The Catholic Church is encouraging congregants to go to Confession, or “reconciliation services”.

It is part of an initiative to ensure that the Catholic Church plays a role in tackling the climate crisis.

The lay-run campaign, called Journey to 2030, was launched last weekend in partnership with the Bishops’ Conference and the Ecological Conversion Group, a volunteer group for young Catholics.

The initiative aims to “create a sense of urgency towards our ecological crisis and those suffering from its ill effects” as well as promote confession of environmental sins.

As a result, it has created a toolkit for church leaders to help Catholics confess their environment-related sins and is sending out its resources to parishes across the country.

Pope Francis said: “The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. A great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set out on the long path of renewal.”

‘The Journey to 2030’ says it aims to support the Catholic Church and it’s community to progress towards this ‘long path to renewal’, by providing the necessary resources to parishes and individuals in order to engage with the “urgent challenge of our ecological crisis”.

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A joint statement from RA, NSWRU and Folau said the “post reflected Mr Folau’s genuinely held religious beliefs, and Mr Folau did not intend to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the social media post”.

It added: “Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity. “

The Instagram post from Folau, 30, proclaimed hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.

Rugby Australia said it does “not in any way agree with the content of the social media post”.

“Inclusiveness is one of rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community,” the statement said.

RA said it had not intended to hurt the player’s feelings, but “acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus”.

The statement added that “Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused.

“Rugby Australia and Mr Folau wish each other well for the future.

“The parties do not intend to comment further on the terms of their settlement as it is confidential.”

There was widespread condemnation of Folau’s remarks when he made them, including from former…

The head of the Church, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, said the decision was made out of respect for those killed and wounded in recent anti-government protests, which have now been going on for three months.

“There will be no decorated Christmas trees in the churches or streets, no celebrations and no reception at the patriarchate,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Almost 430 people have died and 20,000 wounded in mass rallies that have been met with retaliation by security forces.

The protests have mostly being taking place in Shia Muslim-majority areas, but the Church said it would take part in an act of solidarity “out of respect for the dead and wounded among protesters and security forces, and in solidarity with the pains of their families”.

Iraq’s parliament formally accepted the prime minister’s resignation on Sunday,

Protesters are calling for a complete overhaul of the sectarian political system.

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A joint statement from RA, NSWRU and Folau said the “post reflected Mr Folau’s genuinely held religious beliefs, and Mr Folau did not intend to harm or offend any person when he uploaded the social media post”.

It added: “Mr Folau wants all Australians to know that he does not condone discrimination of any kind against any person on the grounds of their sexuality and that he shares Rugby Australia’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity. “

The Instagram post from Folau, 30, proclaimed hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters”.

Rugby Australia said it does “not in any way agree with the content of the social media post”.

“Inclusiveness is one of rugby’s core values and it welcomes all people to the game, including all members of the LGBTI community,” the statement said.

RA said it had not intended to hurt the player’s feelings, but “acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused to the Folaus”.

The statement added that “Folau did not intend to hurt or harm the game of rugby and acknowledges and apologises for any hurt or harm caused.

“Rugby Australia and Mr Folau wish each other well for the future.

“The parties do not intend to comment further on the terms of their settlement as it is confidential.”

There was widespread condemnation of Folau’s remarks when he made them, including from former…