siege on December 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

Christ offers healing and peace, Sydney archbishop says after siege

Dec 16, 2014

In the aftermath of a hostage situation at an Australian café, Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher, O.P., stressed that the love... Read more

Bishop Peter Comensoli of Broken Bay, who was installed Dec. 12, 2014.

Australian bishop entrusts diocese to Mary, Star of the Sea at Installation

Dec 13, 2014

During the homily at his Mass of Installation as Bishop of Broken Bay on Friday, Peter Comensoli entrusted both the... Read more

Boats filled with asylum seekers cross the sea towards Australia.

Australian Catholic migrant office slams new asylum seekers law

Dec 10, 2014

The Australian bishops' office for migrants and refugees has termed “unethical” legislation signed into law last week that gives the... Read more

Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney blesses as he recesses from his Mass of Installation, Nov. 12, 2014.

New Sydney archbishop hopes for seminaries 'teeming with new life'

Nov 14, 2014

At his Mass of Installation on Wednesday, Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said that by the time of his retirement,... Read more

Alison Burt, newly appointed head of the Australian Bishop's Commission for Pastoral Life Australia.

Australian bishops welcome new head of pastoral life commission

Nov 3, 2014

The Australian bishops' conference has welcomed Alison Burt as the new leadership steering the national Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life... Read more

St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia.

World Youth Day organizer named as next Sydney archbishop

Sep 18, 2014

Pope Francis has named the next Archbishop of Sydney: Parramatta Bishop Anthony Fisher, O.P., a Sydney native and a lead... Read more

Aurora, the magazine of the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, which won the ARPA's 2014 Gutenburg Award on Sept. 6.

New South Wales Catholic magazine wins religious press award

Sep 14, 2014

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, in Australia's state of New South Wales, is rejoicing over having won multiple media honors from... Read more

(L-R) Fr. Michael White, Bishop Peter Ingham and Tom Corcoran at the PROCLAIM conference.

Australian conference seeks to strengthen parish life

Aug 28, 2014

A national New Evangelization conference in Australia last week worked to reinforce parishes as faith communities actively seeking to grow... Read more

Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2013 in Melbourne, Australia.

Adelaide to host Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2015

Aug 27, 2014

The Australian bishops have announced that next year's national Catholic youth festival will be held in Adelaide, the capital of... Read more

Sr. Philomene Tiernan, RSCJ, who died July 17 in the MH17 crash, is pictured in this undated phile photo.

Australians mourn those killed in Malaysia Airlines crash

Jul 23, 2014

In the wake of the crash of flight MH17 over Ukraine, Australians have been mourning the loss of the 298... Read more

Boats filled with asylum seekers crosses the sea.

Australia bishop: 'Boat people are real people'

Jun 10, 2014

The bishops of Oceania upheld their solidarity with those traveling across the water to seek asylum in Australia, known locally... Read more

Fr. Columba Macbeth-Green, O.S.P.P.E., who was appointed Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes April 12.

Pauline monk appointed bishop of rural Australian diocese

Apr 15, 2014

Pope Francis appointed Saturday Fr. Columba Macbeth-Green, a Pauline Father, as Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes, a rural diocese in the Australian... Read more

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia.

Pallium ceremony a boost for Australian evangelization

Jun 29, 2012

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane believes that the June 29 pallium ceremony in Rome will provide a significant boost to... Read more