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![Debra Vermeer](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3fec82d22e2186cb4ff6846067f9af6f?s=210&d=http%3A%2F%2Fcathnews.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fwp-jobsearch%2Fimages%2Fno-image.jpg&r=g)
Debra Vermeer
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- Total Post (311)
Articles By This Author
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Congo-church-attack-Vatican-Media-cropped-400x233.jpg)
Pope sends prayers to Congo church attack victims
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 18 January 2023
Pope Francis has conveyed his sorrow and closeness to the families of the dead and wounded after a deadly bomb attack on a Pentecostal church in north-eastern Congo killed nearly 20 people over the weekend. Source: Crux.
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Vatican launches School of Arts and Trades for artisans of the future
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 18 January 2023
The Vatican body that oversees the conservation and maintenance of St Peter’s Basilica has launched a new School of Arts and Trades to offer technical formation for future stonemasons, carpenters and marble craftspeople. Source: Vatican News.
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Church in Oceania prepares response to Synod of Bishops report
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
The rich diversity of the Catholic Church across Oceania, as well as its unity, was evident during a meeting in Melbourne last week of representatives of the region’s four bishops conferences and Eastern Catholic churches. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
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Archbishop Fisher backs gambling reforms to prevent ‘social harm’
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has backed efforts to tackle problem gambling in New South Wales but stopped short of endorsing any specific method for imposing limits or restraints. Source: SMH.
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NDIS-ABC-News-Nicole-Mills-400x233.jpg)
Injury and abuse among thousands of incidents in disability group homes
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
There have been more than 7000 serious incidents in disability group homes over the past four years, with many including injury and abuse, according to the complaints watchdog for the NDIS. Source: The Australian.
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Push to make medical abortion more available
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
A push is underway to make medical abortion more accessible across Australia by cutting down the regulatory barriers around who can prescribe the pill combination and where it can be stocked. Source: The Age.
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Catechism in a Year podcast tops charts
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
For the third year in a row, a Catholic podcast has bolted out of the gate in the New Year to become the most popular on Apple Podcasts, beating out secular podcasts from The New York Times, NBC News and NPR. Source: CNA.
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Release of detained immigrants a ‘sudden, fantastic relief’
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
About 100 people held in immigration detention centres across Australia were released in the few days before Christmas. Source: SBS News.
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More than 100 priests, sisters kidnapped, arrested or killed last year
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 17 January 2023
At least 12 priests and five religious sisters were murdered during 2022 while carrying out their mission. Source: The Catholic Leader