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A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, the Church celebrates Saint Conrad of Piacenza. Conrad was born into a noble family in northern Italy. Conrad was born into a noble family in northern Italy. He married the daughter of a nobleman, Euphrosyne. One day, while he was hunting, Conrad ordered his attendants to make a fire. The wind carried the flames, which set fire to nearby fields, forests, towns and villages. Upon seeing this, Conrad ran away in fear. Because he ran, an innocent man was convicted for spreading the fire and was condemned to death as punishment. Upon hearing of this, Conrad stepped forth to accept the blame, saving the innocent man's life. He paid for the damaged property and he and his wife gave everything they owned to the poor in recompense. Conrad then left to join a group of Franciscan hermits, and his wife joined the Poor Clares. Word eventually spread of Conrad's holiness, piety and gift of healing. When many visitors began to destroy his life of silence and solitude, he moved to Sicily where he lived and prayed as a hermit for 36 years. Legends say that when the Bishop of Syracuse visited him, the bishop asked Conrad if he had any food to offer guests. Conrad went to his cell and returned with newly made cakes, which the bishop accepted as a miracle. Conrad visited the bishop later to make a general confession to him. As he arrived, Conrad was surrounded by fluttering birds. Conrad died kneeling before a crucifix. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-conrad-of-piacenza-152

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The balcony floor of a Catholic church in the Philippines collapsed during Ash Wednesday Mass on February 14, leaving one woman dead and dozens injured. According to the Public Information Office (PIO) of the city of San José del Monte in the Philippine province of Bulacan, around 7 am local time the balcony of Saint Peter the Apostle Church collapsed, creating fear and chaos among the faithful attending the Mass on the first day of Lent. According to the PIO, witnesses heard a loud noise and then screams from the people who fell from the balcony and from some who were on the first floor, all participating in the Mass. According to the Philippine newspaper PhilStar, 52 people were injured and immediately taken to different local hospitals. So far, an 80-year-old woman died in the collapse. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256849/church-floor-in-philippines-collapses-on-ash-wednesday-killing-1-and-injuring-dozens The Vatican Press Office reported February 15 that Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán as bishop of the Diocese of David in Panama, two weeks after his yet-to-be-explained disappearance, and named Father Luis Enrique Saldaña Guerra as his successor. The appointment occurs a few days before Lacunza turns 80 on February 24, the day on which he will cease to be an elector in a possible conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor should he die or resign. On the morning of February 1, the Catholic Church in Panama reported that Lacunza had been missing since January 30. On February 4, the cardinal apologized for what had happened, although he did not explain what transpired. It is still not known precisely what happened to Lacunza or why the Catholic Church and civil authorities remain silent about it. Nor is it known what the cardinal’s “prank” may have been, as he himself described what took place. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256848/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-panamanian-cardinal-who-went-missing The theme for the fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be celebrated on July 28, has been chosen by Pope Francis. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256843/world-day-for-grandparents-and-the-elderly-highlights-loneliness-throwaway-culture Bishop Peter Muhich of the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, announced Wednesday he will be moving soon into hospice care amid treatment for esophogeal and lymphatic cancer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256850/rapid-city-bishop-says-he-will-move-to-hospice-amid-cancer-fight Following a shooting in downtown Kansas City yesterday afternoon during a packed Super Bowl victory rally, nearly two dozen people were injured. The lone fatality was Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio DJ and a parishioner at Sacred Heart-Guadalupe Parish in Kansas City. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256847/catholic-mother-killed-in-shooting-at-kansas-city-chiefs-victory-parade Today, the Church celebrates Saint Onesimus, a slave to Philemon, an influential man who had been converted by Saint Paul. Onesimus offended Philemon and fled in order to escape any sort of retribution. He then met Saint Paul while Paul was in a Roman prison. Shortly after, Onesimus was baptized and later was martyred. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-onesimus-149

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The unveiling process for the newly rebuilt spire of Paris’ legendary Notre Dame Cathedral began this week, with the process expected to be completed in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics in July. The cathedral has been closed ever since a devastating fire April 15, 2019, saw the spire crash through the centuries-old timber roof. Deconstruction of the scaffolding surrounding the spire — which reaches 330 feet in height — will take several months. The spire’s new cross was mounted on December 6, 2023, and on December 16 a golden rooster — a symbol of France — was blessed and added, replacing one that was destroyed in the fire. The spire was not original to the 800-year-old structure, having been added during a 19th-century renovation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256836/notre-dame-cathedral-spire-to-be-unveiled-nearly-five-years-after-devastating-fire Nearly three dozen Christians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October, a Christian aid group in the region said this week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256828/nearly-3-dozen-christians-have-died-in-gaza-strip-amid-israel-hamas-war-aid-group-says Pope Francis will become the first pope to visit the prestigious Venice Biennale art exhibition when he travels to the “city of canals” this spring. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256826/pope-francis-to-visit-prestigious-venice-biennale-art-exhibition A local police investigation into the vandalization of a Blessed Virgin Mary statue outside a Catholic charitable group’s headquarters in Nebraska is currently listed as “inactive” after police were unable to identify the perpetrator, even though one of the building’s security cameras caught the vandal on video. Katie Patrick, executive director of Catholic Social Services, told CNA that this was the first time an incident such as this had occurred on their campus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256834/police-drop-investigation-into-vandalization-of-nebraska-blessed-mother-statue Today, the Church celebrates Saint Claude de la Colombière, the 17th century French Jesuit who authenticated and wrote about Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-claude-de-la-colombiere-148

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - After serving as a museum for more than 79 years, the Turkish government is proceeding with plans to make the Church of the Holy Savior in Istanbul a mosque. Mirroring the 2020 reversion of the Hagia Sophia, prayers and Islamic rites will be performed once again in the ancient church, according to Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The Church of the Holy Savior, also known as Chora Church, is recognized as one of the most important Byzantine gems in the world and is adorned with many unique icons and frescoes. The museum-to-mosque conversion project began in 2020, with plans to implement it by October of that year. Restoration work delayed the project. Sitting in the northeast of Istanbul’s historic center near Adrianople Byzantine Gate, the Church of the Holy Savior was built in the 12th century and restored in the early 14th century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256813/another-byzantine-era-church-in-turkey-to-revert-to-mosque Major expansions are coming to the Benedictine-run Belmont Abbey College after the North Carolina school quickly hit its fundraising goal of $100 million two years ahead of schedule. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256821/major-expansions-coming-to-belmont-abbey-college-after-fundraising-feat Men and women who are married and who attend church regularly are among the happiest couples, according to data compiled by a prominent sociological professor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256819/married-churchgoing-couples-among-the-happiest-data-says A religious freedom advocate from Hong Kong is warning that proposed legislation could further restrict religious liberty and lead to the persecution of the Catholic Church and other Christians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256822/hong-kong-activist-proposed-law-could-worsen-religious-liberty-persecute-catholics Today, the Church celebrates Saints Cyril and Methodius, who are called the “Apostles of the Slavs” for their tireless work in spreading the Gospel throughout Eastern Europe in the ninth century. Such was their influence in Church history, through their evangelization efforts, that the late Pope John Paul II named the two brothers the patron saints of Europe along with fifth century monastic leader Saint Benedict. Cyril and Methodius' missionary work among the Slavs laid the essential foundation for the later Christianization of Ukraine and Russia in 988, when the Russian Prince Vladimir accepted Baptism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-cyril-and-methodius-147 Today is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256786/how-to-honor-valentines-day-on-ash-wednesday

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Two missionary priests who were abducted from a parish rectory in Nigeria earlier this month have been released and admitted to the hospital for examination. Father Kenneth Kanwa and Father Jude Nwachukwu were taken from the rectory at St. Vincent de Paul Fier Parish in the Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau state on February 1. The two are members of the Congregation of Missionaries Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (CMF), also known as the Claretians. Nigeria has been battling a surge of violence orchestrated by gangs, whose members carry out indiscriminate attacks, kidnapping for ransom, and in some cases, killing. Insurgency by Boko Haram, a group that allegedly aims to turn Africa’s most populous nation into an Islamic nation, has been a major challenge in the country since 2009. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256801/two-missionary-priests-who-were-kidnapped-in-nigeria-released Pope Francis met with Argentine President Javier Milei in a highly anticipated private audience on Monday morning, showcasing a possible improvement to their relationship after the South American politician voiced sharp criticisms of the pontiff last year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256802/meeting-between-pope-francis-and-argentine-president-signals-possible-turn-in-relationship The Catholic prayer app Hallow aired its first-ever commercial during Super Bowl LVIII, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs win their second consecutive championship on February 11. Immediately following the airing of the ad, Hallow saw the biggest spike in downloads in its history, according to Alex Jones, CEO of Hallow. The 30-second ad was shown in 15 markets across the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256811/after-super-bowl-ad-catholic-prayer-app-hallow-sees-biggest-spike-in-its-history A Nobel-prize winning biochemist and researcher who helped develop the mRNA technology used to create the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines — Katalin Karikó — is one of the newest members of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life. Pope Francis announced the appointment of Karikó, who lectures at the University of Szeged in Hungary, in a news release on February 10. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256810/pope-names-biochemist-who-contributed-to-covid-vaccine-to-pontifical-academy-for-life Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine de Ricci. The Ricci are an ancient family in Tuscany. Catherine was born at Florence in 1522, and called at her baptism Alexandrina, but she took the name of Catherine at her religious profession. One of the miracles that was documented for her canonization was her appearance many hundreds of miles away from where she was physically located. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-de-ricci-146

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A foundation dedicated to spreading devotion to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio, opened a chapel in rural Kansas this weekend that will permanently host a first-class relic of the saint. The plan is to inaugurate five chapels dedicated to the saint, each with a first-class relic, across the United States in the four cardinal directions so that they form the shape of a cross on a map, with the Kansas chapel forming the cross’ center. The inaugural chapel, located inside Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beloit, Kansas, opened February 11 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Gerald Vincke of the Diocese of Salina. The plans for the four other chapels are still in the works. Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887 in Italy, became a Franciscan priest around the turn of the 20th century. He took the new name Pio, a modernized Italian form of “Pius,” in honor of Saint Pius V. He is perhaps best known for receiving the stigmata — Christ’s wounds present in his own flesh. He is remembered for his patient suffering in the face of pain and health issues, his fervent prayer, and compassionate spiritual guidance. He was declared a saint in 2002 after dying in 1968. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256782/chapel-housing-first-class-padre-pio-relic-to-open-in-kansas The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published a document to explain its concerns about the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval and deregulation of a chemical abortion pill, which is the subject of an ongoing US Supreme Court case. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256793/chemical-abortion-pill-us-bishops-issue-guide-laying-out-dangers-and-concerns Catholic bishops in Nigeria’s Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province (IEP) are alarmed by the recurrent and “pervasive” security challenges in the West African nation, which they compare to a battlefield characterized with hostility and killing. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256791/nigeria-fast-becoming-a-hostile-killing-field-say-catholic-bishops-in-ibadan-province Katalin Novák resigned as president of Hungary on Saturday amid protests over her decision to pardon a man last year who had been convicted of hiding a string of child sexual abuses in a state-run children’s home. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256798/katalin-novak-resigns-as-president-of-hungary Today, the Church celebrates Saint Julian the Hospitaller, or "the Poor Man," who came from a wealthy, noble family in the early 4th century and is a popular saint in Western Europe. According to a legend, while Julian was a baby, he was cursed to one-day kill his own parents, which he did. He swore to devote the remainder of his life to good works. He and his wife then undertook a pilgrimage to a distant country where he established a hospital. The hospital was near a river that was frequently crossed by people prompted to travel by the Holy Crusades. People frequently drowned crossing this river so Julian took responsibility of ferrying travelers across and tending to the sick. Julian is considered the patron of ferrymen, innkeepers and circus performers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-julian-the-hospitaller-145

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a February 7 ruling, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador decriminalized euthanasia in response to the lawsuit filed by Paola Roldán, a woman who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable degenerative disease. According to a pro-life leader, “this is a very hard blow against the human dignity and constitutional rights of Ecuadorians.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256777/ecuador-s-constitutional-court-decriminalizes-euthanasia The Catholic prayer app Hallow announced that its first-ever Super Bowl commercial will air during the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, February 11. He shared that the 30-second commercial is “just a simple invitation to pray together.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256778/catholic-prayer-app-hallow-to-air-commercial-during-super-bowl-lviii A religious community of 14 Discalced Carmelite nuns has moved from a busy street in Buffalo, New York, where their order has lived for more than a century, to the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, in pursuit of “silence and solitude.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256779/carmelite-nuns-move-from-buffalo-to-florida-in-pursuit-of-silence-and-solitude Health and mental health ministers in three Canadian territories and five provinces were successful in getting Canada’s government to indefinitely pause implementing medical assistance in dying (MAID). But the pause does not mean a permanent halt to the plan. Implementing the expansion of euthanasia for the mentally ill had been scheduled for March 17. However, Canada’s health minister, Mark Holland, stated that there are not enough psychiatrists willing to sign off on requests by mentally ill people who seek MAID. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256763/euthanasia-for-canada-s-mentally-ill-still-on-the-table-despite-pause-on-implementation Today, the Church celebrates Saint Apollonia of Alexandria, a holy virgin who suffered martyrdom in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians in the early 3rd century. She is popularly invoked for toothaches because of the torments she had to endure. She is represented in art with pincers holding a tooth. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-apollonia-of-alexandria-142

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced a resolution to increase sanctions and pressure on the Nigerian government over the rampant persecution of Christians and other minorities in the country. Sponsored by Representative Chris Smith, the resolution would call on the Biden administration to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC), a designation that comes with additional sanctions. The resolution would also urge the administration to appoint a special US envoy to Nigeria to monitor and report on incidents of persecution. For years now Nigeria has been recognized by religious rights groups as one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian. Smith and other proponents of the bill, including Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF), maintain that adding Nigeria to the State Department’s CPC blacklist would be an effective means to pressure the Nigerian government to address the persecution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256765/house-advances-resolution-to-increase-sanctions-on-nigeria-over-persecution-of-christians Record rainfall in Southern California led to flooding and landslides this week, particularly in the Los Angeles area, where the local branch of Catholic Charities is soliciting donations to help with relief efforts. Alexandria Arnold, a spokeswoman for Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, told CNA that the geographic area they serve — which includes the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara — is facing flooding and mudslides expected to be some of the “largest and most significant in our counties’ history.” She encouraged people of goodwill to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles online. After years of serious drought, California endured an extremely wet 2023 that saw “atmospheric rivers” bring drenching rains and mudslides to parts of the state. After four straight days of heavy rain ended on Wednesday, some parts of the LA metro area had received more than a foot of rain. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256764/catholic-charities-seeks-donations-to-offer-help-amid-california-flooding-mudslides The bishops of Virginia condemned a bill advancing in the state Legislature that could legalize assisted suicide, warning that it “makes the most vulnerable even more vulnerable” and puts them at risk of “deadly harm.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256762/virginia-bishops-warn-of-deadly-harm-in-new-assisted-suicide-bill Today, the Church celebrates Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan. Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was kidnapped while working in the fields with her family and subsequently sold into slavery. She bore her suffering valiantly though she did not yet know Christ or the redemptive nature of suffering. When she was bought and freed in Italy, Josephine remained there and decided to enter Canossians in 1893. She made her profession in 1896 and was sent to Northern Italy, where she dedicated her life to assisting her community and teaching others to love God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-josephine-bakhita-680

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A religious missionary order in Nigeria is appealing for the safe release of two of its members who were abducted from a parish rectory on February 1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256746/two-religious-priests-kidnapped-in-nigeria-order-appeals-for-their-safe-release Freedom of religion is “deteriorating” in Hong Kong, and the United States — along with other democracies — should use its influence to promote religious liberty in the region, a new report on communist Chinese persecution in the city said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256745/freedom-of-religion-is-deteriorating-in-hong-kong-new-report-says A group of 90 Catholic priests, scholars, and authors are asking bishops and cardinals to reject a Vatican declaration that approved the pastoral, nonliturgical blessings of same-sex couples and to refuse to implement it within their dioceses. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256752/90-catholic-priests-scholars-ask-church-leaders-to-oppose-same-sex-blessings The US Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter to Senate leaders Tuesday in which they expressed “serious concerns” about the Senate’s new bipartisan border deal, urging them to reject portions of the bill that the bishops said would “restrict access to asylum” and further endanger migrants, especially women and children. “As shepherds committed to defending the sanctity of human life and upholding the God-given dignity of all, we implore you to reject those changes,” the letter said. After months of secret negotiations, the details of the border deal were finally released Sunday evening. Since being made public, the bill has been lambasted by progressives for being too restrictive and by conservatives for being too lax. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256749/senate-border-deal-criticized-by-bishops-other-catholics-from-all-directions Today, the Church celebrates Saint Richard. Richard was orphaned at a young age and eventually elected as bishop, and lived an ascetic lifestyle. Richard was the father of Saints Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga. He was on a pilgrimage to Rome from his native Wessex, England, with his two sons when he was stricken and died at Lucca, Italy. Miracles were reported at his tomb and he became greatly venerated by the citizens of Lucca, who embellished accounts of his life by calling him "King of the English.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-richard-140

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster offered prayers for King Charles III after Buckingham Palace announced Monday that the king would step away from some public duties amid treatment for cancer. “I am saddened to learn that King Charles is now facing a time of treatment for cancer. On behalf of the entire Catholic Community in England and Wales, I offer His Majesty our warmest wishes and assurance of steadfast prayers for his full and speedy recovery. God bless the King,” Nichols, who heads the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said. King Charles, 75, underwent treatment recently for an enlarged prostate, and an unspecified cancer was discovered during that treatment, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. The king remains “wholly positive about his treatment,” which has already begun, the statement said. The statement did not say what kind of cancer or at what stage it is. King Charles ascended to the throne in 2022 following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, and was crowned last spring. The English monarch is supreme governor of the Church of England, which broke away from the Catholic Church in 1534 under King Henry VIII. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256742/english-cardinal-offers-prayers-for-king-charles-iii-after-cancer-diagnosis Cardinal José Luis Lacunza, the bishop of the Diocese of David in Panama, apologized February 4 at the end of the Sunday Mass at Saint Joseph Cathedral in David after having been missing for two days but found safe and sound earlier in the week. Without offering details of what happened during the time he was reported missing, the cardinal commented: “It was a stupid prank.” “I thank you for all the love and all the prayers on my behalf. A thousand pardons and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your concern,” the cardinal concluded. Lacunza, originally from Pamplona, Spain, disappeared on January 30 and was found safe and sound on February 1. The Diocese of David reported his disappearance to the police and an investigation was launched by the prosecutor’s office. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256736/panama-s-cardinal-lacunza-apologizes-for-his-disappearance-it-was-a-stupid-prank Today, the Church celebrates a group of 26 Christians — three native Jesuits, six foreign Franciscans, and several lay Catholics, including some children — who were crucified in 1597 in Nagasaki after first being death-marched for 600 miles. All 26 Christians reportedly held out courageously, even singing the hymn of praise “Te Deum” when they arrived at the hill where they would be crucified. The group is widely known collectively as the 26 Martyrs of Japan — also as Saint Paul Miki and Companions, named after a Japanese leader of the group who was training for the Jesuit priesthood and who publicly forgave his persecutors. The example of the 26 martyrs helped to inspire Christians in Japan to carry on, with many churches and seminaries continuing to be developed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-paul-miki-and-companions-139

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a letter addressed to “my Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel” and released Saturday, Pope Francis lamented the “terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world” that has taken place since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256734/in-letter-to-jewish-brothers-and-sisters-pope-francis-laments-terrible-increase-in-attacks-against-jews The bishop of Lourdes, France, says that he has received a “pile of letters” from Catholics all over the world as he considers whether to remove the shrine’s mosaics by alleged abuser Father Marko Rupnik. Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes told CNA that he hopes to make a decision by this spring. The bishop formed a special commission last year to determine the future of the Rupnik mosaics. “This occupies my mind, my prayer, and my heart every day, especially when I meet victims of abuse,” Micas said. In an interview at the bishop’s residence in Lourdes, Micas acknowledged that, for him, this is a “very, very difficult decision to make.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256720/lourdes-bishop-says-he-s-received-a-pile-of-letters-regarding-rupnik-mosaics The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) released a note on Saturday on discerning the validity of the sacraments. The new document signed by Pope Francis and DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Fernández is titled “Gestis Verbisque,” or “Deeds and Words.” Fernández wrote in his introduction to the text that the note on the sacraments was written “to help bishops in their task as promoters and custodians of the liturgical life of the particular Churches entrusted to them.” The 11-page text published only in Italian on February 3 reiterates that for all sacraments in the Catholic Church, the “observance of both matter and form has always been required for the validity of the celebration.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256732/vatican-doctrine-office-releases-note-on-the-validity-of-the-sacraments Today, the Church celebrates Saint Agatha. Although we have evidece that Agatha was venerated at least as far back as the sixth century, the only facts we have about her are that she was born in Sicily and died there a martyr. Because she was asked for help during the eruption of Mount Etna she is considered a protector against the outbreak of fire. She is also considered the patroness of bellmakers for an unknown reason -- though some speculate it may have something to do with the fact that bells were used as fire alarms. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agatha-138

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Panamanian Episcopal Conference (CEP) announced that Cardinal José Luis Lacunza was found safe and sound today after being missing since January 30. The Archdiocese of Panama had called for prayers and expressed its concern over Lacunza’s disappearance. The cardinal is a prominent figure in the Catholic Church in Panama. Ordained a priest in 1969 in Pamplona, Spain, for the Order of the Augustinian Recollects, he was named auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Panama in 1985, and Saint John Paul II subsequently appointed him bishop of Chitré on October 29, 1994. On August 28, 1999, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of David, where he currently serves. In 2015, Pope Francis made him the first cardinal of the Catholic Church in Panama and of the Order of the Augustinian Recollects. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256714/cardinal-lacunza-found-alive-in-panama https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256712/panama-cardinal-jose-luis-lacunza-missing-since-tuesday Several of France’s Catholic leaders have expressed solidarity with the country’s agricultural workers amid historic protests that have seen farmers block major roadways near Paris with their tractors to protest environmental regulations, taxes, and competition from cheap imports. Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of the Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes, which is a largely rural diocese that includes the world-famous Marian shrine of Lourdes, said he wants to “express all my support to the farmers of the diocese.” He encouraged all the diocese’s parishes and religious communities to pray for those involved in the protest. Falling food prices, high taxes, increased foreign competition, demographic factors, environmental regulations, and unforeseen circumstances such as recent adverse weather conditions have tightened pressures on the country’s shrinking agricultural workforce. catholicnewsagency.com/news/256711/french-bishops-express-solidarity-with-striking-farmers Today, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord. This feast commemorates Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple more than Mary’s purification. The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas. At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemass. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/presentation-of-the-lord-427

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The sole victim of Sunday’s attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul was a Muslim man who regularly attended Mass, according to his relatives. Tuncer Murat Cihan, a 52-year-old Turkish man, was killed when two gunmen opened fire in Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district during Mass on January 28. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256691/victim-of-istanbul-attack-was-a-muslim-who-often-went-to-catholic-mass The Vatican announced on Wednesday the appointment of Father Peter Wu Yishun as the bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu (Minbei), the third appointment of a bishop in China in just a week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256700/holy-see-appoints-third-chinese-bishop-in-less-than-a-week-signaling-shift-toward-beijing Half a dozen pro-life activists on Tuesday were found guilty of violating a federal law, the FACE Act, that forbids protesters from blocking the entrances to abortion clinics. The federal FACE Act prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.” It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994. The defendants had been charged with a blockade that occurred at the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, in 2021. The defendants will be sentenced on July 2. They “each face up to a maximum of 10 and a half years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $260,000,” the Department of Justice said. At least one of the defendants plans to appeal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256692/six-pro-life-activists-convicted-of-federal-face-act-charges-face-over-a-decade-in-prison The US Supreme Court announced Monday that oral arguments in a high-stakes abortion pill case will be heard on March 26. The decision in the case could determine whether the abortion pill mifepristone can be prescribed by telemedicine or sent through the mail. The Biden administration is challenging a federal court ruling that found that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) did not follow proper testing and safety protocols when it approved the abortion drug in 2000. Over the years, other restrictions on the drug have been removed. In 2016, the FDA determined that the drug can be used when a woman is pregnant with a child at 70 days gestation. Before 2016, the gestational limit was seven weeks. The FDA also decided in 2016 that non-physicians could prescribe the pill. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256689/us-supreme-court-to-hear-major-abortion-pill-case-in-march Today, the Church celebrates Saint Brigid of Kildare, a monastic foundress who is – together with Saint Patrick and Saint Columcille – one of Ireland’s three patron saints. Saint Brigid directly influenced several other future saints of Ireland, and her many religious communities helped to secure the country's conversion from paganism to the Catholic faith. Under Brigid's leadership, the abbey she founded at Kildare played a major role in the successful Christianization of Ireland. The abbess' influence was felt in the subsequent era of the Irish Church, a time when the country became known for its many monasteries and their intellectual achievements. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-brigid-of-ireland-134

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A retired Catholic priest with the Diocese of Orlando and his sister were among the four people killed in Sunday afternoon shootings in Palm Bay, Florida, according to a diocesan statement. Father Robert Hoeffner, who celebrated his 50th year in the priesthood last year, was allegedly killed by a 24-year-old man named Brandon Kapas on Sunday, January 28. In addition to Hoeffner and his sister, Sally, the suspected shooter also allegedly killed his grandfather, William Kapas, and one other person whose name has not yet been released. The shooting of Hoeffner and his sister took place at a different location than the shooting of Kapas’ grandfather and the person who has not yet been identified. The motive for the shootings is still unclear. Police shot and killed the alleged gunman on Sunday after he shot at police and injured two officers, according to Palm Bay Police Chief Mariano Augello, who addressed the incidents in a news conference. Both officers “are going to survive,” Augello said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256676/orlando-catholic-priest-among-four-killed-in-palm-bay-shooting Pope Francis confirmed that he will meet with the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, who will be attending the canonization of Blessed María Antonia of Saint Joseph — also known as Mama Antula — the first Argentine female saint, to be held Febuary 11 in Rome. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256678/argentine-president-javier-milei-pope-francis-to-meet The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on Monday revived a 2019 lawsuit brought by a number of abortion providers in the state that challenges, on discrimination grounds, a longtime state law barring public funding for most abortions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256686/pennsylvania-supreme-court-opens-the-door-to-public-funding-for-abortion Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Nigeria shared details of the worsening persecution of Christians in Nigeria, accusing members of the government there of being complicit in what he called a Christian “genocide” and an erasure of the Christian presence from the country. Anagbe, who leads the Makurdi Diocese, warned that if greater action is not taken he believes the Christian population, which currently numbers over 86 million, roughly half of the total Nigerian populace, could disappear entirely in the next few decades. Though the Nigerian Christian population is massive and is known as having some of the most devoted faithful in the world, Anagbe said the Christian presence in Nigeria is “gradually and systematically” being reduced by radical Islamists through “killings, kidnappings, torture, and burning of churches.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256683/is-the-persecution-in-nigeria-a-christian-genocide-this-bishop-says-yes Today, the church celebrates Saint John Bosco (or “Don Bosco”), a 19th century Italian priest who reached out to young people to remedy their lack of education, opportunities, and faith. John Bosco was born in August of 1815 into a family of peasant farmers in Castelnuovo d'Asti – a place which would one day be renamed in the saint's honor as “Castelnuovo Don Bosco.” In 1841, John Bosco was ordained a priest. In the city of Turin, he began ministering to boys and young men who lived on the streets, many of whom were without work or education. The priest was determined to save as many young people as he could from a life of degradation. He established a group known as the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales, and became a kindly spiritual father to boys in need. The Salesians were helping 130,000 children in 250 houses by the end of Don Bosco's life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-bosco-133

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Monday that Pope Francis has created a “new” diocese in mainland China — a decision that tacitly recognizes diocesan borders drawn by Beijing. The pope has suppressed the former Apostolic Prefecture of Yiduxian, which had been a vacant see since 2008, and replaced it with the Diocese of Weifang, which takes its name from the prefecture-level city of more than 9 million people in China’s central Shandong province. The Holy See Press Office said that Pope Francis established the diocese on April 20, 2023, “in the desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual good.” Diocesan borders have been an area of dispute between the Vatican and China in the decades since the Chinese Communist Party came to power and started to redraw diocesan lines. The Catholic Church has 147 ecclesiastical jurisdictions in China with 20 archdioceses, 97 dioceses, 28 apostolic prefectures, and two ecclesiastical administrations. However, the Chinese Communist Party government has claimed that only 104 dioceses exist in mainland China and has redrawn borders in a way that combines dioceses. The Vatican signed a provisional agreement with Beijing in 2018 on the appointment of bishops, which is up for renewal in October. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256669/pope-francis-creates-new-diocese-in-china-accepting-borders-drawn-by-beijing Pope Francis suggested that the opposition to the Vatican’s approval of nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples mostly comes from “small ideological groups” with the exception of Africa, which he said is “a special case.” Regarding the bishops in Africa, who have expressed some of the strongest criticisms of such blessings, the pontiff said they are “a special case” because “for them, homosexuality is something ‘ugly’ from a cultural point of view; they do not tolerate it.” The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith , led by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, published a declaration on December 18, 2023, titled Fiducia Supplicans, which prompted the backlash. The declaration permits “spontaneous” pastoral blessings for “same-sex couples” and other couples in “irregular situations” but does not allow liturgical blessings, recognition of civil unions, or any actions that would make the blessings appear like a marriage. Francis said that he trusts that “gradually, everyone will be reassured about the spirit of the declaration,” which he said “aims to include; not divide.” He added that the declaration “invites us to welcome and then entrust people, and to trust in God.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256671/pope-francis-small-ideological-groups-oppose-same-sex-blessings-africa-a-special-case Today, the church celebrates Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti. Born of a noble family near Viterbo (Italy,) Hyacintha entered a local convent of sisters and lived comfortably until a spiritual director advised her to live more humbly. After hearing this, Hyacintha then disposed of her fine clothes and special foods. She eventually became very penitential in food and clothing, and was ready to do the most humble work in the convent. She developed a special devotion to the sufferings of Christ and by her penances became an inspiration to the sisters in her convent. The people loved her so much that her veil had to be replaced multiple times due to people clipping off pieces of it to keep for themselves. She was canonized in 1807. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hyacintha-of-mariscotti-132

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul during Sunday Mass that left one man dead. Two suspects described as members of the Islamic State group have been arrested following the shooting on January 28 at Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district. Turkish Minister of the Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced late on Sunday night that police had conducted raids on 30 locations across Istanbul following the attack during which the arrests were made. The Turkish bishops’ conference has asked for prayers for the victim and his family in a statement released on January 28. The Turkish bishops also urged people “not to spread the culture of hatred and religious discrimination.” Earlier this month, Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency reported that 25 suspected Islamic State members were arrested in Turkey on January 3 under accusation that they were plotting attacks on churches and synagogues. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256667/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-attack-on-catholic-church-in-istanbul Six pro-life activists are on trial in Nashville, Tennessee, facing federal charges related to a 2021 blockade of a nearby abortion clinic. The blockade, documented in a March 5, 2021, video posted on Facebook, showed a large group of pro-life activists ranging from elderly to young children walking into an abortion clinic and blocking access to the door by sitting in front of it. The video shows pro-life activists singing Christian hymns and praying. Police can be seen demanding they leave the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, and while some do, others refuse. The federal government announced in October 2022 that it had charged 11 of the individuals under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256657/six-pro-lifers-face-face-act-charges-in-tennessee-could-see-11-years-in-jail Today, the church celebrates Saint Gildas the Wise. Gildas was probably born around 517 in the North of England or Wales. He is regarded as being one of the most influential figures of the early English Church. The influence of his writing was felt until well into the middle ages, particularly in the Celtic Church. He is also important to us today as the first British writer whose works have survived fairly intact. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gildas-the-wise-131

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Religiously unaffiliated people, often referred to as “nones,” now make up the largest religious category in the US, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center. Pew’s new report, released January 24, shows that nones now account for 28% of the total U.S. population, outstripping the next largest group, Catholics, who make up 20%. The recent data is consistent with a long-term trend of Americans rejecting religious affiliation in growing numbers, with the percentage nearly doubling from 16% in 2007. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256646/nones-now-largest-religious-category-in-us-new-report-says The six Haitian religious sisters who were abducted on the morning of January 19 in Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince were released Thursday morning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256636/abducted-haitian-nuns-released-amid-ongoing-gang-violence Father Simon-Peter Engurait has been chosen as diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana following the unexpected death last week of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256647/ugandan-priest-named-diocesan-administrator-of-louisiana-diocese-following-death-of-bishop Father Thaddeus Wang Yuesheng was consecrated bishop of Zhengzhou, China, on Thursday, bringing an end to a 70-year-long vacancy. The Holy See Press Office announced on Thursday morning that Wang was appointed by Pope Francis as the bishop of Zhengzhou on December 16, 2023. The report noted that the decision took place “in the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256641/pope-appoints-new-bishop-in-china-bringing-a-70-year-vacancy-to-an-end Pope Francis signed a decree on January 24 allowing for the canonization of Canadian sister Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family. Born Virginie Alodie on May 12, 1840, in L’Acadie, Quebec, the future foundress was the only daughter in a family of six children. At the age of 14, she entered the Marianite convent in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, the female branch of the Congregation of Holy Cross. She spent several years teaching in and around Montreal. In 1862 she was sent to Saint Vincent de Paul’s orphanage in New York for eight years. In 1870, Paradis moved to the community of the Holy Cross Sisters in Indiana. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256638/canadian-religious-sister-mother-marie-leonie-paradis-cleared-for-canonization Today, the Church celebrates Saints Timothy and Titus, close companions of the Apostle Paul and bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days. Both men received letters from Saint Paul, which are included in the New Testament. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-timothy-and-titus-128

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Residents of Massachusetts and New York are being urged by pro-life leaders and Catholic bishops to raise their voices against upcoming legislation that would legalize assisted suicide. In New York, the “Medical Aid in Dying Act” would allow a terminally ill patient to request medication that would put an end to their life. The New York State Catholic Conference, which opposed the bill the past two legislative sessions, put out a call to action following the start of the 2024 legislative session on January 3. New Yorkers can write to their state legislators through the New York State Catholic Conference web page. The Massachusetts “End of Life Options Act” says that “a terminally ill patient may voluntarily make an oral request for medical aid in dying and a prescription for medication” if the patient is a “mentally capable adult,” a resident of Massachusetts, and has been determined by a physician to be terminally ill. Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL) in an email Wednesday urged supporters to voice their opinions against the bill by submitting testimony to state representatives and senators. The bishops of Massachusetts, who have opposed the bill since it was first introduced in 2021, again raised their voices against the legislation ahead of the hearing last year. A statement put out by the conference called the bills “deeply troubling” and added that “the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts stand united in our strong opposition to physician assisted suicide.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256631/catholics-in-massachusetts-and-new-york-urged-to-oppose-assisted-suicide-bills The US Supreme Court announced Monday that it will review the case of an Oklahoma man on death row who may have been wrongfully convicted, a decision the Oklahoma City archbishop says could help further respect for “the dignity of life” for all people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256628/oklahoma-archbishop-supreme-court-review-of-execution-could-further-cause-of-abolition The leader of the US bishops’ domestic justice committee this week praised a pending congressional plan for an enhanced child tax credit for taxpayers, calling it “exactly the sort of policy” on which lawmakers should be focused. The federal child tax credit allows parents and guardians to claim their dependent children on their tax forms, granting a tax break of up to $2,000. Up to $1,600 of that credit may be “refundable,” meaning taxpayers can receive cash payments for the credit. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256625/bishops-praise-bipartisan-deal-on-enhanced-child-tax-credit-proposal Today, the Church celebrates the Conversion of Saint Paul. Paul was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin who persecuted Christians until his miraculous conversion, when God chose him to be one of the principal instruments of God in the conversion of the world. The feast commemorating his conversion is mentioned in several calendars and missals of the eighth and ninth centuries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/conversion-of-st-paul-127

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawaii, the local phase concluded Sunday for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, a companion of Saint Damien of Molokai and layman who lived among and served those suffering with leprosy. Evidence from the local phase, which included 2,000 pages of investigation, will now be sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome for review. During a Mass on Sunday in celebration of the next phase toward Dutton’s potential canonization, Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva said that Dutton “exiled himself” to the remote part of Molokai island where lepers were forcibly segregated “so that he could do penance for his own wayward life.” Dutton, a Civil War veteran for the Union from Wisconsin, was married after the war but pursued a divorce after his wife was unfaithful and left him after one year. After he stopped drinking, he began studying Catholicism and officially became Catholic in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1883 when he turned 40. Dutton went to the remote part of the island with those suffering from leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, “so that he could change course completely from thinking about himself and his own needs to unselfish service of others in extreme need.” He became an expert in caring for the sick and continued his work after Damien died in 1889 from leprosy. Dutton himself inherited responsibility of an orphanage for boys and young men in 1895 and served there for the following 35 years. He died in 1931 at the age of 87 at Saint Francis Hospital in Honolulu. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256612/servant-of-god-joseph-dutton-s-cause-for-canonization-sent-to-vatican An international group of bishops is calling for “universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament” on the third anniversary of a key global nuclear disarmament treaty. The bishops of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Seattle as well as those of the Japanese Archdiocese of Nagasaki and the Diocese of Hiroshima issued the letter on Monday on the third anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons going into effect. That treaty, adopted by the United Nations in 2017 and entered into force in January 2021, includes “a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities,” including directives “not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use, or threaten to use nuclear weapons.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256611/bishops-call-for-universal-nuclear-disarmament-on-anniversary-of-treaty The Catholic Polytechnic University (CPU) in Los Angeles announced that it will welcome its first inaugural class of students in fall 2024 after receiving its license from California at the end of 2023. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256617/a-founder-with-a-vision-tech-based-catholic-university-in-los-angeles-to-open-this-fall Today, the Church celebrates Saint Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and Christian unity whose role as a priest and bishop helped bring thousands of Protestants back to the Catholic Church. In the late 16th and early 17th century, Saint Frances de Sales conducted spiritual direction both in person and in written correspondence. This inspired his famous work “Introduction to the Devout Life.” During his ministry in Switzerland, he wrote and distributed religious tracts that made inroads among Protestants and helped between 40,000 and 70,000 return to the Catholic faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-de-sales-126

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pro-life organization Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA) said in a press conference ahead of the March for Life that a main feature of its 2024 political plan to serve moms and save babies will be to focus on the work of pro-life pregnancy centers and maternity homes. The first type of state legislation SBA is promoting is financial support for mothers spanning from the beginning of their pregnancy to after the child’s birth. The group is also pushing for bills that offer “more child care solutions.” SBA supports expanding access to child care by promoting a tax credit for businesses that begin offering daycare services for employees. SBA is also supporting policies related to adoption services “for establishing a package of services and support for birth moms, and for establishing protections from online scams that target birth mothers and hopeful adoptive parents.” Fourth, the organization will promote “safe haven baby box legislation” along with funding to make the public aware of baby boxes. A baby box is a system in which a mother can leave her newborn baby in a box, typically found in a hospital or fire house, if for some reason she cannot take care of the child. Lastly, SBA will be promoting legislation that funds pro-life pregnancy centers and will advocate expanding tax credits for individuals and businesses that donate to the institutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256604/leading-pro-life-organization-lays-out-political-strategy-for-2024 British politician Lord David Alton of Liverpool has called on the UK government to urgently address persecution in Nigeria, starting with last year’s Christmas attacks that left more than 200 Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau state dead. Alton, who serves on Westminster’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, demanded urgent action to identify and bring to trial the perpetrators of the attacks that started on December 23, 2023, and continuing through Christmas, as well as other extremist atrocities in the West African country. The Catholic politician demanded that the 2022 Pentecost Sunday church massacre that left more than 50 Christians dead in Nigeria’s Ondo state also be looked into. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256606/british-catholic-politician-demands-justice-for-christians-killed-in-nigeria-at-christmas Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ildephonsus, Archbishop of Toledo, who died 23 January, 667. Ildephonsus had a strong devotion to the Blessd Mother, and it is said that one day he was praying before the relics of Saint Leocadia, when the martyr arose from her tomb and thanked the saint for the devotion he showed towards the Mother of God. It was also related that on another occasion the Blessed Virgin appeared to him in person and presented him with a priestly vestment, to reward him for his zeal in honoring her. The literary work of Ildephonsus is more widely known than the details of his life, and merits for him a distinguished place in the role of Spanish writers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ildephonsus-125

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishop Mario Dorsonville of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in southeastern Louisiana, whose ecclesial career spanned nearly four decades, died unexpectedly on Friday evening after serving as bishop of the diocese for less than a year. He was 63. He was born on Oct. 30, 1960, in Bogotá, Colombia, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. Dorsonville was a tireless advocate for migrants and immigration reform. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256595/bishop-of-houma-thibodaux-in-louisiana-dies-unexpectedly-at-63 Pope Francis announced the start of a Year of Prayer on Sunday in preparation for the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year. In his Angelus address, the pope said that a Year of Prayer starting on January 21 will be “a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer in one’s personal life, in the life of the Church, and in the world.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256598/pope-francis-announces-year-of-prayer-to-prepare-for-2025-jubilee Pope Francis called for the release of six religious sisters who have been kidnapped in Haiti in his Angelus address on Sunday. Armed gunmen took the religious sisters hostage in Port-au-Prince on Friday during a bus hijacking, according to Vatican News. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256599/pope-francis-calls-for-release-of-6-religious-sisters-taken-hostage-in-haiti Today, the Church celebrates Saint Vincent, a Deacon of Saragossa, and a martyr under Diocletian in 304. This most renowned martyr of Spain is represented in the dalmatic of a deacon, and has as emblems a cross, a raven, a grate, or a fire-pile. He is honored as patron in Valencia, Saragossa and Portugal. Very little can be confirmed about his life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-vincent-124 Today is also the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, which the Church in the US celebrates each year on January 22. The USCCB includes information about this day on its website, saying that the day is to be observed as “a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256582/its-not-too-late-to-join-this-pro-life-novena

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, Friday the nineteenth, is the March for Life in Washington DC. With tens of thousands of pro-life Americans will be gathering to demonstrate against abortion and for the sanctity of life. EWTN will be providing live coverage of the event, featuring expert guests and in-depth analysis. For more information about how to watch or participate in the March, visit Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256561/how-to-watch-the-march-for-life-ewtn-s-complete-coverage-schedule About two-thirds of Americans support some level of government restrictions on abortion, according to a recent poll released by the Knights of Columbus. The poll, which the Knights conducted with Marist Institute for Public Opinion at Marist College, found that 66% of Americans believe that “limits should be placed on when abortion is allowed” and only 33% believe that “abortion should be allowed without any limits” when given the two options. Respondents who labeled themselves pro-life were more likely to support limits on abortion, with 91% choosing that answer. Among respondents who said they were pro-choice, 48% still believed there should be some limits on abortion. About 84% of Republicans supported some limits on abortion, as did 49% of Democrats and 66% of independents. Since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, more than 20 states have imposed abortion restrictions, which includes more than a dozen states prohibiting abortion in almost all circumstances. Several other states, meanwhile, have moved to expand access to abortion in the wake of Roe’s repeal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256572/knights-of-columbus-poll-two-thirds-of-americans-support-some-abortion-restrictions After nearly 20 years without a cathedral, the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, announced on Wednesday that the Holy See approved one of its parishes to become a new cathedral site. Bishop Donald Hying selected a local parish, Saint Bernard, to be the future cathedral parish of the Diocese of Madison. An arson fire destroyed the diocese’s cathedral, Saint Raphael Cathedral Parish, in March 2005. Saint Raphael was designated a cathedral when Madison was made a diocese in 1946, with the cornerstone of the parish having been laid in 1854. Since the arson, local parishes have taken turns hosting important events. With Saint Bernard’s as the newly established cathedral, the diocese will be able to host priestly ordinations, the annual chrism Mass, and other events. Saint Bernard Church is currently being renovated before its elevation to cathedral status. The diocese expects the remodeled cathedral parish to be ready by late summer or early fall of 2025. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256569/vatican-approves-new-cathedral-for-diocese-of-madison Today, the Church celebrates Saint Canutus, King of Denmark, who succeeded his elder brother Harold on the throne of Denmark in the year 1080. Amid the glory of his victories he humbly prostrated himself at the foot of the crucifix, laying there his diadem, and offering himself and his kingdom to the King of kings. The justice of Saint Canutus as sovereign was well known. His charity and tenderness towards his subjects made him study all possible ways to make them a happy people. During a rebellion in his kingdom, the king was surprised at church by the rebels. He confessed his sins and received Holy Communion. Stretching out his arms before the altar, he was struck down on his knees by the enemies of his Christian reign. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-canutus-king-of-denmark-121

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Seventeen-year-old high school senior Susan Lutzke may have successfully saved her childhood Catholic elementary school from closing after raising more than $400,000 to address the institution’s financial difficulties. The principals of Saint Bede School in Ingleside, Illinois, announced on December 13, 2023, that if the money wasn’t raised by January 26, the school could face closure. Loving her experience at Saint Bede, Lutzke immediately sprung into action. The crowdfunding campaign almost instantly began generating funds, with almost 900 donations ranging from $10 to $50,000. In an updated statement on the GoFundMe, Susan Lutzke wrote on Sunday: “We’re thrilled to announce that we have officially surpassed our initial goal of $400,000 with 12 days left until the deadline.” A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Schools Office told ABC7Chicago earlier this month that decreased funding from the state has made it challenging for some Catholic schools to stay open. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256563/teen-hits-major-fundraising-feat-in-attempt-to-save-her-childhood-catholic-school A bill under consideration in Congress would preemptively disallow the White House’s to strip federal funding from some crisis pregnancy centers throughout the US. The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act was introduced in the House of Representatives this month. The bill if passed would “prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from restricting funding for pregnancy centers.” The bill, which is scheduled to be considered on Thursday, is meant to counteract the Biden administration’s efforts to restrict crisis pregnancy centers around the country from participating in a major federal welfare program. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256557/house-to-consider-bill-to-halt-biden-administration-s-defunding-of-crisis-pregnancy-centers The celebration of Mass at a southern California parish was interrupted by an armed police pursuit of a suspected gunman on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred during the 8:30 am Mass on Tuesday at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia, Orange County, California. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256559/mass-at-california-catholic-church-parish-interrupted-by-armed-police-pursuit The 51st national March for Life — the largest annual pro-life event in the world — is just around the corner, on Friday, January 19. For more information ahead of the March, visit Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256554/some-snow-predicted-for-2024-march-for-life-plus-everything-else-you-need-to-know https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256561/how-to-watch-the-march-for-life-ewtn-s-complete-coverage-schedule Today, the Church celebrates Saint Charles of Sezze. Saint Charles was born John Charles Marchioni in Sezze, Italy on October 19, 1613. He was known for his holiness, simplicity, and charity. He was generous to travelers and sought out spiritual advice. In 1656 he worked tirelessly with victims of the plague. He also wrote several mystical works including his autobiography entitled "The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God.” Tradition states he was called to the bedside of the dying Pope Clement IX for a blessing. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charles-of-sezze-416

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a continuation of his catechetical series on vice and virtue, Pope Francis on Wednesday dedicated his general audience to highlighting the difference between love and lust, arguing that “in Christianity, there is no condemnation of the sexual instinct.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256552/pope-francis-in-christianity-there-is-no-condemnation-of-the-sexual-instinct More than 2.7 million people gathered in the city of Barquisimeto in Lara state, Venezuela, on Sunday, January 14, to accompany the image of the Divine Shepherdess Virgin in a procession, reported state governor Adolfo Pereira. Pereira commented that there was a very positive atmosphere at the gathering, “where peace, calm, and the religiosity of the people reigned.” The devotion traces back to 1703 in Seville, Spain, when a Capuchin friar saw the Virgin Mary dressed as a shepherdess holding a shepherd’s crook. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256549/divine-shepherdess-procession-in-venezuela-draws-27-million Finnish prosecutors are asking the country’s Supreme Court to hear a “hate speech” case against a member of Parliament and Lutheran bishop for comments made about Christian teachings related to marriage and homosexuality. The charges brought against member of Finnish Parliament Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola for their speech were already dismissed twice — once by a lower district court and again by an appellate court. Yet prosecutors are advancing their case to Finland’s highest court in an effort to fine both Christians hundreds of thousands of euros and censor their speech. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256548/exonerated-finnish-politician-and-bishop-to-return-to-court-over-biblical-hate-speech US prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the then-18-year-old man who in 2022 killed nearly a dozen Black shoppers at a Tops Friendly Market grocery store in Buffalo, New York. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256544/biden-administration-seeks-the-death-penalty-for-buffalo-supermarket-shooter Today, the Church celebrates Saint Anthony of Egypt, the founder of Christian monasticism whose radical approach to discipleship permanently impacted the Church. In the course of his remarkable and extraordinarily long life, Anthony would live to see the Emperor Constantine's establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman empire. Anthony himself, however, would establish something more lasting – by becoming the spiritual father of the monastic communities that have existed throughout the subsequent history of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anthony-of-egypt-119

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega on Sunday released and sent to the Vatican two imprisoned Nicaraguan bishops along with 15 priests and seminarians. Nicaraguan media outlets La Prensa and Confidencial first reported on the release, indicating that among those released was Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa and Bishop Isidoro Mora of Siuna. Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Báez of Managua, exiled due to persecution by the Ortega dictatorship, confirmed the news of the release of the bishops, priests, and seminarians in tears: “Our pastors are free.” The released clerics arrived in Rome on Sunday afternoon and were welcomed as "guests of the Holy See," according to Vatican News. In August 2022, Bishop Álvarez of Matagalpa, a well-known defender of human rights and critic of the Ortega regime, was forced to remain in his official residence along with several priests, seminarians, and a layman. Two weeks later, having almost run out of food, the Nicaraguan police broke into the house, kidnapped Álvarez, and took him to Managua, the country’s capital, where he was placed under house arrest. On February 10, 2023, the dictatorship proceeded to sentence the bishop of Matagalpa to more than 26 years in prison, accusing him of being a “traitor to the homeland.” Since then, he has been held in the prison known as “La Modelo,” where political prisoners of the regime are held. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256540/nicaraguan-dictatorship-releases-bishop-alvarez-brother-bishop-and-priests After a year of renewed attacks on churches and religious centers, the US bishops said in a new report released today that attacks on houses of worship constitute the “largest threat to religious liberty in 2024” and could threaten “the very lives of people of faith.” The report said that while the committee “was founded in response to increasing legal threats to the free exercise of religion,” the bishops felt “compelled to decry foreseeable threats to the very lives of people of faith here in the United States.” According to the bishops’ report, “recent years have seen an alarming rate of vandalism, arson, and other property destruction at Catholic sites.” All this is compounded with, the bishops said, a “general failure” on the part of the “federal government to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of such attacks.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256532/religious-americans-lives-possibly-at-risk-in-2024-new-report-by-us-bishops-says Pope Francis appeared on Italy’s most popular prime-time talk show on Sunday night where the pontiff shared how he hopes that hell is “empty.” Three million people in Italy tuned in to watch the nearly hourlong television interview with Pope Francis on January 14 in which the pope responded to resistance to the recent Vatican declaration on same-sex blessings, previewed prospective papal trips to Polynesia and Argentina, and spoke of his fear of nuclear armageddon. The 87-year-old pope began his appearance on the television show “Che Tempo Che Fa” by joking that he is “still alive” and has no plans to resign. When asked by the interviewer, Fabio Fazio, how he “imagines hell,” Pope Francis gave a short response. “What I am going to say is not a dogma of faith but my own personal view: I like to think of hell as empty; I hope it is,” Pope Francis said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256542/pope-francis-i-like-to-think-of-hell-as-empty Today, the Church celebrates Pope Saint Marcellus, who became Pope at the end of the persecutions of Diocletian in aound 308-309. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marcellus-pope-118

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced on Thursday that the soaring baldacchino over the main altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini 400 years ago will undergo a major restoration. The ambitious restoration and conservation project, expected to be completed just before the start of the Catholic Church’s jubilee year in December, will require scaffolding to be set up around the canopy of the basilica’s main altar for nearly a year. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica, has assured that papal liturgies will still be able to take place in the basilica amid the restoration work. The 700,000 euro (about $768,000) restoration is being funded by the Knights of Columbus and will be carried out by the Vatican Museums’ expert art restorers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256515/vatican-announces-major-restoration-project-in-st-peter-s-basilica The Dominican Church of Our Lady of the Hour, one of the most emblematic in Mosul, northern Iraq, has been completely restored after the destruction carried out by Islamic State terrorists 10 years ago. The church was rebuilt with the collaboration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256504/church-destroyed-by-isis-in-iraq-completely-restored-10-years-later In the midst of war and suffering, the Catholic faithful of Holy Family Parish in northern Gaza continue to walk in the light of faith. Eight children received their first holy Communion this past Sunday in the church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256510/walking-in-faith-eight-children-receive-first-communion-in-northern-gaza The bishops of Ecuador published a statement titled “Violence will not prevail” following recent disturbances that occurred in the country including the takeover of a television station in the city of Guayaquil in the midst of a state of emergency that began on January 8. The bishops encouraged Ecuadorans not to fall “either into the fruitless panic that the game played by the violent [perpetrators] creates by giving credence to any alarmist image shared on social media, nor into the naivete of standing idly by believing that this fight is only for those who govern us.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256502/ecuador-gang-violence-will-not-prevail-bishops-say The criminal sexual assault case against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Wisconsin has been suspended after a psychologist hired by the court found that McCarrick is not competent to stand trial. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256505/breaking-mccarrick-found-incompetent-to-stand-trial-in-wisconsin-case-suspended Today, the Church celebrates Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, who not only founded a religious congregation, but was also instrumental in establishing the Canadian city of Montreal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marguerite-bourgeoys-114

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis next month will preside over the canonization Mass of the woman set to become Argentina’s first female saint, the Vatican said this week. The pope will preside over the Mass for Blessed María Antonia of Saint Joseph on February 11 in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican revealed in its release of the pope’s liturgical schedule for January and February. María Antonia was proclaimed “Venerable” by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and was later beatified by Pope Francis in 2016. In October, Pope Francis met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, to give his authorization for the the promulgation of a miracle attributed to the Argentinian religious sister, paving her way to become the country’s first female saint. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256494/pope-francis-to-preside-over-canonization-mass-of-argentina-s-first-female-saint Throughout 2023, more than 130 Catholic priests and religious were either arrested, kidnapped, or murdered, according to a new report on Catholic persecution published by Aid to the Church in Need. The report published by the Catholic charity found at least 132 instances of arrests, kidnappings, and/or murders, which is slightly higher than the report from the previous year, which found 124. The uptick was mostly driven by arrests from authoritarian governments, which went up from 55 in 2022 to 86 in 2023. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256498/report-over-130-catholic-priests-and-religious-arrested-kidnapped-or-murdered-in-2023 Located in Pittsburgh’s suburban neighborhood of Beechview sits a unique Catholic spiritual center that is the only one of its kind in the world, according to the bishop who opened it last month. The Saint Sharbel Spiritual Life Center is “the only one of its kind in the world,” Mansour said, explaining that the institution offers retreats, courses on spirituality, daily sacraments, Eucharistic adoration, Scripture studies, prayer, reading, and several other opportunities for growth. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256501/one-of-a-kind-saint-charbel-spiritual-center-opens-in-pittsburgh Today, the Church celebrates Saint Theodosius Abbot. Born to a pious family in 423 AD, Theodosius began his studies at an early age, and became a lector while still an adolescent. The example of Abraham led him to leave home in order to properly follow God. Dreading the vanity that comes from the esteem of men and unable to live in solitude with the multitude of admirers, he retired to a cave in the desert of Judah where he led a hermit's life. catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-theodosius-abbot-113

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Thousands of Christians rallied this week in front of the governor’s office in Nigeria’s Plateau state to demand action after more than 200 were killed in a series of Christmas massacres. The attacks, which targeted Christian villages beginning December 23 and continuing through Christmas day, left Christian communities in Nigeria’s Plateau state reeling. Photos obtained by CNA after the attack showed villagers burying their slain relatives and loved ones in mass graves. According to an evangelical leader who helped to organize the rally, the attacks also left 15,000 people displaced without homes. Among the demands being made by the protestors, they asked for an “urgent humanitarian relief material response by the state and federal government” and for the arrest of the perpetrators of the Christmas massacre, which he called a “genocidal,” “terrorist” attack. The attack marks the latest instance of terrorists targeting Christian Nigerians on significant Christian feast days. Due to continued attacks, Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian, according to a 2023 report by the advocacy group International Christian Concern. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256487/thousands-of-christians-in-nigeria-rally-to-demand-action-after-christmas-massacres The Black Nazarene procession in the Philippines, one of the largest religious devotions in the world, returned this year to its traditional size for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting millions of devotees. The procession, known locally as “Traslacion,” sees devotees carry across Manila a replica of a famous life-size statue of Jesus carrying a black wooden cross. Taking place each year in January, this year’s event marked a return to the traditional procession after three years of drastic downsizing due to the threat of COVID-19. In 2020, 2021, and 2022 the procession was essentially canceled entirely. In 2023, an estimated 103,277 faithful participated, far fewer than in past years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256485/black-nazarene-procession-in-the-philippines-draws-millions-after-returning-from-covid The attorney general of Michigan on Monday released the second of seven expected reports of alleged clergy abuse in the state, part of a multiyear investigation into abuse allegations — many of them decades old — against Church officials there. Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office announced the release of the report on the office’s website. The office said the report involves “allegations of abuse that took place in the Diocese of Gaylord.” The Michigan attorney general is conducting investigations of abuse allegations in each of the seven Catholic dioceses in the state. ​​In a press conference on Monday following the report’s release, Gaylord Bishop Jeffrey Walsh said there is no priest or deacon in active public ministry in the Diocese of Gaylord who has a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse or misconduct against a minor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256484/michigan-attorney-general-releases-second-report-of-clergy-abuse-in-state Today, the Church celebrates Saint Gregory of Nyssa. In 379 he assisted at the Council of Antioch, which had been summoned because of the Meletian schism. He also asserted the faith of Nicaea, and tried to put an end to Arianism and Pneumatism in the East. It is very probable that Gregory was present at another council, the Council of Constantinople in 383. Between 385 and 386 he disappears from history, but not without leaving a significant number of theological writings. He made significant contributions to the doctrine of the Trinity and the Nicene Creed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gregory-of-nyssa-112

Today, the Church celebrates Saint Adrian of Canterbury. The famous Abbot of Saint Augustine's in Canterbury, was likely born in Libya Cyrenaica, North Africa. Adrian decided to become a monk early in life and eventually abbot of Nerida, not far from Naples. Adrian became a valuable advisor to the pontiff and, three years later, was offered the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. He declined the papal appointment, but was persuaded to accompany Theodore to England as a trusted counselor. After spending time in France, he arrived in Britain and immediately succeeded Benedict Biscop as Abbot of Saint Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury. He established a flourishing monastic school, where many future bishops and abbots were educated in Latin, Greek, scripture, theology, Roman law and arithmetic. Saint Adrain died on January 9 at Canterbury, Kent. Several hundred years after his death, Adrian’s body was discovered in an incorrupt state. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-adrian-of-canterbury-111

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis called surrogacy “deplorable” and called for a global ban on the exploitative practice of “so-called surrogate motherhood” in a speech to all of the world’s ambassadors to the Vatican on Monday. “The path to peace calls for respect for life, for every human life, starting with the life of the unborn child in the mother’s womb, which cannot be suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking,” Pope Francis said January 8. “In this regard, I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs. A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.” Pope Francis’ strong condemnation of surrogacy came during his annual foreign policy speech to all of the ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. The pope’s annual speech to diplomats has been called his “state of the world” address because it is one of a handful of times that the pope addresses global crises and specific conflicts happening around the world all at once. For more from Pope Francis’ wide-ranging 45 minute speech, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256468/pope-francis-calls-surrogacy-deplorable-calls-for-global-ban-in-speech-to-ambassadors Pope Francis said Sunday that if you do not know the date of your baptism, you need to look it up so that you can celebrate the anniversary of becoming a child of God and heir to the kingdom of heaven. The pope spoke on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which commemorates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by Saint John the Baptist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes baptism as the “basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit ... and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” He also encouraged Catholics to thank God for their parents who brought them to the baptismal font and gave them the gift of the sacrament. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256466/pope-francis-if-you-don-t-know-the-date-of-your-baptism-look-it-up Today, the Church celebrates Saint Apollinaris, one of the first great martyrs of the Church. He was made Bishop of Ravenna by Saint Peter. The miracles he conducted in Ravenna soon attracted official attention, for they and his preaching won many converts to the faith. However, at the same time, his words and works brought upon the fury of the pagan people who beat Apollinaris cruelly on several occasions. When Emperor Vespasian issued a decree of banishment against the Christians, Apollinaris was kept hidden for some time, but as he was leaving, passing through the gates of the city, he was attacked and savagely beaten. He lived for seven days, foretelling that the persecutions would increase, but that the Church would ultimately triumph. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-apollinaris-110

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, more than 20,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Yesterday the Associated Press reported that in central Gaza Strip, eight people were killed in a strike on a building in Nuseirat refugee camp, and on Tuesday, at least five people, including a baby, were killed and several injured in an airstrike on the Red Crescent headquarters in the city of Khan Yunis. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they have launched an investigation. Gaza-based journalist Akram Al Satarri spoke with “EWTN News Nightly” from Khan Yunis about the state of the Gaza Strip as bombs went off in the background. In terms of the conflict escalating, Al Satarri believes it is “inevitable.” The killing of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut by a suspected Israeli air strike, followed by more than 85 people killed in Tehran at a ceremony marking the four-year anniversary of General Qasem Soleimani’s assassination, are the latest indications of a widening conflict. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256442/gaza-journalist-says-escalation-of-war-is-inevitable A federal judge heard testimony this week in a trial that will decide whether the state of Colorado can exclude Catholic schools from participating in its universal preschool program. The Archdiocese of Denver, along with two Catholic preschools, is taking legal action against the state, contending that the program is unconstitutional as it discriminates against Catholic schools by preventing them from participating. The suit, which began on Tuesday, was filed in the US District Court for the District of Colorado in August 2023. Colorado’s universal preschool program, created in 2022, offers eligible families at least 15 hours per week of free preschool for every participating child, according to the program website. The lawsuit maintains that the program rules are unconstitutional and objects to the exclusion of Catholic schools but not the preschool programs of other private schools. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256440/colorado-catholic-preschools-argue-in-court-that-state-program-discriminates-against-them Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Nepomucene Neumann. Neumann was born on March 28, 1811, in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic, and was ordained a priest in the United States and sent to Buffalo. Father John established himself in a small log parish house. He hardly ever lit a fire and often lived on only bread and water. He joined the Redemptorist order and continued his missionary work until he was appointed bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. As bishop, Neumann built 50 churches and began the constuction of a cathedral. He opened almost 100 schools, and the number of parochial school students grew from 500 to 9,000. He died suddenly on January 5, 1860 and became the first American bishop to be beatified. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-nepomucene-neumann-106

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A record number of college-age students, priests, bishops, religious brothers, sisters, and more are attending this week’s SEEK24 conference in downtown Saint Louis with anticipation already building for 2025’s conference, set to be held in Salt Lake City. The conference, which is being held by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) for a second straight year in Saint Louis, has attracted nearly 20,000 young people for presentations and talks related to the Catholic faith from world-renowned speakers as well as opportunities for Mass, confession, and Eucharistic adoration. As of Tuesday evening, the conference had 19,707 paid attendees registered, a 28% increase over last year. The keynote address Tuesday evening, presented in the former NFL stadium attached to the convention center, was delivered by Monsignor James Shea and Sister Mary Grace, SV. The conference continues all this week, wrapping up with a closing Mass on Friday morning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256438/seek24-continues-in-st-louis-with-an-eye-to-salt-lake-city-in-2025 The Vatican’s doctrine office issued a response on Thursday to “clarify the reception of Fiducia Supplicans” amid widespread international backlash to the Vatican’s recent declaration on same-sex blessings. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), published a five-page press release on January 4 that refers to Fiducia Supplicans as “perennial doctrine” and underlines that pastoral blessings of couples in irregular situations should not be “an endorsement of the life led by those who request them.” Fernández said that the responses he has received from bishops’ conferences around the world to the declaration highlight “the need for a more extended period of pastoral reflection” and that what is expressed in these bishops’ statements “cannot be interpreted as doctrinal opposition because the document is clear and definitive about marriage and sexuality.” The clarification was published two and a half weeks after the December 18 publication of Fiducia Supplicans, which prompted strong backlash from bishops in several African and Eastern European countries as well as confusion and division from other parts of the world. Some bishops have welcomed the declaration, some are approaching it with caution, and others are refusing to implement it. The press release did not mention anything about cases in which priests have already violated the terms stipulated in the Fiducia Supplicans declaration, which requires that blessings be spontaneous and cannot be a “blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256439/vatican-responds-to-widespread-backlash-on-same-sex-blessing-directive Today, the Church celebrates Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, foundress and first superior of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Elizabeth Ann Seton was beatified in 1963 and she was canonized on September 14, 1975. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-elizabeth-ann-seton-105

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Each month Pope Francis shares a prayer intention as part of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. The monthly prayer intentions express the Holy Father’s concerns for humanity and the mission of the Catholic Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256420/these-are-pope-francis-prayer-intentions-for-2024 Pope Francis was “deeply saddened” to learn of a devastating earthquake that struck western Japan on New Year’s Day, the Vatican said on Tuesday, with the pontiff extending his prayers and condolences to the country after dozens of deaths were reported. The reported 7.6-magnitude quake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the western part of the country. More than 50 people were reported dead as of Tuesday morning, with reports of tens of thousands of homes having been destroyed in the tremor. In a telegram sent on behalf of Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state of the Vatican, said the Holy Father “was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake.” The pope “assures everyone affected by this disaster of his heartfelt solidarity and spiritual closeness, and prays especially for the dead, those who mourn their loss, and for the rescue of any persons still missing,” the telegram said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256418/pope-sends-message-of-condolence-to-victims-of-deadly-earthquake-in-japan The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) SEEK24 conference is underway this week in St. Louis with the attendance of more than 19,000 mostly young people from around the country and the world. The event, which is taking place at the former NFL stadium attached to the America’s Center Convention complex, aims to galvanize young people to deepen and share their Catholic faith. This year’s SEEK conference is bigger than 2023’s by almost every metric, according to organizers. The conference currently has 19,707 paid attendees registered, a 28% increase over last year. The conference continues all this week, wrapping up with a closing Mass on Friday morning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256423/massive-attendance-enthusiasm-at-fellowship-of-catholic-university-students-conference Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of The Most Holy Name of Jesus.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Friends, scholars, and former colleagues of Pope Benedict XVI gathered in the Campo Santo Teutonico in Vatican City from December. 30–31 for a two-day conference to reflect on the late pope’s life and rich theological legacy on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of his death. Touching upon a wide range of themes, from his early life to his extensive theological corpus that covered the virtues of hope and love, the liturgy, and the life of Christ, the common thread uniting his work and life was a deep Christocentrism, which was made tangible in the Eucharist. On the morning of Sunday, December 31, Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary of Pope Benedict, at the Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter. During his emotional and intimate homily, the archbishop noted that Benedict’s life was characterized by rich prayer and a deep love of the Eucharist. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256417/conference-on-pope-benedict-s-death-legacy-defined-by-love-of-christ-the-eucharist Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong Catholic democracy activist, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to all charges leveled against him in his national security trial there. Lai, the Chinese-born founder of the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, entered a not-guilty plea to the charges of conspiring to collude with a foreign power. The 76-year-old Lai was originally arrested in August 2020 under that year’s controversial national security law, which was passed by China’s communist-controlled government. He has been imprisoned by Chinese authorities since his arrest. Lai’s trial in Hong Kong began last month, launching what is expected to be a protracted legal exhibition capping several years of imprisonment for the embattled pro-democracy advocate. Lai faces life in prison over the charges. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256416/jimmy-lai-pleads-not-guilty-in-hong-kong-national-security-trial Today, the Church celebrates Saint Basil the Great, one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church and Bishop of Caesarea. He ranks after Athanasius as a defender of the Oriental Church against the heresies of the fourth century, especially Arianism, which denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ. He was a strong supporter of the Nicene Creed. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-basil-the-great-103 The Church also celebrates Saint Gregory Nazianzen, a Doctor of the Church, born at Arianzus in Asia Minor, probably in 325, and died in 389. After his baptism at age 30, Gregory joined his friend Basil in a newly founded monastery. It was in Constantinople, where he tried to bring back Christians from Aryanism, where he began giving the great sermons on the Trinity for which he is famous. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gregory-nazianzen-107

Thank you for being a Catholic News listener. Due to the Christmas holiday, there will be no new news briefing on this channel until January 1st. We would like to thank you for listening to this podcast, and we hope you and your family are richly blessed this Christmas. From all of us at Catholic News Agency, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This podcast will return in 2024, so be sure to listen in. As always, the latest news will still be available at catholicnewsagency.com.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On Sunday, mother and daughter Nahida and Samar Anton, who were killed at Holy Family Parish in Gaza, were laid to rest in the small cemetery located within the parish compound. A statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem released the evening of their deaths, December 16, reported that they were killed by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sniper, though the IDF has denied responsibility. On the same Saturday, rockets were reportedly fired from an IDF tank and hit the convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, the Missionaries of Charity, on the parish compound, rendering the home uninhabitable, according to the Latin Patriarchate. The images of the attack on the convent, taken on cellphones by eyewitnesses and sent to Father Gabriel Romanelli of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, pastor of Holy Family Parish, depict a massive column of smoke rising from the building within the parish compound. The photos show that inside the convent, the flames darkened walls and destroyed large areas of the building. All the guests of the house “are unharmed and have been relocated to another area within the compound, but their conditions are very precarious. Some of them, requiring respirators, are at risk of not surviving for long,” the priest said. Unable to move the elderly and disabled or to evacuate safely to the south at the beginning of the war, the sisters chose to remain by the side of those they serve. In Holy Family Parish, prayers and liturgies continue without interruption. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256328/missionaries-of-charity-convent-in-gaza-unhabitable-after-taking-fire-residents-take-refuge-in-parish-church Bishops in Malawi have prohibited the implementation of the Vatican declaration on the blessing of “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations,” which came out this week. In a statement dated December 19, members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi stated that they prohibit the practice of such blessings in the southern African nation. The bishops said they offered the clarifications “having noted certain erroneous interpretations of this declaration that have generated interest, fears, and worries among Catholics and people who look up to the Catholic Church for moral, spiritual, and doctrinal guidance.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256327/bishops-in-malawi-declare-blessings-for-same-sex-unions-of-any-kind-are-not-permitted Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Canisius, an important figure in the Catholic counter-reformation that responded to the 16th century spread of Protestantism, a priest and a Doctor of the Church. His efforts as a preacher, author, and religious educator strengthened the Catholic faith in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Central Europe during a period of doctrinal confusion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-canisius-91

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Several American Catholic dioceses have already issued statements on how they intend to implement new Vatican guidelines that permit nonliturgical pastoral blessings of homosexual couples, but it’s still unclear what this will look like in most of the country. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration on Monday titled Fiducia Supplicans, which allows “spontaneous” pastoral blessings for “same-sex couples” and other couples in “irregular situations.” The document still prohibits any sort of liturgical blessing of homosexual couples because such a blessing would “offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be a marriage or to an extra-marital sexual practice.” The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s document has led to some controversy among the Catholic faithful and some confusion about what the Vatican is actually calling on bishops and priests to do. The implementation of the new guidelines could differ from diocese to diocese, as various bishops appear to be emphasizing different parts of the document. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256321/us-dioceses-respond-to-vatican-declaration-on-same-sex-couple-blessings More than 40 laymen and laywomen in the Diocese of Clogher in the north of Ireland will soon begin presiding over funeral liturgies amid a shortage of priests. A major vocation crisis could result in fewer than 10 active priests in the diocese in less than 20 years, according to the local ordinary, Bishop Larry Duffy. Duffy said that the diocese is “far too dependent” on priests for pastoral care, administration, property maintenance, planning, and parish governance. In 2021, a survey by the Association of Catholic Priests found that only about 30% of Catholics in Ireland attend Mass weekly — a significant drop from 91% in 1975. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256318/irish-diocese-to-rely-on-laity-to-preside-over-funerals-amid-shortage-of-priests A religious freedom watchdog group is urging the Biden administration to add the government of India to a list of the world’s worst violators of religious freedom. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said this month in a press release that it was “alarmed by India’s increased transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.” The commission this month said Indian authorities “have used spyware and online harassment campaigns to target and intimidate journalists and activists abroad advocating on behalf of religious minorities.” Commissioner Stephen Schneck said in the release that the indications of religious persecution are “deeply troubling and represent a severe escalation of India’s efforts to silence religious minorities and human rights defenders both within its country and abroad.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256317/us-religious-freedom-watchdog-urges-white-house-to-list-india-as-country-of-concern Today, the Church celebrates Saint Dominic of Silos, a Spanish monk who in the eleventh century renewed the spirit of the monastery of San Sebastian in Silos, reforming its structure, its finances, and its works of charity. Dominic was known for miracles of healing, which he obtained through prayer, and for his work of ransoming Christian prisoners from the moors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dominic-of-silos-90

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. The ruling, which also applies to Catholics civilly remarried without having received an annulment as well as to couples in other “irregular situations,” underscored that such blessings cannot be offered in a way that would cause any confusion about the nature of marriage, which the document affirms is the only “context that sexual relations find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning.” The declaration emphasizes that blessings may only be given “spontaneously” and not in the context of a formal liturgical rite. For more information about this new declaration from the Vatican, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256308/vatican-says-priests-can-bless-same-sex-couples-without-condoning-their-lifestyles The US bishops over the weekend renewed their call for peace in the Holy Land amid reports on Saturday that two Christian women were killed by sniper fire from Israeli forces at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Saturday morning that “around noon” on December 16, a sniper of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “murdered two Christian women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, where the majority of Christian families has taken refuge since the start of the war.” Several others were also shot, the statement said. The IDF has denied culpability for the deaths. In a statement on Saturday, meanwhile, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for “an immediate cessation of all hostilities, the release of hostages, and for earnest negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of this conflict.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256307/us-bishops-renew-call-for-peace-after-christian-women-reportedly-killed-in-gaza-church Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Pope Urban V. He is perhaps best known for his decision to return the papacy to Rome and end the Avignon exile of the popes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-pope-urban-v-89

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday morning ahead of his weekly Angelus by meeting with children and families who are assisted by a Vatican pediatric clinic. It has been the custom of the Argentine pontiff since becoming pope in 2013 to eschew more formal celebrations on his birthday and instead spend time with Rome’s poor and underprivileged. As the 266th successor of St. Peter to the papacy, Francis will be the oldest bishop of Rome since Pope Leo XIII, the oldest pope in history, who served until his death in 1903 at the age of 93. Fewer than 10 popes have served at the age of 87. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256305/pope-francis-celebrates-87th-birthday-with-children-who-receive-aid-from-vatican-clinic https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256300/pope-francis-turns-87-one-of-the-oldest-popes-in-church-history Judges delivered verdicts in the Vatican’s financial corruption trial on Saturday, sentencing Cardinal Angelo Becciu to more than five years in prison and convicting five other defendants to similar jail sentences for financial crimes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256302/vatican-court-convicts-cardinal-becciu-sentences-him-to-5-years-in-jail-for-embezzling-funds In the latest sign of escalating strain between the Holy See and Israel over the mounting civilian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war, Pope Francis after his Angelus address on Sunday sharply condemned the reported killing of two women outside a Catholic church in Gaza City, allegedly by an Israeli sniper. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256303/pope-francis-comments-on-attack-on-catholic-church-in-gaza Today, the Church celebrates Saint Gatian of Tours. Not much is known about the life of Saint Gatian, but we do know that he was the first bishop of Tours in France, and is said to be a disciple of Saint Denis of Paris. Arriving in Gaul, a pagan land, completely untouched by the Good News, Gatian scattered the first seeds of the faith in the region of Tours, laying the foundations of the Church in the city of the great Saint Martin. Saint Gatian died in 337. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gatian-of-tours-88

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican has decided to shut down the religious community of sisters co-founded by accused abuser Father Marko Rupnik, the Slovenian Archdiocese of Ljubljana announced Friday. Sisters from the Loyola Community were presented with a decree on December 14 from the Vatican Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on the dissolution of their community “due to serious problems concerning the exercise of authority and the way of living together,” the archdiocese said. According to the December 15 statement, the dissolution of the community must take place within one year. The Vatican decree ordering the dissolution of the Loyola Community was issued on October 20. Rupnik co-founded the Loyola Community with Sister Ivanka Hosta in Ljubljana, Slovenia, more than three decades ago. The priest and mosaic artist was removed from the Jesuits in June after having been accused of spiritual, psychological, and sexual abuse of religious sisters. Since then, the Vatican has announced that Rupnik will face a canonical process over the abuse allegations after Pope Francis decided to waive the statute of limitations on the claims. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256290/breaking-vatican-closing-down-loyola-community-co-founded-by-rupnik The Vatican’s doctrine office published a letter on Thursday confirming that single mothers can receive Communion after going to confession and urging the need for further “pastoral work” in parts of the world where single mothers might still face harsh judgment. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256278/vatican-doctrine-office-encourages-single-mothers-to-receive-communion-after-confession Pope Francis on Thursday urged global leaders to adopt an international treaty to regulate the development and use of artificial intelligence, saying technological research must be directed toward “the pursuit of peace and the common good.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256279/pope-francis-calls-for-global-regulation-of-ai-for-peace-and-common-good More than two dozen human rights advocates are urging Congress to call on the State Department to put Nigeria back on a list of the world’s worst violators of religious freedom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256276/human-rights-leaders-call-for-nigeria-to-be-redesignated-as-religious-freedom-violator Today, the Church celebrates Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli. She founded a refuge center in Genoa in 1625, which soon became overrun with the needy, and she rented an empty convent in 1631 where she cared for the sick with the help of other women, and she instructed the women in the faith in addition to their work. She constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, and soon the women who worked with her in the hospital were formed into two congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary, and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary. Victoria retired from the administration of the orders, and performed manual labour and begged for alms, but was called back to administrative duties soon after. She was canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II on May 18, 2003. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-virginia-centurione-bracelli-85

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis celebrated 54 years as a priest yesterday. On December 13, 1969, just four days before his 33rd birthday, Jorge Mario Bergoglio — who today is Pope Francis — was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano, archbishop emeritus of Córdoba, Argentina. Bergoglio continued his Jesuit formation from 1970 to 1971 in Spain. On April 22, 1973, he made his perpetual profession in the Society of Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253064/pope-francis-celebrates-53-years-as-a-priest Pope Francis has said that he wants to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome because of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He said that a “place is already prepared” for his burial in one of the oldest and most important Marian shrines in the West. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256261/pope-francis-says-that-he-wants-to-be-buried-in-marian-basilica-in-new-interview The US Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will once again consider a high-stakes abortion pill case that could impose new national limits on abortion. The Supreme Court will be reviewing a lower court’s August ruling that reimposed restrictions on the abortion drug mifepristone. The Biden Justice Department and the abortion drug manufacturer Danco Laboratories appealed the decision in September. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256262/breaking-supreme-court-to-review-high-stakes-abortion-case The bishops who lead the dioceses of Columbus and Steubenville in Ohio could present a merger plan to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops as early as June 2024, according to the bishops of both dioceses. It could take about three or four months to determine whether a merger is feasible, Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus and Bishop Paul Bradley of Steubenville said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256268/local-bishops-steubenville-columbus-diocesan-merger-back-in-play Today, the Church celebrates Saint John of the Cross, a 16th century Carmelite priest best known for reforming his order together with Saint Teresa of Avila, and for writing the classic spiritual treatise “The Dark Night of the Soul.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-the-cross-84

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Under certain circumstances, it may be permissible for a Catholic to keep a small portion of a deceased loved one’s ashes in a personal place of significance if some conditions are met, according to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256253/vatican-small-part-of-cremated-ashes-can-be-kept-in-personal-place-in-certain-cases Illinois has agreed to halt its enforcement of a law that restricts the speech and advertising of pro-life crisis pregnancy centers following a lawsuit that challenged its constitutionality on First Amendment and other grounds. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256256/illinois-agrees-to-halt-speech-restrictions-on-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-amid-lawsuit A new gene-editing therapy called Casgevy, which is designed to help treat patients suffering from sickle cell disease, has been endorsed by the National Catholic Bioethics Center and its president, Doctor Joseph Meaney. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256248/groundbreaking-gene-editing-therapy-receive-ethical-thumbs-up Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lucy, a third century consecrated virgin who was brutally tortured and martyred by the local governor. Owing to a miracle related to her eyes, she is the patroness of the blind, eye trouble, and other eye ailments. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lucy-83

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Monday received the prefects of the Italian Republic in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace and expressed his concern about the low birth rate in the country, lamenting that many times “dogs take the place of children.” Pope Francis reflected on the environmental issue and the “emergencies that are now frequent and involve everyone; linked to atmospheric phenomena that should be unusual and extraordinary, they have become common due to climate change.” He also highlighted his concern about the low birth rate in Italy, “a country that lacks children and the migrants come.” “I am concerned about the problem of the low birth rate here in Italy. They’re not having children,” the Holy Father pointed out. Finally, he invited the prefects to think about the responsibility “that Italians have to have children to raise them and also to welcome immigrants as sons and daughters.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256242/pope-francis-expresses-concern-about-italy-s-low-birth-rate The bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, California, announced on Saturday that “after careful consideration and consultation” the diocese will be filing for bankruptcy amid a slate of over 250 clergy abuse lawsuits. Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto said in a Saturday statement that Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the “only respectful, transparent, and fair way to address the substantial number of claims” and “sustain the sanctifying, teaching, and charitable work” of the diocese. The diocese, which has 102 parishes serving over 1 million faithful, will likely file for bankruptcy in March 2024, according to the bishop. Without bankruptcy, he said the diocese would likely not be able to give all the abuse survivors filing lawsuits “fair consideration of their claim.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256241/diocese-of-sacramento-to-file-for-bankruptcy-amid-over-250-clergy-abuse-lawsuits A Catholic priest in Nebraska died Sunday after being stabbed at a parish rectory, the Archdiocese of Omaha said. Police identified a suspect in the case late on Sunday. The sheriff’s office named the suspect as 43-year-old Sioux City, Iowa, resident Kierre Williams. No motive was given in the press release, though the sheriff’s office said the incident involved an “attempted break-in.” The priest grew up in Omaha and attended the College of Saint Thomas — now the University of Saint Thomas — and Saint Paul Seminary; he was ordained in 1984. In 2007, Gutgsell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $100,000 from Saint Patrick Catholic Church in South Omaha. He received five years of probation in connection with that case. He returned to priestly ministries later that same year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256239/nebraska-priest-dies-after-stabbing-in-parish-rectory-suspect-arrested Today, the Church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the 1530s, a Native man named Juan Diego, at Mary’s direction, found roses growing on a hill near Mexico City, even though it was winter. He gathered them into his cloak, or tilma. When he unfurled the cloak in the presence of the bishop to show him the roses, a miraculous image of Mary was on the tilma. It wasn’t until the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared that the native people began to accept Christianity on a large scale. Today, the image forms an inextricable part of the history of Mexico, and facilitated the evangelization of an entire people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-guadalupe-82

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis highlighted the importance of listening to God by embracing the example of John the Baptist, “the voice of one crying in the desert,” during his Angelus message on the second Sunday of Advent. Noting that the image of the barren desert as a place of preaching may “seem like two contradictory images,” they are in fact reconciled through the figure of John the Baptist as his voice “is linked to the genuineness of his experience and the clarity of his heart.” The pope also noted that the desert is a “place of silence and essentials, where someone cannot afford to dwell on useless things but needs to concentrate on what is indispensable in order to live.” Following the recitation of the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father commemorated the anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. The pope also took a moment to draw attention to a recent prisoner exchange between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256237/pope-angelus-through-silence-and-prayer-we-make-space-for-jesus The Vatican unveiled its annual Nativity scene on December 9, paying special tribute to the origins of the beloved tradition on its 800th anniversary. The scene in Saint Peter’s Square depicts not only Mary and Joseph standing beside the manger but also Saint Francis of Assisi, who organized the first Nativity scene in a cave in the Italian village of Greccio on Christmas Eve in 1223. Over a thousand people gathered in the square for the event, which included moments of catechesis, an explanation of how the scene was put together, and the signing of seasonal hymns. The Vatican’s Greccio-inspired Nativity scene does not include live animals and people as Saint Francis’ original did, but it does feature life-sized terracotta figures, crafted by renowned Neapolitan sculptor Antonio Cantone. At the center of the scene is the now-empty manger, where a figure of the newborn savior will be placed on Christmas Eve. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256236/vatican-unveils-nativity-scene-honoring-st-francis-of-assisi-and-devotion-s-800-year-old-origin Today, the Church celebrates Pope Saint Damasus. Throughout his papacy, Damasus spoke out against major heresies in the church and encouraged production of the Vulgate Bible with his support for Saint Jerome. He helped reconcile the relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Antioch, and encouraged the veneration of martyrs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-damasus-pope-81

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis had seven meetings Thursday morning where he read out three speeches unassisted for the first time in nearly two weeks. The pope, who has been recovering from a bout of bronchitis, said that he was feeling “much better” on Wednesday but opted to have an aide read his general audience catechesis, explaining to the crowd that he still had difficulties if he “talks too much.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256201/pope-francis-reads-speeches-unassisted-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-two-weeks Pope Francis on Thursday accepted the resignation of Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, based in India, commending his faithfulness after decades of leadership in that Church. Canon law dictates that bishops must submit their resignations to the pope at age 75. Alencherry turned 78 this year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256204/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-head-of-syro-malabar-church-cardinal-alencherry The US House and Senate reached a compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday in which they dropped House amendments banning military spending on abortion and sex change surgeries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256214/congress-drops-amendment-banning-military-spending-on-abortion-and-sex-change-surgeries A Wisconsin circuit court judge has affirmed her earlier ruling that an 1840s law protecting unborn children does not outlaw abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256211/wisconsin-court-rules-that-pro-life-law-doesn-t-apply-to-abortion Today, the Church celebrates The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which recognizes the long-held belief of the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin. Mary was granted this extraordinary privilege because of her unique role in history as the Mother of God. Even though Mary is unique in all humanity for being born without sin, she is held up by the Church as a model for all humanity for her holiness and her purity in her willingness to accept the Plan of God for her. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-77

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Holy Family Parish, the only Roman Catholic church in Gaza, gave an update December 1 on the plight of the Christians in northern Gaza as the Israeli-Hamas war continues and spoke about the significance of Gaza to Christianity in the Holy Land. Since the conflict began, hundreds of Christians and other Gazan civilians have taken refuge in the parish, which is on the northern end of the Gaza Strip. Romanelli said that though there is “great shock and sadness” among the Christians of Gaza, “they have great trust in God’s divine protection.” Though a small minority in Gaza, the Christian community has been greatly impacted by the war. Despite the suffering, Romanelli said that the faith of the Roman Catholic community in Gaza, which numbers about 135 and includes several priests and religious, has only strengthened. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256192/these-are-very-hard-times-pastor-of-gaza-catholic-church-gives-update-on-christian-s-plight Months after former cardinal Theodore McCarrick was ruled not competent to stand trial on criminal sexual abuse charges in Massachusetts, similar charges against him in Wisconsin now hang in the balance after a competency exam ordered by the court was filed in November. McCarrick is facing misdemeanor sexual assault charges in Wisconsin related to an incident that allegedly occurred in April 1977 near a house by Geneva Lake. The results of the competency exam are not yet available to the public and lawyers in the case could not comment on its contents. The next hearing is on January 10, 2024, at the Walworth County Judicial Center. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256191/theodore-mccarrick-case-in-wisconsin-hangs-in-the-balance-after-new-competency-exam Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ambrose, the brilliant Bishop of Milan who influenced Saint Augustine's conversion and was named a Doctor of the Church. Like Augustine himself, the older Ambrose, born around 340, was a highly educated man who sought to harmonize Greek and Roman intellectual culture with the Catholic faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ambrose-76

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A priest from the Diocese of Okigwe in Nigeria was kidnapped November 30 while traveling to administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to a parishioner. The diocese announced December 1 that Father Kingsley Eze, who serves as the parish priest of Saint Michael’s Umuekebi Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Imo state, was kidnapped at approximately 8 pm and his whereabouts are unknown. The bandits are said to have first robbed the street vendors, shooting indiscriminately and wounding a passerby, and then forced the priest and his companion to follow them. Saint Michael’s Parish serves parts of Imo state in southern Nigeria, which has been the center of massive attacks that mostly target Christians. From January 2021 to May of this year, security forces and “allied militias” killed 900 unarmed citizens, wounded 700, and arrested 3,500 people, most of them innocent Christians in Imo state. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256179/parish-priest-in-nigeria-abducted-while-answering-sick-call The beatification cause for Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect known as “God’s architect” and designer of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain, just completed an important step on the path to officially declaring him a saint in the Catholic Church. Gaudí’s cause for beatification has been transferred from a civil association to an ecclesial association and has entered its “final process,” according to the Archdiocese of Barcelona. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256178/canonization-cause-advances-for-god-s-architect-antoni-gaudi The board of trustees of the University of Notre Dame has elected as the university’s new president Father Robert Dowd, a Congregation of Holy Cross priest and associate professor of political science who serves as a current vice president. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256181/notre-dame-board-elects-father-robert-a-dowd-as-new-university-president Today, the Church celebrates Saint Nicholas of Myra. A bishop in the early church who was known for generosity and love of children, Nicholas was born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century. One of the most famous stories of the generosity of Nicholas says that he threw bags of gold through an open window in the house of a poor man to serve as dowry for the man’s daughters, who otherwise would have been forced into prostitution. The gold is said to have landed in the family’s shoes, which were drying near the fire. This is why children leave their shoes out by the door, or hang their stockings by the fireplace in the hopes of receiving a gift on the eve of his feast. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicholas-of-myra-75

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year, two of the massive entry doors at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, have been sealed. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, blessed and sealed the two doors, which are scheduled to be reopened on Christmas Eve next year as a Holy Door for pilgrims. The ceremony took place on the first Sunday of Advent — a little more than one year before the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year, which will center on the theological virtue of hope. Broglio said the jubilee theme “Pilgrims of Hope” indicates that “we are on a journey and not pessimistic travelers,” highlighting the need for a message of hope amid ongoing crises around the world. Holy Doors, which are traditionally sealed prior to jubilee years, provide special graces for pilgrims who walk through them. A pilgrimage through a Holy Door also permits one to receive a plenary indulgence when the other normal conditions for such an indulgence are met. The 2025 Jubilee Year begins on December 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve), and concludes on January 6, 2026 — slightly more than one calendar year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256174/holy-doors-sealed-at-nation-s-largest-catholic-church Climate activists in Italy over the weekend disrupted a Mass celebrated by Turin Archbishop Roberto Repole, with the demonstrators reading from Pope Francis’ works on the environment during the incident. Activists with the climate group Extinction Rebellion appeared at the Turin Cathedral on Sunday during the archbishop’s Mass there, according to the Italian newspaper la Republicca. The incident reportedly took place “in the moments before the homily,” the paper said, in which “activists stood up one at a time and read aloud the two writings.” The paper said the demonstrators quoted in part from Laudato Si’ by repeating Francis’ call for “a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256172/climate-activists-disrupt-archbishop-s-mass-in-turin The bishop of Saltillo in the Mexican border state of Coahuila, Hilario González García, has announced the automatic excommunication (“latae sententiae”) of the one or more thieves who broke into a Catholic church and stole and desecrated the Eucharist. The incident occurred the morning of November 25 at Sacred Heart of Jesus chapel, part of Our Lady of Schoenstatt Parish located on the outskirts of the city. “For the very serious offense committed against Our Lord,” González invited all the faithful to join in prayer, “performing acts of reparation and promoting love for Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.” For now, he explained, Mass will not be possible until reparation is made for the offense. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256176/mexican-bishop-states-thief-who-stole-eucharist-is-excommunicated Today, the Church celebrates Saint Gerald, an English monk, and the bishop of Mayo in Ireland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gerald-bishop-of-mayo-74 The Church also celebrates Blessed Phillip Rinaldi, a 19th-century Salesian who served as Salesian provincial superior in Spain, where he opened many new houses and then served as vicar-general of the Salesians before becoming the Rector Major in 1922, Don Bosco’s third successor. His humble and quiet leadership of the order combined with his tremendous saintly virtue and apostolic zeal, and a healing miracle attributed to him at the end of the Second World War, prompted his cause for canonization. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-phillip-rinaldi-408

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis called the destruction of the environment “an offense against God” in a message given to the participants in the UN climate summit on Saturday. The keynote address that the pope had intended to give in person at the COP28 conference was distributed to the attendees in Dubai, where Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin read a shortened version of the pope’s speech to the assembly on December 2. Pope Francis, who turns 87 in two weeks, canceled his scheduled trip to the United Arab Emirates days before the climate summit at the request of his doctors after coming down with a flu infection that left him with breathing difficulties and acute bronchitis. Care for creation has been an important theme in Francis’ pontificate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256165/pope-francis-to-cop28-environmental-destruction-is-an-offense-against-god Pope Francis for the second consecutive Sunday was assisted by an aide in praying the Angelus as he continues to recover from an acute bronchial infection. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256167/pope-francis-on-first-sunday-of-advent-im-improving-but-my-voice-still-doesnt-work At least three people were killed and others injured Sunday morning in an explosion during a Mass held in a university gymnasium in the southern Philippines. Authorities are investigating whether pro-Islamic State militants were responsible for the blast, which set off a panic on the campus of Mindanao State University in Marawi on the island of Mindanao. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256166/philippine-catholic-mass-explosion-three-killed Today, the Church celebrates Saint John of Damascus. Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics, whose tradition has been particularly shaped by his insights, celebrate the saint's feast on the same day as the Roman Catholic Church. Among Eastern Christians, John is best known for his defense of Christian sacred art, particularly in the form of icons. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-damascus-407

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will head the Vatican’s delegation to the COP28 climate conference in place of Pope Francis, who continues to recover from an acute bronchial infection. The Vatican announced on Tuesday that it was canceling the 86-year-old pontiff’s trip to Dubai at the behest of his doctors. The pope has been struggling since last week with both a mild flu and lingering symptoms from that illness. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256154/cardinal-parolin-will-represent-pope-francis-at-climate-conference Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December is for people with disabilities. The Holy Father urged civil institutions to “support their projects through access to education, employment, and places where they can express their creativity.” The pope encouraged individuals to change “our mentality a little” and open “ourselves to the abilities and talents of these people who are differently abled, both in society as well as in the life of the Church.” He concluded with a prayer: “Let us pray that people with disabilities may be at the center of attention in society, and that institutions offer inclusion programs that enhance their active participation.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256134/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-december In what it called its “best and final” offer to survivors of abuse, the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York on Monday proposed a plan that offers $200 million to approximately 600 survivors of abuse, the largest-ever settlement offer made in diocesan bankruptcy history. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256151/new-york-diocese-offers-200-dollars-million-to-abuse-victims-in-largest-ever-settlement-offer Today, the Church celebrates Saint Edmund Campion. He was born in London on January 25, 1540. He joined the Jesuits and won many Catholic converts in England during a time when the faith was highly persecuted. On July 17, 1581, he was betrayed by one of the faithful who knew his whereabouts, and was thrown into prison. The queen offered him all manner of riches if he would forsake his loyalty to the Pope, but he refused. After spending some time in the Tower of London, he was sentenced to death by hanging, drawing and quartering. His martyrom in Tyburn on December 1, 1581 sparked off a wave of conversions to Catholicism. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-edmund-campion-404 The Church also celebrates Saint Eligius, a seventh-century bishop of Noyon-Tournai in France and Belgium. Eligius is the patron of goldsmiths, blacksmiths, and all metal workers. Taxi drivers have also put themselves under his protection. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-eligius-70

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis told health care professionals on Thursday that he has “very acute infectious bronchitis” and was advised not to travel to Dubai to avoid the extreme change in temperature. The Vatican on Wednesday had said Pope Francis’ health was stable as the Holy Father continues to receive treatment for ongoing lung inflammation stemming from a flu infection. Pope Francis has been struggling for several days with persistent symptoms following what the Vatican called a mild flu infection that developed last week. The Vatican announced on Tuesday that it had canceled the pope’s planned trip to Dubai this week due to his continuing struggles with lung inflammation. Francis had been scheduled to travel to Dubai to deliver a speech at the COP28 climate conference. Though he continues to struggle with the symptoms from the flu, the pope has kept up a somewhat regular schedule at the Vatican this week. Francis, who turns 87 next month, has experienced a number of medical setbacks in recent years. He has been hospitalized on more than one occasion, most recently in June for abdominal surgery. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256137/vatican-pope-s-health-stationary-treatment-continues-as-lung-inflammation-remains https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256142/pope-francis-says-he-has-very-acute-infectious-bronchitis The pastoral center of Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw, Myanmar, was bombed on November 26 and occupied by the Burmese military the next day. Though no one was killed in the bombing, the pastoral center’s ceiling collapsed and Bishop Celso Ba Shwe and the 80 refugees taking shelter in the church were forced to flee. The cathedral complex had been sheltering about 82 refugees from throughout Myanmar’s Kayah state, a region that has become a major battleground between the Burmese military junta and several rebel militias. Myanmar, which is bordered by India to the west and China to the east, is a majority Buddhist country that has large Catholic and Protestant minorities in some states. The country has been caught in a bloody civil war since 2021 after local militias united to oppose the military junta that had seized control of the government earlier that year. This is not the first time that Catholic churches and holy sites have been caught in the crossfire in the ongoing war. Catholic sites in Kayah state and in the Loikaw Diocese have been especially hard hit by military strikes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256136/catholic-cathedral-complex-bombed-bishop-flees-with-refugees-in-worsening-myanmar-civil-war Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew, apostle and martyr. A fisherman from Bethsaida and brother of Simon Peter, Andrew is said to have spread Christianity in Russia and Asia minor after Pentecost in the first century. He was crucified by the Romans in Greece on an X-shaped cross, which is now his distinctive symbol as well as the symbol of Scotland, of which he is the patron. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-andrew-apostle-403

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will not attend the United Nations COP28 climate conference in Dubai this week due to his continuing struggles with lung inflammation stemming from influenza, the Vatican said on Tuesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256124/vatican-cancels-pope-francis-trip-to-climate-conference-in-dubai-citing-ongoing-illness Pope Francis has stripped one of his top American critics, Cardinal Raymond Burke, of his Vatican housing and salary privileges, the Associated Press has reported. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256120/pope-francis-reportedly-takes-apartment-salary-from-cardinal-burke The Catholic child sponsorship charity Unbound announced Tuesday that Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus in “The Chosen” TV series, has partnered with them to sponsor their 1 millionth child currently living in poverty. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256122/catholic-actor-jonathan-roumie-partners-with-child-sponsorship-charity-for-special-milestone Today, the Church celebrates Saint Saturninus, the first bishop of Toulouse, France. He was martyred by pagan priests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-saturninus-68 The Church also celebrates the many Franciscan saints who followed in the footsteps of Saint Francis. It is a special day for all Franciscans to celebrate the feast of ‘All the Saints of the Seraphic Order.’ https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-saints-of-the-seraphic-order-feast-733 Finally, the Church celebrates Blessed Denis of the Nativity and Blessed Redemptorus of the Cross. Blessed Denis was born in 1600 in Honfleur, France. He became a sailor at the age of twelve, and later on became the pilot-in-chief and cartographer of the courts of Portugal and France. In 1635 while he was in Goa, India, he took on the habit of a Discalced Carmelite Monk. Blessed Redemptorus of the Cross was born in Portugal at the end of the 16th century. He became a soldier, but later took on the habit of the Discalced Carmelites in 1615. Together, Denis and Redemptorus set out on mission to the king of Achin in the Malay archipelago. While on their way, they and their party were ambushed and tortured to death by Muslims on November 29, 1638. They were beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1900. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-denis-of-the-nativity-and-blessed-redemptorus-of-the-cross-402

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis is being treated with antibiotics intravenously and has postponed some of his meetings this week as he recovers from a “mild flu,” according to the Vatican. Francis, who turns 87 next month, spent much of the past decade as pope in relatively good health but has dealt with several painful medical conditions over the last few years. To view a timeline charting Pope Francis’ recent health concerns, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251307/pope-francis-health-heres-a-timeline Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa (also known as the White Fathers) who was reportedly kidnapped in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has been set free. According to Agenzia Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the German priest was released on Sunday, November 26. After being released and handed over to the Malian authorities following a negotiation that was reportedly done directly by the German government, Lohre was said to have been “flown to Germany overnight on a special flight.” Lohre was taken away as he was preparing to celebrate Mass in a church in the capital city of the West African nation. His car was found abandoned and the cross he always carried with him was on the ground near the car. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256111/german-missionary-priest-released-a-year-after-being-abducted-in-mali Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the vandalism of a pro-life organization’s headquarters in Rome perpetrated during a protest to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Demonstrators threw smoke bombs, smashed windows, and spray-painted pro-abotion graffiti on the “Pro Vita & Famiglia” association’s main office in Rome on Saturday night despite the presence of Italian police at the protest. The vandalism occurred as thousands took to the streets in Italy’s capital for a march protesting violence against women. Pro Vita & Famiglia (“Pro-Life and Family”) is an Italian nonprofit organization that helps organize Italy’s annual March for Life. The association’s headquarters were also vandalized during Rome’s LGBTQ Pride parade in June. The pro-life association said November 26 that an incendiary weapon was also found inside the office near the broken windows, which according to the initial findings of the police could have been an unexploded Molotov cocktail or a similar weapon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256110/giorgia-meloni-condemns-vandalism-of-pro-life-center-in-rome Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine Labouré, the humble member of the Daughters of Charity to whom Mary appeared, requesting that the Miraculous Medal be stamped so that all who wear it would receive great graces. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-laboure-401 The Church also celebrates Saint James of the Marches, a Franciscan priest in the 15th century who was known as an eloquent preacher. According to legend, he brought 50,000 heretics into the Church and led 200,000 nonbelievers to baptism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-of-the-marches-67

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ lung inflammation has caused him some breathing difficulties, but his condition is stable and “clearly improving,” the Vatican said on Monday. The 86-year-old pope is being treated with antibiotics intravenously and is in “good and stable” condition without a fever, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists. A CT scan at a Rome hospital over the weekend “ruled out pneumonia, but it showed lung inflammation causing some breathing difficulties,” Bruni said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256109/pope-francis-health-stable-despite-breathing-difficulties-vatican-says https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256108/angelus-sunday-pope-francis-aid-flu Pope Francis has added 11 new members to the Vatican office that focuses on the lay apostolate and family life, with two married couples and four figures affiliated with ecclesial movements highlighting the selections. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256107/pope-adds-married-couples-church-movement-reps-to-vatican-s-laity-and-family-office This year, Catholics will be able to receive a plenary indulgence from December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to February 2, 2024, the feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by praying before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256087/catholics-can-receive-a-plenary-indulgence-by-praying-before-a-nativity-scene Today, the Church celebrates Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani. Born as Giovanneillo in Lucera, Italy in 1681, he entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1695 and took the names of Saint Francis and Saint Anthony. He was a mystic, known for his deep prayer life and supernatural gifts, and was known to levitate while praying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francesco-antonio-fasani-66 The Church also celebrates Saint James Intercisus, a soldier and courtier to King Yezdigerd I of Persia in the early fifth century. After previously renouncing his faith out of fear, he went through a true, deep conversion, uniting and conforming himself to the living God. Wanting to make amends, he professed his faith before the new king and was condemned to death. He is the patron saint of lost vocations and torture victims. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-intercisus-400 Finally, the Church honors Saint Sechnall of Ireland. Born in 375, around the year 439 he was sent from Gaul to assist his uncle, Saint Patrick, in Ireland, together with Auxilius and Iserninus in thier missionary work there. He became the first bishop of Dunslaughlin in Meath, and then auxiliary bishop of Armagh. He wrote several hymns, notably the alphabetical hymn Audites, omnes amantes Deum (the oldest known Latin hymn written in Ireland) in honor of Patrick and the earliest Latin hymn in Ireland, and Sancti, venite, Christi corpus sumite. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-sechnall-of-ireland-697

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday today in the United States, there will not be a new Catholic News briefing until Monday, November 27th. As always, the latest news will still be available at www.catholicnewsagency.com. From all of us at Catholic News Agency, we wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has expressed deep reservations about the direction of the Catholic Church in Germany, warning that concrete steps currently being taken “threaten” to undermine unity with the universal Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256068/breaking-pope-francis-intervenes-with-german-synodal-way A French bishop has been charged with the attempted rape of an adult man that allegedly took place more than a decade ago. Bishop Georges Colomb of La Rochelle and Saintes was reportedly charged on Friday with the 2013 attempted rape of an adult man. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256073/french-bishop-charged-with-attempted-2013-rape-of-adult-man A man calling himself “Father Martin” attempted to infiltrate several Texas parishes last month and reportedly succeeded in stealing several hundred dollars from one Houston parish, with the scam prompting a security warning from one of the state’s dioceses. On October 25, a person who identified himself as a visiting priest named “Father Martin” showed up at six different parishes in the Diocese of Dallas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256075/texas-dioceses-targeted-by-scammer-impersonating-catholic-priest A legislative council member from the pro-Beijing New People’s Party has criticized a joint petition signed by ten Catholic bishops, including three Americans, calling for the immediate release of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256078/hong-kong-lawmaker-blasts-catholic-bishops-petition-for-release-of-jimmy-lai Over 100 members of Congress are urging the Supreme Court to stop more than half of US abortions by ordering the FDA to revoke its abortion pill approval. The lawmakers are arguing that the FDA’s approval process for the abortion drug had many “irregularities” and the decision to approve them has “endangered women and girls.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256080/over-100-members-of-congress-urge-supreme-court-to-revoke-abortion-pill-approval Today, the Church celebrates Saint Cecilia. Cecilia was an early Roman martyr, and is the patron of musicians and poets because according to tradition, she sang while being burned in an oven during her martyrdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cecilia-61

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A religious sister in Pennsylvania died over the weekend after colliding head-on with another vehicle on the road as she was traveling to a reunion of women who participated in an annual discernment retreat known as Fiat. Sister Augustine Marie Molnar, 43, a member of the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was a middle school religion teacher at All Saints Catholic School in Cresson, Pennsylvania. She sometimes assisted in vocation work and was headed to Reading, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Allentown, to share her own vocation story. Sister Augustine Marie had taken temporary vows with the community and possibly would have made her perpetual profession of vows as early as March of next year. A funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, November 27. She will be buried at Saint Francis Xavier Parish Cemetery in Cresson. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256060/pennsylvania-religious-sister-dies-in-car-accident An Ohio priest was sentenced to life in prison Friday after being convicted of multiple sexual abuse charges earlier this year. Parish priest Michael Zacharias was convicted on five counts of sex trafficking by a federal jury in the Northern District of Ohio in May. The priest had been arrested in 2020 on the charges, which included “coercion and enticement, sex trafficking of a minor, and sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion.” Upon learning of the abuse charges in 2020, Toledo Bishop Daniel Thomas placed Zacharias on immediate administrative leave, forbidding him from exercising public priestly ministry or presenting himself as a priest while the claims were being investigated. After his conviction earlier this year, the diocese said Zacharias’ case would “be presented to the Holy See, who will make the final judgment, which will lead to a determination of his status as a priest.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256059/ohio-priest-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-sex-trafficking Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorating the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her parents in the Temple in Jerusalem. The celebration of the Feast is first documented in the 11th century within the Byzantine Catholic Church. It was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century by Pope Gregory XI, then removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid 16th century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/feast-of-the-presentation-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-60

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will meet with the families of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas at his next Wednesday general audience, and he will also meet separately with a group of Palestinians with relatives suffering in Gaza. Pope Francis has frequently prayed for peace in the Holy Land in his public audiences since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last month. He has also repeatedly called for the hostages being held by Hamas to be freed and for the protection and humanitarian support of civilians in Gaza. About 240 people are being held hostage by Hamas, according to the United Nations. Four hostages have been released so far and another was freed by Israeli forces in October. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256054/pope-francis-to-meet-with-families-of-israeli-hostages-and-palestinians-with-relatives-in-gaza During the night of November 14–15, unidentified persons destroyed the altar and stole sacred vessels from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Archdiocese of Rouen, France. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, the prosecutor’s office confirmed that the Sacré-Coeur basilica was vandalized and that the unidentified persons also smashed a statue, although the Blessed Sacrament was not stolen. The authorities have not yet identified the vandals, but local police have already launched an investigation to find them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256049/altar-vandalized-sacred-vessels-stolen-from-sacred-heart-basilica-in-france Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bernward, who served as the thirteenth Bishop of Hildesheim, Germany during the middle of the tenth century. A man of extraordinary piety, he was deeply devoted to prayer as well as the practice of mortification, and his knowledge and practice of the arts were employed generously in the service of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bernward-59

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - With the National Eucharistic Congress just eight months away, the US bishops announced that scholarships and single-day and weekend passes will be available to make it possible for more Catholics to attend the event to be held next July in Indianapolis. As many as 80,000 Catholics are expected to attend the event from July 17–21, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts. Almost 30,000 tickets have been sold for the full five-day congress, which has just released an updated schedule of events. A complete and detailed schedule will be available in January. The congress is the climax of the bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival initiative, which was launched in part because of a Pew Research poll that suggested only one-third of adult Catholics in the US believe in the Church’s teaching on the Blessed Sacrament. Visit catholic news agency dot com for more information. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256033/national-eucharistic-congress-releases-schedule-offers-scholarships-and-weekend-passes The US bishops will continue to highlight the threat of abortion as a “preeminent priority” in the introduction to a guide they’ll disseminate to Catholic voters ahead of the 2024 election. That designation, the source of debate among some bishops in recent years, was retained when the bishops voted overwhelmingly, 225-11, with seven abstentions, to approve a revised introduction to the guide, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” at their annual fall assembly Wednesday in Baltimore. The new introduction also lists euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty, and human trafficking as “other grave threats to life and dignity of the human person.” In a press conference after the vote, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that while many issues are important, “not all issues are equal.” “We are called to stand in radical solidarity with women in difficult pregnancies and their unborn children and to provide them with the kind of support and services and public policies that they need,” he explained. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256025/us-bishops-approve-voting-guide-that-calls-abortion-preeminent-priority Catholic Relief Services (CRS) this week called for an “immediate cessation of violence” in the Gaza Strip so that the humanitarian organization and other groups can deliver sorely needed supplies to civilians in the region. CRS does not have staff at Al-Shifa Hospital, where fighting has been taking place. But CRS is “supporting four churches in Gaza … which are serving as temporary shelter locations for thousands of people.” “There needs to be an immediate cessation of violence so that CRS and other groups can really bring in and establish a humanitarian operation for, really, the entire 2.4 million people in Gaza,” a CRS executive said this week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256028/catholic-relief-services-calls-for-immediate-cessation-of-violence-in-gaza-to-allow-aid Today, the Church celebrates Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a medieval noblewoman who responded to personal tragedy by embracing Saint Francis' ideals of poverty and service. A patron of secular Franciscans, she is especially beloved to Germans, as well as the faithful of her native Hungary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-elizabeth-of-hungary-56 The Church also celebrates Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus, who was elected bishop of Neocaesarea in present-day Turkey around 238. He was a much-sought-after arbiter for his wisdom and legal knowledge and ability. He is invoked against floods and earthquakes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gregory-thaumaturgus-692

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US bishops voted Tuesday to advance the cause of beatification and canonization of Servant of God Isaac Thomas Hecker, a 19th-century American priest who founded the Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle, today known as the Paulist Fathers. Hecker’s cause for canonization was formally opened in 2008, at which time he received the title “Servant of God.” The next step in the process is to publicize the cause for canonization in the Archdiocese of New York, where the Paulists are headquartered. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256020/us-bishops-vote-to-advance-the-cause-of-canonization-for-american-priest-isaac-hecker The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a document on Wednesday reaffirming that Catholics are forbidden from becoming Freemasons. The new document signed by Pope Francis and DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Fernández was written in response to a bishop from the Philippines who had expressed concern at the growing number of Catholics in his diocese who are taking part in Freemasonry and asked for suggestions for how to respond pastorally. The Freemasons are the largest worldwide oath-bound secret society. Freemasonry promotes ideas and rituals incompatible with the Catholic faith, including indifferentism, or the position that a person can be equally pleasing to God while remaining in any religion, and a deistic concept of a “Great Architect of the Universe.” The Catholic Church’s prohibition on Freemasonry dates back to Pope Clement XII, who formally condemned it in a papal bull in 1738. Catholics who enroll in Masonic associations “are in a state of grave sin and may not receive holy Communion.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256014/vatican-doctrine-office-reaffirms-that-catholics-cannot-be-freemasons US bishops are hoping for further guidance from the Vatican before they formulate concrete plans to prepare for the final stage of the Synod on Synodality next fall. At the conclusion of the synod’s first assembly that took place at the Vatican between October 4–29, delegates approved a 42-page synthesis document titled “A Synodal Church in Mission” containing more than 80 proposals, including recommendations aimed at giving lay Catholics a greater role in decision-making. The preliminary document did not, however, specify the next steps that dioceses and episcopal conferences should take during the interim period before the synod reconvenes in October 2024. Flores agreed that the USCCB might have to produce its own summary if the Vatican doesn’t provide one soon. Asked if there was a timeline for when additional steps need to be taken, he said it was premature to formulate a schedule. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256019/synod-s-next-steps-us-bishops-look-to-rome-for-guidance-say-priests-and-poor-need-a-voice Today, the Church celebrates Saint Joseph Moscati, the first modern medical doctor to be canonized. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-moscati-55 The Church also celebrates Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland. Margaret worked tirelessly to bring justice and relief to the poor of Scotland. She also built churches and encouraged practices of religious devotion. In her private life, she exhibited great prayerfulness and piety. Her influence was seen not only in her husband's life, but throughout all of Scotland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-margaret-of-scotland-657 Finally, the Church celebrates Saint Gertrude the Great, a distinguished medieval nun and writer in the Benedictine monastic tradition. One of the most esteemed woman saints of the Christian West, she was a notable early devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gertrude-the-great-715

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archbishop of Beijing is visiting Hong Kong this week in a trip that marks a historic first since the Chinese Communist Party severed diplomatic relations with the Vatican 70 years ago. Archbishop Li Shan is the president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the state-managed Catholic organization in mainland China controlled by the CCP’s United Front Work Department. The Beijing bishop’s five-day visit to the Diocese of Hong Kong is at the invitation of Cardinal Stephen Chow, the city’s bishop, who has said that he sees Hong Kong as “a bridge Church” with the mainland. Li was ordained archbishop of Beijing in 2007 with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI after being named to the post by Chinese authorities months prior. He was the first bishop to be consecrated in China following the publication of Benedict XVI’s 2007 letter to Catholics in China. Earlier this year, Li prayed for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China “as soon as possible” during a Mass at the diocesan seminary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256004/beijing-archbishop-becomes-first-to-visit-hong-kong-since-chinese-revolution A court of appeal dismissed all charges of “hate speech” and “ethnic agitation” against Finnish lawmaker Päivi Räsänen on Tuesday in what has been hailed as a victory for free speech. The Finnish member of Parliament had been charged in 2021 after publicly sharing in 2019 her biblical, religious views on marriage as between one man and one woman. Though Räsänen, 63, was unanimously acquitted by a Finnish District Court in 2022, prosecutors appealed her acquittal to the Helsinki Court of Appeal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256001/hate-speech-charges-dismissed-for-finnish-lawmaker-who-defended-traditional-marriage The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Timothy Broglio, on Tuesday called on Israel to pursue negotiations in its war with Hamas terrorists. When asked about Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip and civilian casualties suffered since the outbreak of the war, Broglio said it is an issue he feels “very strongly about” and said that Israel should “find a way to negotiate.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256006/us-catholic-bishops-president-calls-on-israel-to-negotiate-with-hamas Today, the Church celebrates Saint Albert the Great, a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of scientists. The native German joined the newly formed Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in the early 13th century. He earned a doctorate from the University of Paris and taught theology there and in Cologne, Germany. Albert became known as “Great” because of his intellectual abilities. He was a respected philosopher, scientist, theologian and teacher, and was well-versed in Arabic culture. One of his students, who later became a great friend and built upon his Scholastic method, was Saint Thomas Aquinas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-albert-the-great-656

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A group of Benedictine nuns from Argentina will soon take up residence in the Vatican monastery where Pope Benedict XVI lived after resigning the papacy. The Benedictine Order of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica of Victoria, located in the province of Buenos Aires, accepted Pope Francis’ invitation to form a monastic community in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, the Vatican said November 13. The six nuns will move into the monastery, which is located in the Vatican Gardens in Vatican City State, in early January. Saint John Paul II canonically erected the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery for nuns of contemplative life in 1994. Different groups of cloistered nuns, rotating every three years, lived in the convent until November 2012. Benedict XVI spent his retirement in prayer and meditation there. He was assisted by his personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein and four consecrated women. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255992/after-benedict-xvi-s-death-vatican-monastery-to-be-home-to-benedictine-nuns Sheet music was made available online last week for the official hymns of the upcoming National Eucharistic Revival, which were chosen from among hundreds of entries in a contest last summer. The National Eucharistic Revival is the US bishops’ three-year initiative to inspire belief in and reverence for the Eucharist. The winning hymn and theme song, which were chosen from among some 177 entries, were announced in August. Links to download the sheet music, available in English and Spanish for both compositions, can be found at the National Eucharistic Revival’s blog post. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255994/prizewinning-eucharistic-revival-hymns-released-for-use-in-parishes Despite not being religious, Dean Gregory, the father of 8-month-old Indi Gregory, said that his time in court fighting for his daughter’s life felt like he had been “dragged to hell.” Indi died in her mother’s arms in hospice on Nov. 13 after her parents repeatedly appealed in UK courts to be able to take their baby to Rome for treatment. They lost their legal battle when the second-highest court in the UK ruled on November 10 that Indy’s life support be removed “immediately.”The experience moved him to decide to have his daughter baptized. “I am not religious and I am not baptized,” Gregory told an Italian newspaper in an interview. “But when I was in court I felt like I had been dragged to hell. I thought that if hell exists, then heaven must also exist.” He added: “It was as if the devil was there. I thought that if the devil exists, then God must exist.” During Indi’s time in the neonatal intensive care unit, a Christian volunteer visited daily. It was during those visits, Gregory explained, that he was told “baptism protects you and opens the door to heaven for you.” “I’ve seen what hell is like and I want Indi to go to heaven,” he expressed. Indi was baptized on September 22. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255997/baby-indi-gregorys-father-says-he-chose-baptism-for-her-after-feeling-dragged-to-hell Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lawrence O'Toole, bishop of Dublin in the 12th century. Saint Lawrence was most widely known for his piety, charity, and prudence, and was respected as a negotiator. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lawrence-otoole-53 The Church also celebrates Blessed John Licci, one of the longest living holy men of the Church. His 111 years on this earth in a small town near Palermo, Sicily, were filled with many miracles. John joined the Dominicans in 1415. He wore the habit for 96 years which is the longest known period for any religious. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-john-licci-655

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Indi Gregory died overnight on Monday after her life support was removed over the weekend following a UK court order. The terminally ill 8-month-old died in her mother’s arms in a hospice at 1:45 am on November 13, according to British advocacy group Christian Concern. The process to remove Gregory’s life support began on November 11, with extubation of her breathing tube and transfer to a hospice, where remaining life supporting measures were withdrawn. Born in February and baptized in September, Gregory suffered from a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease. After England’s high court ruled that it was in the child’s “best interests” to be taken off life support against her parents’ wishes, the Italian government granted the critically ill child Italian citizenship on November 6 and agreed to cover the cost of her medical treatment at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital, Bambino Gesù. A November 11 Vatican statement said Pope Francis was praying for Gregory and her family. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255991/indi-gregory-dies-after-removal-of-life-support The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis has relieved Bishop Joseph Strickland from his duties in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, and appointed an apostolic administrator to replace him. Strickland’s removal on November 11 comes after the Texas bishop refused a Vatican request for him to submit his resignation two days prior, according to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston. The Vatican Dicastery for Bishops completed a formal investigation in the Diocese of Tyler earlier this year called an apostolic visitation, which, according to a source, looked into the bishop’s social media use and questions related to diocesan management. Strickland, 65, served as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler since 2012. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255986/breaking-pope-francis-relieves-strickland-of-his-duties-as-bishop-of-tyler https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255990/strickland-saga-ousted-bishop-s-interview-vatican-removed Today, the Church celebrates Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian missionary who spent much of her life working with Italian immigrants in the United States. Mother Cabrini, who had a deathly fear of water and drowning, crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 30 times in service of the Church and the people she was serving. Eventually, Saint Frances became a naturalized US citizen. She died in 1917 and was canonized in 1946, just before a new wave of immigrants began to arrive in the US. ​​https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frances-cabrini-654

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A terminally ill British infant has been given more time to live after a court on Thursday gave her family permission to appeal a judge’s decision mandating where her life support can be removed. According to a Christian advocacy group, the courts may also consider the possibility of allowing the family to take the child to Italy for treatment at a Vatican-run hospital. Indi Gregory, born in February, suffers from a rare degenerative mitochondrial disease and has been receiving life-sustaining treatment on a ventilator at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, England. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255960/british-infant-indi-gregory-given-more-time-to-live-as-judge-allows-family-to-appeal West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, the last centrist Catholic Democrat in the US Senate, announced Thursday he isn’t running for reelection next year. Manchin’s decision to leave the US Senate may hurt the Democrats’ chances of keeping control of it in 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255967/democratic-sen-joe-manchin-a-centrist-catholic-wont-seek-reelection The Vatican has released the schedule for Pope Francis’ trip to Dubai in early December to attend the COP28 climate conference. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255958/vatican-releases-schedule-for-pope-francis-trip-to-dubai-in-december Pope Francis lamented the innocent deaths in Israel and Palestine during a meeting Thursday with a Catholic order of knighthood that supports the Holy Land. Francis said he is spiritually united with the leaders of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as they are meeting in Rome this week. Also known as the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, the order is a lay institution under the protection of the Holy See whose first mention in historical records dates to 1336. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255959/pope-francis-laments-innocent-dead-in-holy-land-conflict Today, the Church celebrates the fifth-century Pope Saint Leo I, known as “Saint Leo the Great,” whose involvement in the fourth ecumenical council helped prevent the spread of error on Christ's divine and human natures. Saint Leo intervened for the safety of the Church in the West as well, persuading Attila the Hun to turn back from Rome. Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians also maintain a devotion to the memory of Pope Saint Leo the Great. Churches of the Byzantine tradition celebrate his feast day on February 18. He died on November 10, 461. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-st-leo-the-great-651

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican’s doctrine office has said an adult who identifies as transgender can receive the sacrament of baptism under the same conditions as any adult, as long as there is no risk of causing scandal or confusion to other Catholics. The Vatican also said that children or adolescents experiencing transgender identity issues may also receive baptism “if well prepared and willing.” The Vatican also responded to questions about whether transgender-identifying people or those in homosexual relationships can be godparents or witness a marriage, and whether children adopted or born through assisted reproduction to same-sex couples can be baptized. For a full explanation of what the Vatican said, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255945/vatican-doctrine-office-transgender-identifying-people-can-be-baptized The attorney general of Missouri announced this week a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the agency’s approval of shipping abortion drugs through the mail. Republican State Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced the filing on his website on Monday, claiming that the FDA had “unlawfully approved the shipment of chemical abortion pills in the mail.” The Missouri lawsuit includes a request for an injunction against rules from 2021 and 2023 “allowing abortion drugs to be sent by mail.” The FDA “failed America’s women and girls when it chose politics over science and approved risky, untested chemical abortion drugs for use in the United States,” the lawsuit argues, claiming further that the agency “has continued to fail them by turning a blind eye to these harms and repeatedly removing even the most basic precautionary requirements associated with the use of these risky drugs.” President Joe Biden had earlier in the year issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to support wider access to abortion pills. Biden’s memo came shortly after the FDA changed its guidance to allow any patient with a prescription to obtain mifepristone from her local retail pharmacy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255946/missouri-attorney-general-files-lawsuit-against-fda-over-abortion-pill-by-mail Today, the Church celebrates Saint Benignus of Kilbannon, the son of Sesenen, an Irish chieftain in the part of Ireland which is now County Meath. He was baptized by Saint Patrick, and became his favorite disciple and coadjutor in the See of Armagh. The Church also marks the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. It marks the dedication of the cathedral church of Rome by Pope Sylvester the first in 324. This church is the cathedra (or chair) of the bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. A Latin inscription in the Church reads: “omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis mater et caput.” Translated, this means, “The mother and head of all churches of the city and of the world.” The basilica was originally named the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior. However, it is called Saint John Lateran because it was built on property donated to the Church by the Laterani family, and because the monks from the monastery of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Divine served it. The Diocese of Rome has planned a full year of events to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. The Diocese of Rome will open the year of celebrations with a solemn pontifical Mass celebrated by Rome’s vicar, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, in the afternoon on November 9. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar/2023-11-9

Read more: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255950/indi-gregory-case-baby-to-be-removed-from-life-support-thursday-despite-parents-pleas

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - This is a special Catholic News report on the elections that took place yesterday in the United States. Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot referendum that adds a new right to “reproductive freedom,” including abortion and contraception, to the state constitution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255937/ohio-voters-overwhelmingly-approve-amendment-enshrining-abortion-in-state-constitution The gubernatorial races in Kentucky and Mississippi on Tuesday ended with two incumbent victories, one Democratic and the other Republican, with both states holding their respective status quos after much-watched and expensive campaigns. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255940/kentucky-and-mississippi-governor-s-races-end-with-democratic-republican-victories And in Virginia, Democrats kept control of the state Senate and flipped the state House of Delegates on Tuesday in what will be a major blow to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s efforts to pass legislation that would ban abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255938/republican-losses-in-virginia-legislative-races-doom-governors-15-week-abortion-ban Now, on to other Catholic news. Pope Francis will publish an autobiography next year in which he recounts memories of historical events from the outbreak of World War II to the collapse of the Twin Towers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255939/pope-francis-to-release-an-autobiography-in-the-spring A new analysis of a study that claims to be the largest national survey of Catholic priests conducted in more than 50 years has found, among other things, that priests describing themselves as “progressive” are practically going extinct among US seminary graduates, with the vast majority of young ordinands describing themselves as conservative and orthodox. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255935/major-survey-finds-conservative-and-orthodox-priests-on-the-rise-varying-levels-of-trust-in-bishops The Vatican’s pediatric hospital has offered to treat 8-month-old baby Indi Gregory after a British court ruled that she be removed from life support against her parents’ wishes. catholicnewsagency.com/news/255928/vatican-hospital-offers-to-treat-critically-ill-baby-denied-life-support-in-britain The Knights of Columbus reached a major milestone this month when they donated their one millionth coat through their Coats for Kids program on November 6. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255932/knights-of-columbus-donate-their-millionth-coat-through-coats-for-kids-program Today, the Church celebrates Saint Godfrey of Amiens, a 12th century bishop noted for his rigid austerity with himself, those around him, and in his approach to his mission as bishop. He was an enforcer of clerical celibacy. He was also a fierce lifelong opponent of drunkenness and simony, which led to an attempt on his life. For most of his time as bishop, he wished to resign and retire as a Carthusian monk. In 1114 he moved to a monastery, but a few months later his people demanded his return, and he agreed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-godfrey-of-amiens-47 The Church also celebrates Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, who in her short life as a religious was a spiritual director for many, and left a legacy of letters and retreat guides. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-elizabeth-of-the-trinity-649

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, voters in the United States will be turning out for the off-year general elections. Check out Catholic News Agency dot com for the latest election news. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255925/stockton-cathedral-vandalized-with-paint-police-investigating-as-possible-hate-crime Pope Francis is continuing his efforts for peace in the Holy Land. As confirmed by the Holy See, on the afternoon of Sunday, November 5, the Holy Father had a conversation with the president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi. The Vatican has limited itself to confirming that the call took place at the request of Raisi, who, according to a statement from the Iranian president’s office, thanked the Holy Father for his calls for peace and said that it is duty of followers of all Abrahamic religions to "support the oppressed people of Palestine." Raisi asked the Holy Father to exert his influence in the West to end the attacks in Gaza, which he called “the greatest genocide of the century.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255926/pope-francis-speaks-with-president-of-iran-about-israel-hamas-war Pope Francis answered questions about war, the environment, and his daily life during an encounter with roughly 7,000 children from around the world on Monday. The pope had previously announced the event after praying the midday Angelus on October 1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255924/in-special-meeting-pope-francis-talks-peace-war-climate-with-kids-from-around-the-world Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Ou, one of the Martyrs of China. He was born to a non-Christian family in 1768. As a young man, he was outspoken with had a deep understanding of justice, and would eventually come to the defense of the poor and oppressed. He married and ran his own business, which was a large hotel. He was one of the first to convert to Christianity after missionaries arrived in his area, and he took the name Peter at his baptism. He enthusiastically preached Christianity to anyone who came by, later becoming a lay leader of the converts in his district. He also worked as a catechist. In 1814, he was imprisoned and tortured in a violent backlash against the faith. Under these conditions, he continued to inspire his fellow prisoners in the faith, and he led prayer services in the cells. He was sentenced to death for refusing to apostatize by stepping on a crucifix. Peter was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-ou-648

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis opened two new laundromats for the homeless in the northern Italian city of Turin last week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255912/pope-francis-opens-two-new-laundromats-for-the-homeless Pope Francis is continuing to keep a full schedule even as the Holy Father said he was not feeling well during a meeting Monday morning with Jewish rabbis from Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255920/pope-francis-keeps-busy-schedule-despite-feeling-not-well The Diocese of Brooklyn announced Saturday that a local pastor who allowed a pop star to shoot a lewd music video in the church no longer has administrative oversight over the parish. Additionally, the diocese told CNA that Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass of reparation at the church on Saturday morning in response to the desecration. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255917/brooklyn-church-music-video-altar-desecrated-pastor-disciplined A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, including a cloth mantle, was left intact amid the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis, which struck the coastal city of Acapulco and other areas of the Mexican state of Guerrero last month with wind gusts of up to 200 miles per hour. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255914/our-lady-of-guadalupe-statue-untouched-by-hurricane-otis-destructive-winds-in-mexico A lack of security is impoverishing the Church in Nigeria, the bishop of Nigeria’s Sokoto Diocese said this week, noting that in the northern part of the country alone, more than 30 million naira (about $37,200) has been spent to rescue Church personnel. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255909/nigerian-bishop-more-than-30-million-naira-spent-to-rescue-kidnapped-priests-seminarians Today, the Church celebrates Saint Leonard of Noblac, a French hermit and monastery founder. Leonard had a great compassion for prisoners, and converted many and obtaining their release. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-leonard-of-noblac-45 The Church also celebrates the feast of Saint Jean-Théophane Vénard, a French missionary to Vietnam who was martyred for the faith. Saint Jean was born in France, became a priest in the Society of Foreign Missions, and was sent to Vietnam. Due to the persecutions of the anti-Christian emperor Minh-Menh, priests were forced to hide in the forest and live in caves. They were able to sneak out at night and minster to the people. Eventually someone betrayed Saint Jean, and he was arrested. During his trial, he refused to renounce his faith in order to save his life. He was condemned to death, and spent the last few weeks of his life locked in a cage. It was during his incarceration that he wrote many letters, some to his family. His most famous line is from a letter to his father in which he said, “We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time: some a little sooner, some a little later.” In reading these letters, Saint Therese the Little Flower came to understand and use the image of being a little flower, whom God nevertheless cared for and cultivated, despite her small size. Saint Jean was beheaded February 2, 1861. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-jean-theophane-venard-647

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is “appalled” that a church there was used to shoot a provocative music video, the diocese said this week. The bishop said he will investigate why the more-than-100-year-old parish permitted the controversial video to be recorded on its property. A newly released music video by pop musician Sabrina Carpenter showed the American-born singer dancing provocatively on the altar at the historic 19th-century Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. “The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script,” the diocese said, adding that Brennan “is taking this matter seriously and will be looking into it further.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255900/brooklyn-bishop-appalled-over-music-video-shot-in-catholic-church-will-investigate FBI Director Christopher Wray this week said that the number of anti-religious attacks on Jewish people has increased in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war and is “wildly disproportionate,” considering the community’s minority status in the United States. The FBI director said the attacks were coming “from racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists,” including “ISIS-inspired violent extremists” and “foreign terrorist organizations, whether they be Sunni, like al-Qaida or ISIS, or Shia, like Hezbollah.” Wray said that “people — eyes and ears in the community” can play a role in alerting law enforcement to suspicious activity, “letting us know when they see something of concern so that law enforcement can take appropriate action.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255897/fbi-director-religious-hate-crimes-against-jewish-population-wildly-disproportionate Today, the Church celebrates Saint Martin de Porres. The mixed-race Martin was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. became a third order Dominican, which meant he was a lay man associated with the order, living at the monastery. Though he longed to be a missionary, he was never afforded the opportunity. Martin's prayer life was intense, and he practiced many mortifications. He was known to levitate in ecstasy in front of the altar, but he also subjected himself to many severe penances. He was considered to be very wise, and many sought out his advice and intercession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-martin-de-porres-644

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today is All Souls Day. Here’s the Catholic news you need to know. The Catholic Church in Ukraine will face extermination if the Russian invasion is successful, leading Ukrainian Catholic bishops said this week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255882/catholic-church-in-ukraine-facing-extermination-bishops-say Pope Francis has called for a “paradigm shift” in Catholic theology that takes widespread engagement with contemporary science, culture, and people’s lived experience as an essential starting point. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255887/pope-francis-calls-for-paradigm-shift-in-theology-for-world-of-today The Archdiocese of New Orleans has announced the “difficult and painful decision” to consolidate 11 parish communities, permanently close seven churches, and consolidate three territories in the coming months to ensure sustainability and vitality. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255883/new-orleans-parish-closures-mergers-consolidation Leopoldo González González, archbishop of Acapulco, Mexico, expressed his closeness to those affected by Hurricane Otis in Mexico and called on the faithful to help the victims, noting that each person is “God’s provident hand” in working together with those most in need in the face of the emergency that began on October 25 when the hurricane made landfall. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255880/archbishop-of-acapulco-we-re-provident-hands-of-god-for-those-affected-by-hurricane-otis Today, the Church marks All Souls Day. Today and throughout the month of November, the Church makes a special effort to remember, honor and pray for the dead, especially those in purgatory. Purgatory is a place where the souls go who die in friendship with God but are still imperfectly purified, and the Church teaches that souls in Purgatory rely on the prayers of souls still on Earth to relieve some of their temporal suffering and speed their journey to Heaven. There are many different cultural traditions around this period, but one of the most consistently honored is the practice of visiting cemeteries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-souls-day-41

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today is a Holy Day of Obligation. Make sure to go to Mass today to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Pope Francis’ prayer intention of the month of November is for himself — the pope. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255877/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-november The US bishops recently renewed their call for peace in the Holy Land as the Israel-Hamas war moves toward its second month and the casualties of the conflict continue to grow. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255874/us-bishops-renew-call-for-peace-in-the-holy-land The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy has agreed to review the mergers of two Archdiocese of Saint Louis parishes, which Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski had decreed in May as part of a major pastoral planning initiative affecting parishes and priests in the archdiocese. Rozanski received correspondence this week informing him that the dicastery has accepted petitions for recourse against decrees related to two parishes: Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish in Saint Louis, and Saints Philip and James Parish in River aux Vases, Missouri. Saint Elizabeth and Saints Philip and James were just two of several parishes with parishioners who sought recourse from the Vatican against Rozanski’s decrees, beginning this summer. There is no specific timeline for the Vatican’s review of the decrees, but a decision could take several months, the archdiocese said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255876/vatican-agrees-to-review-the-closures-of-two-st-louis-parishes-amid-archdiocesan-restructuring A judge in Kansas this week blocked several state-level pro-life laws there, claiming the measures are prohibited by the state’s constitution. District Judge K Christopher Jayaram said in his Monday ruling that portions of the “Woman’s Right to Know” Act and the state Medication Abortion “Reversal” Amendment would be subject to temporary injunctions pending a trial in June 2024 on the merits of a lawsuit against the state filed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The group Kansans for Life said the judge’s ruling left Kansas women “even more vulnerable to a predatory abortion industry.” The state suffered a pro-life defeat last year when a pro-life ballot initiative to reverse the 2019 court ruling by amending the state’s constitution was defeated by a wide margin. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255879/kansas-judge-blocks-several-state-pro-life-laws-ahead-of-2024-trial Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. It was instituted to honor all of the saints, both known and unknown, and, according to Pope Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-saints-day-40

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At the Vatican, Pope Francis will mark the first days of November, a holy and significant season, with prayer and two liturgies. On the solemnity of All Saints on November 1, Pope Francis will give a short address and lead the Angelus, a traditional Marian prayer, from a window overlooking Saint Peter’s Square at noon Rome time. Since All Saints’ Day falls on a Wednesday this year, Francis will not hold his usual weekly general audience. For All Souls’ Day on November 2, he will continue his recent custom of holding a Mass at a cemetery to pray for the dead. The following morning, on November 3, Pope Francis will preside over a Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops and cardinals who have died in the previous year. It is the pope’s practice to offer this Mass sometime during the first week of November. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255871/here-is-what-pope-francis-is-doing-for-the-week-of-all-saints-and-all-souls-days An assault at a San Francisco Catholic church on Sunday led to a police pursuit that reportedly included the possible use of a pipe bomb. It happened at Saints Peter and Paul Church, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco of the Western United States. Archdiocesan spokesman Peter Marlow told CNA on Monday that the incident began after an individual received Communion but did not consume the host, and then punched a person who tried to stop him and fled. It is unclear what happened to the Host. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255869/assault-at-san-francisco-catholic-church-leads-to-police-pursuit-reported-pipe-bomb For the first time since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Catholic Church of the Holy Land gathered around its patriarch on the feast day of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land and reconsecrated the local Church and the entire land to her. On Sunday, October 29, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at the shrine dedicated to the Blessed Mother in Deir Rafat in the presence of a few hundred faithful. The feast in honor of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and patroness of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was first celebrated on August 15, 1928. Since 1971, following the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, the feast was moved to October 25, and since then, it has been celebrated on the last Sunday of the month. At the end of the Mass, the Act of Consecration of the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was read. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255863/latin-patriarch-of-jerusalem-reconsecrates-holy-land-to-our-lady-queen-of-palestine Today, the Church celebrates Saint Alonso Rodriguez, a man whose humble occupation gave the world only glimpses of his extraordinary holiness. During his lifetime, Jesuit Brother Alonso Rodriguez never became a priest, published a book, or advanced professionally. But writings discovered after his death revealed a true mystic, who attended to a rich spiritual life while he worked as a doorkeeper and porter. Alonso carried bags and ran errands for 46 years. He was declared a saint in 1887. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-alonso-rodriguez-640

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Francis has decided to lift the statute of limitations in the case of Father Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit priest and mosaic artist accused of serious abuses against women. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255835/vatican-pope-francis-has-lifted-the-statute-of-limitations-on-rupnik-case Synod on Synodality delegate Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost said this week that “clericalizing women” would not solve problems in the Catholic Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255823/cardinal-at-synod-on-synodality-clericalizing-women-will-not-solve-problems The Church in India has welcomed the news that the Vatican will initiate the beatification process for the 35 Catholic martyrs of Kandhamal who were killed in the 2008 Christian persecution in the remote jungle district of the eastern Odisha state. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255826/vatican-puts-35-catholic-martyrs-of-kandhamal-in-india-on-road-to-sainthood Today, the Church celebrates Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia. Frumentius helped in a great capacity to bring Christianity to Ethiopia. He was born in Lebanon, and was shipwrecked in East Africa while voyaging on the Red Sea. They were taken to the king at Axum, Ethiopia, and became members of the court. When the king died, the two brothers stayed on as part of the queen's court. She permitted them to introduce Christianity to the country, as well as opening up trade between Ethiopia and the west. Frumentius convinced Saint Athanasius to send missionaries from Alexandria, and he was later consecrated as the bishop of Ethiopia. He converted many people to Christianity before his death in 380. He is the patron of Ethiopia. His brother, Aedeius, was also canonized. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frumentius-of-ethiopia-637

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis reaffirmed the impossibility of women becoming priests, or even modern Church deacons, in an interview for a book released Tuesday in Italy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255804/pope-francis-on-women-deacons-holy-orders-is-reserved-for-men The Synod on Synodality has addressed the members of the Catholic Church in a letter published during the final days of the October gathering in Rome, inviting them to take an active role in “the discernment and decision-making” of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255806/synod-on-synodality-addresses-the-church-in-letter-to-the-people-of-god Father Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit priest and mosaic artist accused of serious abuses against women, has been accepted for priestly ministry in a diocese in Slovenia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255805/rupnik-accepted-for-priestly-ministry-in-diocese-in-slovenia Pope Francis on Wednesday appointed Father Richard Laurenson as the new bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton in northern New Zealand. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255813/pope-francis-appoints-long-standing-parish-priest-as-new-zealand-bishop Today the Church honors Saint Evaristus, the son of a Greek Jew originally from Bethlehem, who was the sixth Pope of the Catholic Church. He is traditionally considered a martyr, but there is no documentation of the event. He is buried in the Vatican, near Saint Peter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-evaristus-pope-33 The Church also celebrates Blessed Damian of Fulcheri. Born the son of a wealthy Italian family, Damian was kidnapped as an infant by a man who suffered from a mental illness. His parents prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary for help, and searchers were led to the unharmed boy by a miraculous light. Damian later became a Dominican priest, and he was famous for his missions throughout Italy, during which hundreds of people were converted to the faith, and was also known for working miracles. Many miracles were reported at his tomb in Modena, Italy after his death in 1484. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-damian-of-fulcheri-636

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A diocese in Nigeria has announced that Brother Godwin Eze, a monk who was kidnapped on October 17 alongside two others from the Benedictine monastery in Eruku, was murdered. Eze was kidnapped alongside Brother Anthony Eze and Brother Peter Olarewaju. Abductors shot Eze and threw his body in a river. Ekesioba said that the monastery was organizing a search to retrieve the body of Godwin Eze from the river. The Diocese of Ilorin serves Kwara state, which is bordered to the east by Kogi state, to the north by Niger state, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states. Some of these Nigerian states, including Kogi and Niger, continue to witness attacks reportedly perpetrated by armed Fulani herdsmen and other bandits. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255791/monk-shot-body-thrown-in-river-following-kidnapping-at-nigerian-monastery The Supreme Court of Georgia on Tuesday upheld the state’s “heartbeat” law that bans abortion at six weeks and recognizes the personhood of unborn babies. The 6-1 decision allows the “Living Infants Fairness and Equality” (LIFE) Act law to remain in effect while other challenges to the measure are further considered by the court. This means that abortion in Georgia is banned after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, except in some cases of rape, incest, and situations of serious pregnancy complications. Besides banning abortion at six weeks, the LIFE Act also establishes that unborn babies are human persons in the eyes of the law, allows mothers to receive child support from the beginning of pregnancy, and allows parents to claim unborn babies as dependents on state income taxes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255796/georgia-supreme-court-upholds-heartbeat-law-banning-abortion-recognizes-personhood-for-unborn Today the Church honors Saints Crispin and Crispinian, brothers who together evangelized Gaul in the middle of the third century. They preached in the streets by day and made shoes by night. Their charity, piety, and contempt of material things impressed the locals and many were converted to Christianity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-crispin-and-st-crispinian-32

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, last week lamented the deaths of 18 Palestinians in a missile strike on the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City. Speaking of those killed in the bombings, Pizzaballa said: “The pain of those families, who have already been suffering for a long time, is enormous, and we are with them.” The missile blasts, which struck a building on the church compound on Thursday, reportedly killed 18 people, including children, and injured several others. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255781/latin-patriarch-of-jerusalem-mourns-18-dead-in-gaza-christian-church-bombing The Diocese of Stockton, California, has issued a warning about a pair of imposters posing as Catholic clergymen in the city of Modesto and charging high fees for blessings and sacraments. The diocese said that two unidentified men are falsely using the names of actual clergymen from Mexico, namely Archbishop Raúl Gómez González of Toluca and Father José Adán González Estrada, a priest from the same archdiocese. The imposters are charging high fees for sacramental blessings and for “conducting unauthorized celebrations” of sacraments like baptism, confirmation, and first Communion, the diocese said in its Friday warning. Modesto police have been notified of the deception but the diocese said it has been advised that only victims of the fraud can file criminal complaints. The diocese is strongly encouraging any victims of the fraud to contact the police. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255784/wolves-in-sheep-s-clothing-california-diocese-warns-about-imposter-priests Today the Church celebrates Saint Anthony Claret, a 19th-century missionary and Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anthony-claret-634

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis and US President Joe Biden spoke by phone on Sunday afternoon to discuss “the latest developments in Israel and Gaza,” according to a statement from the White House. The Holy See Press Office said earlier the phone call lasted about 20 minutes and focused on “conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace.” “The president condemned the barbarous attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians and affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza,“ the White House statement said. The two also talked about Biden’s trip to Israel last week and his efforts at humanitarian assistance in the region. The pope and the president also discussed “the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East,” the White House said. Earlier in the day, Pope Francis in his Sunday Angelus appealed for peace in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which is entering its third week. “Once again my thoughts turn to what is happening in Israel and Palestine. I am very worried, saddened; I pray and I am close to all those who suffer, the hostages, the injured, the victims, and their families,” the pope said. The pope also remembered those who continue to suffer in Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255774/pope-francis-and-us-president-biden-speak-by-phone The attorney general of Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s first religious charter school, claiming its establishment violates the state’s religious liberty protections. State Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a Republican, announced the lawsuit October 20 in the Oklahoma State Supreme Court. The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board had earlier this month approved the contract of Saint Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The board in June had approved the school’s application, with this month’s contract approval clearing another hurdle for the school’s projected opening next year. Charter schools are special publicly funded education institutions. Drummond said the contract approval “violated the religious liberty of every Oklahoman” by forcing state residents to fund “the teachings of a specific religious sect with our tax dollars.” The charter school “clearly violates the Establishment Clause and must be stopped,” the lawsuit states. It asks the court to “correct the board’s unlawful actions.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255777/oklahoma-attorney-general-files-lawsuit-against-nation-s-first-religious-charter-school Today the Church celebrates Saint John of Capistrano, a Franciscan priest whose life included a political career, extensive missionary journeys, efforts to reunite separated Eastern Christians with Rome, and a historically important turn at military leadership. Invoked as a patron of military chaplains, Saint John of Capistrano was praised by Saint John Paul II in a 2002 general audience for his “glorious evangelical witness,” as a priest who “gave himself with great generosity for the salvation of souls.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-capistrano-633

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) this week said he was hoping for a quick reopening of border access to Gaza and deployment of aid to stricken civilians in the war-torn area. CRS on Wednesday repeated its call for “an end to all violence and immediate humanitarian access to Gaza,” with the group and partner aid workers “mobilized and standing ready to meet the immediate needs of displaced families.” CRS president and CEO Sean Callahan told CNA on Thursday that the group was waiting for aid access to the embattled region. There are about 3,000 tons of supplies in humanitarian aid awaiting entry to Gaza from the Egyptian side of the border, according to the UN. Israel agreed to the aid being transferred to the Palestinian people as long as it goes only to civilians and not Hamas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255755/catholic-relief-president-on-aid-to-gaza-let-s-get-it-going-take-care-of-these-people Three Catholic nuns, a seminarian, and their driver who were abducted from Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese on October 5 have been released. Vicar General Sister Gloria Nnabuchi of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae said a ransom of 1 million Naira, or 1,305 US dollars, had been paid for their release. The five were on their way to a burial in Nigeria’s Imo State when they came in contact with their abductors. Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state. Since then, the group, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians. The insecurity situation in the country has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255748/religious-congregation-grateful-after-release-of-abducted-nuns-seminarian-in-nigeria The Nicaraguan dictatorship reported that it has released 12 priests it had imprisoned and sent them to the Vatican after an agreement was reached with the authorities of the Catholic Church. Bishop Rolando Álvarez of the Diocese of Matagalpa was not among those released. Álvarez was sentenced on February 10 to 26 years and four months in prison. A day before the sentence, the prelate refused to be part of the group of 222 deportees who were sent to the United States and who were then stripped of their nationality and property in Nicaragua by the oppressive dictatorship of Daniel Ortega. The Ortega regime announced that the release of the 12 priests took place “after fruitful conversations with the Holy See.” The priests, the release said, are headed to the Vatican and “traveled to Rome, Italy, this afternoon.” The Vatican did not confirm whether the Holy See was involved in arranging for the release of the priests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255740/government-of-nicaragua-claims-that-it-freed-12-priests-after-an-agreement-with-the-vatican Today the Church celebrates Saint Irene, a Portuguese nun who was martyred in defense of her chastity in the year 653. Saint Irene’s body was miraculously recovered after being thrown into the river. She was canonized in part because of the great amount of miracles that occured at her tomb. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-irene-26 The Church also honors Saint Bertilla Boscardin, a sister and nurse who cared for Italian soldiers during World War One. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bertilla-boscardin-630

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis at the end of his general audience on Wednesday morning announced another day of prayer and fasting for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, on October 27th. It will be “a day of penance to which I invite sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions, and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit,” the Holy Father continued. The Holy Father’s announcement comes after the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, called for a global day of prayer and fasting, which was held on October 17, “to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice, and reconciliation.” The Holy Father’s announcement was preceded by his renewed appeal for peace in the Holy Land. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255729/pope-francis-announces-prayer-vigil-day-of-fasting-for-peace-in-israel-hamas-war As the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli army continues in the Holy Land, the Catholic Church in Gaza is doing everything in its power to alleviate the burden of war on its affected members. The bloodshed and displacement have not spared the civilians in Gaza, who have borne the brunt of the raging war in a region that has not known safety and stability for about 75 years. At least 20 homes of Christian civilians have been completely destroyed as a result of Israeli bombing as well as homes that were partially damaged. Holy Family Church is the only Roman Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip and is located in the northern part of Gaza City. Israel’s military had ordered the Palestinian civilians to evacuate south last week, but the church today still has several hundred people taking refuge in its buildings. Despite the siege and the harshness of war, the church continues to open its doors to worshippers daily, fulfilling its spiritual duties toward them, including the baptism of a baby. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255735/we-lack-food-and-medicine-catholics-in-gaza-take-refuge-in-only-parish-church Today, the Church celebrates Saint Paul of the Cross. After receiving a vision, and while still a layman, he founded the Barefoot Clerks of the Cross and the Passion (Passionists) in 1721 to preach about Jesus Crucified. He became a preacher of such power that even hardened soldiers and bandits were seen to weep. At one point all the brothers in the order deserted him, but in 1741 his rule was approved by Pope Benedict XIV, and the community began to grow again. Numerous miracles, in addition those special ones brought forward at his beatification and canonization, attested the favor he enjoyed with God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-paul-of-the-cross-24 The Church also celebrates the eight North American martyrs, also known as the Candian Martyrs, the Jesuit Martyrs of North America or the Martyrs of France, which included six priests and two lay brothers. They were heroic members of the Society of Jesus who were martyred in North America in order to bring the Faith that is necessary for salvation to the Huron, the Iroquois and the Mohawks. Five of the eight North American martyrs were put to death in what is now Canada, and three of them in New York State. There is a shrine to the United States' martyrs at Auriesville in New York, and there is a shrine to the Canadian martyrs at Fort Saint Mary near Midland, Ontario. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-north-american-martyrs-25

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Officials linked to Hamas claimed that an Israeli airstrike killed hundreds of people at a Palestinian hospital on Tuesday, while the Israeli government said a terrorist group was responsible for the destruction. The actual origin of the missile strike was unclear as of late Tuesday afternoon. The Palestinians “are falsely claiming Israel targeted a hospital in the Gaza Strip,” Israel said in a followup tweet. Reports indicated the death toll in Israel on Tuesday stood at around 1,400, while Gaza had suffered approximately 3,000 casualties since the war began earlier this month. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255719/report-israel-strike-allegedly-kills-hundreds-at-palestinian-hospital In a new interview published on October 17, Pope Francis said that he plans to visit his native Argentina, adding: “Somebody said that if I go to Argentina, I should stop at Rio Gallegos, then head to the South Pole, land in Melbourne, and visit New Zealand.” “It would be a rather long journey,” he joked. The 86-year-old pope does not currently have any international trips on his official schedule, but he recently made a 4,000-mile journey to Mongolia and visited the French city of Marseille. Pope Francis would not be the first religious leader to visit Antarctica. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill visited an Antarctic research station, and walked with penguins, in 2016 as part of a trip to Latin America, which included a historic meeting with Pope Francis in Cuba. In the interview with Argentina’s national news agency, Télam, Pope Francis also expressed an interest to visit Oceania. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255714/a-papal-visit-to-the-south-pole-pope-francis-looks-to-new-peripheries Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Luke, the physician and companion of Saint Paul whose gospel preserved the most extensive biography of Jesus Christ. Saint Luke wrote a greater volume of the New Testament than any other single author, including the earliest history of the Church. Ancient traditions also acknowledge Luke as the founder of Christian iconography, making him a patron of artists as well as doctors and other medical caregivers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-luke-the-evangelist-23

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, Catholics are invited to take part in a day of prayer and fasting for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land, as war continues to devastate that region. The day of prayer comes amid the second week of war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, the latter of which launched a surprise attack on Israel October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,300 Israelis and international civilians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255703/us-bishops-urge-faithful-to-join-in-day-of-prayer-and-fasting-for-peace-in-holy-land Catholic Relief Services on Saturday called for “immediate humanitarian access” in the Gaza Strip as the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas continues to unfold after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel earlier this month. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255701/catholic-relief-services-calls-for-immediate-humanitarian-access-to-gaza-strip The bishop of Arras, France, Olivier Leborgne, condemned the murder of a teacher in an Islamist terrorist attack in which two other people were seriously wounded. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255704/islamist-kills-teacher-at-french-high-school-bishop-condemns-the-terrorist-attack The latest full season of the hit Christian series “The Chosen” will be shown exclusively in theaters before its release on streaming services. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255705/the-chosen-announces-season-4-theatrical-release-new-trailer Today the Church celebrates the early Church Father, bishop, and martyr Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose writings attest to the sacramental and hierarchical nature of the Church from its earliest days. Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate his memory on December 20. Born in Syria in the middle of the first century AD, Ignatius is said to have been personally instructed – along with another future martyr, Saint Polycarp – by the Apostle Saint John. When Ignatius became the Bishop of Antioch around the year 70, he assumed leadership of a local church that was, according to tradition, first led by Saint Peter before his move to Rome. Although Saint Peter transmitted his Papal primacy to the bishops of Rome rather than Antioch, the city played an important role in the life of the early Church. Located in present-day Turkey, it was a chief city of the Roman Empire, and was also the location where the believers in Jesus' teachings and his resurrection were first called “Christians.” Saint Ignatius of Antioch bore witness to Christ publicly for the last time in Rome's Flavian Amphitheater, where he was mauled to death by lions. “I am the wheat of the Lord,” he had declared, before facing them. “I must be ground by the teeth of these beasts to be made the pure bread of Christ.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ignatius-of-antioch-396

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican’s Synod on Synodality has passed the halfway mark for this year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255696/this-week-at-the-synod-on-synodality-participation-focus-comes-amid-possible-early-exit-of-chinese-bishops Midway through the Synod on Synodality, two bishops from mainland China are suddenly departing the assembly early, and as of Monday there is not yet an explanation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255697/chinese-bishops-leaving-synod-on-synodality-early The Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem has offered to be exchanged for the children being held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255694/jerusalem-cardinal-pizzaballa-offers-to-be-exchanged-for-gaza-hostages Today the Church celebrates Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French nun whose visions of Christ helped to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the Western Church. Her life changed in response to a vision she saw one night while returning from a dance, in which she saw Christ being scourged. Margaret believed she had betrayed Jesus, by pursuing the pleasures of the world rather than her religious vocation, and a the at the age of 22, she decided to enter a convent. Two days after Christmas of 1673, Margaret experienced Christ's presence in an extraordinary way while in prayer. She heard Christ explain that he desired to show his love for the human race in a special way, by encouraging devotion to “the heart that so loved mankind.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-margaret-mary-alacoque-626 The Church also celebrates Saint Gerard Majella. Saint Gerard entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749 and professed of perpetual vows under the Redemptorist's founder, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, in 1751. He served as tailor and infirmarian and became known for his extraordinary supernatural gifts of bilocation, prophecy, ecstasies, visions, and infused knowledge. Though not ordained to the holy order of priest, his spiritual direction and advice were sought by many among the clergy and communities of nuns, to which he also gave conferences. He was most successful in converting sinners, and was widely known for his sanctity and charity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gerard-majella-21

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - John Kirby, a White House National Security Council spokesman, announced during a Thursday press conference that beginning Friday the US government will begin evacuating US citizens from Israel through charter flights. Kirby said that the administration is still working through the details of the arrangement but that the flights out of Israel will take Americans to Europe. He added that the administration is “exploring other options to expand the capacity of doing this. Including exploring whether it’s possible to help Americans leave by land and by sea.” Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had urged the Biden administration to immediately evacuate US citizens from Israel. It is uncertain how many Americans are currently in Israel, but the death toll of US citizens in the country continues to rise. For the latest on the conflict in Israel, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255665/bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-urges-biden-to-evacuate-americans-trapped-in-israel Pope Francis received Sultan Al Jaber, president-designate of COP28 UAE, on Wednesday at the Vatican. The meeting comes ahead of the COP28 meeting taking place at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual conference that was established after the signing of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) treaty in 1992 at the UN Rio Conference, also known as the Earth Summit. The COP represents all the states that are party to the UNFCCC and is an opportunity for world leaders, representing state and nonstate actors, to meet and discuss policy goals that seek to establish common — and often ambitious — goals for climate change mitigation. During their meeting October 11, Pope Francis and Al Jaber discussed the role that faith leaders and faith-based organizations can play in promoting the climate objectives of COP28. Advocacy for climate change has been at the center of Francis’ pontificate. On October 4, the pope published his much-anticipated apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, which is seen as the second installment of Laudato Si’. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255661/cop28-president-designate-meets-with-pope-francis-to-discuss-common-climate-goals Today the Church honors Saint Edward the Confessor, king of England from 1042 to 1066. His saintly bearing made him a popular sovereign, and his actions even more so. He abolished an unjust tax and was known to cure people with his touch. Edward died on January 5, 1066, and was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1161. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-edward-the-confessor-392

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Israeli Embassy to the US said on Wednesday that over 1,200 were killed and more than 3,000 injured as a result of a recent Hamas attack on Israel. Besides the killed and injured, the BBC reported that as many as 150 Israeli hostages were taken by Hamas, according to the Israeli government. The scale of the casualties and victims, which includes women, children, and the elderly, makes this one of the largest terrorist attacks since 9/11. The US has promised to send military equipment and supplies to support Israel. According to the IDF, the first shipment of US equipment landed in Israel’s Nevatim Air Force Base in southern Israel on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel to express American solidarity and support and to further assess the situation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255656/update-over-1000-killed-including-22-americans-in-saturday-terrorist-attacks-on-israel The Latin Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem has called for a day of prayer and fasting on Tuesday, October 17, for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255660/catholic-patriarch-calls-day-of-prayer-and-fasting-for-peace-in-the-holy-land Caritas Jerusalem, which serves the needs of people in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem, reported that some of its staff are among those displaced. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255658/caritas-jerusalem-suspends-activities-in-gaza-and-israel-but-announces-emergency-plan A New York pro-life pregnancy center that was seriously damaged in an arson attack in June 2022 and was subsequently vandalized again with pro-abortion graffiti in March, has filed a federal lawsuit against two “known pro-abortion activists.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255650/firebombed-pro-life-pregnancy-center-files-face-act-lawsuit Participants in the Synod on Synodality have asked “for greater discernment on the teaching of the Church on the subject of sexuality,” a Vatican spokesman said at a press briefing Wednesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255655/synod-members-ask-for-greater-discernment-of-church-teaching-on-sexuality Today the Church honors Our Lady of the Pillar, the first recorded Marian apparition. Mary appeared to Saint James the Apostle, the brother of Saint John the Evangelist, on the bank of the river Ebro in Saragossa, Spain. Unlike every other recorded apparition, this one took place during the earthly life of the Mother of God. In the year 40 A.D., while praying one night on the river bank, the Virgin appeared with the Child Jesus standing on a pillar and asked Saint James and his eight disciples to build a church on the site, promising that “it will stand from that moment until the end of time in order that God may work miracles and wonders through my intercession for all those who place themselves under my patronage.” Nuestra Señora del Pilar is the patron of Spain and all Hispanic peoples. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/nuestra-senora-del-pilar-our-lady-of-the-pillar-622 The Church also celebrates Saint Wilfrid of York. Wilfrid worked to enforce Roman liturgical practice in seventh-century England, founded Benedictine monasteries, and rebuilt the minster of York, all while living a simple and holy life himself. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wilfrid-of-york-17

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has spoken by telephone with a Catholic priest serving in Gaza, according to the news agency of the Italian bishops’ conference. The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in the Gaza Strip, on October 9. Romanelli said Francis shared “his closeness and prayers for the entire Church community of Gaza and all the parishioners and inhabitants” and imparted his blessing on them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255630/pope-francis-calls-gaza-priest-as-israel-announces-blockade In a message to Vancouver’s Jewish community, Vancouver Archbishop J Michael Miller “unequivocally condemned” Saturday’s attack on Israel, calling it an offense against moral and international law. Commenting from Rome where he is attending the Synod on Synodality, the archbishop said Monday the news about “the Hamas incursion into Israel is devastating.” The nature of the attack and the taking of women and children as hostages was “a serious violation not only of international law but, even more importantly, of the moral law that is written in the conscience of every human being,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255640/archbishop-of-vancouver-calls-attack-on-israel-contrary-to-moral-and-international-law Two 12-year-olds were identified by police Sunday as suspects in the vandalism of a Massachusetts Catholic church, which included a fire being set to an altar cloth, a tabernacle cloth, and the lectionary. The two juveniles, a boy and a girl, will not face any charges at this time, police said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255635/two-12-year-olds-identified-as-vandals-in-massachusetts-church-fire An Oklahoma school authority on Monday gave the thumbs-up to a contract for the nation’s first religious charter school, a virtual Catholic institution that is facing challenges from advocates who claim the school would violate state law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255634/oklahoma-board-approves-catholic-charter-school-contract Today the Church celebrates Saint John the 23rd. Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli at Sotto il Monte, Italy on November 25, 1881, Pope John XXIII was elected on October 28, 1958. He died June 3, 1963 in Rome and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000. Elected Pope on the death of Pope Pius XII, he was an example of a ‘pastoral’ Pope, a good shepherd who cared deeply for his sheep. He manifested this concern in his social enyclicals, especially Pacem in Terris, “On peace in the World.” His greatest act as Pope however was undoubtedly the inspiration to convoke the Second Vatican Council, which he opened on October 11, 1962. Pope John’s spirit of humble simplicity, profound goodness, and deep life of prayer radiated in all that he did, and inspired people to affectionately call him “Good Pope John.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-xxiii-390 The Church also celebrates Saint Firminus, a fifth and sixth century bishop of bishop of Uzès. In 538, he signed the fourth and fifth Councils of Orléans in 541 and 549, respectively. In 551, he assisted at the second council of Paris. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-firminus-of-uzes-10

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US Catholic bishops are calling for peace in the embattled Holy Land after last week’s surprise incursion by Hamas into Israel resulted in a declaration of war by Israel. Rockford Bishop David Malloy, who chairs the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, lamented the “mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides,” as well as the “increased threats to the status quo of the holy places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians.” The strike by Hamas resulted in hundreds of Israeli deaths, as well as reports of Hamas insurgents roaming through Israeli neighborhoods and allegedly abducting and killing citizens there. Malloy in his statement urged the faithful to “recall especially all the families and individuals” suffering amid the conflict. “We call on the faithful, and all people of goodwill to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255620/us-bishops-call-for-prayers-for-peace-in-holy-land-amid-escalating-war Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October is for the Synod on Synodality, taking place this month in Rome. The pope said: “Our mission and the voice that draws us to him spring from him. This voice reveals to us that the heart of mission is to reach out to everyone, to seek everyone, to welcome everyone, to involve everyone, without excluding anyone.” He concluded with a prayer: “Let us pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a style of life at every level, allowing herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the world’s peripheries.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255619/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-october Today the Church celebrates Saint Francis Borgia, a reformer of the Jesuit order. Francis introduced so many reforms to the society of Jesus that he was considered in some ways to be its second founder. Francis was a man of contemplation and action in the fullest sense, and clearly drew much strength from the silence of his prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-borgia-389

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A series of rocket attacks and incursions on Israel from Hamas militants had reportedly killed hundreds and wounded many between Saturday and Sunday morning. The surprise attacks began early on the morning of October 7, the start of the observance of the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah. Pope Francis and the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem called for peace after Israel declared “war” following a major attack by Hamas fighters over the weekend. The pope said at the end of a public address on Sunday he is following the violence “with apprehension and sorrow,” and issued an appeal to “please stop weapons attacks!” The head of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, called for a de-escalation of the situation in a statement October 7. “The continuing bloodshed and declarations of war remind us once again of the urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land,” he said. An October 7 joint statement from the patriarchs and heads of the Churches in Jerusalem also called for the protection of both Israelis and Palestinians. Coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas is ongoing; the war has so far killed more than 700 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a music fesitval, and almost 500 people in Gaza. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255612/pope-francis-jerusalem-patriarch-react-to-violence-between-israel-and-hamas The Synod on Synodality at the Vatican will see another premiere this week, as the gathering switches from group work in small circles to a plenary assembly. Journalists will finally, for a time, be able to tune into actual speeches and proceedings in the audience hall. One important speech is the statement of Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich in his role as relator general, given at the end of the discussion of every section of the document. The next report — called “presentation” in the synod’s schedule — is expected on October 13, and another one will take place on October 18. It is likely these will be livestreamed, too. For complete coverage of the ongoing Synod on Synodality, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255615/this-week-at-the-synod-on-synodality-deliberations-and-veiled-agendas Today, the Church celebrates Saint Denis, a missionary and the first bishop of Paris. He was killed for his Christian faith by pagans on what is known as the “Montmartre” – the mount of martyrs - in 258, along with Eleutherius and Rusticus, a priest and a deacon. He is the patron saint of France. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-denis-619 The Church also honors the memory of Saint John Leonardi, who studied to become a pharmacist but eventually chose the life of the priesthood. He founded a religious order, and helped establish the Vatican department formerly known as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, now part of the Dicastery for Evangelization. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-leonardi-712

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - More than 400 people gathered at the Vatican on Wednesday to officially begin the Synod on Synodality. During the first full day of work October 5, participants met in small groups of about 12 people to discuss the first part of the Instrumentum Laboris, a document that will guide discussions over the nearly monthlong assembly. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255586/what-is-being-discussed-during-the-first-week-of-the-synod-on-synodality Saint Alberto Hurtado Chapel in the Archdiocese of Concepción and Saint Joseph Church of the Diocese of Linares were set on fire over the weekend. Both churches are located in central Chile. According to a Facebook post by the Archdiocese of Concepción, the fire in the chapel was started around midnight on Sunday, October 1, and the building “was completely destroyed due to arson.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255589/two-churches-in-chile-struck-by-arson Eleven people died and 60 were injured when the roof of Holy Cross Church in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas state, Mexico, suddenly collapsed as baptisms were being performed there on October 1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255578/update-11-dead-60-injured-from-collapse-of-church-roof-in-mexico-during-baptisms Security officials in Nigeria’s Plateau State have reportedly arrested eight suspects in connection with a fire at a parish rectory in Nigeria’s Kafanchan Diocese that resulted in the death of a seminarian. Seminarian Na’aman Danlami died after Fulani bandits reportedly attacked St. Raphael Parish Fadan Kamantan on the night of September 7 and set the rectory ablaze in what was confirmed as a kidnapping attempt. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255582/suspects-arrested-in-killing-of-seminarian-in-nigerian-parish-rectory-fire Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bruno of Cologne, founder of the Carthusian order of monks who remain notable for their strictly traditional and austere rule of contemplative life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bruno-founder-616

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis in his opening remarks for the Synod on Synodality on Wednesday offered guidance to participants on how the monthlong assembly will proceed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255577/new-grammar-of-synodality-on-display-at-start-of-synod-gathering Pope Francis on Wednesday released a new document on the environment that he has described as the “second part” of his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', and which warns of “grave consequences” if humanity continues to ignore the threat of climate change. The apostolic exhortation, titled Laudate Deum (“Praise God”), is meant to address what Francis in the document calls the “global social issue” of climate change. The pope said that in the eight years since Laudato Si’ was published, “our responses have not been adequate” to address ongoing ecological concerns. “Climate change is one of the principal challenges facing society and the global community,” the pope wrote in the document, arguing that its effects are borne by the world’s “most vulnerable people” and that the climate issue is “no longer a secondary or ideological question.” Francis wrote that the effects of climate change “are here and increasingly evident,” and warned of increasing heat waves and the possible melting of the polar ice caps, which he said would lead to “immensely grave consequences for everyone.” Laudate Deum’s publication date — October 4 — is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, from whom Francis drew his pontifical name at the start of his papacy in 2013. It is also the start date of the first monthlong assembly in Rome of the ongoing Synod on Synodality. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255563/in-new-exhortation-pope-warns-of-climate-change-our-responses-have-not-been-adequate The state of Florida executed a convicted murderer on Tuesday evening after pleas from Catholic bishops and other anti-death-penalty advocates fell on deaf ears. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255572/florida-executes-convicted-double-murderer-despite-pleas-from-catholic-bishops Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska. Throughout her life, Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina. He asked her to become an apostle and secretary of his mercy, by writing down his messages of Divine Mercy for the world in her diary. Jesus also asked Saint Faustina to have an image painted of his Divine Mercy, with red and white rays issuing from his heart, and to spread devotion to the Divine Mercy novena. Saint Faustina and Jesus’ message of Divine Mercy impacted the future Pope Saint John Paul II greatly, and he canonized her in 2000 and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday on the Sunday after Easter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-faustina-virgin-737 The Church also celebrates Saint Luigi Scrosoppi. With other priests and a group of young teachers, he dedicated himself to educating poor and abandoned girls in the practical skills of sewing and embroidery, as well as in reading, writing and arithmetic. Nine of these girls decided to take their vows as the first sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence, which Father Luigi founded in 1837. The congregation grew, and eventually he opened 12 houses of sisters. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-luigi-scrosoppi-424

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A pro-life display at a Saint Louis-area Catholic parish was defaced with red paint sometime between October second and third. Parishioners attending daily Mass Tuesday morning discovered the display — which consisted of a cluster of white crosses and a white banner facing the street reading “Pray to End Abortion” — with red spray-paint all over the crosses and the words, “Pro-life is a lie, you don’t care if people die” scrawled on the banner. The display was on the grounds of Saint Paul Catholic Church, a large parish with a school located in the suburb of Fenton, about 20 minutes outside of Saint Louis. SaintPaul, along with numerous other parishes around the archdiocese, held a public pro-life prayer service October 1 in honor of Respect Life Month. Father John Nickolai, Saint Paul’s pastor, told CNA that there appears to be no permanent damage to the church or school property. He said he encourages Catholics to “pray, fast, and make sacrifices for the conversion of hearts” in the face of the vandalism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255566/pro-life-display-vandalized-at-st-louis-county-parish All but a few ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region have fled their ancestral homeland following a violent takeover by Azerbaijan two weeks ago, the Armenian government announced Tuesday. According to the Armenian government, 100,617 Nagorno-Karabakh refugees — out of a population of 120,000 — have been “forcibly displaced.” The government said that 345 refugees are currently receiving medical care and that “many of them remain in critical and extremely critical condition.” Meanwhile, a small military clash close to the Armenia-Azeri border on Monday further evidenced rising tensions between the two neighboring nations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255561/nearly-all-ethnic-armenians-have-fled-nagorno-karabakh The National Eucharistic Congress on Monday opened its application form for young people to apply to become “perpetual pilgrims” during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which kicks off during summer 2024. The ambitious two-month pilgrimage will consist of four cross-country Eucharistic processions — a combined distance of 6,500 miles — converging in Indianapolis on July 16, 2024, at the National Eucharistic Congress, which is expected to attract thousands. The general public is invited to sign up to join for small sections at different points of the pilgrimage; however, a group of four dozen full-time “perpetual” pilgrims will commit to making the entire journey, accompanied by priest chaplains for weeklong segments. The deadline to submit an application to become a perpetual pilgrim is Nov. 28. Interview and further screenings will follow, with final selection taking place in January 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255551/national-eucharistic-congress-opens-permanent-pilgrim-application-process Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Italian deacon who brought renewal to the Church through his decision to follow Jesus' words as literally as possible. At Mass one morning, he heard the Gospel reading in which Christ instructed the apostles to go forth without money, shoes, or extra clothing. This way of life soon became a papally-approved rule, which would attract huge number of followers within Francis' own lifetime. Through his imitation of Christ, Francis shared in the Lord's sufferings. He miraculously received Christ's wounds, the stigmata, in his own flesh during September of 1224. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-of-assisi-614

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The roof of a Catholic church in the Mexican city of Madero collapsed on Sunday, killing at least 10 people while they were attending Mass, authorities said following the disaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255545/roof-of-church-collapses-in-mexico-killing-at-least-10 Pope Francis sent his condolences on Saturday to an Iraqi Christian community in Qaraqosh, northern Iraq, that was devastated by a massive fire at a crowded wedding reception that killed over 100 and injured 150. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255549/pope-francis-sends-telegram-to-iraqi-christian-community-after-tragic-wedding-fire An annual Requiem Mass that has been held at Westminster Cathedral in London, England, for more than 50 years has been relocated amid the continued restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass issued by the Vatican. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255543/annual-requiem-latin-mass-canceled-at-westminster-cathedral-in-london-after-50-years The Vatican has released Pope Francis’ original responses to a set of dubia on highly-charged doctrinal questions submitted by five cardinals earlier this summer — and criticized the cardinals for going public with the matter just days before the start of the Synod on Synodality. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255540/vatican-releases-pope-francis-responses-to-pre-synod-dubia-criticizes-cardinals Today, the Church celebrates Saint Mother Théodore Guérin. A Frech Sister of Providence, Mother Théodore Guérin was sent to Indiana in 1840 to found a convent of the Sisters of Providence in the diocese of Vincennes. There she pioneered Catholic education, opened the first girls’ boarding school in Indiana, and fought against the anti-Catholicism prevalent in the day. She was well known for her heroic witness to faith, her hope, and her love of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mother-theodore-guerin-382

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Five cardinals have sent a set of questions to Pope Francis to express their concerns and seek clarification on points of doctrine and discipline ahead of this week’s opening of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican. The cardinals said they submitted five questions, called “dubia,” on August 21 requesting clarity on topics relating to doctrinal development, the blessing of same-sex unions, the authority of the Synod on Synodality, women’s ordination, and sacramental absolution. Dubia are formal questions brought before the pope and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) aimed at eliciting a “yes” or “no” response, without theological argumentation. The word “dubia” is the plural form of “dubium,” which means “doubt” in Latin. They are typically raised by cardinals or other high-ranking members of the Church and are meant to seek clarification on matters of doctrine or Church teaching. The cardinals say they have not yet received a response to the reformulated dubia sent to the pope on August 21. For more information about the dubia, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255534/cardinals-send-dubia-to-pope-francis-ahead-of-synod-on-synodality Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals from across the world at a Saturday morning consistory in Saint Peter’s Square, reflecting on how the geographic expansion of the Church’s leadership represents a fulfillment of the promise of Pentecost. “You new cardinals have come from different parts of the world, and the same Spirit that made the evangelization of your peoples fruitful now renews in you your vocation and mission in and for the Church,” the pope in his homily for the event told the new cardinals, 18 of whom are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave. The September 30 consistory, which saw cardinals created from 15 different countries, was in continuity with Francis’ steady geographic diversification of the College of Cardinals, carried out over the nine consistories he has held during his 10-year pontificate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255528/pope-creates-21-new-cardinals-continues-expansion-of-college-s-geographic-diversity Pope Francis on Sunday announced a meeting with children to be held at the Vatican on November 6. The event in the Paul VI Audience Hall, sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, will be dedicated to the theme “Let us learn from boys and girls.” “It is an event to show the dream we all have: To go back to having the pure sentiments of children because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them,” the pope said after praying the midday Angelus on October 1. Accompanied by five children from five continents, the pope on Sunday said that children “teach us how to be transparent in relationships, how to welcome strangers, and how to care for creation.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255531/pope-francis-to-hold-meeting-with-children-at-the-vatican-on-nov-6 Today, the Church celebrates the Guardian Angels. The truth that each and every human soul has a Guardian Angel who protects us from both spiritual and physical evil has been shown throughout the Old Testament, and is made very clear in the New. Prayer to the guardian angels is encouraged. Here is a prayer you can pray. Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-guardian-angels-612

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts football team, announced this week that he is donating $5 million to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in honor of his late cousin, Sister Joyce Dura. Irsay, a billionaire businessman who grew up in the Chicago area, praised his cousin’s service to others during her time as a religious sister. “Sister Joyce spent a half-century giving back to others, so with this gift I only hope to emulate my dear cousin’s spirit, grace, and her commitment to our communities,” Irsay said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255506/indianapolis-colts-owner-donates-5-dollars-million-to-catholic-charities-chicago-to-honor-his-cousin-a-nun The Archdiocese of Saint Louis may close more than 25 Catholic elementary schools amid a major restructuring plan that has already closed and merged many parishes. Roughly one-third of the 80 Catholic parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis will meet with representatives from the Office of Catholic Education and Formation and their Episcopal Vicar to consult on their current and future status, the archdiocese announced September 27. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255513/one-third-of-st-louis-catholic-schools-face-possible-closure Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City on Thursday called the execution of convicted murderer Anthony Sanchez, which took place a week ago, “fundamentally at odds with the culture of life the state of Oklahoma proclaims to be building.” Sanchez was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of 21-year-old University of Oklahoma student Juli Busken, KOCO5 reported. He died September 21 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, about a 130-mile drive from Oklahoma City. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255516/oklahoma-archbishop-decries-execution-of-anthony-sanchez-as-archaic The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) on Mount Graham in southern Arizona celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, and the observatory has several days worth of celebrations planned for this weekend. The VATT is a relatively recent extension of the Vatican Observatory, which has roots dating to 1582, making it one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world. The observatory was re-founded in 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, who intended to reinforce the Catholic Church’s support of science. Originally located near Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Vatican Observatory moved to Castel Gandolfo under Pope Pius XI due to light pollution from the city. In 1981, again due to growing light pollution, the observatory launched another research center under the famously dark Arizona skies. The VATT, which is paid for by private donations, is today located on a mountaintop in rural Arizona about 200 miles southeast of Phoenix. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255512/celebrations-planned-for-30th-anniversary-of-vatican-observatory-s-arizona-telescope Today, the Church celebrates the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the only angels named in Sacred Scripture. All three have important roles in the history of salvation. Saint Michael is the "Prince of the Heavenly Host," the leader of all the angels. Saint Gabriel, whose name means "God's strength," is mentioned four times in the Bible. Most significant are Gabriel's two mentions in the New Testament: to announce the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zacharias, and the at Incarnation of the Word in the womb of Mary. Saint Raphael’s name means "God has healed,” and Tobit is the only book in which he is mentioned. His office is generally accepted by tradition to be that of healing and acts of mercy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-michael-gabriel-raphael-archangels-609

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A fire that ripped through a wedding venue in northern Iraq has killed more than 100 people in a majority-Christian town still rebuilding after years of ISIS occupation. The hall in Qaraqosh on the Nineveh Plains burned Tuesday night during a Syriac Catholic wedding celebration. Witnesses and civil defense officials told the BBC that the fire was sparked, with hundreds of guests present, by fireworks set off as the bride and groom danced. Archbishop Bashar Warda, who leads the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, said in a statement to EWTN News that “patriarchs, bishops, and priests from all faiths gathered today in Qaraqosh to bury those who had perished.” “No words can adequately describe the mourning of those bringing their loved ones to their final resting places in their ancient land. What was to be a time of joy has now turned into a whole community into mourning and deep shock,” the archbishop, for years an outspoken advocate for the Middle East’s persecuted Christian minority, told EWTN News. “I ask for your prayers for those souls we have lost and the severely injured. I ask you to pray for the Syriac community and their families within Iraq and the diaspora.” Iraqi authorities are investigating the disaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255500/breaking-iraq-archbishop-calls-for-prayers-after-tragic-wedding-fire The Maryland attorney general’s office on Tuesday released an unredacted report on child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore that names most of the individuals accused. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255499/names-of-accused-in-maryland-ag-s-sex-abuse-report-on-baltimore-archdiocese-are-released Ruben Vardanyan, a former high-ranking official in the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, was arrested by Azerbaijan authorities on Sept. 27 as he attempted to flee the region along with over 50,000 other ethnic Armenian refugees. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255496/former-nagorno-karabakh-armenian-leader-arrested-as-over-50000-refugees-flee-region On the second day of the 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), a bishops’ committee provided recommendations on diocesan policies that are focused on protecting minors and vulnerable adults to all the bishops in attendance. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255493/canadian-bishops-address-protection-of-minors-vulnerable-adults-at-meeting Today, the Church celebrates Saint Wenceslaus, a Central European ruler who died at the hands of his brother while seeking to strengthen the Catholic faith in his native Bohemia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wenceslaus-608

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ new document on the environment, to be released October 4, will be called Laudate Deum, which means “Praise God” in Latin. October 4 is also the first day of a monthlong assembly for the Synod on Synodality and the conclusion of the Season of Creation, a Vatican-supported ecumenical initiative about caring for the environment. Pope Francis had announced last month he would be releasing a follow-up document, the kind of papal document known as an “exhortation,” to the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. The theme of that encyclical, which means “Praise be to you,” is human ecology, a phrase first used by Pope Benedict XVI. The document addresses issues such as climate change, care for the environment, and the defense of human life and dignity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255478/pope-francis-next-environmental-document-to-be-called-laudate-deum Pope Francis has awarded a UK church “co-cathedral status,” making it the first of its kind in Britain’s history. The Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, located in Douglas on the Isle of Man, has achieved this rare status after Douglas was formally recognized as a city during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The Isle of Man is a self-governing island situated between Great Britain and Ireland with a population of about 84,000 people. Saint Mary of the Isle will be co-cathedral along with Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The two cathedrals are 80 miles apart and are separated by the Irish Sea, but both fall within the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Co-cathedrals are a rarity in the Catholic Church and usually exist when two dioceses, each with its own cathedral, are merged, or when one diocese spans two different civil jurisdictions, as in the case of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255477/pope-makes-uk-church-first-co-cathedral-in-british-history Today, the Church celebrates Saint Vincent de Paul, the French 17th century priest known as the patron of Catholic charities for his apostolic work among the poor and marginalized. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-vincent-de-paul-607

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Diocese of Enugu in Nigeria has expressed its gratitude to God and the faithful following the release of Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, who had been abducted on September 17. Father Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie, the chancellor of the Enugu Diocese, said: “We are glad to inform you that our brother and priest, Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, has been released from the den of the kidnappers.” Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state. Since then, the group, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians. The case of Okide is the latest in a series of kidnappings and murders in Africa’s most populous nation involving members of the clergy, seminarians, and other Christians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255468/abducted-priest-in-nigeria-released-diocese-grateful The Diocese of Rome on Monday said it is anticipating thousands of pilgrims in attendance at an ecumenical prayer vigil at the Vatican later this week, with the event scheduled ahead of the start of the historic synod taking place in Rome in October. The diocese said in a press release that “approximately 3,000 people” are expected to attend the event “Together — Gathering of the People of God” being hosted in that city over Friday and Saturday. The prayer service is occurring just days before the launch of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Rome over the course of October. The vigil “will be an opportunity to entrust the work of the [synod] to the Holy Spirit,” the diocese said. Hundreds of visitors are expected from numerous countries including France, Hungary, Vietnam, and the United States. Nearly 500 are projected to come from Poland alone. The overall synod itself — dubbed the “synod on synodality” due to its focus on synodality, or collaboration and participation among the Catholic faithful in the furtherance of the Church’s mission — is occurring over the course of several years. Next month’s gathering of bishops is the first of two major assemblies, with the second planned for October of next year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255464/diocese-of-rome-says-thousands-expected-at-vatican-for-ecumenical-prayer-vigil-ahead-of-synod California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, sued five pro-life pregnancy centers September 21 over their promotion of a drug that is meant to reverse chemical abortions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255466/california-ag-sues-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-over-abortion-pill-reversal-drug Today, the Church celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian, twins born to Christian parents in Arabia, in the third century. They lived in the region around the border between modern day Turkey and Syria. They were physicians who were renowned for their skill as well as their refusal to charge for their services. Their charity and Christian witness won many converts to the faith and earned them a place of prominence in the Christian communites of Asia Minor. They were both martyred by beheading. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-cosmas-and-damian-606

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis condemned euthanasia and abortion as actions that “play with life” and said there is such a thing as “bad compassion” during a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome on Saturday. Aboard the plane, Pope Francis was asked by a French journalist whether he had spoken about euthanasia in his private conversation with France’s President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day. Francis said he did not address the topic of euthanasia with Macron on Saturday but that he had expressed himself “clearly” on the issue when the French president visited him at the Vatican last year. “Whether it is the law not to let the child grow in the mother’s womb or the law of euthanasia in disease and old age,” he said, “I am not saying it is a faith thing, but it is a human thing: There is bad compassion.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255459/you-don-t-play-with-life-pope-francis-condemns-euthanasia-abortion-on-papal-plane In Marseille on Friday, before a memorial to people lost at sea, Pope Francis said humanity is at a crossroads between fraternity and indifference regarding the migrant crisis. “We can no longer watch the drama of shipwrecks, caused by the cruel trafficking and the fanaticism of indifference,” he said September 22. “People who are at risk of drowning when abandoned on the waves must be rescued. It is a duty of humanity; it is a duty of civilization.” “On the one hand, there is fraternity, which makes the human community flourish with goodness; on the other, indifference, which bloodies the Mediterranean. We find ourselves at a crossroads of civilization.” The pope spoke during a meeting with local religious leaders at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille. The day after the pope’s visit — and the concluding day of the encounter, Sunday, September 24 — is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The first quarter of 2023 was the deadliest since 2017 in the Central Mediterranean, with at least 441 people dying, though that’s considered an undercount. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255451/pope-francis-in-marseille-it-s-a-duty-of-humanity-to-save-migrants-abandoned-at-sea Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, the woman twice arrested for silent prayer outside UK abortion clinics, has received a police apology and confirmation that she will not face charges for violating a local “buffer zone” protection order. Vaughan-Spruce is the director of March for Life UK and helps support women in crisis pregnancies. She has regularly prayed near abortion clinics for 20 years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255453/woman-arrested-for-silent-prayer-at-uk-abortion-clinics-gets-police-apology Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hermann Contractus. He was born crippled and unable to move without assistance. It was an immense difficulty for him to learn to read and write, however he persisted and his iron will and remarkable intelligence were soon manifested. Upon discovering the brilliance of his son’s mind, his father, Count Wolverad II, sent him at the age of seven to live with the Benedictine monks on the island of Reichenau in Southern Germany. He lived his entire life on the island, taking his monastic vows in 1043. Students from all over Europe flocked to the monastery on the island to learn from him, yet he was equally as famous for his monastic virtues and sanctity. Hermann chronicled the first thousand years of Christianity, was a mathematician, an astronomer, and a poet and was also the composer of the Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris Mater – both hymns to the Virgin Mary. He died on the island on September 21, 1054. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hermann-contractus-372

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The “destruction” of an enclave of 120,000 Armenian Christians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is imminent, warns Siobhan Nash-Marshall, a US-based human rights advocate. Though internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh is made up almost entirely of Christian ethnic Armenians who claim self-sovereignty under the auspices of the Republic of Artsakh. On Wednesday, ethnic Armenians in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to lay down their arms and dissolve their military forces following a short but intense Azerbaijan offensive on September 19. The attacks, which included rocket and mortar fire, were perpetrated by Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. In just over one day, over 200 Armenian Christians were killed, including 10 civilians, and many more were injured, the New York Times reported. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for decades. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255446/destruction-of-ethnic-armenians-is-imminent-warn-experts The United States Senate began confirming military appointments one by one on Wednesday to bypass a pro-life blockade led by Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, which has been holding up the usually routine process since February. The blockade had caused a backlog of more than 300 appointments. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255442/senate-confirms-military-appointments-bypassing-pro-life-blockade-by-tuberville A group of pro-life students who participated in a demonstration at North Carolina A&T University last week during a visit to campus by Vice President Kamala Harris say they were escorted off campus by police for their own safety after being harassed by a large crowd. According to members of the group, they engaged in positive dialogue with students on campus. During her speech at the university, Harris called for greater access to abortion in the wake of the overturning of Roe v Wade. In a video shared on social media, profanities could be heard being shouted at the pro-life group. Photos from the protest show the pro-life group being taunted with obscene hand gestures. CNA reached out to the university for a comment but did not receive a response. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255440/pro-life-students-harassed-by-mob-after-vp-kamala-harris-talk-in-north-carolina Today, the Church celebrates Saint Maurice, a member of the Theban Legion, a Roman legion said to have been constituted by Christian soldiers from Africa, which was called to put down a revolt in Aaunum, located in modern day Switzerland, in the year 287. Two legends exist about the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and his companions. According to the legends, the legion's soldiers were either ordered to take part in pagan sacrifices, or ordered to harass and kill some local Christians. In either event, the 6,600 men of Maurice's legion refused. In punishment for their disobedience, every tenth man in the legion was killed. When the remaining soldiers, fortified by Saint Maurice, still refused other legions were called in to force them to follow their orders. Persisting in their refusal, they were all massacred. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-maurice-and-companions-602 The Church also celebrates Saint Thomas of Villanova, a 16th century Spanish Augustinian monk and archbishop who lived a life of austerity in order to provide for the spiritual and material needs of his people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-thomas-of-villanova-710

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis extolled Wednesday the “apostolic zeal” of Saint Daniele Comboni, an Italian missionary priest and bishop who fought to end slavery in Africa. Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. Pope Francis shared the “energetic and prophetic” life story of the founder of the Comboni missionary orders during his general audience on September 20. “Saint Daniele testifies to the love of the Good Shepherd who goes in search of the one who is lost and gives his life for the flock. His zeal was energetic and prophetic in being opposed to indifference and exclusion,” Pope Francis said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255422/pope-francis-lauds-catholic-saint-who-fought-to-end-slavery-in-africa Ethnic Armenians in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, have agreed to lay down their arms and dissolve their military forces following a short but intense Azerbaijan offensive on September 19. Pope Francis made a public appeal on Wednesday for both sides to “silence the weapons.” “I make my heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved and to the international community to silence the weapons and make every effort to find peaceful solutions for the good of the people and respect for human dignity,” Pope Francis said at the end of his Wednesday general audience. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255426/ethnic-armenians-surrender-and-disarm-following-azerbaijan-offensive At least 11 people were killed September 15 after members of the Islamic State attacked a village in Mozambique and opened fire on Christians after hand-picking them from Muslims, the Catholic pontifical and charity foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International reported. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255427/11-killed-as-islamist-jihadists-reportedly-target-christians-in-mozambican-village The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has condemned the September 16-17 kidnapping of more than 30 people across Nigeria’s Enugu State, including a Catholic priest, and called on police officials in the Nigerian state to either act on the lack of security in the region or leave office. Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide was abducted September 17 on his way back to Saint Mary Amofia-Agu Affa Parish in the Enugu Diocese, where he serves as parish priest. A prayer appeal has been sent out for the priest’s safe release. Okide is among dozens of people who were taken by armed Fulani bandits in separate locations within Enugu State. Intersociety challenges those in charge of security in Enugu to “retire voluntarily from the army and the police” if they cannot live up to what is expected of them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255429/human-rights-group-to-nigeria-security-agents-after-priest-s-kidnapping-act-or-resign Today, the Church celebrates Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, an apostle of Jesus and, according to tradition, the author of one of the four Gospels. Surprisingly little is known for certain about Matthew’s life, even though his Gospel is so crucial for the Church. The manner of Matthew’s calling by Jesus is well-known — Matthew was a Jew, but worked as a tax collector for the Romans in Capernaum near the Sea of Galilee, making him a pariah among his own people. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, Matthew gave up his presumably materialistic life as a tax collector to follow the Lord. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-matthew-apostle-601

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The blood of the martyr Saint Januarius again liquefied in Naples on Tuesday. The declaration that the miracle had again taken place was made at the start of Mass by Abbot Vincenzo De Gregorio. The archbishop of Naples, Domenico Battaglia, held the relic of the blood, moving the glass ampoules to demonstrate the liquid state of the blood to the sounds of strong applause, while the deputy of the wisdom of the people waved a white cloth. Saint Januarius is a bishop, martyr, and patron saint of Naples, Italy. Traditionally, on September 19 and on two other occasions a year, his blood, which is kept in a glass ampoule in the shape of a rounded cruet, liquifies. It is believed the miracle has taken place since at least 1389, the first instance on record. The liquefaction process sometimes takes hours or even days, and sometimes it does not happen at all. In local lore, the failure of the blood to liquefy signals war, famine, disease, or other disaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255410/blood-of-st-januarius-completely-liquefied-on-feast-day The United States Catholic bishops are calling on the faithful to embrace “radical solidarity” with mothers who are facing difficult or challenging pregnancies this October, which the Church in the United States has observed as “Respect Life Month” since 1973. Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge, the chairman of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, echoed Saint John Paul II’s call for “radical solidarity,” which means, according to the bishop, “putting our love for them into action and putting their needs before our own.” The “Walking with Moms in Need” parish-based initiatives, which help parishes become welcoming places for mothers facing difficulties, are a possible option to get involved. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255413/us-bishops-urge-radical-solidarity-with-mothers-for-respect-life-month Azerbaijan unleashed military strikes against an enclave of about 120,000 Armenian Christians in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on Tuesday, shelling buildings and firing on Armenian military and civilian positions. Pope Francis made a public appeal on Wednesday for both sides to “silence the weapons.” “I make my heartfelt appeal to all the parties involved and to the international community to silence the weapons and make every effort to find peaceful solutions for the good of the people and respect for human dignity,” Pope Francis said at the end of his Wednesday general audience. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255415/azerbaijan-unleashes-military-strikes-against-armenian-christians-in-nagorno-karabakh https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255421/pope-francis-appeals-for-peace-in-nagorno-karabakh-silence-the-weapons Today, the Church celebrates Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasañg, who were leaders of the Catholic Church in Korea. Andrew Kim Taegon was born to Korean nobility, and his parents converted when he was 15-years old. He traveled over 1000 miles to study in a seminary and became the first native Korean priest. He was tortured and beheaded in 1846. Paul Choñg Hasang was a Korean Catholic lay leader who defended the faith before the government of Korea, and reunited the Christians in the midst of the persecutions, encouraging them to stay strong in the faith. In response to his direct appeals, the Pope, Gregory the tenth, confirmed the validity of the Korean Church and sent more priests to Korea. He was martyred in 1839. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-andrew-kim-taegon-paul-chong-ha-600

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pro-life leaders condemned President Donald Trump for calling a six-week abortion ban a “terrible mistake” during a Saturday NBC interview. Trump made the comments in reference to Florida’s six-week Heartbeat Protection Act abortion ban signed by his chief opponent in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. During Trump’s more than hourlong interview with Kristen Welker, he said: “DeSantis is willing to sign a five-week and six-week ban” and “I think what he did was a terrible thing and a terrible mistake.” After calling a six-week abortion ban a “terrible mistake,” Trump went on to say that he would focus on reaching a consensus between Republicans and Democrats on abortion. Trump’s campaign did not respond to CNA’s request for clarification. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255406/donald-trump-calls-6-week-abortion-ban-a-terrible-mistake Pope Francis on Monday met with the newly appointed Russian ambassador to the Holy See, Ivan Soltanovsky. The meeting, during which Soltanovsky presented his credential letters to the pontiff, comes days after papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visited Beijing to discuss efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The “atmosphere of the meeting was friendly” and the two men “discussed, in particular, the mission of the papal special envoy to Ukraine, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, aimed at solving a number of humanitarian issues,” Soltanovsky told Russia’s official Tass News Agency. While serving as Pope Francis’ peace envoy, Zuppi has made several diplomatic visits across the world to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine, including stops in Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington DC. Pope Francis has condemned the war and called for peace in Ukraine on numerous occasions, but has also occasionally received criticism from Ukrainians for the way he has expressed himself. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255400/pope-francis-meets-with-new-russian-ambassador-to-the-vatican Today, the Church celebrates Saint Emily de Rodat, founder of the Religious Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche. The congregation was devoted to caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans, in addition to the schools for the poor. Some of the nuns were also contemplative and spent their time in prayer and adoration. She died of cancer at Villefranche on September 19, 1852. At the time of her death Saint Emily de Rodat had opened 38 charitable institutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-emily-de-rodat-599

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic priest reputed for rescuing homeless and impoverished children on the streets of Omaha, Nebraska, is expected to soon be declared Venerable by the Vatican, placing him on the path to canonization. Father Edward J Flanagan, who died in 1948, was an Irish-born priest whose saintly life has been narrated in a recent documentary, “Heart of a Servant — the Father Flanagan Story.” In a follow-up interview after the film’s premiere on July 26 in Sligo, Ireland, Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin, Ireland, told CNA that there is a good reason to hope that Flanagan will soon be declared Venerable by the Vatican. Reflecting on the life of the heroic Catholic priest, Doran told CNA that Flanagan “rescued children from homelessness and poverty in Omaha and provided a place for them that they could call home.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255370/irish-born-founder-of-boys-town-father-flanagan-may-soon-be-declared-venerable Three pro-life activists who took part in an October 2022 “rescue” in a Washington, DC, abortion facility were each found guilty of felonies that could land them up to 11 years in prison and fines as much as $350,000. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255394/three-more-pro-lifers-guilty-on-face-act-charges-face-up-to-11-years-in-prison A Catholic priest in China was convicted of “fraud” and “impersonating religious personnel” on September 13. Father Joseph Yang Xiaoming of the Wenzhou Diocese in Zhejiang, China — south of Shanghai — was found to be in violation of the law after he refused to register with the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255391/chinese-priest-convicted-of-fraud-for-refusal-to-recognize-state-sanctioned-church A Christian legal group has filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who is serving a prison sentence under the regime of President Daniel Ortega for criticizing the dictatorship’s human rights violations. Álvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, began serving a 26-year, four-month prison term in February, charged with being a “traitor to the homeland.” The regime’s police trapped him in his chancery for more than two weeks in August 2022 and entered by force in the middle of the night to take him to Managua and hold him under house arrest. Álvarez later refused to leave the country with 222 other political prisoners who were being deported by the dictatorship to the United States, including four priests, a deacon, and two seminarians. ADF International announced the filing of its petition September 14, saying there are “no effective avenues for legal recourse available in Nicaragua” under Ortega, who has effectively ruled the country as a dictator for years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255390/legal-group-pleads-for-imprisoned-bishop-alvarezs-rights-before-human-rights-commission Today, the Church celebrates Saint Joseph of Cupertino, a mystic who was perhaps most famous for his ability to fly. Despite being moved from one friary to another, because of the disruption he caused by his ecstasies and the persecutions he endured from some of his brothers who were envious of his gifts, he remained profoundly inundated by the joy of abandoning himself to Divine Providence. He died on September 18, 1663 and was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. He is the patron of air travelers and students preparing for exams. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-of-cupertino-598

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A 108-foot-tall sculpture of Christ the Fisher located in La Concordia in the Mexican state of Chiapas was completely burned down after being struck by lightning September 10. Hours after the incident, the Secretariat for Civil Protection and the local municipal police went to the scene to assess the damage. “Due to the impact of lightning and combustible material, fire spread in its structure; it collapsed and burned,” Civil Protection reported on Facebook. After lamenting the accident, the parish expressed its desire that other “works and projects” be carried out for “the common good” and the “comprehensive growth” of the town. The authorities indicated that the decision to replace the statue had not yet been made. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255375/lightning-strike-destroys-monumental-statue-of-christ-in-mexico Scandinavia’s top Church leader says he hopes the role of women in the Church’s mission is a focal point at the upcoming synodal assembly on synodality — and, therefore, that the conversation isn’t bogged down on the settled question of whether the Church can ordain women. The Church’s inability to sacramentally ordain women was confirmed in 1994 by Pope John Paul II. Pope Francis has also repeatedly affirmed this truth. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255369/ordination-of-women-should-not-be-focal-point-of-synod-says-scandinavian-cardinal A foundation that is raising money for the descendants of people who were enslaved by Jesuits announced $27 million in new contributions, more than doubling the total fund, which has now reached $42 million. The new money came from two large donations: a $10 million contribution from Georgetown University and an estimated $17 million from the Jesuits. The Jesuit funding includes the estimated value of a former plantation that is owned by Jesuits and another $10 million. With the additional funding, the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation’s fund has now reached 42% of its five-year goal of $100 million. The organization’s final goal is to ultimately reach $1 billion. Jesuits participated in the slave trade in North America since colonial times to support missionary efforts and establish educational institutions, including Georgetown. In 1838, the university sold more than 272 enslaved people from their plantations to southern Louisiana to support its financial needs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255364/jesuits-georgetown-donate-27-dollars-million-to-fund-for-slave-descendants A panel of judges ruled that a California school district must allow a Christian athletic club to return to public schools after the district banned the group over its adherence to Christian teachings on sexuality. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255372/court-rules-california-district-cant-bar-christian-athletic-club-from-schools Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which commemorates the seven great sorrows which Mary lived in relation to Her Son. 1. At the prophecy of Simeon: "You yourself shall be pierced with a sword - so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare." 2. At the flight into Egypt. 3. Losing the Holy Child at Jerusalem. 4. Meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary. 5. Standing at the foot of the Cross. 6. Jesus being taken from the Cross. 7. At the burial of Christ. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-sorrows-595 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252292/our-lady-of-sorrows-what-are-mary-s-seven-sorrows

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Catholic Church in Morocco said this week that material support and prayers will be needed for “months, or maybe even years” after the nation of 37 million was rocked by its worst earthquake in decades. In a September 11 interview with Caritas International, Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, archbishop of Rabat and president of Caritas Morocco, said the situation in the country “varies from day to day, not to say hour to hour.” The 6.8-magnitude earthquake, which hit near the historic city of Marrakesh Friday night, has killed more than 2,900 people as of September 13, the New York Times reported. It is the deadliest earthquake to hit the north African nation since at least 1960. The cardinal, who leads the country’s small Catholic community, said that as of September 11, one of the biggest physical needs of the people of Morocco is for electricity, as well as clothes, medicine, and food. To help the victims of the earthquake and the floods, visit Caritas’ website. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255360/catholic-leader-in-morocco-it-may-take-years-to-rebuild-after-earthquake An Iraqi Christian figure involved in a dispute with the leader of the Catholic Church in the country was not, as he has implied online, granted a private audience with Pope Francis, the Vatican clarified on Tuesday. Rayan Al-Kildani, whose name means “Rayan the Chaldean,” is a Christian lawmaker and leader of the paramilitary group the “Babylon Brigades.” He has previously been sanctioned by the United States for alleged human rights abuses, and has had public disputes with his Church’s hierarchy. On social media September 7, Al-Kildani shared photos and videos that seemed to imply that he had a private meeting with Pope Francis. Al-Kildani released a statement on Facebook after his visit to the Vatican along with photos of the encounter, one of which had been edited to blur the crowds in the background. The Vatican in a brief Tuesday statement said Pope Francis’ meeting with Al-Kildani was during the weekly general audience, which includes many thousands of people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255363/controversial-iraqi-christian-didn-t-meet-with-pope-francis-privately-vatican-confirms Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine, in 320 under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem, and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine, which mark the site of the Crucifixion. catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross-594

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - During his September 13 general audience, Pope Francis presented the life of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros as an example of the Gospel in action and service to the greater good. The general audience was the latest installment of the pope’s ongoing series on apostolic zeal, which is an opportunity for the faithful to “meet passionate witnesses to the proclamation of the Gospel,” individuals who embodied “the will and also the inner passion to carry the Gospel forward,” according to the pope. Wednesday’s catechism focused on the Venezuelan Hernández, the “people’s doctor,” and was the 20th installment in the series, which opened January 11 with the life of the Apostle Matthew. Hernández was the first Venezuelan layperson to be beatified. Pope Francis also took a moment to speak about the importance Hernández’s mother played in passing down the faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255353/pope-francis-highlights-life-of-service-of-venezuelan-blessed-at-general-audience A federal appeals court panel has unanimously ruled in favor of a Catholic group that said a local government in Michigan violated federal religious freedom law when it blocked the use of the group’s 40-acre property for a Stations of the Cross trail. In 2020 the organization received a 40-acre wooded parcel in Genoa Township in southeast Michigan as a gift from the Diocese of Lansing. CHI planned to create a prayer trail with Stations of the Cross, a Catholic devotion that meditates on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as well as an altar and mural placed in an outdoor grotto formed by the property’s trees. Genoa Township said the prayer path project was the equivalent of a church building and required a special use permit. CHI plans to continue its ongoing lawsuit against Genoa Township over plans to build a small 95-seat eucharistic adoration chapel that the township has rejected. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255352/michigan-township-can-t-ban-catholic-group-s-stations-of-the-cross-court-rules Archbishop John Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in a Monday statement defended the New Mexico governor’s recent controversial executive order banning the carrying of guns in the state’s most populated county. “The number of gun deaths we witness here is deplorable and tragic. I hope we can come together in New Mexico to address this issue,” the archbishop said. The order, issued by Lujan Grisham on September 7, temporarily suspends the right of citizens to bear arms in public in Bernalillo County, home to New Mexico’s largest city, Albuquerque. Lujan Grisham issued the order following the deaths by shootings of several Albuquerque children in recent months. The order suspended the carrying of guns by citizens for 30 days and was given on the grounds that gun violence in the state constitutes a “public health emergency.” The Albuquerque mayor and police chief have signaled that they will not enforce the gun ban and that they will leave it to state authorities to do so. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255349/new-mexico-bishop-defends-governor-s-controversial-gun-ban Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Chrysostom, considered the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, and the most prominent Greek father of the Church. In 398, he was forcefully appointed Patriarch of Constantinople, and fast became very popular with his flock through his example of preaching and courage in front of the imperial power, whose corruption and decadence he never shirked from criticizing in public. Chrysostom's many writings, especially homilies and commentaries on the Gospels, still exist and have exerted great influence over the centuries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-chrysostom-362

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican will dedicate a new statue of the patron saint of Korea, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, in Saint Peter’s Basilica this Saturday. Born in 1821, Tae-gŏn was the first native Korean priest and one of the country’s earliest martyrs. The statue of the Korean martyr was proposed by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, a Korean prelate and prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, and approved by Pope Francis, according to the Holy See’s news arm, Vatican News. The pope has pointed to Tae-gŏn’s missionary zeal as a model for all Christians to follow. The statue’s dedication will take place on September 16, the anniversary of Tae-gŏn’s beheading by the Korean Joseon Dynasty. To see a picture of the new statue, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255339/statue-of-korea-s-patron-saint-to-be-permanently-installed-at-st-peter-s-basilica Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández, who is poised to take up his position as the head of the Vatican’s chief doctrinal office in the coming days, has signaled an openness to theological debates, saying they help deepen the Church’s understanding of the Gospel. The 61-year-old Argentine theologian also criticized bishops — both “progressive” and those from “traditionalist groups” — who think they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father,” warning that are on a road to “heresy” and “schism.” For more from Fernández interview, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255343/new-doctrine-chief-welcomes-debate-but-warns-bishops-about-schism-risks The Swiss Bishops’ Conference on Sunday revealed an ongoing Vatican-ordered investigation into the handling of sexual abuse allegations by Church officials, with the inquiry expected to run until at least the end of the year. The conference said in a statement on Monday that allegations had been made in May of this year “against several emeriti and acting members of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference” as well as against “other clerics in their handling of sexual abuse cases.” Swiss Church authorities forwarded the allegations to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome. Several weeks later the dicastery “ordered a preliminary canonical investigation into the matter,” appointing Swiss Diocese of Chur Bishop Joseph Bonnemain to lead the inquiry. The primary purpose of the investigation, the announcement said, is “the accusations of covering up cases of abuse.” The criminal allegations of sexual abuse, the statement said, are handled by secular authorities and have been reported to them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255334/vatican-investigating-swiss-bishops-handling-of-sex-abuse-cases Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Apollinaris Franco, a Spanish Franciscan who was sent to Japan to head the Japanese Franciscan mission in 1614, the year that the new Japanese shogun had instituted a nationwide ban on Christianity and declared being a Christian a capital offense. Franco evangelized covertly until he was arrested in 1617 and thrown into prison in Nagasaki along with other priests and laymen, for five years to await his execution. The conditions in the prison were exceedingly harsh in an attempt to force the prisoners to reject the faith. Apollinaris ministered to the other prisoners and converted some of the jailers through his example and teaching. On September 12, 1622, he was burned at the stake along with other Franciscans and Jesuits. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-apollinaris-franco-592

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On a “day of joy” in Poland, the Catholic Church on Sunday for the first time beatified an entire family at once: Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, who were martyred during World War II for sheltering two Jewish families from the Nazis. Early on March 24, 1944, a Nazi patrol surrounded the home of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma on the outskirts of Markowa. They discovered the Jewish people hiding on the Ulma farm and executed them. The Nazi police then killed 31-year-old Wiktoria, who was pregnant and in premature labor, and 44-year-old Józef outside their home. Beatification in the Catholic Church is one step before canonization, when a person recognized for special holiness is officially declared to be a saint. Those beatified receive the title “Blessed” and may receive public veneration at the local or regional level, usually restricted to those dioceses or religious institutes closely associated with the person’s life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255332/ulma-family-beatified-on-a-day-of-joy-in-poland More than 2,000 people have been reported dead after a major earthquake rocked the North African country of Morocco overnight on Friday, the country’s government said Saturday morning. The Moroccan government on Saturday said hundreds more were injured. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake measured a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 near the resort of Oukaïmedene. The USGS in its early report said “significant casualties” were “likely” while “extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread.” The Catholic charity Caritas Morocco reported some material damage recorded at the Church of Ouarzazate without any human loss in the community as of Saturday. The Caritas Team said it intends to take emergency actions coordinated with other Caritas networks. Cardinal Cristóbal López, Archbishop of Rabat, planned to be present in Marrakech to preside over the Eucharist yesterday, which he said he would celebrate for all the victims. The Archbishop said he appeals to all communities to pray at all Masses to express their compassion to local authorities and to organize solidarity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255335/pope-francis-urges-faithful-to-be-close-to-the-people-of-morocco-in-wake-of-devastating-earthquake Today, the Church celebrates Saint Jean Gabriel Perboyre, a missionary to China who became one of the first victims of the persecutions against Christians, dying in a manner which had a striking resemblance to the passion of our Lord. He was betrayed for a sum of silver, stripped of his garments and dragged from tribunal to tribunal, beaten and tortured continuously until he was sentenced to death with seven criminals. He was crucified and died on a cross. Canonized on June 2, 1996 by Pope John Paul II, Saint Jean Gabriel Perboyre is the first saint of China. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-jean-gabriel-perboyre-591 The Church also celebrates Saint Paphnutius, an Egyptian monk who became a bishop, endured torture for the faith, and participated at the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in its confirmation of Christ's divinity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-paphnutius-709

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Research in the archive of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome has uncovered a list of the names of thousands of Jewish people who found shelter from Nazi persecution in Catholic religious congregations in Rome from 1943-1944. While some of the information was first published in 1961, the full documentation, particularly the lists of people hidden in the Catholic institutions, had been considered lost, a September 7 press release explained. The Nazis occupied Rome from September 10, 1943, until June 4, 1944, when the city was liberated by the Allied forces. During that nine-month period, approximately 10,000-15,000 Jews faced persecution, and almost 2,000 Jews, including children and adolescents, were deported and murdered. The newly rediscovered documentation references more than 4,300 people hidden by 100 women’s religious congregations and 55 men’s religious congregations during the persecution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255301/documents-identify-thousands-of-jews-hidden-by-catholic-religious-during-nazi-occupation-of-rome In a September 6 hearing, Representative Chris Smith accused the government of Azerbaijan of committing genocide against Armenian Christians in disputed territory in the country. During the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission meeting, Smith criticized the Azerbaijani government for continuing its blockade of the Lachin corridor, which is the only road that connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255308/lawmaker-accuses-azerbaijan-of-genocide-seeks-answers-on-biden-admin-s-plan A delegation of 90 Vietnamese Catholics and seven bishops traveled to Mongolia last weekend for the chance to see Pope Francis and deliver a special message. Unlike Mongolia, which has one of the smallest Catholic populations in the world, Vietnam is home to millions of Catholics, yet no pope has ever visited the southeast Asian country. Vietnam and the Holy See have never had full diplomatic relations, a usual prerequisite for a papal trip, but Vietnamese Catholics remain convinced that a papal visit could have a positive impact on the situation facing Christians in the socialist country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255302/catholics-in-vietnam-ask-pope-francis-to-visit-their-country-next Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The circumstances of the Virgin Mary's infancy and early life are not directly recorded in the Bible, but other documents and traditions describing the circumstances of her birth are cited by some of the earliest Christian writers from the first centuries of the Church. These accounts, although not considered authoritative in the same manner as the Bible, outline some of the Church's traditional beliefs about the birth of Mary, including the belief that her parents decided that she would be offered to God as a consecrated Virgin for the rest of her life, and enter a chaste marriage with the carpenter Joseph. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-birth-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-357

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - During a meeting in Rome Wednesday morning, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic synod of bishops told Pope Francis some of his gestures and statements have been “painful and difficult for the Ukrainian people.” According to a September 6 statement, the bishops said misunderstandings between the Vatican and Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war are used as propaganda by Russia, and so “the faithful of our Church are sensitive to every word of Your Holiness as the universal voice of truth and justice.” The meeting between the pope and 45 bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church lasted nearly two hours in a room off of the Paul VI Hall. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255290/ukrainian-greek-catholic-synod-tells-pope-francis-he-has-made-painful-statements The trial of three pro-life activists who staged a sit-in protest at a Washington DC abortion clinic in October 2020 began today, just about one week after five of their peers who also participated in the protest were convicted under a controversial federal statute and a civil rights violation. If convicted the defendants could face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $350,000 maximum fine. The FACE Act, which is the same law that pro-life father of seven Mark Houck was charged and acquitted under earlier this year, prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.” Pro-life leaders across the nation condemned the conviction of the five in August. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255294/second-trial-of-dc-pro-life-activists-who-staged-protest-begins The Archdiocese of Baltimore will consider filing for bankruptcy as it awaits the implementation of a new law that will end the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits for negligence in relation to child sexual abuse. Effective October 1, the law will allow a victim of child sex abuse to sue private entities for up to $1.5 million if he or she can show the organization failed to properly respond to sexual abuse that occurred under its watch. Previously, the statute of limitations was seven years after the victim’s 18th birthday. Because the new law will apply retroactively, victims whose statute of limitations had already passed will be able to file lawsuits against private entities. An attorney’s general report from April accused the archdiocese of covering up child sex abuse for decades, and the archbishop believes this law could lead to multiple lawsuits that could have “devastating financial consequences” for the archdiocese. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255295/baltimore-archdiocese-considers-bankruptcy-amid-possible-sex-abuse-lawsuits Today, the Church celebrates Saint Clodoald, popularly known as Saint Cloud, who escaped from violent political intrigue to pursue holiness as a monk and priest. In 554, Clodoald founded and led a community of monks in the village of Nogent near Paris. There, he was known for his generosity toward the poor, and his attention to the work of religious instruction among the people. He died on September 7, 560, at the age of 38. Under the name of “St. Cloud,” Clodoald became the namesake of several cities and towns. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cloud-708

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Thousands of people stood up for the unborn on Saturday at the March for Life in London, England. The ninth annual march processed through the city of Westminster in London, and ended at the Houses of Parliament. Law enforcement estimated about 7,000 people attended the march according to a press release from March for Life UK. In 2021, there were 214,256 abortions in England and Wales, according to the UK government’s website. Abortion was legalized in England, Scotland, and Wales, under the Abortion Act in 1967. In 2022, Parliament voted to permanently allow women in England and Wales to self-administer both abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, without first visiting a hospital or clinic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255281/thousands-march-for-life-in-london Super Bowl champion Harrison Butker is teaming up with the University of Notre Dame to offer a $10,000 award for the innovative use of Catholic Church property in light of societal and demographic change. The criteria for the award include having a bold vision, being “distinctively Catholic,” having an innovative use of Church property, fulfilling the “highest and best use” of the Church property, and having a focus on scale and sustainability. Any individual or group, which includes the laity, clergy, an organization, or a diocese, may apply. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255280/nfl-kicker-harrison-butker-and-university-of-notre-dame-to-award-innovation-in-church-property Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Thomas Tzugi. Born to nobility and educated by the Jesuits of the Arima province around 1571, Thomas entered the Jesuit order upon the completion of his schooling at around 17 years old. He quickly developed a reputation for his excellent preaching and evangelical zeal. He was exiled to the island of Macao during a persecution of Christians, yet he managed to return to Japan in disguise and continue his priestly ministry. He was recaptured and sentenced to death, yet he refused to seek his freedom through his family’s political connections. He was burned to death at the stake in 1627 in Nagasaki, Japan, and was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-thomas-tzugi-355

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has returned home after his trip to Mongolia. Catholics from across Asia traveled to Mongolia to attend the country’s first-ever papal Mass with Pope Francis on Sunday. While papal Masses on the pope’s other international trips can draw hundreds of thousands of people, the Mass in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar only had an estimated 2,000 in attendance — presenting a rare opportunity to personally meet the pope for attendees. Catholics from South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan attended the Mass in the sports arena, according to the Vatican. Among the crowd were Catholics from mainland China, including underground Catholics who risked retribution from their government to attend the Mass with the pope. Pope Francis said that he wanted to “send a warm greeting to the noble Chinese people.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255273/catholics-from-mainland-china-and-across-asia-in-mongolia-for-mass-with-pope-francis Pope Francis also revealed the existence of a joint China-Vatican commission on the appointment of bishops during an in-flight press conference on Monday — giving the clearest explanation to date as to what could be in the secret Vatican-China deal. The pope said that there is a joint commission between the Chinese government and the Holy See on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China presided over by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The pope described the Vatican’s relations with the People’s Republic of China as “very respectful.” The Vatican’s diplomatic relationship with China was a topic of focus during the pope’s four-day trip to Mongolia, which shares a nearly 3,000-mile border with China. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255276/pope-francis-gives-glimpse-into-vatican-china-deal-on-appointment-of-chinese-bishops Today, the Church celebrates Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a universal symbol of God's merciful and preferential love for the poor and forgotten. She often said that the poorest of the poor were those who had no one to care for them and no one who knew them. And she often remarked with sadness and desolation of milliions of souls in the developed world whose spiritual poverty and loneliness was such an immense cause of suffering. Mother Teresa once said, "A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace." She also said, "give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar/2023-9-5

Due to the Labor Day holiday today in the U.S., there will be no new news briefing this morning. Today, the Church celebrates Saint Boniface, Pope. Though few details are known of Boniface's early life, he was elected Pope on December 28, 418. Boniface was highly esteemed for his charitable and learned personality, which were clearly seen and lived through the service of his priestly duties. Boniface's reign was marked by great zeal and activity in disciplinary organization and control. He worked to reform certain corrupt practices and reduced the privileges granted to certain bishops. He ardently supported Saint Augustine in his fight against Pelagianism, and Augustine devoted several works to him.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis made history Friday morning when he became the first pope to travel to Mongolia, the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country. The papal plane touched down in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on September 1. As Pope Francis descended the stairs of the plane at “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport, he was welcomed by the Asian country’s foreign minister and a young woman who offered the pope a cup of traditional Mongolian dried curds. Pope Francis told journalists aboard the chartered ITA Airways plane that to visit Mongolia is to encounter “a small people, but a big culture.” Roughly the size of Alaska, Mongolia has five people per square mile. About 30% of its population is nomadic or semi-nomadic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255252/pope-francis-becomes-first-pope-in-history-to-set-foot-in-mongolia Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September is for people living on the margins. “A homeless person who dies on the street will never appear among the top stories of search engines or newscasts,” the pope said in a video released August 29. The Holy Father asked: “How could we have reached this level of indifference?” He goes on to ask how we as a society have allowed the “throwaway culture” to “dominate our lives, our cities, our way of life?” The pope urged the faithful to “stop making invisible those who are on the margins of society, whether it’s due to poverty, addictions, mental illness, or disability” and instead “focus on accepting them, on welcoming all people who need it.” He concluded with a prayer: “Let us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255239/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-september-2023 A group known as BishopAccountability.org, which tracks sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, condemned a Massachusetts district judge’s Wednesday decision to dismiss criminal charges against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The criminal charges involving the sexual assault and abuse of a minor were dismissed Wednesday after a judge ruled McCarrick, 93, was not mentally competent to stand trial. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255240/bishop-accountability-group-dismissal-of-charges-against-former-cardinal-mccarrick-hugely-disappointing A large fire devastated Saint Joseph Catholic Church, a historic parish in Salem, Oregon, early Thursday morning, leading pastor Father Jeff Meeuwsen to conclude that the sanctuary “is pretty much a loss.” Saint Joseph’s is one of the oldest parish communities in Oregon. It serves about 3,500 faithful and is a part of the Archdiocese of Portland, located about an hourlong drive from downtown Portland. Despite the extensive damage, no one was hurt, according to a Thursday morning parish statement. In a social media statement, the Archdiocese of Portland said that Archbishop Alexander Sample was on the ground with the parish community on Thursday assessing the situation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255248/fire-devastates-historic-oregon-catholic-church-sanctuary-is-lost Today, the Church celebrates Saint Beatrice da Silva Meneses. She answered a summons from God to found a religious order, the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and with the help of the Queen of Portugal, she founded a house outside of Toledo where she lived and served as superior until her death on September 1, 1490. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-beatrice-da-silva-meneses-581

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. This news briefing will return on Friday, September first. In the meantime, visit Catholic News Agency dot com for the latest. May God bless you.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - India’s Catholic bishops celebrated along with the rest of the country this week after an Indian-built lunar lander touched down on the moon’s surface Wednesday morning, a win for the country’s still-developing space program. “The progress made by our scientists and engineers in the field of space research is truly commendable and fills our hearts with pride,” said the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on August 23. Similar to the Indian bishops, Pope Francis has spoken about space exploration — recalling the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 2019, the pope encouraged Catholics to look to that great event for inspiration to overcome injustices and mistreatment of the weak. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255179/indias-bishops-elated-after-successful-moon-landing A seminarian in Nigeria’s Diocese of Makurdi on Monday narrowly escaped death when the car he was riding in was shot at by Islamist Fulani herdsmen. David Igba, a seminarian with Via Christi Society who was fulfilling his pastoral assignment at Sacred Heart Udei Parish in the Diocese of Makurdi, was traveling with two others when their car was sprayed with bullets by a group of gun-wielding Fulani herders in the August 21 incident. Igba said it was a miracle that he and the other two occupants of the car survived the ordeal. “I was very scared,” he said. “The killings here are too much. I have lost many relations to the Fulani herdsmen, but that was the closest I came so close to death at … their hands. I kept praying that God would protect us.” He said most of those living in the villages that are currently under siege by the Fulani have already abandoned their villages and are living in a state of despair. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255176/seminarian-in-nigeria-narrowly-escapes-shooting-by-islamist-fulani-attackers A Maryland circuit court ruled August 16 that the identities of almost all of those named in the attorney general’s report on child sexual abuse in the Baltimore Archdiocese can now be released to the public. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown will be releasing all but three of the redacted names following last week’s Circuit Court for Baltimore City’s ruling authorizing him to do so on or after September 26. The report, first released in April of this year, outlines a four-year investigation that alleges that more than 600 children were abused by 156 people, most of whom have died. The names of 46 individuals were redacted. The allegations span a period beginning in the 1940s through 2002. The report alleges that Church officials attempted to cover up many of the abuses by protecting predator priests and dismissing complaints. All but three of the redacted names will be revealed. The 463-page report is not a criminal charging document but a statement of alleged facts for informational purposes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255177/names-of-baltimore-clergy-in-sexual-abuse-report-can-be-revealed-judge-rules Today, the Church celebrates Saint Louis. As the king of France, his biographers have written of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowledge of his people. King Louis was renowned for his charity. Beggars were fed from his table, he washed their feet, ministered to the wants of the lepers, and daily fed over one hundred poor. Saint Louis was also a patron of architecture. He died of the plague near Tunis during the Second Crusade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louis-ix-of-france-570

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Our Lady of Guadalupe proclaimed the Gospel in “mother tongue,” Pope Francis said Wednesday in a message that highlighted the important role mothers play in passing on the faith to the next generation. In his catechesis on evangelization on August 23, the pope spoke about how the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 helped to spread the Gospel across the Americas, praising her as an inspired model of motherhood and inculturation. Pope Francis said the Virgin Mary always “consoles us, makes us go forward and thus allows us to grow, like a good mother who, while following in her son’s steps, launches him into the world’s challenges.” Pope Francis underscored the importance of Marian shrines and pilgrimage destinations, like the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as places where the Gospel continues to be proclaimed today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255164/pope-francis-like-our-lady-of-guadalupe-mothers-can-be-great-evangelizers-today South Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a law protecting unborn babies with detectable heartbeats from abortion is constitutional and can go into effect. The ruling ended a circuit court’s injunction that had temporarily blocked the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, which was signed by Republican Governor Henry McMaster in May. Planned Parenthood and Greenville Women’s Clinic had requested the injunction, claiming the law violates constitutional rights to privacy, equal protection, and substantive due process. The 4-1 ruling is a victory for pro-life legislators in the state, which passed a similar law in 2021. That law was blocked more than a year later and struck down by the state Supreme Court in January of this year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255168/south-carolina-supreme-court-upholds-heartbeat-abortion-ban-life-is-winning Irish-American Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York celebrated Mass at a “Mass rock” in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, during a pilgrimage on Monday. During the 16th and 18th centuries, under the Penal Laws, all expressions of the Catholic faith were prohibited in Ireland. Priests risked fines, imprisonment, and death for celebrating Mass. This forced priests to celebrate Mass outdoors, in secret locations, using rocks as makeshift altars. Many of these “Mass rocks” are still in existence today and serve as a symbol of the hardships Irish Catholics endured during British rule. During the Mass for the group of pilgrims, Dolan emphasized the importance of the Eucharist. Dolan will conclude the pilgrimage today by celebrating Mass on the 150th anniversary of the dedication of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland, which took place on August 24, 1873. The Mass will take place on Sunday, August 27, at 11 am local time and is open to the public. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255167/cardinal-timothy-dolan-celebrates-mass-at-historic-mass-rock-during-pilgrimage-to-ireland Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists. Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament, at least not under the name Bartholomew: many ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John. We are presented with the Apostle's character in a brief and beautiful dialogue with the Lord Jesus. He is a good Jew, honest and innocent, a just man, who devotes much time to quiet reflection and prayer - "under the fig tree" - and has been awaiting the Messiah, the Holy One of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bartholomew-apostle-569

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone on Monday announced that the archdiocese would be submitting a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Cordileone earlier in August had warned that the filing was “very likely” in response to the “more than 500 civil lawsuits” alleging clerical sexual abuse filed against the archdiocese. A Chapter 11 filing, the archbishop said at the time, would allow the archdiocese to deal with those cases “collectively rather than one at a time,” resulting in both a “faster resolution” of the crisis as well as “fair compensation” for the victims. Among the other U.S. dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy this year include Oakland; Ogdensburg, New York; and Albany, New York. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255156/san-francisco-archdiocese-announces-chapter-11-bankruptcy-filing The dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua sent police and prosecutors on August 19 to evict six Jesuits living near the Jesuit Central American University. The Jesuits showed the officers proof of the order’s ownership but it made little difference and they were ordered to leave. They left without incident, taking with them a few personal items. The Central American Province of the Society of Jesus stated: “We strongly condemn this act of violence against our community and we reaffirm our confidence that the Lord of History will continue to protect the Jesuits of Nicaragua during this difficult period.” The closure of the university has left more than 9,500 students without access to education. Since the anti-government protests of 2018, the expropriation is the latest act of harassment and repression suffered by the Church, which has also affected other Catholic institutions and political dissidents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255155/nicaragua-dictatorship-renames-university-evicts-6-jesuits-from-adjacent-property As the new school year began, students arriving at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California, experienced both a tropical storm and an earthquake. For Thomas Aquinas College, the storm brought high winds and three inches of rain. Students were moving into their dorms that day, and many took shelter there as they set up their rooms for the upcoming semester. Amid the wind and rain, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake rattled the mountains four miles southeast of Ojai, just a few miles from Thomas Aquinas’ campus. Newly hung photos began to fall from the walls, plaster chipped from the walls, and the buildings shook violently, reported Chris Weinkopf, executive director of college relations. “By God’s grace,” he said, “no one was harmed, and the damage, though widespread, was not serious.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255158/thomas-aquinas-college-reports-minimal-damage-amid-tropical-storm-earthquake Saint Rose of Lima, the first saint of the New World. At a very young age, she chose to consecrate her life to God. She practiced very intense prayer and penance daily, sometimes depriving herself of food and sleep. She joined the Third Order of St. Dominic and lived in a little hut in her parents' garden, working to help support them. She was ill for the last three years of her life, and was cared for by a government official and his wife. She died at the age of 31 on August 24, 1617, feast of Saint Bartholomew, as she herself prophesied. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-rose-of-lima-577

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The military general and leader of the project to restore Notre-Dame de Paris following its devastating 2019 fire died while hiking in the Pyrenees mountains on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron said that French army general Jean-Louis Georgelin’s death meant “the nation lost one of its great soldiers” and “one of its great servants,” while Notre-Dame had lost “the architect of its rebirth.” Macron had appointed Georgelin to the role shortly after the fire, in April 2019. Georgelin in 2021 was confident that the restoration would be able to meet Macron’s proposed five-year working schedule. “The deadlines will be met!” he said that year during a media interview. The cathedral is scheduled to be reopened in 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255142/jean-louis-georgelin-architect-of-notre-dame-s-rebirth-dies-during-hiking-trip Albany Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard, who confessed to covering up clergy abuse, was accused of committing sexual abuse himself, and announced this month that he entered into a civil marriage with a woman, has died from a stroke at the age of 84, according to his publicist. Hubbard made headlines last year after he announced that he asked the Vatican if he could return to the lay state, claiming he is not able to function publicly as a priest while under investigation for sexual abuse. Following Hubbard’s announcement of his civil marriage, Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger said Hubbard remained a bishop and that his “marriage” was invalid. Hubbard led the Diocese of Albany from 1977 to 2014. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255146/retired-albany-bishop-accused-of-covering-up-and-committing-abuse-has-died Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael Warfel of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana. Warfel, who will turn 75 on September 16, will be automatically succeeded by his coadjutor, 57-year-old Bishop Jeffrey Fleming, who was appointed last year. In an April 2022 statement, Warfel said that the year prior he had asked Pope Francis to appoint a coadjutor bishop “to help me in the administration of our diocese and to begin a transition for the eventual new ordinary.” Warfel, who lived for over 25 years in Alaska and has spent the last 15 years in Montana, is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking and backpacking. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in Vietnam for 18 months and in Korea for 13 months before being honorably discharged in 1971. Fleming, who now succeeds Warfel as bishop, was born in Billings, Montana, in 1966. He studied religious education and theology at Carroll College in Helena and completed his priestly studies at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon, where he also received a master’s degree in theology. He holds a license in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255152/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-great-falls-billings-bishop-michael-warfel Today, the Church celebrates Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Pope Pius XII in the Papal Encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam proposed the traditional doctrine on the Queenship of Mary and established this feast for the Universal Church. Pope Pius IX said of Mary's queenship: "Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race. Constituted by the Lord Queen of Heaven and earth, and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, standing at the right hand of Her only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers, and she obtains what she seeks." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/queenship-of-mary-343

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis announced during an audience with lawyers Monday that he is writing a second part to his 2015 environmental encyclical Laudato Si’. The pope said with this new writing he is updating Laudato Si’ to cover current issues. The Holy See Press Office Director, Matteo Bruni, confirmed to CNA August 21 that “the pope is working on a letter updating Laudato Si' with regard to the recent environmental crises.” He could not provide any information on when the letter will be released. Laudato Si’ is the second of three encyclicals published in Pope Francis’ pontificate thus far. It was released in June 2015. The title, which means “Praise be to you,” was taken from Saint Francis of Assisi’s medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our Sister Mother Earth.” The theme of the encyclical is human ecology, a phrase first used by Pope Benedict XVI. The document addresses issues such as climate change, care for the environment, and the defense of human life and dignity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255138/pope-francis-writing-a-second-environmental-document-after-laudato-si Pope Francis called the mother of a young man, Luca Re Sartù, 24, who passed away after apparently contracting a bacterial staph infection during his trip to Portugal for World Youth Day. The infection likely turned into septicemia leading to organ failure, and the youth died on August 11. The autopsy results are pending. On Thursday, August 17, the day before the funeral, Pope Francis called Luca’s mother. According to the auxiliary bishop of Milan, Bishop Luca Raimondi, who celebrated the youth’s funeral with 13 other priests, “the pope and Luca’s mother cried together.” Bishop Américo Aguiar, auxiliary bishop of Lisbon and the director of the World Youth Day, has offered his condolences to the family, assuring them that Portugal is mourning with them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255135/pope-calls-grieving-mother-of-son-who-died-at-wyd-he-comforted-me-as-if-he-were-my-dad Today, the Church celebrates Pope Saint Pius the tenth, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, who was the first Pope elected in the 20th century. He came to the papal office in 1903 and died 11 years later in 1914, just as World War I was beginning. As Pope, he issued decrees making the age of First Holy Communion earlier (at the age of 7) and advocated frequent and even daily reception of the Eucharist. He promoted the reading of the Bible among laypeople, reformed the liturgy, promoted clear and simple homilies, and brought back Gregorian chant. He revised the Breviary, reorganized the curia, and initiated the codification of canon law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-st-pius-x-575

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis met Thursday with the Catholic president of Madagascar, Andry Nirina Rajoelina. The president was accompanied by his wife of 23 years and three young adult children. The 49-year-old politician and businessman has led the country of Madagascar in his current term since January 2019. He also led a provisional government in the country from 2009–2014. According to the Vatican, after a 20-minute private conversation, Pope Francis invited Rajoelina and his family to pray a Hail Mary together before a Marian image he had received from the bishops of Madagascar. The pope and delegation were also photographed together next to a miniature of a ship, a gift Francis received on the occasion of his 2019 visit to the island country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255109/pope-francis-meets-catholic-president-of-madagascar A federal appeals court this week sided with a group of pro-life protesters who claim the city of Washington, DC, discriminated against them by arresting them for anti-abortion messages they had written with chalk in 2020. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in its ruling Tuesday that the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America had “plausibly” demonstrated that Washington police had violated the First Amendment rights of two protesters when they were arrested over a pro-life slogan they wrote in chalk on a city sidewalk that year. The protesters had written “Black Preborn Lives Matter” on the sidewalk at a rally that occurred outside the Planned Parenthood Carol Whitehill Moses Center in Washington, DC. The government “may not play favorites in a public forum — permitting some messages and prohibiting others,” the ruling said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255113/appeals-court-sides-with-anti-abortion-protesters-in-dc-first-amendment-dispute The State of Colorado’s program to fund universal preschool unconstitutionally excludes Catholic preschools that want to participate in the program, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of two Denver-area parishes and the Archdiocese of Denver. The lawsuit concerns Colorado’s universal preschool program, created in 2022, that offers eligible families at least 15 hours per week of free preschool for every participating child, according to the program website. The suit maintains that the state’s rules requiring participating schools “to accept any applicant without regard to a student or family’s religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity” violate the schools’ First Amendment rights. The lawsuit objects that the program rules are unconstitutional and exclude Catholic schools but not the preschool programs of other private schools. The Denver Archdiocese has 36 preschools with more than 1,500 preschoolers each year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255112/colorado-can-t-exclude-catholic-preschools-from-state-program-lawsuit-says Today, the Church celebrates Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who according to tradition discovered the resting place of the true cross of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-helena-740

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals approved additional abortion pill restrictions, including ending mail-order abortions, in a Wednesday ruling in the high-stakes abortion case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v Food and Drug Administration. The court did not disapprove all use of abortion pills but rather ruled that the FDA must reinstate restrictions in place before 2016, most notably banning administering the pills through the mail or via telemedicine. Because of this finding, variations of the most commonly used abortion pill, such as Mifeprex and generic mifepristone, “will remain available under the safety restrictions that were in effect prior to 2016.” Once reviewed and certified by the Supreme Court, the ruling will mandate that the FDA restore its original regulations in place in 2000. This means that the mifepristone approval will be capped at seven weeks, rather than 10, and require at least three in-person doctor visits to administer the drug. Stay tuned to catholic news agency dot com for the latest on this story. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255106/breaking-5th-circuit-court-approves-abortion-pill-restrictions-ends-mail-order-abortions Pope Francis this week merged the Diocese of Takamatsu with the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Osaka in Japan. Cardinal Thomas Aquino Manyo Maeda, archbishop of Osaka since 2014, was named on August 15 as the first archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu. The last bishop of the Diocese of Takamatsu, John Eijiro Suwa, died in 2022. The two territories are on different islands: Takamatsu is on Japan’s Shikoku Island while Osaka is on Honshu. They are connected by water through the Osaka Bay and Seto Inland Sea or by land by crossing Awaji Island, already part of the territory of the former Archdiocese of Osaka. The new archdiocese has just 51,413 Catholics, less than a third of 1% of the area’s 19 million inhabitants. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255101/pope-francis-merges-two-dioceses-in-japan Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in his visit to South Sudan this week urged the people of God in the east-central African country to continue to work toward building a united nation by embracing a spirit of peace and reconciliation. Speaking to the media after his meeting with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday, August 14, Parolin underscored the importance of peace and reconciliation in building a stable country. Parolin left Juba on Tuesday, August 15, and headed to the Diocese of Malakal, where he had been invited by Bishop Stephen Nyodho to meet refugees from war-torn Sudan. Parolin will end his four-day visit to South Sudan on Thursday, August 17, in the Diocese of Rumbek, where he will preside over Mass and meet with Church leaders and more government officials. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255099/vatican-official-urges-south-sudanese-to-remain-committed-to-peace-and-reconciliation Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hyacinth, one of the first members of the Dominicans (the Order of Preachers) and the "apostle of the North", also called the "Apostle of Poland." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hyacinth-566

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin arrived in South Sudan on Monday, August 14, to meet people fleeing violence from neighboring Sudan among other activities lined up for his four-day visit to the east-central African country. In an interview with ACI Africa, CNA’s partner news agency in Africa, ahead of the visit, the apostolic nuncio in South Sudan said the visit by Parolin is an extension of the “care and love” of Pope Francis to the people of South Sudan. Parolin is visiting South Sudan at the invitation of Bishop Stephen Nyodho of the Diocese of Malakal as a follow up to his July 2022 visit to review the situation of internally displaced persons and those fleeing violence in neighboring Sudan. In February, Pope Francis became the first pope — and the first Western leader — to visit South Sudan. Amid an enthusiastic welcome, more than 100,000 people attended his papal Mass February 5 in the capital city of Juba, during which the pope made an impassioned plea for peace in the war-torn nation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255093/vatican-secretary-of-state-to-meet-refugees-from-sudan-in-four-day-visit-to-south-sudan The New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld a Catholic school’s ability to enforce an employee code of conduct in line with Catholic moral teaching and to fire teachers for violating that code. The ruling in Victoria Crisitello versus Saint Theresa School further solidifies the ability of New Jersey religious schools of all types to enforce moral codes of conduct in line with their religious practice. In its ruling, the New Jersey Supreme Court wrote that “the religious tenets exception allowed St. Theresa’s to require its employees, as a condition of employment, to abide by Catholic law.” Peter Verniero, counsel for Saint Theresa School, told CNA that “this is a significant validation of Saint Theresa School’s rights as a religious employer.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255094/new-jersey-court-rules-catholic-school-can-require-teachers-to-follow-catholic-teaching Honolulu Bishop, Larry Silva, visited the town of Lahaina Tuesday to celebrate Mass and meet survivors of the wildfires that he said “shockingly devastated” the town. While the scope of the crisis has been “overwhelming,” the response from the local community has been “remarkable,” the prelate told CNA. Silva’s bishopric encompasses the entire state of Hawaii, including Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian islands and the third-most populated. That island has been ravaged by wildfires this month, with at least 99 lives lost and major buildings and communities burned and destroyed. The bishop told CNA via email that he celebrated Mass at Kapalua, Maui, on Sunday for about 200 Catholics gathered there. Law enforcement, including the National Guard, are keeping guard over Lahaina, the bishop said. Silva urged visitors to the diocesan website to donate to the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation to “support the relief efforts for our fellow community members affected by the Maui wildfires.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255092/honolulu-bishop-details-shocking-devastation-on-maui-after-visit-to-lahaina Today, the Church celebrates ​​the feast day of King Saint Stephen of Hungary, the monarch who led his country to embrace the Christian faith during the 11th century. In 1038, on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Stephen delivered his final words to leaders of the Church and state, telling them to protect and spread the Catholic faith. Stephen of Hungary died on Aug. 15, 1038. He was buried alongside his son Saint Emeric, and the two were canonized together in 1083. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stephen-of-hungary-565

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr on Saturday urged Catholics in the state of Ohio to reject a November ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights under the state's constitution. The amendment, if passed, would dictate that Ohio “shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against” a woman’s attempt to get an abortion. State law currently prohibits abortion after the point at which an unborn child’s heartbeat is detected, generally around six weeks of pregnancy. Under the amendment, lawmakers could prohibit abortion “after fetal viability,” or when a child could survive outside its mother’s uterus, generally at around 24 weeks of pregnancy. The state would be prohibited from doing so, however, in cases where a doctor determined that an abortion was necessary to protect the mother’s “life or health.” The archbishop urged Catholics to pray for the amendment’s defeat, to raise awareness of the measure, and to vote against the initiative in the November 7 general election. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255086/cincinnati-archbishop-urges-catholics-to-reject-state-abortion-amendment-in-november The Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas, has removed two of its incardinated priests from ministry after receiving substantiated allegations of child sexual abuse. Father Alejandro Ortega of St. Monica Catholic Church in Converse, and Father Jesus Eduardo “Lalo” Martinez-Solis of St. Joseph-Honey Creek church in Spring Branch were both accused of sexually abusing minors. The allegations were referred to law enforcement, the archdiocese said. Both men had their faculties removed and are prohibited from identifying themselves as priests. They are forbidden from wearing clerical clothing and using clerical titles. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255088/san-antonio-archdiocese-removes-two-priests-over-allegations-of-child-sex-abuse The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega prohibited two priests from returning to Nicaragua from Lisbon, Portugal, where they participated in World Youth Day, a lawyer who has conducted research into the human rights abuses of the regime reported. Lawyer and researcher Martha Patricia Molina said that Father Tomás Sergio Zamora Calderón and Father William Mora were returning to Nicaragua after participating in World Youth Dayin Lisbon, August 1-6, attended by Pope Francis and more than a million young people from around the world, including a delegation from Nicaragua. In recent months the dictatorship of Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, has denied entry to Nicaragua "to more than half a dozen priests and lay people, most of them Nicaraguan citizens." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255090/dictatorship-in-nicaragua-blocks-two-priests-who-attended-wyd-from-returning-to-the-country Today, Catholics and many other Christians celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant feast day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God. Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed this belief about the Virgin Mary as the perennial teaching of the Church when he defined it formally as a dogma of Catholic faith in 1950, invoking papal infallibility to proclaim, “that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-assumption-561

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The devastating Maui fires appear to have spared Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina, providing a symbol of hope amid catastrophic destruction. At least 93 deaths had been reported as of Sunday, August 13, making the disaster the deadliest wildfire event in the US since 1918. Authorities expect the death toll to rise. Multiple fast-moving fires, fanned by strong winds and fueled by dry vegetation, swept across the Hawaiian island. The western town of Lahaina, with fewer than 13,000 residents, was particularly devastated. Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, named for Our Lady of Victory, appears to have escaped destruction. Maria Lanakila Catholic Church serves 700 to 800 families and celebrates six Sunday Masses every weekend. It hosts many weddings from visitors from around the world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255084/for-us-it-s-like-a-miracle-catholic-church-appears-to-survive-devastating-maui-fire After Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was gunned down at a campaign rally this week, Pope Francis appealed for a unified effort for peace in the country plagued by drug-related violence. The pope sent a condolence telegram to Archbishop Alfredo Espinoza Mateus of Quito on August 12 in which he condemned the assassination “with all his strength” and expressed his deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased and “all of the beloved Ecuadorian people.” Villavicencio, 59, was assassinated on Wednesday night at a campaign event only ten days before the first round of voting in Ecuador’s presidential election. The politician had been an outspoken critic of the violence caused by drug trafficking. Immediately following the assassination, the Ecuadorian bishops’ conference condemned the act of violence, while pledging to support initiatives to restore public safety and to “pray and work for peace based on freedom, justice, and truth.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255081/pope-francis-condemns-assassination-of-ecuadorian-presidential-candidate A community of Norbertine priests from California is putting down roots in the Midwest by opening a new priory and educational institute in Springfield, Illinois, this summer. The Norbertine, or Premonstratensian, order was founded in 1121 in France by Saint Norbert. The new priory had its official opening July 1. The Norbertines plan to offer daily Mass and thrice-weekly confessions in the new space, located at 4867 Laverna Road, as well as host diocesan events and retreats for groups and individuals. The buildings and grounds of Corpus Christi Priory are the former site of the Chiara Center, operated by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, who will continue to live in a convent on the property. The Norbertine fathers will serve as chaplains for the sisters. Visitors are welcome at the new priory. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255079/california-community-of-norbertine-priests-establish-new-priory-educational-institute-in-illinois Today, the Church celebrates Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Franciscan priest, missionary and martyr. The saint died in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, during World War II, and is remembered as a “martyr of charity” for dying in place of another prisoner who had a wife and children. Saint Maximilian is also celebrated for his missionary work, his evangelistic use of modern means of communication, and for his lifelong devotion to the Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-maximillian-kolbe-560

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic university in the state of Washington recently announced its full divestment from holdings in fossil fuel concerns, a decision one of the school’s leaders says came about as part of a “moral imperative to action” stemming from Catholic teachings. Seattle University, a Jesuit-run school near the city’s downtown, said last month that it had fully “scrubbed its endowment portfolio of fossil fuel investments,” with the school touting itself as “the first university in Washington state and the first Jesuit Catholic university in the country” to do so. The school’s board of trustees in 2018 “became the first Jesuit university in the country to pledge 100% withdrawal from publicly traded fossil fuel investments,” with the school claiming the divestment measure was part of a broader effort at “building a sustainable community that supports human and ecological health, social justice, and economic well-being.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255062/catholic-university-divests-from-fossil-fuels-after-a-six-year-process The Archdiocese of Philadelphia agreed to a $3.5 million settlement with a man who accused a now-deceased priest of raping him about 17 years ago and alleged that the archdiocese failed to take action when previously informed of separately alleged abuse. The lawsuit alleged that Monsignor John Close, who was ordained in 1969, sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in 2006 when he took classes at Saint Katherine of Siena Parish in Wayne, which is within the archdiocese. The lawyers claimed that Close sexually abused the teenager after hearing his confession and warned him not to report the abuse. Although the man, who is now 30 years old, first opened up about the alleged abuse in 2018, his lawyers argued that the archdiocese failed to take proper action in response to previous allegations, which could have prevented his assault. In the 1990s, a different man accused the priest of sexual abuse allegedly occurring in 1969, but the archdiocese could not substantiate the claims. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255068/philadelphia-archdiocese-settles-for-3-dollars-5-cents-million-in-sex-abuse-lawsuit-for-deceased-priest Today, the Church celebrates Saint Clare of Assisi. As a child she was already very strongly drawn to the things of God, praying fervently, devoutly visiting the Blessed Sacrament, and manifesting a tender love towards the poor. Saint Francis made her superior of the Poor Clares order, a post she should serve for the next 42 years of her life until her death. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-clare-of-assisi-564

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Thursday named Bishop Rui Manuel Sousa Valério as patriarch of Lisbon, just days after the conclusion of World Youth Day in the capital city of Portugal. The pope on August 10 also accepted the resignation of Cardinal-Patriarch Manuel Clemente, who has led the patriarchate since May 2013. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255058/pope-francis-names-new-patriarch-of-lisbon-following-world-youth-day Bishop Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu of Minna, Nigeria, called for prayers for the release of a priest and a seminarian who were kidnapped by armed men on August 3 in the north-central part of the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255051/church-prays-for-release-of-kidnapped-priest-and-seminarian-in-nigeria The Ecuadorian bishops’ conference on Wednesday condemned the murder of Fernando Villavicencio, 59, a candidate for president in Ecuador. In a statement, the Ecuadorian bishops expressed their “deep solidarity” with Villavicencio’s family and said: “We also condemn all forms of violence unleashed at different levels of society.” Villavicencio, who was a presidential candidate of the Movimiento Construye coalition, was shot and killed by an unidentified man while participating in a political rally on Wednesday night. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255059/ecuador-bishops-condemn-assassination-of-presidential-candidate-fernando-villavicencio Ohio voters on Tuesday night rejected a proposed initiative that would have made it more difficult to adopt constitutional amendments via citizen-led ballot initiatives, which will make it easier for a proposed abortion referendum to succeed in November. A yes vote was a vote in favor of raising the threshold required for adopting a constitutional amendment through a citizen-led ballot initiative. The proposal would have required 60% of the vote for an initiative to pass. With the amendment’s defeat, a simple majority is all that is required for a ballot initiative to win. This referendum comes just three months before Ohioans will vote on another referendum that will decide whether to establish a constitutional right to “reproductive freedom,” which would include abortion up to the point of viability. Abortion is currently legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Amid the high stakes on a variety of issues, out-of-state organizations funneled money into the campaigns to either support or oppose Issue 1. Interest groups spent about $20 million in total on the campaign, more than 80% of which came from outside of Ohio. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255044/ohio-rejects-initiative-to-change-amendment-process-easing-way-for-abortion-referendum Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lawrence, who was martyred on August 10, 258 during the persecution of the emperor Valerian along with many other members of the Roman clergy. He was the last of the seven deacons of Rome to die. After the pope, Sixtus II, was martyred on August 6, Lawrence became the principal authority of the Roman Church, having been the Church's treasurer. When he was summoned before the executioners he was ordered to bring all the wealth of the Church with him. According to tradition, he showed up with a handful of crippled, poor, and sick men, and when questioned, replied that "These are the true wealth of the Church." He was immediately sent to his death, being cooked alive on a gridiron. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lawrence-563

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis changed canon law on Tuesday regarding the governance of Opus Dei and any future personal prelatures. In a motu proprio issued August 8, the pope assimilated the personal prelature to “public clerical associations of pontifical right with the faculty of incardinating clerics.” It also further defined the role of the prelate as a “moderator endowed with the faculties of an ordinary.” The motu proprio modifies canons 295 and 296 of the Code of Canon Law on personal prelatures and immediately entered into force on the day of its publication. The updated canons now state that the statutes that govern a personal prelature can be “approved or issued by the Apostolic See.” To date, the international Catholic organization Opus Dei is the only personal prelature in the Catholic Church. The group’s statutes have yet to be approved by the Holy See following its extraordinary congress in April. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255038/pope-francis-changes-canon-law-on-opus-dei-and-any-future-personal-prelatures The father of Jimena, the 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim who reported she recovered her sight during a Mass in Fátima, described the healing as a “gift from the Virgin Mary.” On Saturday, Aug. 5, in Fátima, Portugal, Jimena said she was cured of a serious eye problem — which the doctors called incurable — after completing a novena to Our Lady of the Snows and receiving holy Communion at a Mass. Jimena’s father said that “thousands of people” participated in the novena, which really took off. The father explained that “when you take a leap in faith, you don’t look back, you only look forward.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255042/father-of-girl-reportedly-cured-of-blindness-says-it-was-a-gift-of-the-virgin-to-wyd A Texas judge ordered Southwest Airlines to take religious freedom training from the faith-based legal advocacy organization Alliance Defending Freedom, after the airline failed to inform employees of their freedom to practice their religion. Southwest flight attendant Charlene Carter had been fired by the airline after criticizing the president of her worker’s union for attending the pro-abortion Women’s March in Washington, DC, in 2017. Carter sued and won a combined $5 million from the airline and the Transport Workers Union Local 556 in the dispute, with the court finding that her speech against the union president was protected under federal statute. She was also subsequently reinstated as a flight attendant for the company. The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas further ordered Southwest to inform its workers that the company “may not discriminate against Southwest flight attendants for their religious practices and beliefs.” In its ruling on Monday, the district court said Southwest “didn’t come close to complying with the court’s order.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255037/court-orders-lawyers-for-southwest-airlines-to-take-religious-freedom-classes Today, the Church celebrates Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Saint Edith Stein. Saint Teresa converted from Judaism to Catholicism in the course of her work as a philosopher, and later entered the Carmelite Order. She died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1942. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-edith-stein-557

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A 16-year-old Spanish World Youth Day pilgrim says she miraculously recovered her sight after receiving the Eucharist at Fátima, Portugal, during a Mass there. This possible miracle has moved hearts and filled with hope all those who have been following the events at WYD, which brought together more than a million young people in the Portuguese capital last week. For two and a half years, Jimena has suffered a loss of sight due to a myopia problem that left her with a 95% vision loss. On the morning of Aug. 5, when the Holy Father was also praying the rosary at the Fátima shrine, Jimena received what she herself describes as a “great gift” from the Virgin Mary. For two and a half years, Jimena has suffered a loss of sight due to a myopia problem that left her with a 95% vision loss. On the morning of August 5, when the Holy Father was also praying the rosary at the Fátima shrine, Jimena received what she herself describes as a “great gift” from the Virgin Mary. The archbishop of Barcelona and president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference referred to the possible miracle as “a grace from God” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255031/miracle-at-fatima-world-youth-day-pilgrim-receives-her-sight-after-communion-at-mass The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis’ annual peace message for 2024 will focus on artificial intelligence (AI). A statement from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on August 8 described an “urgent need” to guide the development and use of artificial intelligence in a responsible way, requiring that “ethical reflection be extended to the sphere of education and law.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255036/vatican-announces-that-artificial-intelligence-will-be-theme-of-next-world-day-of-peace A Louisiana priest who was killed in a car accident last Wednesday is being remembered in his home diocese for his commitment to the truth as taught by the Catholic faith as well as his unwavering devotion to the Blessed Mother. Father Mark Beard, 62, was pastor of Saint Helena Catholic Church in Amite City, Louisiana, about an hour northeast of Baton Rouge. Bishop Michael Duca announced Beard’s death on August 2. During what was to be his final Sunday Mass on July 30, Beard preached about not being “on the fence” when it comes to faith in Christ, telling the congregation that “the only thing that matters is your soul.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255033/baton-rouge-priest-killed-in-a-car-crash-remembered-for-his-holiness-and-passion-for-truth Today, the Church celebrates Saint Dominic Guzman, who helped the cause of orthodoxy in the medieval Church by founding the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominicans. Born in Caleruega, Spain around the year 1170, Dominic was the son of Felix Guzman and Joanna of Aza, members of the nobility. After his ordination to the priesthood, Dominic was asked by Bishop Diego of Osma to participate in local church reforms. Dreading the spread of heresy, Dominic began to think about founding a religious order to promote the truth. He obtained the bishop's approval of his plan for an order dedicated to preaching. Dominic obtained papal approval for his plan in 1216, and was named as the Pope's chief theologian. The Order of Preachers expanded in Europe with papal help in 1218. The founder spent the last several years of his life building up the order and continuing his preaching missions, during which he is said to have converted some 100,000 people. After several weeks of illness, St. Dominic died in Italy on August 6, 1221. He was canonized in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dominic-556

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The next World Youth Day will be held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2027, Pope Francis announced at the conclusion of the final Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. More than 1,000 Korean Catholics attended WYD 2023 in Lisbon. South Korea has nearly 6 million Catholics, 11% of the total population, according to 2022 statistics from the country’s Catholic bishops’ conference. Pope Francis visited South Korea in 2014. During the five-day trip, he beatified 124 Korean martyrs and took part in the sixth Asian Youth Day. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255018/next-world-youth-day-to-be-in-south-korea-in-2027 Pope Francis celebrated Mass for an estimated 1.5 million participants in Tejo Park in Lisbon, concluding the six-day youth festival and his own five-day trip to Portugal. Echoing the well-known call of his predecessor and the founder of the international youth gathering, Saint John Paul II, Pope Francis told the young people: “Be not afraid.” Jesus, Pope Francis told young people, “knows your hearts. He sees our hearts. And he tells you today here in Lisbon, on this World Youth Day: ‘Be not afraid, be not afraid, take heart, be not afraid.’” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255019/be-not-afraid-pope-francis-tells-young-people-at-end-of-world-youth-day Mother Elvira Petrozzi, who founded Comunità Cenacolo in 1983 to provide hope and healing to those suffering from addiction, died on August 3 in the formation house and residence of her congregation in Saluzzo, Italy. She was 86. In the decades since she founded Comunità Cenacolo, the community has grown to encompass 72 Cenacolo houses in 20 countries, including four in the United States. Mother Elvira called the Cenacolo a “School of Life” because it took people off the streets and gave them a “rebirth” that was “based on a simple, family-oriented, orderly life” with the foundation of prayer, physical labor, discipline, and fraternal sharing. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255015/mother-elvira-who-shared-god-s-love-with-those-struggling-with-addiction-dies-at-86 San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone on Friday revealed that it was “very likely” that the archdiocese would be filing for bankruptcy in the near future due to the hundreds of clerical abuse lawsuits that have been filed against it. The “vast majority of the alleged abuse occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s and involved priests who are deceased or no longer in ministry.” More than two dozen dioceses have filed for bankruptcy in the United States, the vast majority of them in the last decade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255016/archbishop-cordileone-chapter-11-bankruptcy-for-san-francisco-very-likely Today, the Church celebrates Saint Cajetan, one of the great reformers of the Church during the period of the Reformation, remaining loyal to the Church regardless of the corruptions and excesses that led many others to betray Her. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cajetan-562

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis met with 13 survivors of clerical sex abuse on his first day in Portugal and urged the Church to listen to “the anguished cry of the victims.” The emotional private meeting at Lisbon’s apostolic nunciature, or Vatican embassy, on Wednesday night was a moment of “intense listening” by the pope and lasted more than an hour, according to the Vatican. Representatives from Catholic institutions working for the protection of minors in Portugal accompanied the victims. In a speech to Portuguese clergy immediately before the pope’s encounter with the abuse survivors, Francis acknowledged the “anger with which some people view the Church” due to “the scandals that have marred her face.” Pope Francis called for “a humble, ongoing purification, starting with the anguished cry of the victims, who must always be accepted and listened to.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254988/pope-francis-meets-with-clerical-abuse-survivors-urges-church-to-hear-victims-anguished-cry Church attendance has dropped off since the pandemic for Generation X more sharply than for other age groups, according to a new survey. The survey of 2,000 adults conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that the percentage of people ages 39 to 57 who attended a worship service during the week, either in person or online, fell to 28% in 2023, down from 41% in 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. Gen Xers saw the largest percentage drop among the age groups surveyed. The percentage of Gen Xers who worship weekly is now as low as among millennials, at 28%, the survey posits. In fact, the oft-maligned millennial generation experienced during the pandemic the least amount of change in their perspectives about the Christian faith and their participation in biblical practice, the researchers assert. Among baby boomers, the results of this survey suggest a slight upward trend in church attendance in the past three years, the only age group for which this was true. Participation among the elderly fell only slightly. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254992/generation-xers-church-attendance-drops-to-millennial-levels-survey-suggests The shooter who killed nearly a dozen in an antisemitic 2018 massacre was sentenced to death Wednesday by a federal jury. He is the first person to be condemned to death under the Biden administration, which placed the federal death penalty under moratorium in 2021. The October 2018 shooting saw Robert Bowers, 50, enter Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue during morning Shabbat prayer services. He killed 11 and injured several, including police officers. Bowers’ attorneys argued that he suffers from mental illness, a suggestion that prosecutors disputed. As a candidate for president, Joe Biden, a Catholic, called for the elimination of the death penalty. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254986/tree-of-life-synagogue-shooter-handed-federal-death-penalty Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Vianney, patron of priests. As a parish priest in 19th century France, he prayed and worked for the conversion of his parishioners. Although he saw himself as unworthy of his mission as pastor, he allowed himself to be consumed by the love of God as he served the people. His reputation as a confessor grew rapidly, and pilgrims traveled from all over France to come to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Firmly committed to the conversion of the people, he would spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-mary-vianney-322

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Acknowledging the discouragement that can be experienced by Catholic leaders in secularizing societies, Pope Francis on Wednesday urged a gathering of Portuguese clergy, consecrated people, and pastoral workers to stay in the boat with Jesus and revive their “restless” enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel. The pope delivered the encouraging message in his homily for Wednesday vespers, or evening prayer, to bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians, and pastoral workers gathered in the church of Lisbon’s iconic Mosterio dos Jerónimos, a former monastery now used as a public ceremony hall and museum space. The official welcoming ceremony for World Youth Day with Pope Francis will take place at Meeting Hill (Eduardo VII Park) later today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254976/pope-francs-world-youth-day-lisbon-vespers-evangelization The chairman of the US bishops’ peace committee this week urged Catholics to pray fervently for progress in nuclear arms control, warning of the thousands of nuclear weapons in the world today and the “horrors” that would result from a nuclear exchange, ahead of the 78th anniversary of the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those attacks brought about an end to World War II at the cost of upwards of 200,000 Japanese civilian lives; they remain to date the only use of nuclear weapons in war. “With the wars and threat of wars today, the menace of over 10,000 nuclear weapons in our world must not recede further from the public consciousness of today’s generation,” the bishops said. The bishop in his statement urged the world to “remain vigilant never to lose sight of the extraordinary dangers these weapons pose to humanity” and to “be attentive to the differences between just and unjust considerations of statecraft.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254979/bishop-s-peace-chairman-warns-of-menace-of-nuclear-weapons The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) last week requested that Governor Ron DeSantis “choose life” and stay the execution of James Phillip Barnes, who is scheduled to die Thursday, and commute his sentence to life without parole. Barnes, 61, strangled his wife, Linda, to death in 1997. While serving a life sentence for that crime, he confessed in 2005 to the 1988 murder of Patricia “Patsy” Miller, a Melbourne, Florida, nurse. Barnes himself has dropped all legal appeals after doctors declared him competent to understand his legal situation and has said he wants to accept his punishment. “Simply put, no one should be executed in our modern penal system, even if they willingly accept it. The alternative punishment of life in prison without parole is a severe penalty that still provides closure to victims and protects society,” the bishops said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254977/florida-bishops-request-clemency-for-death-row-inmate Today, the Church celebrates Saint Nicodemus, a secret disciple of Jesus. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he would meet Jesus by night so that the others would not see him with Jesus. Eventually, it was Nicodemus who reminded the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to a trial. Together with Saint Joseph of Arimathea, he prepared Jesus' body and placed him in the tomb. Tradition holds that Saint Nicodemus was martyred, though no record remains. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicodemus-552

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - World Youth Day 2023 kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal, August 1 with an opening Mass before a crowd of hundreds of thousands. Cardinal Manuel Clemente, the patriarch of Lisbon, was the main celebrant for the Tuesday evening outdoor liturgy, held at Eduardo VII Park. “Let us learn from Mary to greet each and every person. Let us intensely put it to practice this World Youth Day,” he said. “The new world begins in the newness of every encounter and in the sincerity of the greeting we exchange, so that we may be people among people, in a mutual and constant visitation. “I wish you all a happy and inspiring World Youth Day,” he said. Pope Francis is expected to arrive for the festivities today, Wednesday the second. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254967/world-youth-day-2023-lisbon-patriarch-greets-attendees-at-opening-mass The first-ever perpetual eucharistic adoration chapel in Manhattan, New York, has been installed at the Dominican-led Church of Saint Joseph in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. The idea for the chapel was that of Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who desired opportunities for perpetual eucharistic adoration in the city, where there was none, according to Father Boniface Endorf, OP, pastor of the Church of Saint Joseph. The chapel will only be accessible to those who have a key card, which they can sign up for at the parish during office hours. The chapel, which can seat approximately 25 adorers with eight choir stalls for the Dominican friars, is located in the rectory next to the church. The chapel is on the first floor, where the parish offices are also located. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254965/first-ever-perpetual-adoration-chapel-in-new-york-city-installed-at-greenwich-village-parish The incorrupt body of Saint Benedict the Moor, a 16th-century son of slaves who joined the Franciscans and would become the patron saint of African missions, has been all but destroyed after a wildfire engulfed the Sicilian church where he had been interred. A post shared by the parish of Santa Maria di Gesù showed that the body of the saint, whose dark skin and devotion to the enslaved has made him especially beloved among descendants of slaves, has been mostly incinerated, with only a few bone fragments remaining. The body of Blessed Matthew Agrigento, another Sicilian Franciscan whose body had been kept in the church, was also seriously damaged. Located in the Sicilian capital of Palermo, the Church of Santa Maria di Gesù caught fire on July 25 after a wildfire spread down the slopes of Monte Grifone. Wildfires have scorched the Italian island in the midst of searing summer heat, killing at least three people. Benedict the Moor was canonized in 1807. He is the patron of African missions and African Americans, and several historically African-American Catholic churches in the US bear his name. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254959/body-of-saint-patron-of-african-americans-significantly-damaged-in-sicilian-church-fire Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who helped many Catholics - both clergy and laypeople - to rediscover the importance of the Eucharist. He is also considered a pioneer in involving laypeople more actively in the life of the Church. In 1851, he answered a call to establish a community of men dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration, called the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Its mission was to promote the importance and significance of the Eucharist. The congregation also worked with the poor and helped them to prepare for first Communion. Peter Julian died in 1868 and was canonized in 1962. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-julian-eymard-551

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - World Youth Day begins today in Lisbon, Portugal. Pope Francis arrives on August 2 in the morning and returns to Rome on August 6 in the afternoon. Over the five days, some of the events he will attend are public while others will be more institutional or by invitation only. Follow all the action at Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254921/8-unique-things-to-know-about-wyd2023-in-lisbon Johnny Johnson, a Saint Louis-area man and convicted murderer, is scheduled to die this evening. Catholics in St. Louis and across Missouri — as well as Pope Francis himself — had advocated for a stay of Johnson’s execution, citing the Church’s teaching on the admissibility of the death penalty as well as arguments from Johnson’s attorneys that he is not mentally fit to understand his punishment. Johnson, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder for killing 6-year-old Casey Williamson in 2002. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as “inadmissible” and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254955/update-missouri-death-row-inmate-to-be-executed-tuesday Among Americans who donate to charity, religious charities and nonprofits are the most popular, with about 1 in 5 Americans giving to these groups over the last year, a consumer research firm reported. While some Americans say they never give to charity, many say they can’t donate because they don’t have money. Religious charities were the first choice of all generations except Gen Z. For Gen Z, religious charities fell in sixth place behind human rights, animal-related, children’s health causes, and environmental causes. About 15% of Gen Z said they gave to human rights groups. To learn more about the results of the survey, visit Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254956/survey-religious-non-profits-lead-americans-charitable-choices-except-for-gen-z Extremist Israeli groups have on several occasions in recent weeks attempted to storm the Melkite Catholic Church and Monastery of St. Elias in the northern port city of Haifa, Israel, prompting Christians to take measures to protect the holy site. After several attempts last week, intruders managed to infiltrate the outer courtyard of the monastery and disrupt the prayer session taking place, causing fear and anger among the Christian community. In an effort by the church to deter any future attacks, work began today to install an iron fence around the monastery. The monastery was founded by the Carmelites, who have been practicing their faith from Mt. Carmel in Haifa since the 12th century. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was just named a cardinal by Pope Francis and serves as the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has raised concerns that Christians are increasingly enduring persecution in the Holy Land. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254952/israeli-extremists-attempt-to-storm-catholic-church-in-northern-israel Today, the Church celebrates Saint Alphonsus Liguori, a doctor of the Church who is widely known for his contribution to moral theology and his great kindness. A man of great culture and a lawyer, he resigned the practice of law to become a priest in 1726, founding the Redemptorists, a preaching order. He was a great moral theologian and his famous book, “Moral Theology”, was published in 1748. Thirty years later, he was appointed bishop, and he retired in 1775. He died just over 10 years later in 1787, and was canonized in 1839. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-alphonsus-liguori-550

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis made a direct call to Russia on Sunday to renew the deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. “I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, that the Black Sea Initiative be restored and grain be transported safely,” the pope said July 30 at the end of his weekly Angelus prayer and address. The Kremlin announced July 17 that the wartime grain deal would be suspended until “the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented.” Russia has also bombed Ukraine’s Black Sea ports since quitting the agreement. The move by Russia has sparked fears for even higher food prices and increased poverty in countries already suffering from hunger. Pope Francis also repeated Sunday his regular request for prayers for Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254941/pope-francis-calls-russia-to-renew-ukraine-grain-deal World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, will take place in a few days, from August 1–6, and it promises to be unique in many ways. This is the first time WYD will take place in Portugal, the westernmost country in Europe with the oldest borders on the continent. It will be the second time that Pope Francis will visit Portugal; in 2017, he went to Fátima, one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, for the centenary of the apparitions there. He will pay another visit on this trip. The organizers of World Youth Day 2023 committed to promoting sustainability from the outset and are striving to fulfill this pledge. For those who can’t travel to Lisbon and want to participate in WYD2023 virtually, there will be various ways to do that. Vatican News YouTube channel will be following all the events with the pope live. (Be aware of time zone differences.) WYD2023 social networks will also show, at every moment, everything that is happening. Be sure to follow the hashtags #WYD, #Lisboa2023, and #WYD2023. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254921/8-unique-things-to-know-about-wyd2023-in-lisbon Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The Spanish saint is known for founding the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, as well as for creating the “Spiritual Exercises” often used today for retreats and individual discernment. Ignatius was born into a noble family in 1491 in Guipuzcoa, Spain. He served as a page in the Spanish court of Ferdinand and Isabella. He then became a soldier in the Spanish army and wounded his leg during the siege of Pamplona in 1521. During his recuperation, he read “Lives of the Saints.” The experience led him to undergo a profound conversion, and he dedicated himself to the Catholic faith. The Jesuits remain numerous today, particularly in several hundred universities and colleges worldwide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ignatius-of-loyola-549

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - World Youth Day begins next week, August 1, in Lisbon Portugal. WYD is a weeklong celebration that attracts hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world. The event was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985. It is celebrated every two to three years and is open to all young people who want to experience Jesus Christ with their peers. It is a way to grow in your faith and strengthen your relationship with Christ through prayer and the sacraments. WYD takes place every two to three years. This WYD would have taken place in 2022, but was delayed due to the pandemic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254908/here-are-answers-to-your-questions-about-world-youth-day A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a new Biden administration rule limiting which migrants can apply for asylum. Referred to by some as a “transit ban,” the policy, which took effect May 11, automatically denied asylum to migrants who cross the border illegally or cross other countries illegally to get to the US. The now-blocked asylum policy went into effect after the end of Title 42, a public health order instituted by the Trump administration that barred entry to large numbers of migrants on the grounds of the COVID-19 health crisis. Catholic leaders at the border such as Dylan Corbett, executive director of the Catholic migrant aid group Hope Border Institute, applauded the ruling, assering that “there is no legal basis for the Biden administration’s asylum ban.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254917/california-federal-judge-blocks-biden-s-asylum-ban Today, the Church celebrates Saint Victor the first, pope. The date of birth of Saint Victor is unknown, but we do know that he was Pope from 189 to 199. Victor was a native African, and his father's name was Felix. He is known for having obtained the release of many Christians who had been deported to the mines of Sardinia, and for being the first Pope to celebrate the liturgy and write Church documents in Latin rather than Greek. He is most famous, however, for decreeing that Easter be universally celebrated on a Sunday, a practice already common in the West, but not so in the East. He died in 199, possibly from martyrdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-victor-i-pope-527

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Tuesday evening granted a stay of execution for Johnny Johnson, a Saint Louis-area man who had been scheduled to die August 1. Catholics in Saint Louis and across Missouri had advocated for a stay of Johnson’s execution, citing the Church’s teaching on the admissibility of the death penalty as well as arguments from Johnson’s attorneys that he is not mentally fit to understand his punishment. The Missouri Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, in a July 24 letter formally requested clemency on Johnson’s behalf, asking Republican Governor Mike Parson to commute his sentence to life imprisonment without parole. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as “inadmissible” and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254906/missouri-death-row-inmate-granted-stay-of-execution-following-catholic-advocacy The FBI handed over to Congress on Tuesday internal documents relating to the bureau’s now-withdrawn leaked memo that recommended investigating devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass. The leaked memo, dated January 23, which originated from the bureau’s Richmond office, claims that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists will likely become more interested in “radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology” within the next 12 to 24 months “in the run-up to the next general election cycle.” The new documents were only made available to the House Judiciary Committee. The FBI has requested that the committee not disseminate the documents without consulting it first. The document release comes after Ohio Republican Representative Jim Jordan, the chairman of the committee, threatened to hold FBI director Christopher Wray in contempt over the bureau’s delay in responding to two subpoenas investigating alleged First Amendment violations from the bureau. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254909/fbi-gives-documents-to-congress-relating-to-memo-targeting-catholics Today, the Church celebrates Saint Panteleon, the patron saint of bachelors and physicians. As lifelong layperson, he was the physician for emperor Maximinianus. At one point in his life he had abandoned his faith, but he eventually returned to the Church, and gave his fortune to the poor, providing them medical treatment without charge. Some of his cures were accomplished by prayer. Other physicians eventually denounced him to the anti-Christian authorities. At his trial, he offered a contest between himself and the pagan priests. He challenged the pagan priests to heal a paralyzed man with their prayers, but they were unable. Saint Panteleon cured the man by simply mentioning the name of Jesus. As a result, many of those who witnessed the miracle converted to Christianity. However, the authorities remained resolute in trying to get him to denounce his faith with bribes, threats and torture, but they did not succeed. He was then nailed to a tree and beheaded, circa 305. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-panteleon-548

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department has launched an investigation after two pro-life sidewalk counselors were allegedly attacked outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic on July 22. A group of pro-life sidewalk counselors, who were there to encourage women to choose life for their preborn babies rather than obtain an abortion, were gathered along with other pro-life activists outside of the Planned Parenthood location at 4th Street, Northeast, on Saturday morning. A verbal altercation between pro-abortion passersby and one of the activists ensued around 11:40 am and quickly turned violent. A spokesperson for Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department confirmed with CNA that detectives are investigating the incident. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254898/video-police-investigate-alleged-attack-on-pro-lifers-outside-dc-planned-parenthood Americans are increasingly rejecting the idea of God along with other religious and spiritual concepts, continuing a decades-long trend that shows an ongoing decline in belief in key religious tenets. A July poll from Gallup shows a marked decrease in belief in “God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil” among U.S. adults since the last time the survey question was asked in 2016. Seven years ago, 79% of respondents said they believed in God; just 74% said the same thing in this month’s survey, a decline of five percentage points. Overall belief in God has declined by 16 percentage points since the survey has been conducted, with 90% of respondents affirming that faith in 2001. Similar declines in belief have been recorded regarding the devil, heaven, hell, and angels, with each one seeing double-digit declines in professed believers over the 22 years in question. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254891/americans-belief-in-god-heaven-hell-continues-prolonged-decline Today, the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne. The couple's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ. The New Testament contains no specific information about the lives of the Virgin Mary's parents, but other documents outside of the Biblical canon do provide some details. Although these writings are not considered authoritative in the same manner as the Bible, they outline some of the Church's traditional beliefs about Joachim, Anne and their daughter. Saints Joachim and Anne have been a part of the Church's liturgical calendar for many centuries. In 2021, Pope Francis instituted World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, a celebration now held on the fourth Sunday of July — the Sunday closest to the July 26 feast. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-anne-and-joachim-313

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - More than 28,600 young adults from 1,300 US groups are headed to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day next week. The pilgrims number more than twice the amount of U.S. attendees who went to the 2019 World Youth Day in Panama, according to numbers from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The celebration in Panama took place in January. The last World Youth Day celebration to take place in the summer was when it was held in 2016 in Krakow, Poland, when more than 40,000 Americans were registered to attend. World Youth Day, a global event for young people that takes place about every three years, offers a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ through liturgical celebrations, networking, faith sharing, catechetical sessions, and prayer with the Holy Father. Established by Pope John Paul II in 1985, the weeklong World Youth Day celebrations usually attract hundreds of thousands of young people from across the globe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254884/here-s-how-many-american-pilgrims-are-headed-to-world-youth-day-in-lisbon Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City responded to Oklahoma’s execution of convicted murderer Jemaine Cannon with a call for the abolition of the death penalty, which he called an “archaic punishment.” Coakley also called for prayers for the condemned man, his victim, and their families. Cannon, 51, was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, about a 130-mile drive from Oklahoma City. He was sentenced to die for the 1995 murder of a Tulsa woman. Coakley called for prayers. “Please join me in praying for the soul of Sharonda Clark, her family, Jemaine Cannon, his family, and the corrections staff involved in carrying out the execution,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254881/after-latest-oklahoma-execution-archbishop-coakley-calls-for-death-penalty-abolition Today, the Church celebrates Saint James the Apostle, the brother of John the Evangelist, and the first Apostle to be martyred. He was beheaded by order of Herod of Agrippa. The Gospels tell us that the two brothers left their father, Zebedee, and followed Jesus as soon as He called out to them. James was one of the three Apostles who were particularly close to the Lord. He was there with the Lord and his brother, John, and Peter at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is known as James "the Greater" to distinguish him from the other Apostle by the same name. He is the patron saint of Spain and of pilgrims. In northwestern Spain, he is venerated at Santiago de Compostela, a mediaeval pilgrimage site that is still very popular today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-547

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Calling for “a new bond between the young and old,” Pope Francis marked the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly with an intergenerational Mass Sunday in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Old age is a “blessed time,” the pope affirmed in his homily, “for it is the season to be reconciled, a time for looking tenderly at the light that has shone despite the shadows, confident in the hope that the good wheat sown by God will prevail over the weeds with which the devil has wanted to plague our hearts.” Sunday marked the first time Pope Francis presided over the special papal Mass since initiating the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021. The celebration is now held on the fourth Sunday of July — the Sunday closest to the July 26 feast of Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Joining some 6,000 grandparents and older people at the liturgy were young people bound for World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, which begins August 1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254873/pope-francis-celebrates-world-day-of-grandparents-and-the-elderly Pope Francis met with Doctor Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, this morning in a private Vatican audience, the Holy See’s press office announced. No additional details were provided regarding the meeting. Containment of the COVID-19 outbreak had been a major focal point of WHO, the health agency of the United Nations, over the past three years. The Holy See donated to WHO’s emergency fund for medics on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254876/pope-meets-with-head-of-world-health-organization The Vatican has commissioned a new investigation of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodality of Christian Life), a lay society of apostolic life founded in Peru. The investigation will be led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, assistant secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and an expert on sexual abuse, the Peruvian newspaper La República reported on July 20. Scicluna will be accompanied by Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, an official of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The visit could begin Tuesday, July 25, according to the report. The Crux news outlet also reported on July 21 that a Vatican inquiry was underway. Founded in 1971 by the Peruvian layman Luis Fernando Figari, and with pontifical approval since 1997, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) has been involved in various accusations of sexual abuse and and the abuse of power. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254872/vatican-to-send-abuse-expert-to-investigate-sodalitium-christianae-vitae-in-peru Today, the Church celebrates Pope Saint Leo IV. He was the first to enclose the Vatican hill by a wall. He was buried in Saint Peter's on July 17, 855. He is credited with being a worker of miracles. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-leo-iv-304

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US House of Representatives passed two amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Thursday evening mandating the military stop its programs paying for abortion travel and transgender surgeries for service members. Under a policy laid out by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the military has been granting paid leave and subsidizing service members’ travel to obtain abortions. Transgender and gender-identity treatments and surgeries also have been subsidized by the military under the Biden administration. Two amendments passed by the House Thursday evening would undo those military policies. The NDAA is an annual must-pass spending package that sets the military’s budget for the next fiscal year. Both the House and Senate advance their own versions of the package, which must be reconciled with each other and then signed by the president. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254797/house-passes-amendments-ending-military-spending-on-abortion-travel-transgender-surgeries Following failed negotiations with the regime of Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega to free the persecuted Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, the US bishops have called for the imprisoned prelate’s release. Álvarez, who in February was sentenced to 26 years in prison after declining exile to the United States, was convicted of treason, undermining national integrity, and spreading false news. In addition to his jail sentence, Álvarez was stripped of his citizenship and fined. His imprisonment came after his outspoken criticism of Ortega’s dictatorial policies and religious persecution. The government has committed egregious religious freedom abuses in the country including detaining and expelling priests from the country, denying them reentry, hindering the services of Church-affiliated organizations, targeting Catholic educational institutions, and removing Catholic television and radio stations from the air. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254788/us-bishops-call-for-release-of-nicaraguan-bishop-alvarez Today, the Church celebrates Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized. Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks," Kateri lived a life of holiness and virtue, despite obstacles and opposition within her tribe. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-kateri-tekakwitha-521

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Authorities have arrested a suspect in the murder last week of a teacher from Kentucky on the campus of The Catholic University of America. On July 5, 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson was shot and killed on the university’s Washington DC campus. The DC Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement this week that it had made an arrest in the case, apprehending 22-year-old DC resident Jaime Maceo and charging him with first-degree murder. Police reportedly identified Maceo from security camera footage showing the altercation that led to Emerson’s death. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254784/arrest-made-in-murder-of-kentucky-teacher-on-catholic-university-of-america-campus A new national survey shows students in the United States are still struggling to make up learning loss experienced over the course of the COVID-19 crisis. The report this week from NWEA examined test scores from nearly 7 million elementary and middle school students in about 20,000 public schools around the US. The researchers found that “achievement gains in 2022–23 lagged pre-pandemic trends” in nearly all surveyed students, with numbers “falling short of pre-pandemic averages by 1–19% in reading and by 6–15% in math.” The NWEA noted that the decline was sharper than what was observed in 2021-2022. Reading in upper-level grades suffered the most, the researchers said. Overall, the average student at the end of the school year required over four months of additional schooling in both math and reading to come up to grade level, the report said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254776/national-data-shows-us-students-still-stalled-after-pandemic A former Jesuit priest has pleaded guilty to sex crimes committed in and around New Orleans, in which he was charged with drugging and raping 17 adult male victims, many of whom were visiting the popular tourist area. Detectives also believe that there are more than 50 victims who remain unidentified. Stephen Sauer, who reportedly left the Jesuit order by his own request in 2020, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on July 7 in front of a Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, judge. He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and is barred from contacting 12 of the victims for life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254778/catholic-church-is-most-credible-institution-in-nicaragua-cid-gallup-poll-finds Today, the Church celebrates Saint Henry II, a German king who led and defended Europe's Holy Roman Empire at the beginning of the first millennium. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-henry-ii-520

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has named Dominican Father Steven Maekawa, a former active duty military chaplain, as the next bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Vatican announced the appointment on July 11. Maekawa will take on the role of leading a diocese that spans more than 400,000 square miles, the largest diocese in the United States geographically. The 55-year-old Dominican friar has been based in Alaska since 2016, serving as the pastor of Holy Family Old Cathedral in Anchorage. Maekawa was awarded a special medal in active duty for his work as a military chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, serving a tour of duty with ground troops in Afghanistan in 2004. In Fairbanks, Maekawa will succeed Bishop Chad Zielinski, whom Pope Francis appointed as the bishop of New Ulm, Minnesota, last year. The Diocese of Fairbanks has 46 Catholic parishes, only nine of which can be reached by car. The new bishop will need to use a bush plane to reach some remote Catholic parishes, including in native Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Inupiat communities. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254770/pope-francis-names-dominican-priest-and-former-military-chaplain-as-alaska-s-next-bishop A law to shield churches from discriminatory state regulation is officially in effect in Virginia, offering state residents what the bill’s sponsor called a “spectacular win” for religious freedom in the state. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254769/new-virginia-law-offers-churches-additional-protections-against-being-shut-down A little boy who managed to get past the crowd control barrier at World Youth Day (WYD) in Rio de Janeiro in 2013 to give an emotional embrace to Pope Francis is now a seminarian preparing for the priesthood. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254774/boy-who-got-past-security-barrier-to-embrace-pope-francis-at-wyd-2013-is-now-a-seminarian Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Gualbert. Born wealthy in the tenth century and growing up in a life of frivolity, John experienced a powerful conversion when he had a vision of Christ on the Cross, leading him to forgive his brother’s murderer. On a plot of land east of Florence called Vallombrosa, together with men who were equally committed to a more austere and stricter following of the Rule of St. Benedict, he founded a humble monastery devoted to contemplation and prayer and care of the poor and sick. The Vallombrosan Benedictines still exist today, mainly in the region of Tuscany and Lombardy, and number a handful of monasteries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-gualbert-299

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Arrests were made Saturday in two separate vandalism incidents at Catholic churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. At Resurrection Church in Brooklyn, a white marble statue of the Blessed Mother was spray-painted with black graffiti on her face, shoulders, and hands. The word “fake” was written on the statue as well as what appears to be an upside-down cross. Jonathan Bulik, 37, of Brooklyn, was charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime in connection with the attack. He was seen spray-painting the statue by two parishioners who stopped him in the act on Saturday. Another incident occurred on Saturday at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Astoria by the same man who allegedly desecrated the church in early June. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254762/two-arrests-made-in-vandalism-incidents-at-catholic-churches-in-brooklyn-diocese?utm_campaign=CNA%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=265845133&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_HLd5-E7W1nVumuq-rbaaoWSkFUjLy7WrrSGkopnDVIprGrVA_g0L9pKSNWKnDRJuYJ2hHpNGR_Uj9KzC-nN7IhHWYIQ&utm_content=265845133&utm_source=hs_email The US bishops have reaffirmed the importance of education access for marginalized racial groups after the US Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in higher education. “Education is a gift, an opportunity, and an important aspect of our democracy that is not always within the reach of all, especially racial and ethnic groups who find themselves on the margins,” Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry of Chicago, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, said in a July 7 statement. “It is our hope that our Catholic institutions of higher learning will continue to find ways to make education possible and affordable for everyone, regardless of their background.” The June 29 U.S. Supreme Court decision Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard concerned the affirmative action programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. However, the decision will impact all universities across the country, including Catholic institutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254761/catholic-higher-ed-still-open-to-all-bishops-say-after-supreme-court-blocks-affirmative-action?utm_campaign=CNA%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=265845133&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8t08I29Egf6ED8mMvGTiBrcVa0aKIx296ryjUGIjRfs8kWJcqKV_uaR8GT8ZrWuo2umVBRMrUoABgzQCn7yWf5p7S_Xg&utm_content=265845133&utm_source=hs_email Today, the Church celebrates Saint Benedict, of Nursia, the sixth-century abbot who gave Christian monasticism its lasting foundation in Western Europe. For his historic role as the “Father of Western Monasticism,” Saint Benedict was declared a co-patron of Europe (along with Saints Cyril and Methodius). https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-benedict-537

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said on Sunday that he will create 21 new cardinals, including the Vatican’s recently appointed doctrinal chief Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, at a consistory on September 30. The 86-year-old pope made the announcement from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square after reciting the Angelus prayer on July 9. A few of the notable names on the list include Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the US; Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; and Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, Bishop of Hong Kong. Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has created 121 cardinals from 66 countries at eight consistories. The last consistory to create new cardinals took place on August 27, 2022. The new cardinals included Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego and Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. For the complete list of new Cardinals, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254759/pope-francis-names-21-new-cardinals-including-archbishop-fernandez Today, the Church celebrates Saint Amalberga. Born in Brabant, Belgium in the seventh century, she and her husband ultimately withdrew from the world; he becoming a monk, and she a nun. She became the mother of three saints: Gudila, Reinelda, and Emembertus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-amalberga-297

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. This podcast will take two brief summer breaks to allow the producers to go on vacation. The first break will be from today until May 15. The second will be for one week in July. As always, the latest news will be available at CatholicNewsAgency.com. God bless you.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Sunday warned against the danger of living life without a sense of purpose or a destination to set our course by, reminding the faithful that Jesus is “our compass for reaching heaven,” our true home. Speaking to pilgrims gathered on a sunny day in Saint Peter’s Square to pray the Regina Caeli, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which Jesus consoles his disciples before his ascension, telling them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6. “Jesus uses the familiar image of home, the place of relationships and intimacy. In the Father’s house — he says to his friends, and to each one of us — there is space for you, you are welcome, you will always be received with the warmth of an embrace, and I am in heaven to prepare a place for you!” Pope Francis said that keeping in mind “where life is headed” is the way to get through the experiences of “fatigue, bewilderment, and even failure.” When we lose sight of what makes “life worth living for,” he said, we “compress our life into the present,” the pope said. We merely seek maximum enjoyment and “end up living day by day, without purpose, without a goal.” “Our homeland, instead, is in heaven; let us not forget the greatness and the beauty of our destination!” he urged. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254258/pope-francis-jesus-calls-us-to-set-our-sights-on-heaven Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter of Tarantaise, a Cistercian monk who reluctantly became Archbishop of Tarantaise in France. On his accession to the episcopacy, he reformed the diocese and set about providing education and distributing food to the poor, a tradition called the "May Bread,” which lasted until the French Revolution in 1789. He performed many miraculous healings during that time. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-of-tarantaise-bishop-470

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has sent a video message to the teens and young adults preparing to attend World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, in August. World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in 1985. The weeklong gathering usually attracts hundreds of thousands of young people. Pope Francis announced that the Portuguese capital would host the global Catholic gathering of young people at the closing Mass of the last international World Youth Day in Panama City in January 2019. In his video message, Pope Francis also shared “a secret” to preparing well for World Youth Day. “To prepare well, it’s good to look towards your roots,” he said, encouraging young people to spend time with the elderly before the gathering. “Many of you have grandparents. Visit your grandparents and ask them: ‘In your time did World Youth Day exist?’ — Surely not. ‘And what do you think I must do?’ Talk a little with your grandparents. They’ll give you wisdom.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254237/see-you-in-lisbon-pope-francis-shares-message-3-months-before-world-youth-day-2023 The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will represent Pope Francis at the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni announced Parolin’s attendance on Thursday. Parolin will be in attendance with other high-ranking guests, including world leaders, representatives of European monarchies, and royal families from around the world. The presence of other crowned royals at the ceremony is a break from royal tradition, British press reported. Approximately 2,200 people have been invited to the crowning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254236/vatican-to-send-representative-of-pope-francis-to-british-coronation-ceremony A Catholic hospital system in Oklahoma is contesting federal officials’ demand that it must extinguish an enclosed tabernacle candle in its chapel or lose accreditation and its ability to serve needy patients. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ordered Saint Francis Health System in Oklahoma to snuff out the candle after one of its contractors responsible for accrediting hospitals deemed it a fire hazard. Saint Francis Health System has five hospitals in eastern Oklahoma. It treats almost 400,000 patients per year and has provided over $650 million in free medical care over the last five years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254239/hhs-orders-catholic-hospital-to-snuff-out-chapel-candle-or-lose-its-accreditation Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hilary of Arles, a fifth-century bishop who gave up wealth and privilege in favor of austerity and sacrifice for the sake of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hilary-of-arles-701 The Church also celebrates Blessed Edmund Rice, an Irish businessman who was so moved by the plight of children in the port city where he worked that he founded schools and eventually a religious order to serve them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-edmund-rice-467

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - For the first time since the Reformation, a Catholic prelate will be formally participating in the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, May 6, along with other Christian leaders across the country who have been invited to formally bestow a blessing on the new king. The Order of Service, released by the Church of England, explains: “The progress of ecumenical relations since 1953 means that for the first time, this blessing is to be shared by Christian leaders across the country.” The blessings will take place shortly after the archbishop of Canterbury formally crowns King Charles III, after which Westminster Abbey’s bells will peal for two minutes and then the official blessings will commence. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Catholic archbishop of Westminster, will say: “May God pour upon you the riches of his grace, keep you in his holy fear, prepare you for a happy eternity, and receive you at the last into his immortal glory.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254225/catholic-prelate-will-participate-in-british-coronation-ceremony-for-the-first-time-since-reformation Today, the Church celebrates the English Carthusian Martyrs, the 18 Carthusian monks who were put to death in England under King Henry VIII between 1535-1540 for maintaining their allegiance to the Pope. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/english-carthusian-martyrs-227 The Church also celebrates Saint Pelagia, a pagan woman who sought baptism after hearing a homily by a bishop. As a result of her conversion, the emperor's son, whose eye Pelagia had caught, turned against her, as did her mother. Together they reported her to the emperor in hopes that her faith would weaken under torture. Diocletian interviewed her, but he failed to persuade her to change her mind and heart about being a Christian. She ran from home, giving away all of her possessions and setting her slaves free, and lived as a hermit within the mountains. She was called "the beardless hermit," and went by the name of "Pelagius." She then died three or four years later, apparently as a result of extreme asceticism, which had emaciated her to the point she could no longer be recognized. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pelagia-484

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of May is for ecclesial movements and groups. “Ecclesial movements are a gift; they are a treasure in the Church,” the Holy Father said in a video released by the Vatican on May 2. “These movements renew the Church with their capacity for dialogue at the service of her evangelizing mission,” he said. “Each day, they rediscover in their charism new ways of showing the attractiveness and the newness of the Gospel.” “How do they do this? Speaking different languages, they seem different, but it is their creativity that creates these differences. But always understanding themselves and making themselves understood.” Pope Francis encouraged members of ecclesial groups to “remain in harmony with the Church, since harmony is a gift of the Holy Spirit.” The pope concluded his message with a prayer: “Let us pray that ecclesial movements and groups may daily rediscover their mission, an evangelizing mission, and that they place their own charisms at the service of the world’s needs.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254224/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-may Today, the Church celebrates Saints Phillip and James, Apostles. Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee and was one of the 12 Apostles that Jesus called. Immediately, Philip began to convert others, finding his friend Nathaniel and telling him that Jesus was the one whom Moses and the other prophets had foretold. James the Lesser is called “Lesser” because he was younger than the other Apostle by the same name, James the Great. James the less was related in some way to Jesus, and after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, he became the head of the Church in Jerusalem. He was martyred in the year 62. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-philip-and-james-the-less-apostles-473

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Speaking at a Catholic university in Hungary on Sunday, Pope Francis warned of the risk of technological domination and the threat it poses to culture and to our human ecology. He also spoke about the false freedoms offered by both communism and consumerism, and encouraged people to seek out Christ’s truth. The visit marked the final meeting in Francis’ three-day trip to Hungary’s capital. Pope Francis’ visit to Budapest included meetings with President Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He also spent time with visually impaired children, young adults, and clergy. On the morning of April 30, he celebrated Mass for 50,000 people gathered in and around Kossuth Lajos Square. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254208/hundreds-of-faithful-gather-in-prayer-for-pope-francis-at-budapest-s-oldest-parish-church Pope Francis said on board the papal plane on Sunday that he did not lose consciousness before his hospitalization at the end of March, which was for “strong and acute pneumonia” in his lower lungs. Pope Francis spent three nights in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital March 29–April 1. A statement from the Holy See Press Office said the pope had been diagnosed with bronchitis and that his condition improved after receiving antibiotic infusion therapy. “The body responded well to the treatment. Thank God,” Francis said Sunday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254209/pope-francis-says-he-did-not-lose-consciousness-before-hospitalization-in-march Today, the Church celebrates Saint Joseph the Worker. Joseph has two feast days on the liturgical calendar. The first is March 19 — Joseph, the Husband of Mary. The second is May 1 — Joseph, the Worker. There is very little about the life of Joseph in Scripture, but we know he was the chaste husband of Mary, the foster father of Jesus, a carpenter and a man who was not wealthy. We also know that he came from the royal lineage of King David. We can see from his actions in scripture that Joseph was a compassionate man, and obedient to the will of God. He also loved Mary and Jesus and wanted to protect and provide for them. Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph had probably died before Jesus entered public ministry. Joseph is the patron of many things, including the universal Church, fathers, the dying and social justice. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/feast-of-st-joseph-the-worker-471

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ new appointments to the Dicastery for Evangelization include several prominent American Catholics. They include Monsignor Eugene (Geno) Sylva of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey. Pope Francis also appointed 14 consultors to advise the members of the dicastery. American layman Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), was named to this advisory group. Another new consultor for the dicastery is Petroc Willey, a theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville. For the complete list and to read interviews with the new consultors, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254185/pope-francis-names-several-americans-to-dicastery-for-evangelization The United States Catholic bishops are urging Congress to prioritize programs that feed needy families, support small-family farmers, and fund rural development in the 2023 Farm Bill, which legislative committees are currently crafting. The farm bill, which Congress renews every few years, is a comprehensive bill that normally includes farming subsidies, funding for food assistance programs, conservation initiatives, and rural development funding, among other things. The last farm bill passed in 2018 and many of its initiatives expire in 2023. For domestic food assistance programs, the USCCB urged lawmakers to strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by updating its calculations to reflect rising food prices. It also asked Congress to update medical deductions, increase benefits for households with young children, and end the cap on the Excess Shelter Deduction. The letter urged lawmakers to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables at food banks and other programs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254190/us-bishops-urge-passage-of-farm-bill-citing-needs-of-poorest-families Today, the Church celebrates Saint Louis-Marie de Monfort, a 17th century saint who is revered for his intense devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Louis-Marie is perhaps most famously known for his prayer of entrustment to Our Lady, “Totus Tuus ego sum,” which means, “I am all yours.” Pope Saint John Paul II took the phrase “Totus Tuus” as his episcopal motto. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louis-marie-grignion-de-montfort-450

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - More than 450 men are set to be ordained priests this year in the United States, and the survey of their ordination class shows that the overwhelming majority of priests-to-be were raised Catholic in intact families and individually showed habits of frequent church service and regular prayer life. The seminarians to be ordained, also known as ordinands, are overwhelmingly “cradle Catholics.” About 93% of ordinands were baptized Catholic as infants. Another 96% were raised by their biological parents. About 92% were raised by a married couple living together. For 84% of ordinands, both parents were Catholic. One in three respondents had a relative who is a priest or religious. More than 63% of survey respondents said their parish priest had been an encouraging influence on their vocation, followed by a fellow parishioner, a friend, their mother, father, or teacher or catechist. For the complete results of the poll, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254179/survey-of-new-priests-most-pray-rosary-go-to-eucharistic-adoration-parents-stayed-married Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg says that Pope Francis will find “a vibrant Christian country” when he visits Hungary this weekend. In an interview with EWTN News, Habsburg said that Hungary has a “rich mixture of Christian churches living together very well” from Byzantine-rite Catholics to Calvinists. Hungary is a Catholic-majority country in Central Europe with a significant Protestant Christian minority — 20% of the population, according to the Pew Research Center. Both Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Katalin Novák are part of the Calvinist-oriented Hungarian Reformed Church, which has more than 1.6 million members. Christianity has a more than 1,000-year history in Hungary. Saint Stephen, king of Hungary, led his country to embrace the Christian faith during the 11th century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254178/ambassador-habsburg-pope-francis-will-find-a-vibrant-christian-country-in-hungary Today, the Church celebrates Saint Zita, a 13th century Italian woman whose humble and patient service to God has made her a patron saint of maids and other domestic workers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-zita-of-lucca-446

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Wednesday that there will be laypeople participating as voting members in the Synod on Synodality’s October assembly, a break with past custom. Pope Francis also approve every member in advance. Previously, synodal gatherings have allowed laypeople to participate as auditors, without the right to vote. The general assembly of the Synod on Synodality will take place in two sessions, in October 2023 and October 2024. After the vote on a final document for the assembly, the pope alone decides whether to take any actions based on the recommendations in the final text or whether to adopt it as an official Church document. In past synods, auditors included priests, religious, and laypeople, who did not have the right to vote in synod deliberations. Now, these 70 members will be able to vote. According to the synod leadership, it is requested that “50% of [the selected people] be women and that the presence of young people also be emphasized.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254176/vatican-announces-laypeople-including-women-will-vote-in-synod-on-synodality-assembly Today, the Church celebrates Our Lady of Good Counsel, a purportedly miraculous image of the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus which appeared in an Italian church in the 15th century. Countless miracles have been attributed to the prayerful intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-good-counsel-445

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has said he would like to visit his home country of Argentina in 2024. Since his election to the papacy in 2013, Francis has never returned to his home country of Argentina. In a March interview with La Nacion, he explained that a trip to Argentina had been planned in 2017 but had to be canceled because of elections. The pope does not travel to a country in an election year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254162/pope-francis-says-he-wants-to-visit-argentina-in-2024-ganswein-to-leave-vatican-apartment Pope Francis will receive the prime minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, at the Vatican on Thursday morning. The two last met at the Vatican in March 2021 amid clashes between Ukraine and Russia in the Donbas region. Shmyhal has been Ukraine’s prime minister since March 2020. Francis has been outspoken in his support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country on February 24, 2022. He frequently speaks of the “martyred” Ukrainian people and implores for peace between the two nations. In March 2022, he consecrated Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254163/pope-francis-to-receive-ukraine-s-prime-minister-on-thursday Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill April 20 allowing prisoners in the state to be sentenced to death without a unanimous jury verdict. Under the new law, a prisoner can be sentenced to death after eight of the 12 jurors recommend a death sentence, as long as the jury is unanimous that at least one aggravating factor — such as the crime being especially cruel or heinous — exists beyond a reasonable doubt. In that case, a judge has the option of sentencing the defendant to death or life in prison. If fewer than eight jurors agree on the death sentence, the jury’s recommendation must be for life in prison without the possibility of parole, and the judge must impose that sentence. The state’s Catholic bishops, represented by Michael Sheedy, executive director for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB), decried the change as a “setback.” Florida’s bishops have long advocated for an end to Florida’s death penalty and have called for sentences of life in prison rather than capital punishment. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as “inadmissible” and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254167/bishops-condemn-florida-s-dropping-of-unanimous-jury-requirement-for-death-penalty-cases Today, the Church celebrates Saint Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second Gospel and the patron saint of notaries. Mark is often depicted as a winged lion in religious art. catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mark-the-evangelist-444

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Boston is responding to the Satanic Temple’s “SatanCon” event in Boston with scheduled eucharistic adoration, Catholic devotions, and “intense prayer.” “SatanCon,” as the Satanic Temple calls the event, is sold out and is being held from Friday to Sunday, April 28–30, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place to celebrate the organization’s history and values. The Satanic Temple, which, according to its website, denies the existence of God and Satan, is a political activist group known for protesting religious symbolism in public spaces and mocking Christianity. The archdiocese is offering parishes prayer cards while encouraging the recitation of the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254141/call-to-intense-prayer-boston-archdiocese-responds-to-satanic-temples-conference A 5-year-old boy was reportedly beheaded when Islamists attacked a village in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria, leaving dozens of people dead. In the April 15 attack, the killers descended on Runji village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of southern Kaduna State, leaving 33 people dead, among them 14 children. The 33 victims of the attack on Runji village were reportedly buried in a mass grave amid distressing scenes. In another attack on April 12, nine people were killed, four were injured, and five homes were damaged during an attack on Tanjei village in the area. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254147/5-year-old-beheaded-33-killed-in-nigeria-christian-foundation-calls-for-action Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves this week signed into law several pieces of pro-life and pro-family legislation, including the expansion of tax credits for pro-life pregnancy centers and adoption expenses. In an April 19 press release announcing the new laws, Reeves said they are part of a “New Pro-life Agenda” that Mississippi is pushing following the overturning of Roe v Wade last year. The legislation expands the tax credit for pregnancy resource centers across the state from $3.5 million to $10 million and creates an income tax credit for qualified adoption expenses. The program will cover a maximum of $10,000 worth of adoption expenses for those who adopt a child from Mississippi and $5,000 worth of expenses for children outside of Mississippi, according to the governor’s press release. Reeves also signed legislation authorizing “safe haven” baby boxes across Mississippi, where babies can be safely and legally surrendered. Mississippi has a 15-week abortion limit in place. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254146/mississippi-to-implement-new-pro-family-measures-after-governor-signs-bills Today the Church celebrates Saint Anselm, the 11th and 12th-century Benedictine monk and archbishop best known for his writings on Christ's atonement and the existence of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anselm-443

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito issued a ruling Wednesday extending the court’s temporary pause on all restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone. The extended pause will last for two more days and expire at 11:59 pm Friday, April 21. The court’s action is the latest development in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v US Food and Drug Administration, a high-stakes case impacting abortion pill access across the country. Alito’s extension means that for the time being mifepristone continues to remain legal and approved for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. It can be mailed and administered via telemedicine without an in-person doctor’s visit. Chemical abortions now account for over half of all US abortions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254137/breaking-supreme-court-extends-temporary-ruling-lifting-restrictions-on-abortion-pill Today the Church celebrates Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, a Tuscan woman who was admitted to the Dominican convent at Montepulciano at age nine despite it generally being against Church law to allow a child so young to join. Agnes' reputation for holiness attracted other sisters, and she became an abbess at the unheard of age of 15. She lived on bread and water for 15 years, slept on the ground and used a stone for a pillow. It was said that she had visions of the Virgin Mary and of the infant Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agnes-of-montepulciano-442 Also on April 20, Eastern Catholics of the Byzantine tradition honor Saint Anastasius of Sinai, a seventh-century monk and priest known for his scriptural commentaries and defenses of Church teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anastasius-of-sinai-719

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The criminal complaint filed in Wisconsin this week against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick was revealed to have come from James Grein, who has previously accused the laicized clergyman of serially abusing him over many years in several US states. Grein filed the only previous criminal complaint against McCarrick, now facing adjudication in Massachusetts court. McCarrick, 92, was laicized by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing minors and adults. The complaint, filed in Wisconsin in Walworth County Court, says McCarrick abused an unnamed victim with an unnamed accomplice at Geneva Lake in April 1977, according to the Washington Post. McCarrick faces a criminal charge of fourth-degree sexual assault for the alleged incident. Grein is now in his 60s. McCarrick has denied previous allegations from Grein. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254127/alleged-victim-theodore-mccarrick-cardinal-abused-him-years The Catholic bishops of Tennessee joined more than 130 religious leaders in the state Tuesday in calling on Republican Governor Bill Lee and the Legislature to enact tighter gun restrictions including “extreme risk” or “red flag” laws. The letter comes less than a month after a mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville in which a former student shot and killed three current students and three staff members. First, the religious leaders called for the implementation of “extreme risk laws,” sometimes referred to as “red flag laws.” The religious leaders also called on the lawmakers and governor to require background checks on all gun purchases and to close the “background check loophole.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254123/tennessee-bishops-call-for-new-gun-laws-after-nashville-school-shooting Last week, Libya’s Internal Security Agency launched a campaign in the city of Tripoli to arrest Libyan citizens and foreigners accused of apostasy from Islam and preaching Christianity. The security agency did not specify the number of those arrested and refrained from publishing their names, stating only their initials. The agency released a video of six Libyans — including a girl — as well as a Pakistani and two Americans with their faces blocked out in which they confess to the charges. The two Americans worked at the Gateway International School in the Tripoli suburb of Zawiyat al-Dahmani that specializes in teaching English. The government agency said that the two Americans and the wife of one of them belonged to the Assemblies of God Christian missionary organization. It was not revealed whether the wife was arrested or not. The Americans were accused of secretly turning the school into a center for preaching Christianity. Libya ranks highly on the list of countries worldwide where Christians face the greatest persecution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254118/christians-arrested-in-libya-on-charges-of-preaching-and-apostasy-from-islam Today the Church celebrates Blessed James Oldo, who experienced a radical conversion that led him to become a Franciscan tertiary, and later a priest. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-james-oldo-441

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new study from the Pew Research Center found that while Catholicism remains the largest religious group among Latinos in the United States, the number of Latinos who identify as Catholic has declined by 24% since 2010, with the biggest decline seen among young Latinos born in the country. The Washington, DC-based think tank on April 13 released a survey of 7,647 American adults conducted between Aug. 1–14, 2022. According to the study, 43% of Latinos identify as Catholic, a number much lower than the 67% recorded in 2010. The situation is worse among younger Latinos. Of US-born Latinos between the ages of 18 and 29, 49% say they have no religious affiliation and only 30% say they are Catholic. Despite the discouraging numbers, the Pew Research Center survey says that Latinos are still “twice as likely as American adults overall to identify as Catholic and considerably less likely to identify as Protestant.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254116/almost-half-of-latinos-born-in-the-us-have-abandoned-religion-study-reveals A pro-life pregnancy center in Bowling Green, Ohio, was vandalized with “Jane’s Revenge” pro-abortion graffiti on Saturday. The vandalism of Bowling Green Pregnancy Center, also known as HerChoice, is the 62nd pro-abortion attack on a pro-life pregnancy center since May 2022. The attacks began after a leak from the US Supreme Court indicated that the justices were poised to overturn Roe v Wade. The words “Liars,” “Fake clinic,” “Jane’s Revenge,” “Fund abortion,” and “Abort God,” were scrawled across the clinic in blue paint. A photo shows people cleaning the graffiti off in the aftermath. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254117/ohio-pregnancy-center-vandalized-in-jane-s-revenge-attack A federal judge granted a pro-life health care clinic a temporary exemption from Colorado’s first-in-the-nation ban on the abortion pill reversal regimen after the clinic filed a lawsuit soon after the measure took effect. US District Court Judge Daniel Domenico said in his injunction Sunday that the new law, which was part of a three-bill package expanding abortion in the state that was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, “burdens their own First Amendment rights.” The plaintiff, Bella Health and Wellness, a pro-life, Catholic-founded nonprofit health care clinic that provides abortion pill reversal with a progesterone treatment, challenged the law on Friday. Progesterone counteracts the effects of the abortion pill mifepristone. Domenico barred the enforcement of the new law against Bella but not against other providers of the reversal regimen, the Colorado Sun reported. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254114/colorado-judge-exempts-pro-life-clinic-from-states-ban-on-abortion-pill-reversal-therapy Today the Church celebrates Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin, a Canadian woman whose life was a story of obedience in the face of personal setbacks. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-marie-anne-blondin-440

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said Friday that he plans to visit Mongolia, the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country. In off-the-cuff remarks to employees of the Italian airline company that staffs the papal plane for his international trips, the pope said that he will travel to Mongolia after his scheduled trips to Hungary and France in the coming months. An apostolic journey to Mongolia would make Pope Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile border with China, its most significant economic partner. Mongolia has a population of about 1,300 Catholics in a country of more than 3 million people. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Budapest, Hungary, at the end of this month from April 28–30 in what will be his second visit to the central European country in three years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254107/pope-francis-says-that-he-will-travel-to-mongolia Pope Francis on Sunday defended Saint John Paul II against a recent accusation that the Polish pope secretly visited women at night. Pietro Orlandi, the brother of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old girl and Vatican citizen who went missing 40 years ago, insinuated this week that John Paul II secretly left the Vatican at night to engage in immoral behavior. Speaking to the public on Divine Mercy Sunday, a day established by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Pope Francis called the insinuation “unfounded and offensive.” The disappearance of Orlandi was the subject of a Netflix true-crime docuseries, “Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi,” which came out last year. The final episode of the series puts forward a theory that the Vatican was somehow involved in the disappearance. The Vatican has always denied having any role in the girl’s vanishing and has cooperated with other investigations into the disappearance in recent years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254109/pope-francis-defends-st-john-paul-ii-against-offensive-conjectures-from-brother-of-missing-vatican-girl Catholic and pro-life leaders lamented Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ final approval of three strongly pro-abortion bills on Friday, objecting that they prioritize abortion “at the cost of countless children’s lives.” The new laws ban abortion-pill reversal treatments, greatly restrict advertising for pro-life pregnancy resource centers, require insurance providers to pay for abortions, and remove parental notification for minors seeking an abortion, among other measures. In an April 14 letter, the Catholic bishops of Colorado said there was “a strong outcry” against the three bills. They said the laws are out of step with the 63% of Coloradans who do not support unrestricted abortion. Most residents do not want to pay for abortion in their health insurance and do not want to penalize health care providers who object to abortion and “gender-affirming care.” Bella Health and Wellness, a pro-life, Catholic-founded health care clinic that provides abortion pill reversal, quickly filed a legal challenge to the abortion pill reversal ban, with the backing of the religious liberty legal group Becket. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254108/colorados-latest-extreme-abortion-laws-will-cost-countless-childrens-lives-pro-life-leaders-warn Today the Church celebrates Saint Stephen Harding, regarded as the founder of the Cistercian monasteries. Before his death in 1134, Stephen had established 13 monasteries. By the end of the 12th century there were 500 in Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stephen-harding-439

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Thursday the date and theme for the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The event will take place this year on July 23, the Sunday before the feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus, and the theme for the day, selected by the pope, will be “His mercy is from age to age” (Luke 1:50). According to the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, the theme is linked to the theme for World Youth Day 2023, which also comes from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke: “Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39). Pope Francis will preside over a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the grandparents’ day and has invited parishes, dioceses, associations, and communities around the world to celebrate the day “in their own pastoral context.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254089/vatican-announces-theme-and-date-for-2023-world-day-for-grandparents-and-elderly During President Joe Biden’s four-day trip to Ireland, he plans to visit Our Lady of Knock in Knock, County Mayo, which witnesses claim was the site of an apparition of Mary, the Mother of God; Saint Joseph, her spouse; and Saint John the Evangelist in 1879. Biden, who is the nation’s second Catholic president, will be the first American president to visit the shrine. He intends to visit the site on Friday, April 14, on his last day in Ireland. He will then visit Saint Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, where he will give an address. About 1.5 million people visit the shrine every year and it is a common destination in Ireland for Catholic pilgrims. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254091/biden-to-visit-our-lady-of-knock-irish-site-of-marian-apparition Today the Church celebrates Saint Peter Gonzalez, who experienced a true conversion experience thanks to a public humiliation, which set him on the road to sainthood. After being thrown from his horse into a dungheap, and withdrawing into a period of prayer and meditation, he served as the confessor and court chaplain to King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, and reformed court life. He also worked for the crusade against the Moors, went into the battlefields, and worked for humane treatment of Moorish prisoners. Fearing that the honors and easy life offered by the king’s court would lead him to return to his previous ways, he left the court and evangelized to shepherds and sailors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-gonzalez-436

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Two Catholic Relief Services (CRS) workers were shot and killed April 9, Easter Sunday, while riding in a CRS vehicle in the Amhara region of Ethiopia on their way back from an assignment in Addis Ababa. In an April 10 statement, CRS, the international Catholic humanitarian aid agency that serves those most in need in more than 100 countries, said it was “devastated to report the loss” of two of its staff workers, Chuol Tongyik, 37, a security manager, and Amare Kindeya, 43, a driver. “The depth of our shock and sorrow is difficult to measure, and we are saddened over this senseless violence,” said Zemede Zewdie, a CRS representative in Ethiopia. According to Reuters, the murders took place during violent anti-government protests in the Amhara region of the country that followed the federal government’s decision to disband regional special forces units. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254077/two-crs-aid-workers-killed-in-ethiopia A statewide board in Oklahoma voted Tuesday to reject a proposal brought by the Oklahoma Catholic Conference to create a virtual, religious charter school, which would be the first of its kind in the nation if it is ultimately approved. The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to disapprove an application, first presented in February, to create Saint Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, pending revisions. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, which aims to run the online school in partnership with the Diocese of Tulsa, will have the opportunity to resubmit its application after addressing the board’s concerns, and the board will have 30 days to approve or deny the revised application. Brett Farley, executive director of the Oklahoma Catholic Conference and a board member for the proposed school, told CNA it is “more often the case than not” that the charter school board disapproves the first draft of a school’s application, instead giving the school a chance to go back and address the board’s concerns. He said the plan’s backers are “not discouraged at all” and that they have already submitted some revisions to the board. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254082/oklahoma-board-rejects-initial-proposal-for-catholic-charter-school Today the Church celebrates Pope Saint Martin I. The saint suffered exile and humiliation for his defense of orthodoxy in a dispute over the relationship between Christ's human and divine natures. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-martin-i-435

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At least 94 people reportedly have died in a series of deadly attacks on Christian communities throughout Holy Week in Benue state in north-central Nigeria, an ominous sign of escalating violence blamed on Muslim militias in the country’s Middle Belt region. On April 2, armed men reportedly stormed a Palm Sunday service at a Pentecostal church in Akenawe-Tswarev in Logo county, Benue state, killing a young boy and kidnapping the pastor and other worshipers. Three days later, on April 5, gunmen killed at least 50 people in the village of Umogidi, located in Utokpo county, a Catholic stronghold in western Benue, the Associated Press reported. More recently, on the night of Good Friday, dozens were killed when Muslim gunmen raided an elementary school building in the village of Ngban that serves as a shelter for about 100 displaced Christian farmers and their families. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254060/holy-week-attacks-on-christian-communities-in-nigeria-leave-nearly-100-dead An arrest has been made in connection with the vandalism of Saint Paulinus Catholic Church in Syracuse, Nebraska, that occurred on Palm Sunday weekend. Travis Ross, 32, was arrested April 6 by the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office after video evidence and witnesses led authorities to name him a suspect. Father Ryan Salisbury, Saint Paulinus' pastor, told CNA April 3 that when he walked into the church on April 1, he discovered that the altar had been tipped over, a statue desecrated, and several other objects damaged. A Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was also broken beyond repair and candlesticks were damaged. as well as the altar stone. The damage amounted to $5,000, he said. The tabernacle and the Eucharist remained untouched. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254058/arrest-made-in-connection-with-vandalism-of-nebraska-catholic-church Today the Church celebrates Saint Stanislaus of Krakow, the 11th-century bishop and martyr who died for the faith at the hands of King Boleslaus II. Canonized in 1253, Saint Stanislaus is a beloved patron of the Polish nation and people. In his own country he is commemorated May 8, the date of his death in 1079. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stanislaus-433

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis encouraged Christians to not be held back by fear of judgment, but to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection with others.Pope Francis addressed a crowd of people in St. Peter’s Square from a window of the Apostolic Palace for Monday of the Angel. Following his brief message, he recited the Regina Caeli, a Latin antiphon honoring the Virgin Mary which is prayed during the Easter Season. From Easter Sunday to Pentecost, Pope Francis will pray the Regina Caeli instead of the Angelus on Sundays. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254057/pope-francis-share-the-good-news-of-christ-s-resurrection-with-others A top US military hospital ended its contract with a community of Franciscan friars just before Holy Week, putting a for-profit firm in charge of Catholic pastoral care, according to the Archdiocese of the Military Services. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the archdiocese, blasted the move by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, calling it “incomprehensible.” The medical center ended its contract with the friars of Holy Name College in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, on March 31, the archdiocese said in a statement. The friars have ministered at the medical center for nearly two decades, the archdiocese said. The archdiocese, which serves US military personnel and veterans and their beneficiaries at military facilities around the world, said medical center awarded the contract for Catholic pastoral care to a secular for-profit company. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254054/broglio-blasts-walter-reed-for-putting-for-profit-firm-in-charge-of-catholic-pastoral-care Today the Church celebrates Saint Fulbert, a scholar and philosopher, and also the bishop of Chartres, France. He spent much of his time as bishop rigorously defending monasticism and orthodoxy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-fulbert-432

We will be back with new episodes on April 10. In the meantime, we wish you a blessed Holy Week. Thank you for listening. Sincerely, The Catholic News Team

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore apologized to abuse survivors on Wednesday following the release of a Maryland attorney general’s report chronicling hundreds of alleged abuses committed by clergy in the archdiocese, dating back to the 1940s. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on Wednesday released the 463-page redacted report detailing alleged sexual abuse committed by 156 people — most of them clergy — with connections to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, including 10 names that are redacted. The report notes the redactions were made in accordance with a court order because the individuals accused “were not known to be deceased at the time of the report and had not previously been listed as credibly accused by the Archdiocese of Baltimore or otherwise publicly identified.” The report made extensive use of records provided by the archdiocese as well as information gathered from a tipline, interviews with alleged victims, and public records. Lori noted that instances of clerical abuse in the archdiocese peaked in the 1960s and 1970s, and fewer incidents took place “every year and every decade since then,” alongside the development of canon and criminal law and archdiocesan accountability standards and policies designed to protect children. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254035/maryland-attorney-general-report-on-abuse-claims-to-identify-more-than-600-victims The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, hasn’t declared a truce in its persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, not even during Holy Week. Félix Maradiaga, a former political prisoner and also a former presidential candidate who was deported to the United States, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that the dictatorship expelled Panamanian priest Father Donaciano Alarcón from the country on Monday of Holy Week. Alarcón, who worked at Mary Help of Christians Parish in the town of San José de Cusmapa in the Diocese of Estelí, was arrested by the police after celebrating Mass. According to information from the Archdiocese of Panama, “Father Alarcón was accused of violating the decrees that prohibit public expressions [of faith] during Holy Week.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254034/no-let-up-from-ortega-during-holy-week-priest-expelled-traditions-banned-in-nicaragua Today the Church celebrates Blessed Pierina Morosini, the patron saint of rape victims and a martyr to chastity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-pierina-morosini-428

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Chinese bishop was installed Tuesday as the bishop of Shanghai without the Vatican’s approval, according to Asia News. The report says Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Haimen was appointed to lead the Diocese of Shanghai by the Council of Chinese Bishops, the state-sanctioned bishops’ conference. Shen Bin is also the head of the Council of Chinese Bishops, Asia News reported. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Tuesday that “the Holy See had been informed a few days ago of the decision of the Chinese authorities to transfer [Shen Bin from Haimen to Shanghai] and learned from the media of the installation this morning.” He said he had nothing to add to the Holy See’s assessment of the bishop’s transfer for the time being. The Asia News report said the installation of Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai happened without the Vatican’s approval and therefore in violation of the Vatican-China deal on the appointment of bishops. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254017/chinese-bishop-appointed-to-shanghai-without-vatican-approval Judge Janet Protasiewicz, who garnered numerous endorsements and campaign funding from pro-abortion organizations during a contentious race for a seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, emerged as the victor Tuesday night in what proved to be the most expensive state Supreme Court race in history. The 2023 Wisconsin judicial race, which might have remained obscure in other years even within Wisconsin, garnered national media attention and record fundraising numbers this spring. Pro-life and pro-abortion advocates agree that Protasiewicz’s win could tip the scales against the state’s current abortion ban, which is currently being challenged in court. The April 4 election featured former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly and current Milwaukee judge Protasiewicz. Throughout the campaign, Protasiewicz has spoken openly about her pro-abortion views while insisting that she has made “no promises” to pro-abortion groups that she will seek to overturn the state’s current abortion ban. Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael Jackels of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. An April 4 statement from the United States bishops’ conference said Jackels’ resignation was for health reasons. Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, has been appointed apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, the USCCB communication said. Jackels, who will turn 69 on April 13, has been archbishop of Dubuque since May 2013. He is scheduled to offer the archdiocese’s Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of St. Raphael in the afternoon on April 4. The archbishop was hospitalized for a heart attack in early May 2019. He returned to ministry six weeks later with the permission of his cardiologist. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254016/archbishop-michael-o-jackels-of-dubuque-iowa-resigns-for-health-reasons Two more individuals have been indicted for violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), in connection with a string of pro-abortion attacks against pro-life pregnancy centers in Florida. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254023/face-act-charges-brought-against-two-more-abortion-activists-in-florida-jane-s-revenge-attack Today the Church celebrates Saint Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican preacher who brought thousands of Europeans into the Catholic Church during a period of political and spiritual crisis in Western Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-vincent-ferrer-426

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pastor of a Catholic church in Syracuse, Nebraska, was shocked when he discovered Saturday morning that the altar had been tipped over, a statue desecrated, and several other objects damaged. A Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was broken beyond repair and candlesticks were damaged as well as the altar stone. The damage amounted to $5,000, he said. The tabernacle and the Eucharist remained untouched. The church was able to be cleaned up in time before a Mass and baptism on Saturday. Police are currently investigating the crime, which was not captured on video. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254013/another-act-of-vandalism-nebraska-catholic-churchs-altar-flipped-over-statue-destroyed Christian leaders of Jerusalem on March 31 issued a joint statement calling on governing authorities to enhance security at holy sites as Easter approaches. Some churches, funeral processions, and public gathering venues have become “targets of attack,” lamented the group of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant leaders. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all consider Jerusalem a holy city, and all three religions have major religious observances in the coming weeks. Many will crowd Jerusalem’s Old City during this time. Easter falls on April 9 for Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar, while many Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter the following Sunday. For Jews, Passover observances will last from sunset on April 5 through April 13. Muslims began their observance of the holy month of Ramadan on March 22. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254011/church-leaders-in-jerusalem-call-for-enhanced-security-during-holy-week Today the Church celebrates Saint Isidore of Seville, a bishop and scholar who helped the Church preserve its own traditions, and the heritage of western civilization, in the early middle ages. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-isidore-of-seville-425

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis was discharged from the hospital Saturday morning after a three-night stay in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Before departing by car, the pope greeted the crowd gathered outside of the hospital. In an emotional moment, he stopped to embrace and pray with a sobbing mother whose 5-year-old daughter died in the hospital the night before. When asked by a journalist how he was feeling, the pope quipped: “Still alive!” Pope Francis’ first stop before returning to Vatican City was to pray in the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he entrusted the sick children he met at the hospital as well as all who are sick and suffering from illnesses to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis was released from the hospital one day before the start of Holy Week. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254002/pope-francis-returns-to-the-vatican-after-3-days-in-the-hospital Today the Church celebrates Saint Irene of Rome, the widow of the martyr Saint Castulus, a Roman military officer who was killed for spreading the Christian faith in 286. She lived in the Roman Empire during the reign of Diocletian, and died in 288. According to legend, she attended to the wounded Saint Sebastian after he was shot full of arrows, as depicted in a painting by artist Vicente López y Portaña. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-irene-729

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis is exhibiting “marked improvement” after being admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with difficulty breathing, which was later diagnosed as bronchitis. On Friday, the Vatican said that Pope Francis may be discharged from the hospital on Saturday after responding well to treatments yesterday and sharing a pizza dinner with those assisting him. “Pope Francis spent the afternoon at [Gemelli Hospital] devoting himself to rest, prayer, and some work duties,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni told reporters Thursday evening. “As part of scheduled clinical checks, the Holy Father was found to have a bronchitis infection that required the administration of antibiotic therapy through infusion, which produced the expected effects with a marked improvement in his state of health. Based on the expected course, the Holy Father could be discharged in the coming days.” This update comes after Bruni said mid-Thursday that the pope “rested well overnight” and that “the clinical picture is progressively improving.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253988/pope-francis-has-bronchitis-but-is-resting-and-improving-vatican-says https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253992/vatican-pope-francis-had-pizza-dinner-may-leave-hospital-tomorrow The US and Canadian bishops released statements Thursday praising the Vatican’s repudiation of the “doctrine of discovery,” which has been used in the past to justify European colonialism in the Americas and throughout the world. The doctrine of discovery is a philosophical, political, and legal theory that posits that European colonizers have the right to expropriate indigenous lands and property. The theory has been said to have its origin in certain 15th-century papal bulls including Dum Diversas, Romanus Pontifex, and Inter Caetera, and has been invoked by many, including the US Supreme Court in the 1823 case Johnson v McIntosh. On Thursday, a joint statement of the Vatican’s Dicasteries for Culture and Education and for Promoting Integral Human Development formally denounced the doctrine of discovery, saying it “is not part of the teaching of the Catholic Church” and that the Church “repudiates those concepts that fail to recognize the inherent human rights of indigenous peoples.” Both the US and Canadian bishops echoed the Vatican’s sentiment expressed in the joint dicastery statement, saying though the Church has defended the rights of the weak and poor throughout history, “many Christians have committed evil acts against Indigenous peoples for which recent popes have asked forgiveness on numerous occasions.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253987/us-and-canadian-bishops-join-vatican-s-condemnation-of-colonialist-doctrine-of-discovery An empty tabernacle that was bolted to the wall has been stolen from the residence of the late Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was murdered in his Hacienda Heights, California, home in February. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253985/tabernacle-stolen-from-murdered-bishop-david-o-connell-s-residence Today the Church celebrates Blessed Jane of Toulouse, a 13th-century French woman known for her chastity and service to the poor, and who is considered to be the first member of the Carmelites’ third order, which is open to laypeople. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/bl-jane-of-toulouse-193

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will be hospitalized for “some days” after being diagnosed with a respiratory infection, the Vatican said Wednesday. “In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some difficulty breathing and this afternoon went to [Gemelli Hospital] to carry out some medical tests. The results of these tests showed a respiratory infection (a COVID-19 infection was excluded) that will require some days of opportune medical treatment in the hospital,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said Wednesday evening. “Pope Francis is touched by the many messages he received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” Bruni added. Bruni had issued a brief statement earlier in the afternoon of March 29 to say the pope was at Gemelli Hospital “for some previously scheduled checkups.” Mid-day on Thursday, the Vatican spokesman said the pope rested well overnight. “This morning after having breakfast, [Pope Francis] read some newspapers and resumed work,” Bruni added. “Before lunch, he went to the chapel of his private apartment, where he spent time in prayer and received the Eucharist.” Stay tuned to catholic news agency dot com for the latest on Pope Francis’ health. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253973/pope-francis-hospitalized-with-a-respiratory-infection-vatican-says https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253976/pope-francis-rested-well-doing-well-after-night-in-hospital-vatican-says Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, an internationally-renowned expert in protecting children and vulnerable adults from clerical sex abuse, has resigned from his position on the Vatican’s safeguarding commission. The move was announced by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Wednesday. The 56-year-old Zollner, a founding member of the commission, said in a statement March 29 that “structural and practical issues” within the commission had led him “to disassociate” from it. In his statement, Zollner said he has “grown increasingly concerned” with the Vatican’s safeguarding commission and its lack of “responsibility, compliance, accountability, and transparency.” He also said there was a lack of transparency about decisions in the commission, including problems with “insufficient information and vague communication” with members on how particular decisions were made. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253968/abuse-expert-leaves-vatican-safeguarding-commission-over-structural-and-practical-issues Forensic experts have identified a body found shot to death March 22 in Sinaloa state, Mexico, as that of José Noriel Portillo, alias “El Chueco,” who allegedly murdered two Jesuit priests and laymen last year. On June 22, 2022, in the Sierra Tarahumara, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, two laymen and Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar were murdered in a church in the town of Cerocahui. Father Luis Gerardo Moro Madrid, superior of the Society of Jesus in Mexico, pointed out that the alleged murder of Portillo, who was allegedly responsible for the death of two Jesuit priests, is not a reason to celebrate, because it does not represent an act of justice but of barbarism and the failure of institutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253974/jesuits-in-mexico-issue-statement-on-the-death-of-alleged-murderer-of-two-priests Today the Church celebrates Blessed Jane of Toulouse, a 13th-century French woman known for her chastity and service to the poor, and who is considered to be the first member of the Carmelites’ third order, which is open to laypeople. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/bl-jane-of-toulouse-193

A new poll of U.S. residents suggests that certain values such as religiosity and having children have receded in importance over the past 25 years, while people’s opinion of the importance of money increased during the same period. When asked about certain values and whether they consider them to be “very important,” 39% said “religion” was very important to them. By contrast, in 1998, 62% of respondents to the same question said religion was very important to them. The poll, released March 27, was conducted earlier this month by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago and funded by The Wall Street Journal. Faith was one of several indicators of more traditional values that the survey showed are less important to Americans than they were 25 years ago. The 2023 survey found that these values are less important than in 2019, the last time the survey was done. An arrest has been made in the March 16 act of vandalism committed at a pro-life pregnancy center in Amherst, New York, the same clinic that was seriously damaged in an arson attack in June 2022. Although perpetrators of last year’s act of vandalism at CompassCare Pregnancy Services still haven’t been brought to justice, 39-year-old Hannah Kamke has been arrested in connection with the recent crime. The word “liars” was spray-painted in red capital letters across the center’s sign at its 1230 Eggert Road location. Kamke is being charged with one count of criminal mischief in the third degree, which is a Class E felony, and holds a maximum penalty of up to four years’ imprisonment. The Saturday arrest of Kamke is only the third reported arrest in any of the at least 60 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers across the country since May 2022. The first two arrests came in January against two Floridians. Today, the Church celebrates Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish council who went to Pontius Pilate and asked for possession of the body of Jesus after his passion and death. After receiving this permission, Joseph had Jesus laid in a nearby tomb.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Nashville police fatally shot a school shooter on Monday after the suspect killed three students and three adult staff members at The Covenant School, a private Christian school for students in preschool through sixth grade. According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the shooter was a 28-year-old woman. The police believe the woman was a former student, the Associated Press reported, and said she was from the Nashville area. As of Monday evening, the police department has not yet released more information about a possible motive. Students who survived the attack were bused to Woodmont Baptist Church, where they could reunite with their parents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253950/nashville-police-fatally-shoot-woman-who-killed-3-students-3-staff-at-christian-school Pope Francis on Wednesday will bless a satellite that will launch his words into space on June 10. The “Spes Satelles,” Latin for “Satellites of Hope,” will be launched on a rocket taking off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. According to the Vatican, the miniaturized satellite will hold a copy of a book documenting the pope’s urbi et orbi blessing of March 27, 2020, when, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he blessed the world from Saint Peter’s Square with the words “Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies, and comfort our hearts.” The book, “Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith? The World Facing the Pandemic,” has been converted into a nanobook, a 2-millimeter by 2-millimeter by 0.2-millimeter silicon plate, for transport to space. Pope Francis will bless the satellite and the nanobook after his weekly public audience in Saint Peter’s Square on March 29. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253946/pope-francis-to-bless-satellite-set-to-launch-his-words-into-space A statewide New York Eucharistic Congress will take place October 20-22 at the shrine that marks the martyrdom site of three North American martyrs and the birthplace of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a Native American saint known for her devotion to eucharistic adoration. The venue for the Eucharistic Congress is Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, New York, about a half-hour’s drive north of Albany. Though located in the Albany Diocese, the shrine is financially independent and operated by a nonprofit. Its facilities include a 10,000-seat stadium. The shrine, which overlooks the Mohawk River, is “one of the most sacred spots not just in the state of New York but in the United States,” the New York Eucharistic Congress website says. There is no cost to attend the event, but donations to defray the cost will be “gratefully accepted,” the website says. It also seeks financial sponsors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253953/more-than-10000-expected-for-new-york-eucharistic-congress-in-october Today, the Church celebrates pope Saint Sixtus the third. Not much is known about his history and youth, but we do know that he was born in Rome, Italy and ascended to the papacy in 432. As the 44th Pope, he approved the results of the Council of Ephesus and actively protested against the heresies of Nestorianism and Pelagianism. He restored many Roman basilicas and corresponded frequently with Saint Augustine of Hippo. He died on August 18 in the year 440 of natural causes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-sixtus-iii-pope-190

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers for the victims of a deadly tornado that struck parts of Mississippi and Alabama Friday night. Cutting a swath of ruin across the impoverished Mississippi Delta, the tornado killed at least 26 people and left twisted piles of debris where homes, businesses, and neighborhoods once stood. The death toll is expected to rise, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warned. Speaking after his weekly Angelus reflection in Saint Peter’s Square March 26, the pope included victims of the storm among those suffering around the world from war and natural disasters. “Let us continue to pray for the tormented Ukrainian people. And let us stay close also to the earthquake victims of Turkey and Syria,” he said. “Let us also pray for the population of the state of Mississippi, struck by a devastating tornado.” The loss of 25 people so far in Mississippi makes the March 24 twister the deadliest tornado in the state in at least 50 years, Mississippi’s Clarion Ledger reported. One man died in Alabama. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253942/pope-francis-mississippi-bishop-offer-prayers-for-victims-of-deadly-tornado Pope Francis on Saturday decreed an updated version of Vos estis lux mundi, his landmark legislation to counter sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The decree promulgated March 25 extends the Church’s norms for handling of abuse to cover lay leaders of international associations of the faithful recognized by the Vatican. The document reaffirms an obligation to report cases of “vulnerable adult” victims of abuse, including violence against religious women by clerics and cases of harassment of adult seminarians or novices by a superior. It also includes protections for people who witness acts of abuse, in addition to those who submit reports of alleged abuse, stipulating that no “obligation of silence” may be imposed on those who report, witness, or are victims of abuse. Pope Francis first promulgated Vos estis lux mundi in May 2019 on an experimental basis for a period of three years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253939/pope-francis-decrees-permanent-vos-estis-lux-mundi-legislation-to-counter-abuse Today, the Church celebrates Saint Rupert, whose missionary labors built up the Church in two of its historic strongholds, Austria and Bavaria. During his lifetime, the “Apostle of Bavaria and Austria” was an energetic founder of churches and monasteries, and a remarkably successful evangelist of the regions – which include the homeland of the Bavarian native Pope Benedict XVI. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-rupert-420

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US bishops’ doctrine committee on Thursday issued a statement reiterating the Church’s preference for burial of the deceased and stating that newer methods — namely alkaline hydrolysis and human composting — do not show respect for the human body. The process of human composting — also known as natural organic reduction — is a relatively new phenomenon in the US and has been legalized in a handful of states, most recently California. When a body is composted, it is placed in a reusable container where microbes and bacteria decompose it into soil over the course of 30-45 days. Alkaline hydrolysis is a process whereby a human body is broken down in a tank of chemicals at high pressure and heat, resulting in a few bone fragments and a large quantity of wastewater. The Catholic Church teaches that one day, at the final resurrection, the souls of the dead will be reunited with their bodies. Catholics are “obliged to respect our bodily existence throughout our lives and to respect the bodies of the deceased when their earthly lives have come to an end. The way that we treat the bodies of our beloved dead must always bear witness to our faith in and our hope for what God has promised us,” the bishops wrote. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253922/human-composting-alkaline-hydrolysis-disrespect-the-human-body-us-catholic-bishops-say Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles will lead a six-mile eucharistic procession on Saturday through the city as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the U.S. bishops to renew Catholics’ devotion to Christ in the holy Eucharist. The March 25 procession will go from a historic Los Angeles mission church, three miles down a main road to another parish, and back. The day will begin with Mass at 8:30 am PT at the historic Mission San Gabriel, which held its first Mass in more than two years last September after suffering severe damage in an arson attack in mid-2020. Following the Mass, the procession will begin at 9:30. The faithful are invited to walk along with the procession after signing up online. The route will take the Eucharist through downtown Los Angeles to Saint Luke the Evangelist Church before returning to Mission San Gabriel for Benediction. The total route is about 6.5 miles, according to the archdiocese. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253924/archbishop-gomez-to-lead-6-mile-eucharistic-procession-through-los-angeles Pope Francis on Thursday declared a priest, three religious sisters, and two laywomen as venerable servants of God, moving them each a step closer to canonization. “Venerable” is the title given to a candidate for sainthood whose cause has not yet reached the beatification stage but whose heroic virtue has been declared by the pope. Each now needs a miracle attributed to his or her intercession to be approved by the Vatican in order to be beatified. To read the stories of all the new venerables, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253923/pope-francis-puts-a-priest-three-religious-women-and-two-laywomen-on-path-for-sainthood Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine of Sweden, who was born near the beginning of the fourteenth century to parents Ulfo and Saint Bridget of Sweden. Catherine served as an abbess, and during the final 25 years of her life, was known for her austere lifestyle and her practice of making daily use of the Sacrament of Confession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-of-sweden-187

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has invited Catholics to annually renew an act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. The solemnity of the Annunciation on Saturday marks one year since Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saint Peter’s Basilica with a prayer asking for peace in the world. At the end of his general audience on March 22, the pope recalled his historic act of consecration and called on parish communities and prayer groups to annually renew the Marian consecration. Pope Francis also urged people not to forget to pray for “martyred Ukraine, which is suffering so much.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253911/pope-francis-invites-catholics-to-renew-consecration-to-immaculate-heart-of-mary-on-march-25 A potential legal case against Pope Benedict XVI over his handling of abuse during his time as archbishop of Munich has been dropped. The accusations had been investigated in the wake of the Munich abuse report, which raised allegations that “there could be misconduct on the part of Church officials in positions of responsibility.” Cardinal Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI, served as archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. The study criticized the late German pope’s handling of four cases during his time in charge of the southern German archdiocese. On Tuesday, the public prosecutor’s office said: “In each case, the investigations did not reveal sufficient suspicion of criminal activity on the part of those responsible for personnel, which is why the preliminary proceedings were discontinued.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253917/prosecutors-drop-case-of-alleged-cover-up-against-benedict-xvi A coalition of conservative organizations is taking legal action to obtain documents from the Department of Justice related to the surge in pro-abortion attacks on churches and pro-life pregnancy centers and a lack of prosecution from the agency. A lawsuit led by the Heritage Foundation and Advancing American Freedom accuses the DOJ of failing to provide them with documents requested through the Freedom of Information Act. The documents requested include all records and internal DOJ communication related to crimes against pro-life pregnancy centers and churches. Based on data compiled by CNA, there have been more than 100 attacks on churches and pro-life pregnancy centers since the May 2022 leak of the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health, which overturned the abortion protections guaranteed in Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey. The DOJ has failed to prosecute the perpetrators in nearly all of the attacks. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253915/heritage-sues-doj-for-info-on-attacks-of-churches-pro-life-groups Today, the Church celebrates Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo. The 16th century bishop upheld the rights of Peru's indigenous peoples, and became one of the first canonized saints of the Americas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-turibius-de-mogrovejo-186

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Legislation that would end the statute of limitations for lawsuits against entities that are accused of negligence involving incidents of child sexual abuse overwhelmingly passed the Maryland Senate last week. The Maryland Catholic Conference criticized the bill for its unequal treatment of private groups. The legislation creates a different set of rules for public entities than it does for private entities. The legislation would fully eliminate the statute of limitations for a victim to file a lawsuit related to child sexual abuse against private and public entities. The proposed bill would cap the amount of money that victims could receive but at different levels, depending on whether the lawsuit is filed against a private or a public entity. A victim who sues a public entity, such as a public school, could be awarded up to $890,000, according to the proposed legislation. However, a victim who sues a private entity, such as a Catholic Church, could be awarded up to $1.5 million, which is nearly 70% more than public entities. The legislation would also be retroactive, which means victims could file lawsuits against entities even if the current statute of limitations has already passed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253900/maryland-senate-passes-bill-to-end-statute-of-limitations-for-child-sex-abuse-lawsuits The Vatican reported on Saturday that their diplomatic headquarters in Nicaragua was forced to close on March 17. On March 12, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that it was considering suspending diplomatic relations with the Vatican. This occurred two days after an interview with Pope Francis was published in which he harshly criticized the regime of Daniel Ortega — where the Catholic Church is persecuted — and compared it to “the communist dictatorship of 1917 or the Hitler dictatorship of 1935.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253899/the-last-diplomat-from-the-vatican-leaves-nicaragua Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Nicholas of Flue. During his lifetime, the Swiss saint had 10 children, became a hermit and later prevented a civil war. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicholas-of-flue-184

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis heard confessions at a parish in Rome on Friday and encouraged people to remember that God “holds out his hand and lifts us up whenever we realize that we are ‘hitting rock bottom.’” In the presence of eucharistic adoration, the pope presided over a Lenten penitential service on March 17 to open “24 Hours for the Lord,” an initiative in which certain Catholic churches around the world will remain open 24 consecutive hours with round-the-clock confession and adoration. The pope underlined that God waits for us, especially in the sacrament of penance, where he said the Lord touches our wounds, heals our hearts, and leaves us with inner peace. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253886/pope-francis-hears-confessions-at-roman-parish-god-lifts-us-up-when-we-hit-rock-bottom Today, the Church celebrates Saint Herbert, a saint about whom not much is known other than he was a Hermit of England and a good friend of Saint Cuthbert. Herbert was a priest, and lived as a recluse on an island in Lake Derwentwater, England which later became Saint Herbert’s in his honor. Herbert had asked to die on the same day as his dear friend Saint Cuthbert, and God granted Him the fulfillment of that desire. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-herbert-183

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. As of yesterday, 72.6% of dioceses in the United States are offering some relief from the no-meat-on-Fridays-during-Lent rule for Saint Patrick’s Day. 93 diocesan bishops are providing a dispensation with no strings attached — although many of those bishops suggest extra prayers or spiritual exercises or abstaining from meat on another day. Thirty-four diocesan bishops said yes but gave additional conditions, requiring a substitute through what canon law calls a ‘commutation’ of the requirement, such as attending Mass on Saint Patrick’s Day, saying the Breastplate of Saint Patrick prayer, praying the rosary, abstaining from meat another day, or helping the poor. Also in the yes-but category is the Archdiocese for the US Military Services, which is requiring abstinence from meat on another day the same week as Saint Patrick’s Day for those planning to eat meat on Friday, March 17. Forty-six diocesan bishops, or 26.3% of the dioceses, have said no to a general dispensation or commutation for all Catholics in the diocese, although many of those say they would grant individual dispensations upon request. For a complete map showing where Catholics are allowed to eat meat this Saint Patrick’s Day, visit catholicnewsagency.com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253789/where-are-catholics-allowed-to-eat-corned-beef-on-st-patricks-day-this-lent Catholic bishops in the United Kingdom said a new law criminalizing prayer and outreach outside abortion clinics in England and Wales discriminates against people of faith. Britain’s House of Commons approved legislation on March 7 to create “buffer zones” across the country, which strictly bans behavior that “interferes with any person’s decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services” around abortion facilities. The law’s broad provision would prohibit a wide range of behavior, including silent prayer. Religious freedom is essential for society and human flourishing, the bishops’ statement said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253878/uk-bishops-call-buffer-zones-banning-prayer-outside-of-abortion-clinics-discriminatory The Catholic Diocese of Albany has decided to file for bankruptcy, saying a financial reorganization will help provide some compensation for the hundreds of sex abuse victims who have filed lawsuits. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany said parishes and schools are not part of the filing and are incorporated as different entities. Scharfenberger said the diocese has been named in more than 400 lawsuits filed from August 2019 to August 2021 under the Child Victims Act of 2019. There is no timeline for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Albany Diocese said in a statement. Other reorganizations have continued for several years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253877/facing-hundreds-of-sex-abuse-lawsuits-albany-diocese-to-declare-bankruptcy Today, the Church celebrates Saint Patrick. He was captured and brought as a slave to Ireland before escaping back to Britain, but later returned to Ireland as a bishop to minister to the small Christian communities. Using the traditions and symbols of the Celtic people, he explained Christianity in a way that made sense to the Irish and was thus very successful in converting the natives. He remains one of the most beloved Saints of Ireland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-patrick-of-ireland-180

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said Wednesday that everyone in the Church is equal in dignity, thus a focus on hierarchical advancement is “pure paganism.” “Within the framework of the unity of the mission, the diversity of charisms and ministries must not give rise, within the ecclesial body, to privileged categories,” the pope said at his March 15 general audience in Saint Peter’s Square.“There is no promotion here, and when you conceive of the Christian life as an advancement, that the one above commands others, because he has succeeded in climbing, that is not Christianity,” he said. “That is pure paganism.” At his weekly meeting with the public, Francis reflected on the call to apostleship as part of the larger theme of evangelization. The pope said if you see someone in a “high” position in the Church who is vain, you should pray for “the poor guy,” because he has not understood his vocation. “Listening, humbling one’s self, being at the service of others: This is serving,” he continued. “This is being Christian. This is being apostle.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253867/pope-francis-a-christian-life-based-on-achieving-higher-positions-is-pure-paganism Recent terrorist raids in Benue, a predominantly Catholic state in north-central Nigeria, are getting scant mention in the country’s news. Six counties in the Middle Belt state have seen deadly attacks by Fulani militants since the election, according to Mike Uba, the county chairman of Guma, adjacent to the state capital of Makurdi. The affected counties are both in the north and southern borders of the state. One of the most recent attacks, on March 7, left at least 20 residents dead in the village of Tse Jor after about 40 attackers with machetes arrived on motorbikes and slashed defenseless men, women, and children for at least two hours, Helen Tikyaa, an aid worker employed by the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, told CNA. Tikyaa said she drove to the village during the attack but dared not go in until the killers had departed. Benue has more than 1 million people struggling to survive in makeshift camps due to terrorist raids that have depopulated large areas and prevented hundreds of thousands of small farmers from accessing their four-acre farms. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253873/waves-of-attacks-displace-catholic-natives-in-central-nigeria Today, the Church celebrates Saint Clement Hofbauer, an 18th and 19th-century saint who oversaw the founding of many Redemptorist monasteries, and who is the patron saint of Vienna, Austria.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, the Church celebrates Saint Louise de Marillac, a spiritual directee of Saint Vincent de Paul who founded the Daughters of Charity, a group of women dedicated to serving the sick, the poor and the neglected. She was declared patroness of social workers in 1960. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louise-de-marillac-178

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The first hearing in what could be the most consequential abortion case since the overturning of Roe v. Wade is set for this Wednesday, March 15. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM), along with several other medical organizations and doctors, is suing the Federal Drug Administration for its approval and expansion of the abortion drug mifepristone. On January 3, the FDA changed its policy to allow pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens, to sell mifepristone. Previously, the FDA only allowed certified doctors, clinics, and some mail-order pharmacies to dispense the drug. After the FDA’s policy change, any patient with a prescription can obtain mifepristone from her local retail pharmacy. Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), AHM is alleging that the FDA has been recklessly endangering women and young girls for decades by ignoring its own research and testing standards and continuing to expand its mifepristone approval. The case is being heard by U.S. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk for the Northern District of Texas. A high-stakes case, if Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, the administration could be forced to rescind its approval of the drug, bringing its legal distribution to a halt across the country, even in states where abortion remains legal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253858/case-that-could-stop-half-of-us-abortions-set-for-this-wednesday Police are searching for a man who burglarized and vandalized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gales Ferry, Connecticut, early Saturday. The Ledyard Police Department reported that the man broke into the church, smashing windows and attempting to break into rooms using a crowbar. The police reported that the man further vandalized the church by painting “hateful” messages on the floor of the church meeting hall with black paint and more “hateful speech” on a wall that displayed a large crucifix. Based on security camera footage from inside the church, police allege the man entered the building at about 1 am Saturday, March 11, and stayed in the building for about two and a half hours. The police believe the man first tried to enter the building by throwing bricks at the front door but was unsuccessful. The police believe the man then walked around the outside of the building and broke windows with bricks, rocks, and religious items before breaking into a window on the north side of the building and entering the church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253854/police-looking-for-man-who-vandalized-connecticut-catholic-church Today, the Church celebrates Saint Matilda, Queen of Germany and wife of King Henry I was the daughter of Count Dietrich of Westphalia and Reinhild of Denmark. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-matilda-177

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis asked for prayers as he spoke about the future of the Church and his pontificate so far in an interview published in the early hours of Sunday. Speaking to the Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, Francis declined to evaluate his pontificate so far, saying the Lord will judge his life one day based on whether he practiced the Corporal Works of Mercy as taught by Jesus. “The Church is not a business, or an NGO, and the pope is not an administrator who has been commissioned to balance the numbers at the end of the year,” he said, according to an English transcript published on Il Fatto Quotidiano March 12. According to the pope, it’s not easy to pay attention to God’s will and put it into practice: “It’s necessary to attune yourself with the Lord, not with the world.” Asked about his wish for the world, Pope Francis responded: “peace.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253848/not-an-easy-job-pope-francis-asks-for-prayers-on-10th-anniversary-as-pope The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has ordered the closing of the Vatican embassy in Managua and the Nicaraguan embassy to the Holy See in Rome, according to Reuters. And according to the AP, Vatican sources confirmed there had been a request from Nicaragua to shut down the two embassies. The proposal to suspend relations between the Vatican and Nicaragua follows just days after Pope Francis likened Nicaragua’s Sandinista government to Nazi Germany in an interview. He also called Ortega “unstable.” Ortega, who leads Nicaragua’s socialist Sandinista National Liberation Front party, has governed Nicaragua continuously since 2007 along with his wife, Rosario Murillo, who is now the vice president. The regime has variously been accused of corruption, voter fraud, imprisoning critical dissenters and journalists, and committing violent human rights abuses against the people of Nicaragua. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253850/report-nicaragua-to-close-vatican-embassy-in-managua-nicaraguan-embassy-to-holy-see Today, the Church celebrates Saint Roderick, a priest in Cabra, Spain during the persecution of Christians by the Moors. Authorities accused Roderick of apostacy under Sharia Law and he was imprisoned. While in prison, he met a man named Solomon, also charged with apostasy. After a long imprisonment, they were both beheaded. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-roderick-176

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Saint Peter’s Basilica will now host an hour of Eucharistic adoration on its front portico once a month. Beginning March 14, adoration will take place every second Tuesday from 8-9 pm on the parvise in front of the Vatican basilica leading to St. Peter’s Square. The March 14 adoration will be led by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti who is the archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The prayer will be offered for Pope Francis in light of his 10th anniversary as pope. Saint Peter’s Basilica is typically open every day from 7 am to 6:30 pm in the winter or 7 pm in the summer. The Eucharist is also exposed in Saint Peter’s Basilica for adoration in the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament from approximately 9 am to 4:45 pm Monday through Saturday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253828/vatican-basilica-to-hold-monthly-eucharistic-adoration-on-portico In a new blow to the Church in Nicaragua, the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega has ordered the legal status of several institutions to be revoked, including that of John Paul II Catholic University. The reason given for the decision was “noncompliance” with the obligations of the universities “according to the laws that regulate them.” The cancellation affects the students and campuses of the John Paul II Catholic University in Managua, Juigalpa Chontales, Matagalpa, and Granada, as well as UCAN and its locations in León, Chinandega, Estelí, Juigalpa Chontales, Masaya, and Matagalpa. The university responded by saying that "the Lord is the master of our history, and that in the most adverse moments He has supported us and will continue to do so." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253829/dictatorship-in-nicaragua-dissolves-john-paul-ii-catholic-university Daniel Ortega has also dissolved Caritas Nicaragua and Caritas Jinotega, aid organizations of the Catholic Church that assist those most in need in the Central American country. Caritas Jinotega provided food for the country’s poorest people, donations of crutches and prostheses, delivered medicines at low cost, among many other charitable works. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253831/ortega-dictatorship-dissolves-caritas-nicaragua-catholic The Vatican held a hearing Thursday to try three climate activists for criminal damage to a famous statue in the Vatican Museums. Guido Viero, 61, and Ester Goffi, 26, were ordered to appear before the Vatican City State’s tribunal on March 9. Viero and Goffi superglued their hands to the marble base holding Laocoön and His Sons, an ancient marble sculpture on display in the Vatican Museums, on the morning of August 18, 2022. They are accused of damaging the base of the statue through the use of “particularly tough and corrosive synthetic adhesive.” The three are part of Ultima Generazione (“Last Generation”), an Italian group that encourages nonviolent civil disobedience to “raise the alarm on the climate emergency.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253824/vatican-takes-climate-activists-to-trial-for-damage-to-base-of-famous-statue-in-vatican-museums Today, the Church celebrates Saint Aurea, a young 11th century Spanish woman who lived a life of sacrifice in a convent before dying in her late 20s. The Church also celebrates Saint Sophronius, a courageous leader of the Jerusalem Church during the Islamic conquests of the seventh century, who is more commonly venerated among Eastern Catholics and within the Eastern Orthodox churches. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar/2022-3-11

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis met Wednesday with two young Nigerian girls who suffered horrendous violence at the hands of the Boko Haram terrorist group. Sixteen-year-old Maryamu Joseph, who escaped from the Boko Haram in July after being held against her will for nine years, greeted the pope with Janada Marcus, also a victim of Boko Haram kidnapping, at the end of his general audience on March 8. Both girls saw members of their families murdered by Boko Haram. The pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need arranged for the girls to meet the pope on International Women’s Day. Pope Francis recently wrote a book preface in which he condemned violence against women. “We must find the cure to heal this plague and not leave women alone,” the pope said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253817/pope-francis-meets-with-two-nigerian-girls-who-were-kidnapped-by-boko-haram Oklahomans on Tuesday night overwhelmingly voted down a measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana, which the Catholic bishops of the state had urged voters to reject because of the physical and spiritual harms of drug use. State Question 820, which would have legalized the consumption of marijuana for adults 21 and over, was put before Oklahoma voters in a special election March 7. The final tally was 62% no to 38.3% yes, with a turnout of about 25% of registered voters, the Associated Press reported. The vote continues a recent trend of conservative-led states rejecting marijuana ballot measures, despite analyst predictions that marijuana legalization has, for the past decade or so, largely been a winning issue no matter what state it is introduced in. At the midterm elections in November 2022, voters in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota rejected measures put before them to legalize recreational pot while Missouri and Maryland approved theirs. Catholic bishops in all of those states had urged voters to reject marijuana legalization. The Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, representing Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City and Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa, strongly urged voters to reject the measure, citing the well-documented harms to society, children, and the family associated with the proliferation of marijuana. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253821/oklahoma-voters-reject-marijuana-legalization Today, the Church celebrates Saint Frances of Rome, who from an early age felt called to religious life, but was forced into marriage at age thirteen. Despite her situation, Frances gave up all her wealth to the sick and poor, and began to go door to door raising money to aid the sick and poor. She eventually founded a charitable society of women to continue her work. She is the patron of widows and motorists, because according to legend, an angel always lit her path. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frances-of-rome-415

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, whose spire and roof were destroyed by an April 15, 2019, fire, is expected be rebuilt within the five-year deadline set by the French government. As confirmed by the head of the construction site, French Army General Jean-Louis Georgelin, in an interview with the Associated Press, the faithful and tourists should have access to the site again by the end of 2024. Reconstruction work only began some 24 months after the tragic incident occurred, with the first phase consisting of cleaning and securing the site, involving more than 200 different companies. Although the beloved cathedral will not be ready for the Olympic Games to be held in the French capital in July and August 2024, it should have regained its former shape by then, with the reconstruction phase of its emblematic spire to begin in April. The wood that will be used to rebuild the frame was blessed by the rector of the cathedral, Bishop Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, on December 15, 2022. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253809/reopening-of-notre-dame-cathedral-confirmed-for-late-2024 A human rights group active in China is reporting that religious believers in a populous Chinese province are now required to register on a government app in order to attend worship services. ChinaAid, a U.S.-based Christian charity, reported March 6 that the religious department of the provincial government of Henan is rolling out a system whereby all believers must make online reservations before they can attend services in churches, mosques, or Buddhist temples. The reservations are to be made through an app called “Smart Religion” developed by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission of Henan Province. According to ChinaAid, applicants must fill in personal information, including their name, phone number, government ID number, permanent residence, occupation, and date of birth before they can make a reservation. Henan, located in the east-central part of the country, has one of the largest Christian populations in China — as much as 6% — according to a 2012 government survey. The communist government of China is officially secular. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253810/chinese-province-rolls-out-reservation-app-for-religious-believers Britain’s House of Commons approved legislation Tuesday to create “buffer zones” around abortion facilities that would prohibit a wide range of behavior, including silent prayer. An amendment to exempt prayer and consensual conversation was voted down by lawmakers, who added the buffer zones to the Public Order Bill. The final vote came the day after a pro-life woman was arrested in Birmingham for the second time for praying silently in an alleged violation of a local buffer zone law. Opponents of the legislation decried the bill’s passage as a strike against individual liberty in the United Kingdom. The bill would create a buffer zone of 150 meters, about 492 feet, outside abortion facilities in England and Wales. It bars intimidation, harassment, or interference toward those seeking or providing abortions. Violation would be punished with a fine, a change from a previously proposed penalty that called for a prison sentence. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253814/uk-parliament-bans-pro-life-outreach-and-prayer-near-abortion-facilities Today, the Church celebrates Saint John of God. Born in Portugal in 1495, John lived through decades of sin and suffering before a profound conversion that led him to embrace poverty, humility and charity. Saint John of God was canonized in 1690, and has become the patron of hospitals and the dying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-god-confessor-171

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A group of Catholic bishops will visit San Quentin Prison’s death row inmates on Tuesday as inmates await transfer to other facilities in light of California’s moratorium on executions. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions and ordered the closure of the execution chamber at San Quentin Prison, the Marin County facility near San Francisco that dates back to the 19th century. The state of California aims to move 671 death row inmates, 21 of whom are women, to high-security units at other prisons. After Newsom announced the death penalty moratorium, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco issued a statement on behalf of the California Catholic Conference encouraging the governor to “use well the time of the moratorium to promote civil dialogue on alternatives to the death penalty, including giving more needed attention and care to the victims of violence and their families.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253806/california-bishops-to-visit-death-row-inmates-at-san-quentin Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian Catholic monk who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in 2015 and managed to escape after five months in captivity, was consecrated as the new archbishop of Homs, Syria. At the March 3 Mass for the episcopal consecration, Bishop Flavien Rami Al-Kabalan, procurator of the Syrian Patriarchate of Antioch to the Holy See, noted that the new archbishop “has placed his life in the hands of the Lord.” Al-Kabalan stressed that God chose the new archbishop “to be the spiritual father who sanctifies souls with the sacraments of salvation and guides everyone in prayer and fasting, the patient and loving brother, the wise and understanding teacher.” In May 2015, masked Islamic State militants broke into the Mar Elian Monastery in Syria and kidnapped Mourad. On several occasions during his captivity, a masked man threatened him with a knife to his throat. During the more than five months that he was held captive, Mourad could have easily been set free; all he had to do was renounce Christianity. However, in each and every one of the days of captivity, he chose to remain steadfastly faithful to Christ. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253803/syrian-catholic-monk-once-kidnapped-by-isis-consecrated-archbishop Vandals smashed the windows of a pro-life pregnancy center in Minneapolis and spray-painted it with graffiti in the middle of the night March 3, in the latest incident in a wave of attacks against crisis pregnancy centers. Video surveillance shows two masked individuals at about 1 am tagging the clinic with graffiti and breaking the windows with a hammer. A group called Jane’s Revenge has claimed responsibility for similar attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers in a wave of attacks since Roe v. Wade was overturned. A group called Jane’s Revenge has claimed responsibility for similar attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers in a wave of attacks since Roe v Wade was overturned. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253802/abortion-activists-smash-windows-at-minnesota-pregnancy-clinic-that-provides-free-diapers Today, the Church celebrates Saints Perpetua and Felicity, young martyrs who died for the faith around the year 203. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-perpetua-and-felicity-and-their-companions-169

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Thousands gathered Friday for the funeral of slain Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was remembered as “a friend of Jesus Christ” and the poor. Archbishop José Gomez presided over the funeral Mass, held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Speaking briefly at the conclusion of the liturgy, Gomez said “Bishop Dave,” as O’Connell was affectionately known, would be sorely missed, but “we know that he’s in heaven.” O’Connell, 69, a popular Irish-born priest who worked on myriad social causes in South LA for the past 45 years, died February 18 after being shot multiple times in his Hacienda Heights home, according to District Attorney George Gascón. Carlos Medina, the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper, has admitted to murdering the bishop, Gascón said in a February 22 press conference. Earlier in the week, both Pope Francis and President Joe Biden issued condolences to O’Connell’s family and all those grieving his death. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253792/we-know-that-he-s-in-heaven-thousands-gather-for-funeral-of-bishop-david-o-connell-in-los-angeles Dozens of people reportedly were murdered in post-election attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Benue State Wednesday, according to a diocesan official. During the attacks, Fulani men armed with military gear descended on the Benue State capital, Makurdi, the official said. International observers are linking the attacks to the outcome of the recently announced presidential results of Nigeria’s general elections, in which an all-Muslim presidential ticket was declared the winner. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253794/wave-of-murders-after-elections-in-nigeria-forces-catholic-diocese-staff-to-evacuate The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expressed its concern for the situation of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua and for Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who was sentenced on February 9 to 26 years and four months in prison by the Daniel Ortega dictatorship. One of the latest low points in the Nicaraguan dictatorship’s persecution of the Church was the recent sentencing of Álvarez to 26 years and four months in prison as a “traitor to the homeland” convicted of “undermining national security and sovereignty” and “spreading fake news.” The bishop was also stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253788/aid-to-the-church-in-need-greatly-concerned-about-nicaraguan-bishop-sentenced-to-prison Today, the Church celebrates Saint Colette, the founder of the Colettine Poor Clares (Clarisses). https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-colette-413

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, the Church celebrates Saint Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia heiress who abandoned her family’s fortune to found an order of sisters dedicated to serving the impoverished African American and Native American populations of the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-katharine-drexel-166

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, the Church celebrates Saint Angela of the Cross, the Foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-angela-of-the-cross-165 The Church also celebrates Saint Agnes of Prague, a relative of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. She entered the Order of Saint Clare in the monastery of Saint Saviour at Prague, which she herself had erected. She was elected abbess of the monastery, and through this office became a model of Christian virtue and religious observance for all. God favored her with the gift of miracles, and she predicted the victory of her brother Wenceslaus over the Duke of Austria. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agnes-of-prague-170 Finally, the Church celebrates Blessed Charles the Good, a twelfth-century king of Denmark. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-charles-the-good-412

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - This week a federal Texas judge could stop over half of the abortions happening in the country in what may be the most consequential abortion ruling since the reversal of Roe v Wade. US Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk for the Northern District of Texas is set to issue a decision in the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine’s (AHM) suit against the Federal Drug Administration that alleges the agency ignored its own research and testing standards when approving the abortion drug mifepristone. Mifepristone is the first of two drugs used in chemical abortions, which account for 53% of all abortions in the country. If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, the administration could be forced to rescind its approval of the drug, bringing its legal distribution to a halt across the country, even in states where abortion remains legal. Though a ruling against the FDA could block the legal distribution of mifepristone, that result might only be temporary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253763/here-s-how-half-of-us-abortions-could-be-stopped-this-week The Nicaraguan dictatorship led by Daniel Ortega has prohibited holding the Stations of the Cross in the streets the same week that the dictator accused the Church of being a “mafia.” Local media reported February 23 and 24 that the government had banned the Stations of the Cross, a traditional practice during Lent and Holy Week. Hundreds of faithful participated in the Stations of the Cross that took place around the Managua Cathedral on Friday, February 24. Ortega’s government has in recent years detained, imprisoned, and likely tortured numerous Catholic leaders, including at least one bishop and several priests. His government has also taken action to repress Catholic radio and television stations, and driven Catholic religious orders, including the Missionaries of Charity, from the country. The regime also expelled Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, the former apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua, from the country, a move the Vatican called “incomprehensible.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253760/dictatorship-in-nicaragua-bans-stations-of-the-cross-in-the-streets Today, the Church celebrates Saint David of Wales. David is the patron of the Welsh people, remembered as a missionary bishop and the founder of many monasteries during the sixth century. David was a popular namesake for churches in Wales prior to the Anglican schism, and his feast day is still an important religious and civic observance. Twelve monasteries have their founding ascribed to David, who developed a reputation for strict asceticism. His monks modeled their lives on the earliest desert hermits – combining hard manual labor, silence, long hours of prayer, and a diet that completely excluded meat and alcohol. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-david-of-wales-163

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, 92, filed a motion in a Massachusetts court claiming he is “legally incompetent” to stand trial for sex abuse charges, citing “significant, worsening, and irreversible dementia.” McCarrick, laicized by Pope Francis in 2019, held one of the highest offices in the Catholic Church and has been accused of serially abusing his priestly authority by sexually abusing minors and seminarians. McCarrick is charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14. The state of Massachusetts told CNA that it wants an opportunity to examine McCarrick’s competency to stand trial. It would be a violation of McCarrick’s 14th Amendment right in the Constitution and Article XII of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights if he were to stand trial with his dementia, his lawyers maintain in a court document. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253756/ex-cardinal-mccarrick-asks-for-dismissal-of-sex-abuse-case-against-him-citing-dementia The Diocese of Albany, New York, has at least temporarily banned the Traditional Latin Mass at two parishes to comply with an order issued by the Vatican last week. Effective immediately, parish churches in the diocese are prohibited from celebrating the Latin Mass in accordance with the “Missale Romanum” of 1962, according to a statement from the diocese. In 2021, Pope Francis issued a motu proprio titled Traditionis custodes, which directed bishops to designate locations for the celebration of the Latin Mass but added that those locations not be within parish churches. Many bishops offered dispensations for parishes that already had thriving Latin Mass communities. On Feb. 21, Cardinal Arthur Roche, who serves as the prefect for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, clarified that all dispensations must be approved by the Vatican and ordered any bishop who had already issued dispensations to inform the dicastery, which will evaluate individual cases. The effect of Cardinal Roche’s rescript is still unclear, as many bishops have yet to clearly indicate what they will do next. However, some bishops have already sought and received Vatican approval for dispensations. These dispensations, however, are not permanent but instead only granted for a limited period of time. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253757/albany-diocese-bans-latin-masses-following-new-guidance-from-the-vatican Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Villana de’Botti, a wife and a Third Order Dominican. After reforming her apparently lazy and world ways, she became a Dominican tertiary, concentrated on her vocation of married life, and spent her free time praying and reading Scripture and the lives of the saints. She was given to religious ecstasies at Mass, visions of Our Lady and the saints, and had the gift of prophecy. She died in 1361 of natural causes at the age of 30. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-villana-debotti-161

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis will visit Hungary for the second time, from April 28-30. According to today’s announcement, the three-day papal trip to Budapest will include meetings with Hungary President Katalin Novák, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a private visit with children at the Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann Institute, and meetings with poor people and migrants, young people, clergy, academics, and members of the Society of Jesus. Pope Francis met Orbán during his 2021 visit to Hungary and in the Vatican in 2022. Novák, who was elected president of Hungary in March 2022, met Pope Francis at the Vatican last August. A Christian wife and mother, Novák was formerly Hungary’s family minister. Pope Francis is returning to the central European country after a short visit in 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253745/pope-francis-to-visit-hungary-in-april Pope Francis and leaders of the Church in Italy expressed their pain and sent their prayers for the eternal rest of at least 59 migrants who died in a shipwreck this Sunday off the southern coast of Italy. The boat that was transporting them crashed into the rocks a few meters from the coast of the village of Steccato di Cutro in Calabria. Italian authorities continue to search with boats for dozens still missing at sea. According to some witnesses, the ship carried about 250 people on board. Some 80 migrants have been rescued so far. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed on February 26 “her deep regret for the numerous human lives cut short by human traffickers.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253749/shipwreck-leaves-more-than-50-migrants-dead-in-italy-the-church-expresses-pain Pope Francis said a spontaneous prayer for peace during a Vatican event for the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Friday. After saying a few words about the war in Ukraine, the pope invited those present to pray with him. “Holy Father, who art in heaven, look at our miseries, look at our wounds, look our pain. Look also at our selfishness, our petty interests, and the capacity we have to destroy ourselves,” he prayed. “Heal us. Heal our hearts, heal our minds, heal our eyes that they may see the beauty that you have made and not destroy it in selfishness. Sow in us the seed of peace. Amen.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253747/this-was-pope-francis-spontaneous-prayer-for-ukraine-on-anniversary-of-war Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Maria Caridad Brader, Despite her mother's opinion, Maria entered a Franciscan convent in 1880. She made her final vows two years later and began teaching at the convent school. At the end of the 19th century, it became permissible for cloistered nuns to work as missionaries. Maria volunteered to be one of the first of six sisters to work in Ecuador. Maria served as a teacher and catechist in Ecuador. In 1893, she was transferred to Colombia to attend to the sick and rejected. In response to an urgent need for missionaries, Maria founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate in 1893 in Colombia. Maria served as the congregation's superior general until 1919 and again from 1928 to 1940. Maria urged her sisters to combine contemplation and action with great care. Her congregation also emphasized good education for both the sisters and their students. Maria died in 1943 in Colombia and her grave immediately became a popular pilgrimage site. She was beatified by St. John Paul II in 2003. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-maria-caridad-brader-160

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On Thursday, Pope Francis approved a miracle to advance the cause of canonization of Venerable Servant of God Elisabetta Martinez, an Italian nun and founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Santa Maria di Leuca. The miracle involved the healing of an unborn baby girl in Rimini, Italy. Ultrasound imagery in 2017 revealed to the child’s mother that her baby was suffering from several severe life-limiting and potentially life-ending conditions. A family friend informed the Daughters of Santa Maria di Leuca, whose various congregations began praying novenas for a miraculous healing through the intercession of their founder Elisabetta Martinez. In January 2018 new ultrasound imagery shocked doctors by revealing regular quantities of amniotic fluid and regular fetal flowmetry, both major improvements to the baby’s condition. Yet, the baby girl was still found to be suffering from at least two serious conditions. On March 19, 2018, the baby girl was born completely healthy. A February 23 decree by Pope Francis authorized the advancement of Martinez’s canonization cause based on the baby girl’s miraculous healing. The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints will now advance Martinez to the status of “blessed,” one step away from being declared a saint in the Catholic Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253723/pope-francis-approves-miracle-involving-unborn-baby-that-paves-way-to-beatification-of-elisabetta-martinez Carlos Medina, the husband of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell’s housekeeper, has admitted to murdering the bishop, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón said in a press conference Wednesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253727/suspect-confesses-to-the-murder-of-bishop-david-o-connell Nigeria will hold presidential elections on Saturday, February 25. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253730/nigerians-head-to-the-polls-to-choose-a-new-president-and-brace-for-post-election-violence The Holy See and Oman have established full diplomatic relations, leaving only six countries worldwide without any diplomatic connection to the Vatican. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253722/holy-see-and-the-sultanate-of-oman-establish-diplomatic-ties Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco, who founded the Congregation of the “Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood.” He entered the seminary in 1847 and was ordained a priest in 1855. He was completely dedicated to his priestly ministry, preaching spiritual retreats and missions, teaching catechism to youth and organizing prayer for young people and adults at his parish. He worked to build a strong devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus among the people he served. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-thomas-maria-fusco-157

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Carlos Medina, the suspect in the murder of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, was arraigned in state court Wednesday and formally charged with one count of murder and a special allegation that he personally used a firearm. O’Connell was found dead with “at least” one gunshot wound to his upper body on February 18 in his bedroom at his Hacienda Heights home, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said in a Monday press conference. News of O’Connell’s death shocked the nation and rocked the local and international Catholic community. Offering remarks at Monday’s press conference, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez broke into tears and struggled to complete his brief comments on Bishop O’Connell. “Out of his love for God, he served this city for more than 40 years,” Gomez said. “Every day he worked to show compassion to the poor, to the homeless, to the immigrant, and to all those living on society’s margins. He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace, and we are very sad to lose him,” Gomez said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253716/housekeeper-s-husband-officially-charged-in-murder-of-la-auxiliary-bishop-o-connell Today, the Church celebrates Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of the apostle and evangelist St. John. Polycarp is celebrated on the same date by Eastern Orthodox Christians, who also honor him as a Saint. According to tradition, Polycarp was martyred by Roman authorities by being stabbed to death, but only after no flames touched his body during an attempt to burn him alive. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-polycarp-of-smyrna-156

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A suspect has been arrested in connection with the February 18 shooting homicide of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) said Monday. In a press conference Monday, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna announced that charges would be brought against 65-year-old Carlos Medina, the husband of O’Connell’s housekeeper. Prior to the arrest, there was a standoff between the subject and law enforcement in the city of Torrance, about a 45-minute drive southwest from Hacienda Heights, where O’Connell was found dead. Police discovered O’Connell with “at least” one gunshot wound to his upper body while in his bedroom, Luna said. Luna said there was no evidence of a “forced entry” or “burglary” and added that no firearm was found at the scene. A native of Ireland, O’Connell was named a bishop by Pope Francis in 2015. He ministered to immigrants, the poor, and victims of gang violence for 45 years in the South Los Angeles area. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253690/breaking-arrest-made-in-murder-of-bishop-david-o-connell Wisconsin voters are set to head to the polls today to vote for a new state Supreme Court justice in a nonpartisan primary. Though turnout in Wisconsin judicial elections is generally low, pro-life advocates say this election will play a major role in determining whether unborn children will continue to receive protection in Wisconsin, a state that currently has a near-total ban on abortion in place. Pro-choice groups within and outside Wisconsin have identified the state Supreme Court race as a key one in their attempts to get the state’s abortion ban overturned. Wisconsin’s governor and Attorney General announced a lawsuit last year to attempt to overturn the law, arguing that it has been superseded by subsequent legislation and cannot be enforced. Pro-life advocates worry that should the state Supreme Court obtain a pro-choice majority, the state’s pre-Roe ban could be thrown out, as happened last year in neighboring Michigan. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253691/wisconsin-judicial-elections-could-affect-future-of-state-abortion-ban-pro-lifers-say Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Damian, a Benedictine monk who strove to purify the Church during the early years of its second millennium. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-damian-154 The Church also celebrates Saint Robert Southwell, SJ an English Roman Catholic Jesuit priest and one of the 40 martyrs of England & Wales murdered during the English anti-Catholic Reformation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-robert-southwell-739

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell Saturday is being investigated as a homicide, authorities have confirmed. The shooting happened around 1 pm local time Saturday inside a home in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County, the sheriff’s department said. Sheriff deputies called to the scene for a medical emergency found O’Connell suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the LASD said. A native of Ireland, O’Connell, 69, ministered to immigrants, the poor, and victims of gang violence for 45 years in the South Los Angeles area. Pope Francis made him a bishop in 2015. O’Connell’s friends and fellow bishops reacted with shock and sadness to the news of his death. “He dedicated his priesthood to serving the poor. I can honestly say that he was one of the most Christ-like men I’ve known. May he rest in peace,” Bishop Robert Barron said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253687/tk Today, the Church celebrates Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto, the youngest non-martyrs to be canonized in the history of the Church. The brother and sister, who tended to their families’ sheep with their cousin Lucia Santo in the fields of Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions of Mary, now commonly known as Our Lady of Fatima. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-francisco-and-jacinta-marto-153

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis addressed once again the question of whether he will resign the papacy in two conversations with Jesuit priests in Africa this month, saying he believes a Pope’s ministry is for life. The pope, repeating information he had revealed in a prior interview, said that he signed a resignation letter two months after his election as pope in case he should become incapacitated. He mentioned again the letter he signed in case his health should deteriorate to a point he could not resign and pointed to the resignation letter Venerable Pope Pius XII prepared in case he should be kidnapped by Hitler. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253663/pope-francis-i-believe-that-the-pope-s-ministry-is-for-life Two UK Catholics, one of whom is a priest, were acquitted Thursday of all charges against them after they were accused of breaking the law for praying in front of an abortion clinic. Both Father Sean Gough — a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham — and Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, co-director of March for Life UK, were charged with violating a local Public Spaces Protection Order that censors speech in the area around a Birmingham abortion clinic. Gough said he stood near a closed abortion clinic on Station Road in Birmingham with a sign that said “praying for free speech.” Officials criminally charged him with “intimidating service users” of the abortion clinic. He faced a second charge related to an “unborn lives matter” sticker on his parked car. The charges against both Gough and Vaughan-Spruce were eventually dropped because of insufficient evidence against them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253665/two-uk-catholics-acquitted-after-being-charged-for-praying-in-front-of-abortion-clinic Today, the Church celebrates the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites. These seven men were born in Florence, Italy and led lives as hermits on Monte Senario. They had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Friday, April 13, 1240, the hermits received a vision of Our Lady, who told them to found a new order. They accepted the wisdom of Our Lady, wrote a Rule based on Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions, adopted the black habit of an Augustinian monk, and lived as mendicant friars. The men founded the Order of Servites which in 1304 received the approval of the Holy See. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/seven-founders-of-the-order-of-servites-150

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US bishops on Tuesday opened registration to attend the first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years. The National Eucharistic Congress will take place in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024, and will be “a defining moment in our generation,” according to the website for the event. A five-day event of prayers, speakers, and liturgical celebrations, the congress will be the capstone of the bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival campaign, which began June 19, 2022. The congress is expected to have a festival-like atmosphere, similar to World Youth Day, and will likely draw a crowd of 80,000 faithful. The decision to undertake the initiative followed a 2019 Pew survey that revealed that only 31% of Catholics believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly, really, and substantially present in the Eucharist. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253654/bishops-open-registration-for-first-national-eucharistic-congress-in-83-years Michigan Catholics sought solace and support one day after three students were killed in a shooting on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. Two of the victims of Monday night’s shooting had ties to Detroit-area Catholic parishes. The three were killed after a 43-year-old gunman opened fire on campus, injuring five others before apparently taking his own life. The gunman had no known ties to the university, according to the newspaper, and a motive for the attack was still unknown. A Mass was offered Tuesday night at St. John Church and Student Center on MSU’s campus — about two blocks north of the February 13 incident — for the repose of the souls of those who died. In his homily, Father Peter Ludwig reminded the students gathered of God’s love for them in the midst of tragedy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253653/understand-that-he-still-loves-you-catholics-mourn-victims-of-michigan-state-shooting Today, the Church celebrates Saint Onesimus, a slave to Philemon, an influential man who had been converted by Saint Paul. Onesimus offended Philemon and fled in order to escape any sort of retribution. He then met Saint Paul while Paul was in a Roman prison. Shortly after, Onesimus was baptized. Later, as Saint Jerome and other fathers testify, he became an ardent preacher of the Gospel and succeeded Saint Timothy as bishop of Ephesus. His martyrdom occurred under Domitian in the year 90. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-onesimus-149

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican is joining the Italian government and NGOs in sending help to the suffering people of Turkey and Syria. According to Vatican News, Pope Francis has provided 10,000 thermal shirts for people who do not have adequate shelter in Turkey and Syria. The pope has also sent financial aid to Syria through the country’s apostolic nunciature, Vatican almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski told Vatican News. Boxes of thermal shirts took sail from the port of Naples, Italy, on the morning of February 15, together with other aid from NGOs and the Italian government. The shirts were brought to the southern port city on the evening of February 14 by Krajewski. The shirts and other supplies are expected to arrive in Turkey’s port city of Iskenderun in two days. The small city was one of those heavily damaged by the February 6 earthquakes believed to have killed more than 41,000 people in the region — a death toll that rises daily as rescuers continue to search through building rubble. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253650/pope-francis-contributes-to-earthquake-relief-efforts-in-syria-and-turkey The beatification date has been announced for Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, who were killed by the Nazis for hiding a Jewish family in their home in Poland. The Archdiocese of Przemyska announced Tuesday that the entire Ulma family — including one unborn child — will be beatified on September 10. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, will preside over the beatification ceremony in Markowa, the village in southeast Poland where the Ulma family was executed in 1944. Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of the couple and their children in a decree signed in December. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center has honored the Ulmas as Righteous Among the Nations for the sacrifice of their lives. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253649/beatification-date-announced-for-married-couple-with-seven-children-martyred-by-nazis Airline workers and travelers flying through the busiest airport in the world can now spend time in the real presence of Christ thanks to the efforts of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s chaplains and the cooperation of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Located in the international terminal, the eucharistic chapel will be a permanent fixture at the airport and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After receiving approval from the archbishop, the tabernacle was installed in November of last year. But because only travelers and airline workers can get past security to access the chapel, the archbishop was not able to officially bless it until this Monday, shortly before his flight departed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253646/atlanta-airport-gets-a-247-eucharistic-chapel Today, the Church celebrates Saint Claude de la Colombiere, the 17th century French Jesuit who authenticated and wrote about Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-claude-de-la-colombiere-148

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Diocese of San Juan de Los Lagos in Jalisco state, Mexico, mourned the February 10 shooting death of one of its priests, Father Juan Angulo Fonseca. According to the Mexican newspaper El Financiero, the 53-year-old priest was shot from behind with two blasts of a shotgun. The homicide occurred in the Atotonilco el Alto district of the state of Jalisco. According to the initial investigation, the murder was apparently due to a dispute over land. The priest had been working since 2017 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in the town of Valle de Guadalupe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253627/priest-shot-to-death-in-mexico The chief law enforcement officers from 20 states signed a letter to US Attorney General Merrick Garland condemning a since-retracted “anti-Catholic” leaked internal memorandum produced by the FBI’s Richmond field office. Published February 8, the memo discusses launching an investigation into “radical-traditionalist” Catholics because of possible ties to “the far-right white nationalist movement.” The FBI confirmed to CNA on February 9 that the document came from its Richmond field office and issued a statement retracting it. The signers of the letter expressed their concerns with the agency’s expressed intention to initiate investigations within churches that offer the Latin Mass and within “radical-traditionalist” Catholic online communities, as stated in the memo. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253631/20-state-ags-call-for-investigation-into-fbis-anti-catholic-memo Today, the Church celebrates Saints Cyril and Methodius. Together they are the patron saints of Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-cyril-and-methodius-147 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-valentine-738

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the people of Turkey and Syria who are suffering after devastating earthquakes killed more than 28,000 people. “Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to be close with prayer and concrete support to the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey,” the pope said in his Angelus address on February 12. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis described how he was moved by the images of pain and suffering from the catastrophe that he saw on television and urged people to “pray and think of what we can do for them.” The pope spoke as rescue efforts continued over the weekend with rescuers pulling more than a dozen survivors out of the rubble on Saturday. Catholic charities are working to respond to the disaster by providing shelter, food, and other humanitarian aid. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253621/pope-francis-urges-support-for-earthquake-victims-in-turkey-and-syria Pope Francis entrusted Nicaragua to the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary on Sunday after Bishop Rolando Álvarez was sentenced to 26 years in prison by Daniel Ortega’s dictatorship. “The news from Nicaragua has grieved me a great deal, and I cannot but remember with concern Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa, whom I care about deeply,” the pope said on February 12. Speaking at the end of his Angelus address, Pope Francis said that he was also praying for the 222 Nicaraguan political prisoners who were deported to the United States and “for all those who are suffering in that dear nation.” Bishop Álvarez, an outspoken critic of Ortega’s regime, was charged with being a “traitor of the homeland” on February 10. Ortega’s government has in recent years detained, imprisoned, and likely tortured numerous Catholic leaders, including at least one bishop and several priests. His government has also taken action to repress Catholic radio and television stations, and driven Catholic religious orders, including the Missionaries of Charity, from the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253622/pope-francis-asks-virgin-mary-to-intercede-for-nicaragua-after-bishop-sentenced-to-26-years-in-prison Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine de Ricci. Born to an ancient Tuscan family, she received the religious veil in the convent of Dominicanesses at Prat, in Tuscany in the year 1535 at fourteen years of age. She experienced the sufferings of Christ’s passion for about two years. Her reputation for extraordinary sanctity and prudence drew her many visits from a great number of bishops, princes, and cardinals. She was canonized in 1746. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-de-ricci-146

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A little more than a third of Catholic parents say it is extremely or very important for their children to grow up to have religious beliefs similar to their own, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. In the study released last month and expounded further in a February 6 article, 35% of Catholic parents with children under 18 said it is extremely or very important for their children to grow up to share their religious beliefs. A crucial note to the study is that parents who attend services weekly or more were more than three times as likely to say having their children share their beliefs is important, 76% versus 21%, Pew said. In total, 65% of Catholics said it was either extremely, very, or somewhat important for their children to hold their Catholic beliefs as adults. Thirty-four percent of Catholics said it was not too important or not important at all. Hispanic Catholics answered with slightly more enthusiasm with 39% saying it was extremely or very important that their children grow up to share their religious beliefs, while white and non-Hispanic Catholics registered at 29%. Catholics recorded among the lowest enthusiasm for passing their religion to their children of any Christian denomination in the survey. An even lower 29% of white non-evangelical Protestants said it is extremely or very important for their children to share their religious beliefs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253602/1-in-3-catholic-parents-strongly-believe-their-children-should-be-catholic-survey-finds Today, the Church celebrates Saint Scholastica, a nun who was the twin sister of Saint Benedict, the "father of monasticism" in Western Europe. The siblings were born around 480 to a Roman noble family in Nursia, Italy. Scholastica seems to have devoted herself to God from her earliest youth, as the account of Benedict's life by Pope Gregory the Great mentions that his sister was "dedicated from her infancy to Our Lord." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-scholastica-143

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A little more than a third of Catholic parents say it is extremely or very important for their children to grow up to have religious beliefs similar to their own, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. In the study released last month and expounded further in a February 6 article, 35% of Catholic parents with children under 18 said it is extremely or very important for their children to grow up to share their religious beliefs. A crucial note to the study is that parents who attend services weekly or more were more than three times as likely to say having their children share their beliefs is important, 76% versus 21%, Pew said. In total, 65% of Catholics said it was either extremely, very, or somewhat important for their children to hold their Catholic beliefs as adults. Thirty-four percent of Catholics said it was not too important or not important at all. Hispanic Catholics answered with slightly more enthusiasm with 39% saying it was extremely or very important that their children grow up to share their religious beliefs, while white and non-Hispanic Catholics registered at 29%. Catholics recorded among the lowest enthusiasm for passing their religion to their children of any Christian denomination in the survey. An even lower 29% of white non-evangelical Protestants said it is extremely or very important for their children to share their religious beliefs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253602/1-in-3-catholic-parents-strongly-believe-their-children-should-be-catholic-survey-finds Today, the Church celebrates Saint Scholastica, a nun who was the twin sister of Saint Benedict, the "father of monasticism" in Western Europe. The siblings were born around 480 to a Roman noble family in Nursia, Italy. Scholastica seems to have devoted herself to God from her earliest youth, as the account of Benedict's life by Pope Gregory the Great mentions that his sister was "dedicated from her infancy to Our Lord." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-scholastica-143

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Claretian Missionaries’ Independent Delegation for the Antilles reported that on February 7 one of its priests was kidnapped in Haiti. Father Antoine Macaire Christian Noah was abducted in the morning when he was going to his missionary community in Kazal, about 20 miles north of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital. The kidnappers have contacted “the superior of his missionary community asking for money in exchange for his release,” according to the Claretians. Macaire is originally from Cameroon and has been the parochial vicar at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Kazal for one year. In recent months, armed gangs have gained significant control over the country in Haiti and also are attacking Catholic schools and hospitals. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253591/priest-kidnapped-in-haiti-captors-demand-ransom Three prominent Christian leaders in Syria issued a joint letter Tuesday calling for an end to sanctions against Syria, which they say are unjustly preventing vital aid from reaching the people most affected by the devastating earthquake that struck the region earlier this week. The February 7 letter was signed by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef the first, the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem the second, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch John the tenth. They wrote: “We, the three patriarchs with the heads of churches in Syria, demand from the United Nations and the countries imposing sanctions on Syria to lift the embargo and unjust sanctions imposed on the Syrian people, and to take exceptional measures and immediate initiatives to secure the delivery of the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid.” According to the latest available estimates as of midday Wednesday, the 7.8-magnitude quake ​​has left at least 11,600 people dead in Turkey and Syria. Many international Catholic aid agencies, such as Caritas, Catholic Relief Services, and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) are soliciting donations, mobilizing resources, and coordinating relief efforts. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253590/christian-leaders-in-syria-call-for-an-end-to-unjust-sanctions-that-they-say-hamper-aid-to-the-needy The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) announced Monday that it is switching its fixed-date religious celebrations to match the Gregorian calendar used by the Church in the West. Ukrainian Catholics have been among the few remaining sects under the papacy to celebrate holidays according to the Julian calendar, which celebrates Christmas on January 7 and Epiphany on January 19. The Russian Orthodox Church and other Eastern Churches under the Patriarchate of Moscow follow the Julian calendar. Now, Catholics in Ukraine will celebrate feasts on the same dates as Catholics in the US and other Western nations, meaning Christmas will be observed on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6. The change will take place at the beginning of the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s liturgical year, September 1, 2023. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253587/ukrainian-catholics-will-now-celebrate-christmas-on-dec-25 Today, the Church celebrates Saint Apollonia of Alexandria, a holy virgin who suffered martyrdom in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians in the early 3rd century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-apollonia-of-alexandria-142

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - During his 2023 State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Joe Biden called on Congress to codify Roe v Wade and pass legislation banning discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Codifying Roe v Wade would establish federal abortion laws that mirror the standards that were set under the now obsolete Roe v Wade decision. Such a law would prohibit states from banning abortion and would prevent certain state-level abortion restrictions. Although Biden is the nation’s second Catholic president, he remains at odds with American Catholic bishops and Catholic Church teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253582/biden-calls-to-codify-roe-pass-equality-act-in-sotu-speech Pope Francis concluded his public audience on Wednesday with a prayer for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria. “Let’s pray together so that these brothers and sisters can move forward from this tragedy. And we pray that Our Lady will protect them,” the pope said in the Vatican’s Paul the sixth Hall on February 8. He then led pilgrims at the event in praying a Hail Mary for all those affected. A series of large earthquakes in parts of Turkey and Syria February 6 created massive destruction and killed an estimated 9,600 people, according to the latest available estimates reported by Reuters early Wednesday morning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253581/pope-francis-leads-hail-mary-for-victims-of-earthquake-in-turkey-and-syria Today, the Church celebrates Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-josephine-bakhita-680

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis and local Church leaders on Monday reacted with dismay and calls for prayer following a devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. According to Reuters, the series of earthquakes — up to 7.8 magnitude — killed about 5,400 people and injured thousands more, with many people still trapped under the rubble. A “deeply saddened” Pope Francis sent “heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss” in telegrams addressed to the apostolic nuncios of Turkey and Syria. Among the many victims, the body of Father Imad Daher, a priest of the Greek Melkite Catholic Parish of Our Lady, was found under the rubble — after many hours of searching for the priest. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253564/pope-francis-syriac-patriarch-call-for-prayers-after-devastating-earthquakes-in-turkey-and-syria A crowd of military veterans, their families, and Boy Scouts filled a New Jersey parish church on Sunday to honor the “Four Chaplains” — a band of men of different faiths who all sacrificed their lives to save others on the torpedoed USAT Dorchester 80 years ago. The Four Chaplains — Father John P Washington, a Catholic priest; Reverend George L Fox, a Methodist minister; Rabbi Alexander D Goode; and Reverend Clark V Poling, a Reformed Church in America minister — gave their life jackets to save others when their ship was torpedoed in the frigid North Atlantic in 1943. The Mass commemorating the 80th anniversary of the chaplains’ sacrifice took place at St. Stephen’s Church in Kearney, New Jersey — the last parish where Washington served before being dispatched for war. Washington, Fox, Goode, and Poling, all first lieutenants, met in 1942, having been inspired to sign up as military chaplains after Pearl Harbor. Their vessel, the Dorchester, a troop ship bound for a US military base in Greenland, was struck by a U-boat torpedo in the early morning hours of February 3, 1943. Washington had celebrated Mass just hours before the hit and began to offer absolution. The chaplains calmly assisted and encouraged numerous civilians and soldiers, offering them their own life jackets as the terrified crowd sped to the lifeboats. In 1944, all four men posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253569/the-four-chaplains-selfless-heroes-of-wwii-honored-for-sacrifice-80-years-ago Today, the Church celebrates Saint Richard, the father of Saints Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-richard-140

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis was greeted by cheers on Saturday as he arrived at a meeting with roughly 2,500 South Sudanese refugees. The meeting with internally displaced persons (IDPs) took place at Freedom Hall in South Sudan’s capital of Juba, where Pope Francis is undertaking a pilgrimage of peace from February 3-5. “You, from all your different ethnic groups, you who have suffered and are still suffering, you who do not want to respond to evil with more evil. You, who choose fraternity and forgiveness, are even now cultivating a better tomorrow,” he encouraged those present. South Sudan has the largest refugee crisis in Africa, with 2 million IDPs due to conflict, insecurity, and environmental challenges, the UN Refugee Agency reports. There are also more than 2 million South Sudanese refugees living in neighboring countries. On Sunday, Pope Francis urged Christians in the war-torn African country to make “a decisive contribution to changing history” by refusing to repay evil with evil. More than 100,000 people attended the papal Mass in Juba held on the grounds of a mausoleum commemorating John Garang, a liberation leader known as the “father of South Sudan,” though he died in a helicopter crash before the newest African country gained its independence in 2011 and plunged into a brutal civil war two years later. Pope Francis underlined that South Sudan’s Christians are called to be “light that shines in the darkness” by living out the Beatitudes. In his homily, Pope Francis said that Christians are called to be “people capable of building good human relationships as a way of curbing the corruption of evil, the disease of division, the filth of fraudulent business dealings and the plague of injustice.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253556/pope-francis-meets-2500-refugees-in-south-sudan Congress will begin investigating what Republicans call the “weaponization” of the federal government against pro-life advocates and Christians next Thursday, according to announcements from leading House members. A primary focus of the investigation will be the Biden administration’s targeting of pro-lifers through the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. In 2022 the Biden Justice Department prosecuted a record 26 pro-life advocates under the FACE Act. Meanwhile, last year saw nearly 100 attacks against pregnancy resource centers and churches that went largely unpunished. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253555/investigation-into-fbi-fed-agencies-targeting-of-pro-lifers-parents-to-begin-next-week Today, the Church celebrates the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki, a group of native Japanese Catholics and foreign missionaries who suffered death for their faith in the year 1597. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-paul-miki-and-companions-139

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Friday became the first pope to visit South Sudan — fulfilling a yearslong hope to carry out an ecumenical trip to the war-torn country. Pope Francis had spoken about the possibility of the trip as early as 2017, fewer than four years after the outbreak of civil war in 2013. He has personally intervened to send aid to the country and to encourage South Sudan’s leaders to reach a real and lasting peace agreement — including inviting President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his former rival Vice President Riek Machar for a retreat at the Vatican. The pope has called his February 3-5 visit to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, a “pilgrimage of peace.” His Anglican counterpart, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, along with the moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields, are visiting the newest African nation together. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253542/pope-francis-lands-in-south-sudan-fulfilling-yearslong-dream-of-visit-to-war-torn-country As CVS and Walgreens continue to seek federal approval to sell an abortion drug, 20 attorneys general whose states restrict abortion warned the pharmacy chains against fulfilling mail orders within their states. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale of mifepristone through pharmacies if the companies receive FDA certification. Walgreens and CVS are both seeking certification to sell the drug but have not yet received approval or begun to sell it. A coalition of 20 attorneys general sent letters to the companies, warning them they cannot sell the drug in their states. Explaining their concern, the state officials cite research published in 2015 that found that abortion-inducing drugs are nearly six times more likely to cause complications for women than surgical abortions. They also note that abortions performed away from medical professionals carry an added risk. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253538/20-attorneys-general-warn-cvs-walgreens-against-abortion-pills-in-their-states Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert Barron called a newly passed Minnesota abortion bill that enshrines abortion rights into law “the worst kind of barbarism.” The bill, titled the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, enshrines a constitutional right to “reproductive freedom,” ensuring the right to abortion in Minnesota up to birth for any reason, as well as the right to contraception and sterilization. Pro-life advocates fiercely opposed the bill, as it gained national attention and underwent several hours of debate in the state Senate. The pro-life advocacy organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America called the legislation “the most extreme bill in the country.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253535/bishop-barron-says-minnesota-s-new-abortion-law-is-the-worst-kind-of-barbarism Today, the Church celebrates Saint Blaise, a hard-working bishop dedicated to encouraging the spiritual and physical health of his people in Sebastea, Armenia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-blaise-136

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - To bring about peace, “prayer is the most powerful weapon there is,” Pope Francis told thousands of young adults and catechism teachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday. The meeting in Martyrs’ Stadium in Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC, took place on February 2, the third day of the pope’s visit to the central African country. On February 3, Francis will fly to Juba, South Sudan, for the second leg of his peace pilgrimage. Pope Francis on Thursday interacted with an enthusiastic crowd of around 65,000 young people and adults, some of whom traveled days to be present for the papal visit. During the second half of his speech, the pope was repeatedly drowned out by the energetic audience, which broke out in cheering, singing, and dancing despite the hot weather. The pope invited those present in the stadium to open and close their hands while meditating on whether they wanted to choose peace or violence. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253529/pope-francis-to-congolese-youth-prayer-is-your-secret-weapon-for-peace President Joe Biden is wrong on taxpayer funding of abortion and wrong on Pope Francis’s view of it, the president of the US bishops conference said Wednesday. The president suggested Tuesday that neither the pope nor all Catholic bishops oppose public funding for abortion in the United States. Biden, a Catholic who supports legal and publicly funded abortion, made that assertion in a brief exchange with EWTN’s White House correspondent, Owen Jensen, on the White House lawn. On Wednesday, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), released a statement contradicting Biden’s comments. “As we are taught by Jesus, human life is sacred. God calls us to defend and nurture life from the moment a new human being is conceived. The Catholic Church has been clear and consistent in this teaching,” Broglio said. “The Catholic bishops of the United States are united in our commitment to life and will continue to work as one body in Christ to make abortion unthinkable.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253528/head-of-us-bishops-conference-contradicts-biden-s-claims-about-taxpayer-funded-abortions Today, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the Jewish temple. At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemass. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/presentation-of-the-lord-427

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on Monday to entrust his upcoming trip to Africa to the Blessed Virgin Mary. And before departing on his flight to Africa on Tuesday morning, the pope met with a group of refugees and migrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan at the Vatican. Pope Francis landed Tuesday morning in the capital city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country home to more than 52 million Catholics. It will be the first papal trip to Congo in 37 years, since John Paul II visited Kinshasa in 1985 when it was the capital of Zaire. Pope Francis will visit Kinshasa Jan 31-February 3 before traveling to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, February 3-5. Francis has called his visit to South Sudan “an ecumenical pilgrimage of peace.” The pope will travel together with the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields.Pope Francis will be the first pope to visit South Sudan, the world’s newest country, which declared independence from the Republic of the Sudan in 2011. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253503/pope-francis-meets-with-refugees-from-congo-and-south-sudan-before-flight-to-africa https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253498/pope-francis-entrusts-trip-to-congo-and-south-sudan-to-blessed-virgin-mary Pro-life activist Mark Houck was found not guilty Monday on federal assault charges stemming from a shoving incident outside a Philadelphia abortion clinic. Supporters of the Catholic father of seven children cried and hugged one another after the verdict was read in US District Court in Philadelphia. The fourty-eight year old Houck acknowledged that he twice pushed a volunteer escort outside a Planned Parenthood facility on October 13, 2021, though Houck maintained he did so because the clinic volunteer was verbally harassing Houck’s 12-year-old son. After local authorities declined to press charges, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) stepped in, dispatching a team of FBI agents to arrest Houck at gunpoint in front of his terrified wife and children. The morning raid on September 23, 2022, at the family’s home sparked outrage within pro-life circles and swift condemnation from many federal lawmakers, who blasted the FBI’s heavy-handed tactics and the Justice Department’s use of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Though the 1993 federal law, known as the FACE Act, was written to also prosecute crimes at pro-life pregnancy facilities and places of worship, it has been used almost exclusively against pro-life activists. Houck was charged with two counts of violating the act and faced 11 years in federal prison if convicted. The verdict is a victory for pro-life advocates who rallied to Houck’s defense and a rebuke to the Biden administration’s Justice Department, which has pledged to aggressively enforce the FACE Act in the wake of last year’s US Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252380/fbi-raids-home-of-pro-life-leader-on-questionable-charges Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Bosco, a 19th century Italian priest who reached out to young people to remedy their lack of education, opportunities, and faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-bosco-133

Pro-life activist Mark Houck was found not guilty Monday on federal assault charges stemming from a shoving incident outside a Philadelphia abortion clinic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253477/breaking-mark-houck-cleared-of-face-act-charges-in-rebuke-to-justice-department

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis appealed for peace in the Holy Land on Sunday, calling the recent spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence a “spiral of death” that accomplishes nothing. In his Sunday Angelus address on January 29, the pope expressed “great sorrow” for the death of Palestinians killed in an Israeli military raid as well as seven Israelis killed in a shooting outside of a synagogue in east Jerusalem. The pope spoke following a wave of violence in Israel and Palestine this week. On Friday night, seven Israelis were killed and three wounded in a shooting outside of a synagogue in east Jerusalem on the Jewish Sabbath, the deadliest attack on Israelis in 15 years, according to the Associated Press. The synagogue shooting occurred the day after an Israeli military raid in the West Bank killed nine Palestinians and another Palestinian man was shot by Israeli forces in al-Ram, north of Jerusalem. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253494/pope-francis-expresses-sorrow-over-spiral-of-death-in-the-holy-land A compilation of new data by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University shows that Nigeria and Kenya have the highest proportion of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more, with Nigeria as the clear leader. Ninety-four percent of Catholics in Nigeria say they attend Mass at least weekly. In Kenya, the figure was 73%, and in Lebanon it was 69%. The level of attendance in Nigeria is notably high given the high number of violent attacks against Christians across the country in recent years. But in 29 of the 36 countries examined, fewer than half of self-identified Catholics attend Sunday Mass. Countries with a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita had lower levels of Mass attendance and vice versa. The researchers acknowledged that the use of self-reported Mass attendance numbers could inflate the figures slightly, meaning actual attendance numbers could be, in reality, slightly lower across the board. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253488/where-is-mass-attendance-highest-one-country-is-the-clear-leader Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti. Born of a noble family near Viterbo (Italy,) Hyacintha entered a local convent of sisters who followed the Third Order Rule. She eventually became very penitential in food and clothing, and was ready to do the most humble work in the convent. She developed a special devotion to the sufferings of Christ and by her penances became an inspiration to the sisters in her convent. The people loved her so much that her veil had to be replaced multiple times due to people clipping off pieces of it to keep for themselves. She was canonized in 1807. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hyacintha-of-mariscotti-132

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A sacristan was killed and a priest wounded during a suspected terrorist attack Wednesday on two Catholic churches in Spain. According to police sources, the sacristan of the Church of Our Lady of La Palma was murdered and the pastor of St. Isidore Church was wounded. Both churches are in the city of Algeciras near the far southern end of the Iberian peninsula across the strait of Gibraltar from Morocco. The National Court has initiated the investigation as an alleged jihadist terror attack. In wake of the attacks, the mayor of Algeciras, José Ignacio Landaluce, decreed a day of official mourning, with flags at half staff on municipal buildings, and announced that a rally will be held in front of the city’s largest church. Various Spanish bishops condemned the attack and offered their condolences to the victims and their families. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253471/sacristan-killed-priest-wounded-in-terrorist-attacks-in-spain-bishops-condemn-violence The Catholic bishops of Minnesota urged lawmakers to vote down a bill that would codify the right to abortion, proposing instead a slate of pro-family measures that they say will reduce demand for abortions. Minnesota’s HF 1, which has a companion bill in the state Senate, passed the House Jan. 19 by a narrow 69-65 vote. Abortion already is available in Minnesota throughout pregnancy for most reasons. The present bill — known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act — would codify into law a constitutional right to “reproductive freedom,” ensuring the right to abortion in Minnesota up to birth for any reason. Separate bills under consideration in Minnesota would remove parental notification requirements for minors procuring abortions as well as remove state protections for babies born alive after an abortion. The midwestern state’s Catholic bishops lamented the haste with which the bills were being advanced and implored lawmakers to “pause” and consider the broader implications. “When contemplating policy on any issue, we must consider all those who will be affected. In this case, that includes the mother, father, and most especially, the unborn child whose life is being taken,” Minnesota’s bishops said in a January 26 statement. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253469/minnesota-bishops-decry-bill-that-would-make-abortion-a-right Today, the Church celebrates Saint Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters. She gathered around her a group of women who looked toward Angela as an inspirational leader and as a model of apostolic charity. In 1535, the Institute of Saint Ursula was formally recognized by the Pope and Angela was accorded the title of foundress. Angela Merici died on January 27, 1540, and was canonized in 1807. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-angela-merici-129

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Department of Justice on Tuesday indicted two suspects accused of vandalizing three pro-life pregnancy centers in Florida in June 2022, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade. Pro-life pregnancy centers, also known as crisis pregnancy centers, provide free services and resources to pregnant women, including alternatives to abortion.The indictment against the two Floridians accuses them of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which is also known as the FACE Act. The indictment alleges that their actions amount to a conspiracy to prevent the employees from providing services. They could face up to 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and up to $350,000 in fines. CNA has independently tracked and confirmed nearly 60 attacks nationwide on pro-life pregnancy centers since May 2022. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253464/two-florida-residents-indicted-for-vandalizing-pro-life-pregnancy-centers Pope Francis has offered his condolences after 11 people were killed in a shooting at a Los Angeles dance hall, one of two deadly mass shootings in California this week. The pope sent a condolence telegram to Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles on January 25 expressing his sadness and assuring his spiritual closeness to “those affected by this tragedy.” A gunman opened fire at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, California, on Saturday night amid celebrations of the Lunar New Year. It was the worst massacre in Los Angeles county history, according to the Associated Press. “His Holiness joins the entire community in commending the souls of those who died to almighty God’s loving mercy and he implores the divine gifts of healing and consolation upon the injured and bereaved,” the papal telegram said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253458/pope-francis-offers-condolences-for-monterey-park-shooting For the first time, Pope Francis has commented publicly about the scandal surrounding Father Marko Rupnik, denying that he intervened to help the famous Jesuit artist avoid punishment for the alleged sexual abuse of women in a religious community in Slovenia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253454/pope-francis-i-had-nothing-to-do-with-father-marko-rupnik-case Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently warned that Japan’s birthrate — one of the lowest in the world — is not sustainable and that the ongoing population decline in the country poses an urgent risk to Japanese society. “Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society,” Kishida said in Monday’s speech before the newly opened session of Parliament. Kishida, who took office in 2021, said he intends to launch a new government agency in April to support children and families. Kishida said he wants the government to double its spending on child-related programs. The prime minister noted that only 800,000 births were recorded in the country last year, a low figure that Japan was previously not projected to reach until 2030. It’s also the lowest figure recorded since Japan began compiling statistics on births in 1899. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253460/japanese-prime-minister-vows-to-take-action-on-declining-birthrate Today, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, close companions of the Apostle Paul and bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days. Both men received letters from Saint Paul, which are included in the New Testament. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-timothy-and-titus-128

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic priest who blocked access to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic could face up to one year in prison after being found guilty Monday of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, also known as the FACE Act. On the morning of July 7, 2022, Father Fidelis Moscinski, 52, a priest of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, effectively shut down the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York clinic in Hempstead for about two hours using padlocks, chains, and his own body, according to the DOJ. On Monday, the court delivered a guilty verdict from the bench. Sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Moscinski has garnered media attention in recent years for his prayerful protests in the face of pro-abortion opposition and his work with the group Red Rose Rescue. Some members of the pro-life community commended Moscinski for his actions at the abortion clinic and criticized those who would put him behind bars. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253450/priest-found-guilty-of-blocking-entrance-to-abortion-clinic-faces-one-year-in-prison In the wake of yet another mass shooting in California, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone released a statement Monday reminding people of the frailty of human life. “The recent shootings in Monterey Park and now in Half Moon Bay remind us of how fragile human life is, but also how precious human life is,” the archbishop said in the statement posted on the archdiocese’s website. “We must never take human life for granted. We must never take out our aggressions and our frustrations on others, especially in any form of violence.” Seven farmworkers were killed and one was critically injured after a gunman opened fire Monday afternoon at two separate nurseries in Half Moon Bay, California, about 30 miles south of San Francisco. The 67-year-old suspect, Chunli Zhao, is thought to have worked at one of the farms and is believed to have acted alone, NBC Bay Area news reported. He was taken into custody without incident later that afternoon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253445/never-take-human-life-for-granted-archbishop-cordileone-says-after-second-mass-shooting Today, the Church commemorates the conversion of St. Paul. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/conversion-of-st-paul-127

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez on Sunday offered prayers for victims of a Saturday shooting at a Monterey Park, California, ballroom dance studio. “We pray for those killed and injured in this shooting, we ask that God stay close to their families and loved ones,” the archbishop said in a statement released Sunday. “We pray for the wounded to be healed, and we ask that God give strength and guidance to the doctors and nurses who are caring for them.” Ten people were killed and at least 10 more were wounded after a gunman opened fire late Saturday night at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park. Twenty minutes after the shooting, the 72-year-old suspect entered another nearby dance studio but was disarmed by two community members, the Los Angeles Times reported. The suspect then fled in a white cargo van. The shooting, one of the worst in Los Angeles County history, took place in the midst of a two-day Lunar New Year festival that attracted tens of thousands of participants to what is considered a core of the Southern California Chinese community, according to the Times. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253430/los-angeles-archbishop-prays-for-peace-in-our-hearts-after-shooting-at-dance-studio The parliament of Pakistan moved this week to tighten its already far-reaching blasphemy laws, under which numerous Christians and other minorities have been prosecuted and subjected to mob violence, often for dubious charges of blasphemy against beliefs or figures associated with Islam. Insulting the Prophet Muhammad is already, at least on paper, a capital offense in Pakistan. Under the newest legal changes, those convicted of insulting the Prophet Muhammad’s wives, companions, or close relatives will now face 10 years in prison, a sentence that can be extended to life, along with a fine of 1 million rupees, or roughly $4,500, reported the New York Times. It also makes the charge of blasphemy an offense for which bail is not possible. Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, and blasphemy laws have been on the books in the country for more than a century, even before it became an independent nation. A notable escalation of the country’s blasphemy laws occurred in 1987 when the death sentence was made mandatory for some violations. One of the most famous cases in recent years was that of Asia Bibi, a Catholic woman who spent nearly a decade on death row after being accused of disparaging Islam. Numerous world leaders called for her immediate release, including Popes Benedict XVI and Francis. In October 2018, the Pakistani Supreme Court overturned her blasphemy conviction. She subsequently fled the country and reportedly still receives death threats. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253436/pakistan-tightens-its-already-far-reaching-blasphemy-laws Today, the Church celebrates Saint Francis de Sales, the patron saint of writers and Christian unity whose role as a priest and bishop helped bring thousands of Protestants back to the Catholic Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-de-sales-126

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At least 11 people, most of them Catholics, were killed January 19 when alleged Fulani herdsmen attacked a village near a refugee camp in Nigeria’s Makurdi Diocese, a diocesan official has reported. In an interview with ACI Africa, CNA’s sister news partner, Father Moses Aondover Iorapuu, the diocese’s vicar general, recounted the “horrifying” persecution that Catholics were subjected to during the attack. “The images of the attack are horrifying, and I keep saying that not even ISIS is capable of such brutality,” he said. “After killing, these guys decapitated some and took the parts away as proof to whoever is the sponsor.” Aondover said the attacks took place Thursday about 9 p.m. in a village near Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where there is a displaced persons camp. Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when Boko Haram’s insurgency began with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253420/priest-describes-horrifying-new-attack-on-catholics-in-nigeria-that-leaves-at-least-11-dead As tens of thousands of pro-life activists marched to the Supreme Court on Friday for the annual March for Life, President Joe Biden issued a pro-abortion proclamation to commemorate the anniversary of the now-obsolete Roe v Wade decision. The president officially recognized January 22 as the 50th anniversary of Roe v Wade, saying the Supreme Court “got Roe right 50 years ago.” The decision, which was handed down on January 22, 1973, proclaimed abortion to be a constitutional right and barred states from enforcing most abortion restrictions. On June 24, the US Supreme Court fully reversed that decision and ruled that the constitution does not protect a right to have an abortion, returning the issue of abortion to the states to regulate as they see fit. Although Biden is the nation’s second Catholic president, his pro-abortion position is directly at odds with Church teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253421/biden-commemorates-abortion-as-pro-lifers-march-in-washington Pope Francis formally conferred the ministries of lector and catechist upon four men and six women from the Philippines, Mexico, Congo, Italy, and the UK on Sunday at a Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The ministries themselves have also been shaped by Pope Francis in recent years. The pope changed Church law in January 2021 so that women could be formally instituted to the lay ministries of lector and acolyte. Pope Francis established the ministry of catechist as an instituted, vocational service within the Catholic Church in May 2021. The ministry is for laypeople who have a particular call to serve the Catholic Church as a teacher of the faith. The ministry lasts for the entirety of life, regardless of whether the person is actively carrying out that activity during every part of his or her life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253425/pope-francis-confers-lay-ministries-upon-ten-people-in-st-peter-s-basilica Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ildephonsus, a seventh-century Archbishop of Toledo, who had a great devotion to the Virgin Mary. According to one account the Blessed Virgin appeared to him in person and presented him with a priestly vestment, to reward him for his zeal in honoring her. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ildephonsus-125 The Church also honors Saint Marianne Cope, a German born ninteenth century sister who served as a teacher and principal in several schools in New York state and established two of the first hospitals in the central New York area: Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Utica and Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marianne-cope-727

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pro-life Americans from across the country attending the March for Life — which calls itself the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world — today, January 20, in Washington, DC. This is the first March for Life held in a post-Roe v Wade America. Catholic pro-life leaders agree that this year’s demonstration is more important than ever, to provide a prayerful witness to the sanctity of life in the face of a push for abortion legalization at the federal level and in many states. Stay tuned to Catholic News Agency dot com for the latest updates today from the March for Life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253393/live-updates-the-march-for-life-2023 Like the two years’ prior, Pope Francis and the Roman Curia will again do the Vatican’s annual Lenten retreat on an individual basis. The Vatican said Friday that Pope Francis had invited cardinals living in Rome and the heads of dicasteries to participate in the spiritual exercises “in a personal way” during the first full week of Lent, February 26 to March 3. During that week, all of Pope Francis’ appointments will be canceled, including the Wednesday general audience of March 1, the Vatican announced. The pope asked the superiors of the Roman Curia to suspend their work activities and to use the five days for prayer. This is the third year the Lenten spiritual exercises, formerly organized as a group retreat, will take place in a private manner. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253405/pope-francis-to-do-private-lenten-retreat-in-2023 The bishops of the Church of England plan to maintain a prohibition on same-sex marriage but intend to add certain prayers that would allow same-sex couples to have a ceremony to recognize stages within a same-sex relationship. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253401/church-of-england-won-t-recognize-gay-marriage-but-will-allow-certain-ceremonies The Supreme Court announced Thursday that it has failed to find the person responsible for the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade. A joint statement released by the Supreme Court and marshal of the court today said the investigation has not been able to positively identify the culprit, despite concluding that it is “unlikely” the court was hacked and narrowing the search to less than 100 employees. An unprecedented Supreme Court leak to Politico in May 2022 exposed an unpublished draft opinion in which five justices voted to overturn Roe v Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. Immediate backlash ensued after news of the leak broke in which Supreme Court Justices’ lives were threatened and protests were held for days outside their homes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253400/breaking-supreme-court-failed-to-find-source-of-leaked-opinion-overturning-roe-v-wade Today, the Church celebrates Saint Sebastian, the son of a wealthy Roman family. He was educated in Milan and became an officer of the imperial Roman army, and Captain of the Guard. He was a favorite of Emperor Diocletian. During Diocletian's persecution of the Christians, Sebastian visited them in prison, bringing both supplies and comfort. He is reported to have healed the wife of a fellow soldier by making the sign of the cross over her. During his time in the army he converted many soldiers and a governor. Charged as a Christian in 288 in Rome, Sebastian was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. However, he survived, recovered, and returned to preach to Diocletian, where the emperor then had him beaten to death. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-sebastian-122

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new poll has found that a majority of Americans support some limits on abortion and that Americans’ attitudes toward abortion have not significantly changed since last January, even with the overturning of Roe v Wade taking place last June. Conducted by Marist and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the 2023 poll found that when asked whether they identify as “pro-life” or “pro-choice,” 61% of Americans identify with the latter, compared with 39% who describe themselves as pro-life. However, the poll also found that 69% of Americans support limiting abortion to, at most, the first three months of pregnancy. That figure is comparable to the 2022 poll, conducted before the overturning of Roe, in which 71% of respondents agreed that abortion should not be allowed after the first trimester. Only 21% of Americans overall said they support abortion on demand. The US Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned a previously-found constitutional right to abortion instead returning the question of abortion policy to each individual state. In last year’s poll, respondents were asked their opinion on how abortion should be regulated, and 44% said abortion policy should be determined at the state level. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253383/majority-of-americans-support-restrictions-on-abortion-new-knightsmarist-poll-shows Pro-life Americans from across the country are planning to attend the March for Life — which calls itself the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world — on Friday, January 20, in Washington, DC. It will be the first March for Life held in a post-Roe America. Catholic pro-life leaders agree that this year’s demonstration is more important than ever, to provide a prayerful witness to the sanctity of life in the face of a push for abortion legalization at the federal level and in many states. Stay tuned to Catholic News Agency dot com for the latest updates on the March for Life, on Friday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253385/2023-march-for-life-7-things-for-pro-lifers-to-know The persecution of Christians is at its highest point in three decades, according to the latest report from advocacy group Open Doors. The World Watch List, released by Open Doors on January 18, reported that, overall, the number of Christians facing persecution worldwide remained steady in 2022 at approximately 360 million. In a list of the 50 countries with the most persecution, North Korea returned to the first spot in 2022. The year prior, Afghanistan had landed in the top ranking following the Taliban’s takeover of the country’s government. Afghanistan ranks ninth in the latest list because the country’s Christians have either been killed, fled, or are in strict hiding. The other countries classified as having “extreme” levels of Christian persecution this year are Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, and India. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253386/report-christian-persecution-at-its-highest-point-in-30-years Today, the Church celebrates Saint Canutus, King of Denmark, who succeeded his elder brother Harold on the throne of Denmark in the year 1080. The justice of Saint Canutus as sovereign was well known. His charity and tenderness towards his subjects made him study all possible ways to make them a happy people. He was martyred during a rebellion in his kingdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-canutus-king-of-denmark-121

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Sister Andre Randon, a French nun and the oldest person in the world, died on Tuesday at the age of 118. Randon became the world’s oldest person on April 19, 2022, when Kane Tanaka of Japan died at the age of 119. Born in 1904 in Alés, France, Sister Andre converted from Protestantism to Catholicism when she was 19. She joined the Daughters of Charity — founded by Saint Vincent de Paul — in 1944. She took the name Sister Andre in honor of her deceased brother. In 2021 she tested positive for COVID-19. She was isolated from the other residents but displayed no symptoms. For her 115th birthday in 2019, Sister Andre received a card and a blessed rosary from Pope Francis, which she used every day. When she turned 116 in 2020, the Vincentian nun shared her “recipe for a happy life” — prayer and a cup of hot cocoa every day. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253376/oldest-person-in-the-world-french-catholic-nun-sister-andre-dies-at-118 Unidentified individuals on January 15 desecrated the Blessed Sacrament in a Catholic church in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish in the San Rafael del Sur area reported the desecration on its Facebook page January 17. The parish encouraged all the local faithful to “turn to prayer” and announced an act of reparation for the desecration. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253374/blessed-sacrament-desecrated-in-church-in-nicaragua At the end of his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis asked for people to join him in praying for persecuted Christians around the world. The pope said on January 18 that he was praying for Father Isaac Achi, a Catholic priest who died after bandits set fire to his parish rectory in northern Nigeria. Armed bandits attacked the parish residence at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kafin Koro, Nigeria, at 3 am on Sunday. Another priest at the rectory, Father Collins Omeh, escaped the building but sustained gunshot wounds. The Diocese of Minna has said that Omeh is responding to treatment. The pope’s upcoming trip to Africa will provide an opportunity for him to further highlight the ongoing violence against Christians in the region. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253377/pope-francis-prays-for-priest-killed-in-nigeria-asks-for-prayers-for-persecuted-christians Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is in “significant” mental decline and may not be fit to stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy, his attorneys say in a new court filing. The legal team for the 92-year-old ex-prelate said it plans to file a motion to dismiss the case. citing a neurological exam. The results show McCarrick to be suffering from “significant neuropsychological deficits” that “appear to have started relatively recently, to be worsening rapidly, and to impair both Mr. McCarrick’s cognition and his memory,” according to the court document filed January 13 in Dedham District Court in Massachusetts. A final report is expected within 30 days. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253373/theodore-mccarrick-criminal-sex-abuse-trial-mental-incompetent Today, the Church celebrates Saint Charles of Sezze, a 17th-century Franciscan lay brother known for his holiness, simplicity, and charity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charles-of-sezze-416

Thank you for being a Catholic News listener. Due to the Martin Luther King Junior Day holiday in the United States on January 16, there will be no news briefing today, and also no new news briefing tomorrow, January 17. This podcast will return the morning of Wednesday, January 18. As always, visit www.catholicnewsagency.com for the latest news. Have a blessed day.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholics in Argentina are being invited to celebrate “with joy and fervor” the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the successor of Saint Peter. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, then archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pontiff on March 13, 2013, on the second day of the conclave following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Francis is the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit to serve as pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church. In a letter, the Argentine bishops, headed by Bishop Óscar Ojea, encouraged the dioceses of Argentina to join the celebrations from March 11–19, marking the 10th anniversary of the start of Pope Francis' Petrine ministry, in order to “renew along with our holy faithful People of God the affection” for the Holy Father. The prelates noted that “this profound affection” is not only shared by members of the Catholic Church but also “by a huge number of people, believers and nonbelievers, who value his leadership.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253335/church-in-argentina-to-celebrate-10th-anniversary-of-pope-francis-election-to-papacy Among the latest in an ongoing series of attacks on Catholic churches in the United States, Saint Mary Catholic Church in Escondido, California, has been vandalized three times since Christmas. Father Scott Herrera, the church’s pastor, told CNA Thursday that he believes the vandal, who was caught on security cameras in all three incidents, is the same person. Herrera said that police notified him that a suspect was apprehended in connection with the vandalism. The suspect’s identity, however, has not been revealed yet to the church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253339/california-church-vandalized-three-times-since-christmas-suspect-apprehended The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning recent attacks of vandalism, violence, and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches, and called on the Biden administration to investigate and prosecute the crimes. House Resolution 1233 affirms “the sanctity of life and the important role pro-life facilities, groups, and churches play in supporting pregnant women, infants, and families.” The resolution also calls on the Biden administration to “use all appropriate law enforcement authorities to uphold public safety and to protect the rights of pro-life facilities, groups, and churches.” The resolution comes in response to a growing number of pro-abortion attacks targeting churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in the United States. Since May 2022, CNA has tracked and mapped more than 100 incidents of pro-abortion vandalism across the US, including at least 56 at pregnancy centers and 33 at churches of various denominations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253334/us-house-passes-resolution-condemning-attacks-on-pro-life-centers-and-churches Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a fourth-century philosopher whose studies made him a champion of Orthodox Trinitarian theology during one of the most difficult periods of Church history. He protected the Church and its members by brilliantly defending the sacred humanity of Jesus while also defeating Arianism which denied Christ's placement within the Trinity. Saint Hilary was a gentle and courteous man, devoted to writing some of the greatest theology on the Trinity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hilary-of-poitiers-115

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The funeral Mass of Cardinal George Pell will be held in Saint Peter’s Basilica at 11:30 am on Saturday, January 14, the Vatican announced Thursday. Pell, the prefect emeritus of the Secretariat for the Economy, died suddenly in Rome on January 10, at the age of 81. The funeral will be celebrated at the Altar of the Chair by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the deacon of the College of Cardinals, with other cardinals and bishops concelebrating. Pope Francis will preside over the rite of Final Commendation and Farewell. Following the funeral, Pell’s body will be brought back to Australia, where he will be buried in Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. Pell served for many years as archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney before Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican’s economy department in 2014. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253329/funeral-of-cardinal-george-pell-to-be-at-vatican-on-saturday The Standing Council of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference condemned the murder of a policeman burned alive by a mob during violent protests taking place in the Puno region in the country’s south. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253325/church-in-peru-condemns-murder-of-police-officer-burned-alive-no-more-deaths Dozens of abductees are still being held in captivity following the Christmas Day attack on Angwan Aku Village in Kaduna, a state located in the north of Nigeria, a Catholic priest in the West African country has told ACI Africa in an interview. On Christmas Day 2022, militant Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists attacked Angwan Aku village, reportedly killing one person and abducting 53 others. In a Tuesday interview with ACI Africa, Father Justine John Dyikuk confirmed the December 25 attack, saying: “We got the sad news of the Christmas Day attack on Angwan village with dozens kidnapped and one person killed.” Fulani herdsmen and other unidentified bandits are said to have also staged attacks on Mallagum and Kagoro villages in Kaduna State some days before Christmas Day, during which 40 Christians were reportedly killed in Mallagum village. Three Christians lost their lives during the attack on Kagoro village on December 23. Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, which started when Boko Haram insurgency emerged with the aim of turning the West African country into an Islamic state. Since then, the group, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253326/dozens-still-in-captivity-after-christmas-day-attack-in-nigeria-says-catholic-priest Today, the Church celebrates Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, who not only founded a religious congregation, but was also instrumental in establishing the Canadian city of Montreal. The sisters of the order she founded, the Congregation of Notre-Dame de Montreal, sacrificed comfort and security to teach religion and other subjects to the children of the territory then known as “New France,” today Canada. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marguerite-bourgeoys-114

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, died on Tuesday at the age of 81. The Australian cardinal suffered a cardiac arrest following a routine hip replacement surgery. Pell served for many years as archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney before Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican’s economy department in 2014. In 2017, Pell left Rome for Australia to defend his innocence of abuse charges. After 404 days in prison he was ultimately acquitted in 2020. He returned to live in Rome on Sept. 30, 2020. Pope Francis on Wednesday praised Pell’s witness, dedication, and faith. “I offer sentiments of heartfelt condolence,” the pope said in a January 11 message, “remembering with a grateful heart his consistent and committed witness, his dedication to the Gospel and the Church, and particularly his diligent cooperation with the Holy See in the context of its recent economic reform, of which he laid the foundations with determination and wisdom.” The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, said a memorial Mass will be held for Pell at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, where he will be buried. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253312/breaking-cardinal-george-pell-dies-at-81 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253318/pope-francis-praises-cardinal-george-pell-s-dedication-to-the-church Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of January is for educators. “Education is an act of love that illuminates the path for us to recover a sense of fraternity, so we will not ignore those who are most vulnerable,” the pope said in a video message. The Holy Father concluded the video message with a prayer: “Let us pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than confrontation and helping especially the youngest and most vulnerable above all.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253305/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-january The Vatican promoter of justice announced Monday that the investigation into the vanishing of Emanuela Orlandi, a teenaged Vatican citizen whose disappearance in the 1980s has since spawned myriad conspiracy theories, will be reopened. In a brief statement posted to Vatican News, the Holy See Press Office director, Matteo Bruni, reported Monday that the decision to reopen the investigation was made partly in response to several requests made by Orlandi’s family. Emanuela Orlandi was the 15-year-old daughter of Ercole Orlandi, an envoy of the Prefecture of the Pontifical House and a citizen of Vatican City State. Her disappearance on June 22, 1983, after leaving for a music lesson in Rome dominated headlines and has been the subject of speculation for years. The Vatican statement did not elaborate further on the reasons why the case is being reopened, but public interest in the case was rekindled last fall after the release of the docuseries “Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi” on Netflix. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253306/investigation-into-vatican-girl-cold-case-reopened-amid-rekindled-public-interest Today, the Church celebrates Saint Theodosius Abbott, a fifth-century hermit who lived in a cave in the desert of Judah and founded a monastery at Cathismus. Next to the monastery he built a hospital for the sick, a hospice for the aged, and a mental hospital. He continued to work until his health gave out, and spent the rest of his time praying for his community. He died at the age of 105. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-theodosius-abbot-113

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The top two spots on Apple Podcasts are currently held by Catholic podcasts — “The Catechism in a Year” and “The Bible in a Year,” both produced by Catholic publisher Ascension. Father Mike Schmitz, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, and host of both podcasts, told CNA last week that in the course of recording hundreds of episodes of the podcast, he has been struck by the “beautiful” composition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a hefty volume that serves as the definitive summary of the Church’s teaching. Although the Catechism is specific to the Catholic Church, Schmitz said he believes anyone can listen to his podcast and learn from it. Schmitz said reading through the Catechism has served as a helpful reminder to him, personally, about many aspects of Church teaching. “The Catechism in a Year” is a sequel of sorts to the wildly popular “Bible in a Year” podcast, which began on January 1, 2021. “The Bible in a Year” has gone on to be downloaded some 430 million times. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253292/catechism-in-a-year-podcast The US Catholic bishops are challenging the Biden administration after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced for the first time that pharmacies can distribute abortion drugs. Abortion pills account for half of all abortions in the US. “The Catholic Church is consistent in its teaching on upholding the dignity of all life, and that must include care for both women and their children,” the bishops continued. “We decry the continuing push for the destruction of innocent human lives and the loosening of vital safety standards for vulnerable women.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253299/catholic-bishops-condemn-biden-administrations-new-policy-on-abortion-pills The Catholic bishops of Brazil condemned the violent seizure on January 8 of Congress, the president’s office, and the Supreme Court in Brasilia, the country’s capital. “The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), disconcerted by the serious and violent events in Brazil, calls for tranquility and peace, as well as the immediate cessation of criminal attacks on the democratic rule of law,” the Catholic leaders said in a social media post. A large crowd, presumably supporters of now former President Jair Bolsonaro, seized on Sunday various areas of the National Congress, the Federal Supreme Court, and Planalto Palace (the president’s workplace), which together comprise the seat of the Brazilian government. The violent protesters are demanding the resignation of Da Silva as well as intervention by the military. Several videos show broken windows and protesters walking in the Congress building. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253297/brazil-bishops-condemn-violent-seizure-of-congress-president-s-office-and-supreme-court Today, the Church celebrates Saint Gregory of Nyssa, a fourth-century bishop who participated in several significant councils of the Catholic Church, including the Council of Nicea. It is very probable that Gregory was present at another council, the Council of Constantinople in 383. Between 385 and 386 he disappears from history, but not without leaving a significant number of theological writings. He made significant contributions to the doctrine of the Trinity and the Nicene Creed, which Catholics pray at every Mass to this day. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gregory-of-nyssa-112

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On the eve of President Joe Biden’s Sunday visit to the US-Mexico border to meet with local officials and border enforcement agents, the US Catholic bishops announced their opposition to the administration’s recent crackdown on illegal immigration to the United States. Biden announced Thursday that the US will step up enforcement at the border and begin to turn away Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians who try to cross the US-Mexico border illegally. The new rules would also allow up to 30,000 people to come into the US each month from Cuba, Nicaragua, and Haiti. Migrants would be able to come for two years and receive work authorization, provided they have an eligible sponsor and can pass vetting and background checks. In his statement, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso declared the bishops’ opposition to the new rules on the grounds that those fleeing violence have a right to seek safety in the US. “We urge the administration to reverse its present course in favor of humane solutions that recognize the God-given dignity of migrants and provide equitable access to immigration and humanitarian pathways,” the bishop said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253290/us-bishops-urge-biden-administration-to-reverse-its-present-course-on-immigration Cardinal Joseph Zen met privately with Pope Francis on Friday after attending Benedict XVI’s funeral. The Hong Kong authorities temporarily released the passport of the 90-year-old cardinal, who was arrested last year under the city’s national security law, to allow him to travel to Rome. According to America Magazine, Zen met Pope Francis in the afternoon on January 6, in the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse. The cardinal also posted photos showing him embracing Benedict XVI’s closed coffin and greeting Pope Francis in front of Michelangelo’s Pietà on the morning of the funeral. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253283/cardinal-zen-meets-pope-francis-prays-at-benedict-xvi-s-tomb The SEEK conference, a major Catholic conference for students, adults, and clergy put on by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), will return to Saint Louis in 2024 for the second year in a row, FOCUS announced late last week. According to FOCUS’ estimate, nearly 19,000 people — students, adults, families, bishops, priests, religious sisters, and more — attended the five-day SEEK23 conference at America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown Saint Louis last week. The conference — now in its 25th year — included workshops, talks, worship, and entertainment. The 2023 gathering was FOCUS’ first fully in-person national conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. FOCUS held a national conference in Indianapolis in 2019 and a smaller student leadership summit in Phoenix in the earliest days of 2020. Conferences for 2021 and 2022 were held online due to the pandemic. FOCUS announced on Thursday evening that the next SEEK will take place January 1-5, 2024, also in Saint Louis, at the same venue. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253277/young-catholics-converge-at-seek23-i-love-seeing-people-fall-in-love-with-jesus Today, the Church celebrates The Baptism of the Lord. the Church also celebrates Saint Adrian of Canterbury, the famous Abbot of Saint Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, where he established a flourishing monastic school, where many future bishops and abbots were educated in Latin, Greek, scripture, theology, Roman law and arithmetic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-adrian-of-canterbury-111

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. The production staff for this podcast are attending a conference this week, and thus there will be no new news briefings. This podcast will return on Monday, January 9. As always, catholicnewsagency.com is the place to go for the latest Catholic news, including all the news about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's funeral, taking place on January 5. Have a blessed day, and thank you again for being a valued listener.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a leading theologian of the 20th century and the first pope to resign from office in nearly 600 years, has died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced. His death was announced in Rome on Dec. 31. His funeral Mass will be held on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican said. The Vatican press office director, Matteo Bruni, said Dec. 31: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican.” Benedict XVI’s body will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica beginning on Jan. 2, 2023.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Emeritus Benedict the sixteenth’s medical condition is serious but stable, the Vatican said on Thursday. Pope Francis, at the end of his general audience on December 28, asked for prayers for a “very ill” Benedict, who, “in silence, is sustaining the Church.” The Vatican confirmed later the same day that Benedict was under medical care following a sudden decline in his health. Stay tuned to Catholic News Agency dot com for the latest on Pope Benedict’s condition. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253176/vatican-benedict-xvi-s-condition-serious-but-stable https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253169/vatican-shares-prayer-for-benedict-xvi-s-health Today, the Church celebrates Saint Thomas Becket, a twelfth century English bishop who was famously martyred in his church by the knights of Henry II. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-thomas-becket-99

Thank you for listening. This daily news briefing will return on Thursday, December 29. In the meantime, visit www.catholicnewsagency.com for the latest news. Christ is born! Merry Christmas from your friends at Catholic News.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has urged Catholics not to forget the many children in Ukraine this Christmas who are suffering without electricity and heating amid the war. Speaking near a large nativity scene in Paul VI Hall on December 21, the pope recalled an encounter that he had with Ukrainian war refugees in which the children seemed unable to smile. “On this feast of God becoming a child, let us think of Ukrainian children. … These children bear the tragedy of that war which is so inhuman, so harsh,” he said. “Let us think of the Ukrainian people this Christmas, without electricity, without heating, without the main things necessary to survive, and let us pray to the Lord to bring them peace as soon as possible.” In his last general audience before Christmas, Pope Francis said, “Jesus reveals a God who is full of compassion and tenderness.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253130/pope-francis-let-us-think-of-the-ukrainian-children-without-heat-this-christmas Rhoda Jatau, a Christian and mother of five, was charged with blasphemy in a Nigerian court yesterday for forwarding a video defending a lynched Christian student. Jatau was arrested after forwarding a video of a Muslim denouncing the mob killing of Nigerian Christian college student Deborah Yakubu. During her arraignment on Monday, Jatau was officially charged with blasphemy, inciting a mob, and exciting contempt of religious creed. She is being tried in the northeast Nigerian state of Bauchi’s high court. Bauchi practices a form of Sharia law, under which blasphemy is a crime punishable by execution. Jatau, a 45-year-old medical worker, was arrested by Nigerian authorities on May 20 and has been held without the ability to communicate and without a trial for over six months, which is against both Nigerian and international law, according to religious rights advocates. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253128/nigerian-mother-charged-with-blasphemy-for-defending-murdered-christian Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Canisius, an important figure in the Catholic counter-reformation that responded to the 16th century spread of Protestantism, a Jesuit priest, and Doctor of the Church. His efforts as a preacher, author, and religious educator strengthened the Catholic faith in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Central Europe during a period of doctrinal confusion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-canisius-91

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican investigator who uncovered allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse by Jesuit artist Father Marko Ivan Rupnik says the claims are true, according to a letter he sent to Italian priests obtained by the Associated Press. Bishop Daniele Libanari also said the women Rupnik is alleged to have abused have “seen their lives ruined by the evil suffered and by the complicit silence” of the Church, the AP reported Monday. He urged the members of the hierarchy who hid his crimes to “humbly ask the world to forgive the scandal.” Libanori’s letter comes on the heels of revelations in the past week that Rupnik, a Slovenian priest well-known for his mosaics that adorn chapels and churches around the world, had been excommunicated for abusing the sacrament of confession. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles sexual abuse cases, declared the excommunication in May 2020 but lifted it that same month, reportedly after Rupnik repented. The Jesuits, meanwhile, are asking any other potential victims to come forward with claims, the AP reported. Stay tuned to Catholic News Agency dot com for updates to this story. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253118/report-vatican-investigator-says-father-rupnik-and-hierarchy-s-complicit-silence-ruined-victims-lives Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor Juan Esposito-Garcia and Father Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Washington. As auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Washington, Esposito and Menjivar will assist Cardinal Wilton Gregory in the episcopal duties of the archdiocese while holding the full rank of bishops themselves. Originally from Chalatenango, El Salvador, Menjivar, 52, came to the US as a teenager to flee violence. He attended Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and the Pontifical North American College in Rome and was ordained to the diocesan priesthood in 2004. He has served as the pastor at Saint Mary’s parish in Landover Hills, Maryland, since 2017. He is fluent in three languages: Spanish, English, and Italian. Esposito, 48, was ordained a diocesan priest in 2008 and has served in the Dicastery for Bishops in Vatican City since 2018. Born in San Luis, Argentina, Esposito is also fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian. He attended seminary and earned an undergraduate degree in Argentina. After immigrating to the US, Esposito earned a master’s of divinity and a master’s of arts degree in moral theology from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Maryland, and a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of America. As a canon lawyer, Esposito’s previous assignments include being a judge on the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal as well as the judicial vicar for the archdiocese. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253114/pope-appoints-two-new-auxiliary-bishops-to-archdiocese-of-washington Today, the Church celebrates Saint Dominic of Silos, a Spanish monk who in the eleventh century renewed the spirit of the monastery of San Sebastian in Silos, reforming its structure, its finances, and its works of charity. Dominic was known for miracles of healing, which he obtained through prayer, and for his work of ransoming Christian prisoners from the moors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dominic-of-silos-90

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, has been dismissed from the priesthood by the Vatican. In a statement addressed to Church leaders and posted on his organization’s website Saturday, Pavone vowed to continue his ministry despite his dismissal from the clerical state. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, wrote in a letter on December 13 that Pavone had been dismissed from the clerical state for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop.” Pavone contends that he was not properly informed of the Vatican’s decision, and has vowed to take legal action and make a direct appeal to his supporters. An outspoken supporter of former president Donald Trump, Pavone served on official Trump campaign outreach positions in 2016 and was originally a co-chair of Trump’s 2020 pro-life coalition as well as an advisory board member of Catholics for Trump. Canon law forbids clerics from having an active role in political parties unless they receive the permission of their bishop. Pavone hosted the show “Defending Life” on EWTN for many years until the bishop of Amarillo, Texas, revoked Pavone’s permission to appear on the network https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253110/frank-pavone-cancels-mass-after-vatican-dismisses-him-from-priesthood Pope Francis celebrated his 86th birthday on Saturday with the Missionaries of Charity, honoring three people who care for “the poorest of the poor” with the Mother Teresa Award. On December 17, the pope presented Gian Piero, Father Hanna Jallouf, and Silvano Pedrollo with the award and a message of gratitude. On his birthday, Pope Francis prayed for the intercession of St. Teresa of Calcutta, whom he canonized as a saint in 2016. “May Mother Teresa help us from heaven to live poverty with simplicity and prayer, so that we can help others,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253103/pope-francis-honors-people-who-care-for-poorest-of-the-poor-on-his-86th-birthday The diocesan phase of the beatification processes of 140 priests and laymen murdered in Spain during the religious persecution of the 1930s was concluded today. Among the candidates is the priest who hid the body of Saint Isidore so that it would not be desecrated. There are three causes for beatification: one covering 61 diocesan priests from Madrid, another for 71 laypeople, and a third for eight members of the Catholic Association of Propagandists, all of whom were murdered during the religious genocide unleashed during the Second Spanish Republic and civil war. The religious persecution of those years “was the bloodiest suffered by the Church in our country, although not the greatest in history; yes, perhaps the most intense,” according to an auxiliary bishop of Madrid, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino. These causes are promoted by the Archdiocese of Madrid, the Diocese of Getafe, the Catholic Association of Propagandists, Catholic Action of Madrid, and Catholic Action of Getafe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253100/another-140-spanish-laymen-priests-martyred-for-their-faith-considered-for-beatification Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Pope Urban V. he is perhaps best known for his decision to return the papacy to Rome and end the Avignon exile of the popes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-pope-urban-v-89

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has decided to give the Greek Orthodox archbishop of Athens three fragments of Parthenon sculptures that have been kept in the Vatican Museums for centuries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253091/pope-francis-gives-greek-orthodox-archbishop-fragments-of-parthenon-sculptures-from-vatican-museums After a five-day journey meeting with Church hierarchy and government officials in Poland and Ukraine, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly of the Knights of Columbus said American Catholics must continue to stand in solidarity with the suffering Ukrainian people this winter. Kelly emphasized that Ukraine is headed toward a difficult trial with the coming winter cold, as the country is already suffering from major power outages nationwide, something that he experienced himself when visiting the war-torn nation. Knights of Columbus Charity Convoys have produced and delivered more than 100,000 care packages from Poland to people in need in Ukraine. Thirty-five thousand more care packages of all kinds of food are currently being prepared. More aid from the Knights is provided by its Ukraine Solidarity Fund, which has now raised nearly $20 million. The fund supports humanitarian relief for those affected by the war. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253086/kofc-supreme-knight-to-american-catholics-remember-our-brothers-and-sisters-in-christ-in-ukraine-this-winter In testimony to a U.S. congressional human rights commission, two prominent human rights experts decried the ongoing repression of the Catholic Church by Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega and urged additional action by the U.S. to oppose Ortega’s regime. Ortega’s government has in recent years detained, imprisoned, and likely tortured numerous Catholic leaders, including at least one bishop and several priests. His government has also taken action to repress Catholic radio and television stations, and driven Catholic religious orders, including the Missionaries of Charity, from the country. The regime also expelled Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, the former apostolic nuncio in Nicaragua, from the country, a move the Vatican called “incomprehensible.” The experts speaking Dec. 15 to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) called on Pope Francis to explicitly condemn Ortega’s actions. In August, Pope Francis called for “peaceful coexistence” between people and institutions in Nicaragua, drawing ire from Ortega. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253088/us-vatican-urged-to-counter-nicaraguan-regime-in-congressional-testimony Today, the Church celebrates Saint Adelaide, wife of King Otho the Great of Germany, In the tenth century, she used her power as the effective empress to increase evangelization efforts, especially in northern Europe, and built many monasteries and churches, and also gave much aid the poor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-adelaide-86

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Jesuit Superior General, Father Arturo Sosa, has confirmed that Jesuit artist Father Marko Rupnik incurred an automatic excommunication in 2019 for abusing the sacrament of confession, a fact his religious order was aware of but did not disclose until now. Rupnik is a world-renowned artist whose works include projects in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Knights of Columbus' National Shrine to John Paul II in Washington, DC, the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de Almudena in Madrid, and the Fatima Shrine. Abusing the sacrament of confession in the manner that Rupnik did is one of the most serious crimes in the Catholic Church. Rupnik, 68, is also alleged to have sexually abused members of a women’s institute of religious life in Ljubljana, Slovenia, while serving as the chaplain there in the early 1990s https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253079/jesuit-superior-says-that-fr-marko-rupnik-was-excommunicated-in-2019 Four statues at Saint Joseph Parish in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, were vandalized overnight between December 10 and December 11, and police are asking for help identifying a suspect caught on camera. Father Stephen Leva, the pastor of the church, said in an online post December 11 that the four statues affected were of Saint Anthony, Saint Joseph, Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Holy Family. The Downingtown Police Department asked for the public’s assistance Tuesday in identifying the perpetrator who was caught on camera. Those photos of the perpetrator can be seen on the department's Facebook page. The church is the second largest parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with more than 5,000 families, according to the parish’s website. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253080/suspect-caught-on-camera-vandalizing-pa-catholic-church Cardinal Joseph Zen has filed an appeal with Hong Kong’s High Court following his conviction last month for failing to register a fund that helped pay for the legal fees and medical treatments of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters. The Hong Kong Free Press reported on December 14 that the 90-year-old cardinal and former bishop of Hong Kong filed an appeal of the verdict this week together with four other trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund who were fined about 500 US dollars each. Zen’s trial from September to November focused on whether it was necessary for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund trustees to apply for local society registration between 2019 and 2021. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253073/cardinal-zen-appeals-conviction-in-hong-kong-court Today, the Church celebrates Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli. She founded a refuge center in Genoa in 1625, which soon became overrun with the needy, and she rented an empty convent in 1631 where she cared for the sick with the help of other women, and she instructed the women in the faith in addition to their work. She constructed a church dedicated to Our Lady of Refuge, and soon the women who worked with her in the hospital were formed into two congregations: the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge in Mount Calvary, and the Daughters of Our Lady on Mount Calvary. Victoria retired from the administration of the orders, and performed manual labor and begged for alms, but was called back to administrative duties soon after. She was canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II on May 18, 2003. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-virginia-centurione-bracelli-85

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Yesterday, December 13, marked Pope Francis’ fifty third anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Happy anniversary, Pope Francis. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253064/pope-francis-celebrates-53-years-as-a-priest The pope is inviting everyone to have “a more humble Christmas” this year. At the end of his weekly general audience on December 14, the pope asked people to consider spending less on gifts and parties in order to help the people of Ukraine. “It is good to celebrate Christmas, to have parties — but let’s lower the level of Christmas spending,” he encouraged. “Let’s send what we save to the Ukrainian people, who are in need, suffering so much; they go hungry, they feel the cold, and so many die because there are no doctors, nurses at hand." “Let’s have a more humble Christmas, with more humble gifts,” he said. He said the ongoing war in Ukraine does not mean we should forget about celebrating Christmas altogether, but we should do so “with Ukrainians in our hearts.” Pope Francis encouraged everyone to increase their spiritual preparation as Christmas quickly approaches. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253071/this-is-why-pope-francis-wants-you-to-spend-less-money-this-christmas President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) into law Tuesday during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. The bill repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and recognizes same-sex marriages on a federal level. The bill has drawn criticism from Catholic leaders for not providing strong enough protections for those who believe marriage is between one man and one woman — a belief in line with Church teaching. While it would not require any state to allow same-sex couples to marry, the RFMA would require states to recognize any and all marriages — regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin” — performed in other states. In his remarks, Biden, a Catholic, noted that he had expressed support for same-sex marriage in 2012. Biden’s signature comes after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 258-169 to pass the RFMA on December 8. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253069/biden-signs-same-sex-marriage-bill-into-law-amid-catholic-bishops-concerns Canadian food bank clients and disabled retirees facing financial insecurity are now considering doctor-assisted suicide to avoid living in poverty, several sources have reported. In 2021, over 10,000 Canadians died by euthanasia, also called medical aid in dying or doctor-assisted suicide. This is 10 times the number who died by euthanasia in 2016, when the procedure was first legalized. Canadian law allows people with nonterminal illnesses to seek assisted suicide, provided their medical condition is “grievous and irremediable.” The law requires two doctors to assess and approve assisted suicide requests. Archbishop J Michael Miller of Vancouver has called the country’s assisted suicide law “depraved.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253067/hungry-poor-and-disabled-canadians-seeking-assisted-suicide The highest-ranking woman in the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has said that the ordination of women as Catholic priests is “not an open question” at this time. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253063/synod-on-synodality-official-women-priests-not-an-open-question-for-the-church Today, the Church celebrates Saint John of the Cross, a 16th century Carmelite priest best known for reforming his order together with Saint Teresa of Avila, and for writing the classic spiritual treatise “The Dark Night of the Soul.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-the-cross-84

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis presided December 10 at the solemn ceremony of beatification for Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos, a young martyr known as “the Maria Goretti of Brazil.” The Archdiocese of Mariana in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais reported the Mass was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Barbacena before thousands of faithful present. The newly beatified Brazilian was 20 years old when she was brutally murdered in 1982 by a man who unsuccessfully tried to rape her, as also happened with Saint Maria Goretti, the Italian girl who died defending her virtue and who before dying forgave her murderer. Isabel’s tomb is located in Barbacena, where she was beatified. She also was baptized and received her first Communion there. The church is now a place of pilgrimage for many faithful in Brazil, who pray before her remains asking for her intercession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253059/young-martyr-known-as-the-maria-goretti-of-brazil-beatified The EWTN Global Catholic Network on Monday night presented the 2022 Mother Angelica Award to former NFL star and coach Danny Abramowicz in honor of his lifetime of service to the new evangelization. While the world remembers the former New Orleans Saint wide receiver as a football legend, the award was given to him for his work evangelizing young men aged 25 to 40. Abramowicz’s effort started with a small prayer group decades ago and eventually led him to create a widely-known national men’s ministry with men’s conferences, speaking, and other evangelization efforts, including the popular EWTN television series “Crossing the Goal.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253058/ewtn-honors-former-nfl-star-danny-abramowicz-with-2022-mother-angelica-award An independent review board in the Archdiocese of Chicago has said there is “no reason to suspect” Father Michael Pfleger is guilty of allegations that he sexually abused a minor more than 30 years ago, Cardinal Blase Cupich announced Saturday. Pfleger, a famous Chicago priest known for his social justice activism, has now been exonerated on four different sexual abuse allegations brought against him since 2021. Pfleger has consistently denied each of the allegations. In the archdiocese’s October announcement about the allegations against Pfleger, it said that the allegation was reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and law enforcement officials, per diocesan policy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253056/chicago-s-father-michael-pfleger-reinstated-to-ministry Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lucy, a third century consecrated virgin who was brutally tortured and martyred by the local governor. Owing to a miracle related to her eyes, she is the patroness of the blind, eye trouble, and other eye ailments. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lucy-83

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said Sunday he is concerned about recent deadly clashes in the northern part of South Sudan. “I follow with sorrow and concern the news from South Sudan about the violent clashes of the past few days,” he said December 11 at the end his Sunday Angelus message. Pope Francis is scheduled to travel to South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, in just under eight weeks. “Let us pray to the Lord for peace and national reconciliation, so that the attacks may cease and that civilians may always be respected,” Francis said Sunday, after violence broke out in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, in the northeastern part of the country, last week. United Nations agencies said more than 9,000 people were displaced in the clashes, and an unknown number of people were killed. The pope’s journey to South Sudan will follow a three-day visit to the city of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253048/pope-francis-concerned-about-deadly-clashes-in-south-sudan Every effort for peace in Ukraine coming from Pope Francis and the Holy See is welcome, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister said Friday, but he also said the time for broad negotiations after the Russian aggression has not come yet. Though appreciating Pope Francis’ constant mention of the Ukrainian situation and expressing an open invitation to the pope to visit the country, Kuleba also said that some of the pope’s words have been “painful” for Ukrainians. Pope Francis has often stressed that the Holy See is available to facilitate broad negotiations. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister said that because of continued aggression from Russian, “the day for a big mediation will come, but we are not there yet, to our deepest regret.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253045/ukraine-foreign-minister-welcomes-pope-francis-vatican-holy-see-offer-of-peace-negotiations-with-russia-but-time-for-it-has-not-come-yet The Biden administration may not force Catholic organizations and medical professionals to perform gender-transition surgeries or provide insurance coverage for them, the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has said in a December 9 ruling that cited religious freedom grounds. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253044/biden-s-transgender-mandate-suffers-second-big-loss-in-appellate-court A federal court this week issued an order restoring fertility awareness-based family planning methods, a form of natural family planning, to health insurance plans nationwide under the Affordable Care Act. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253035/federal-judge-allows-for-coverage-of-fertility-awareness-methods-under-health-insurance Today, the Church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the 1530s, a Native man named Juan Diego, at Mary’s direction, found roses growing on a hill near Mexico City, even though it was winter. He gathered them into his cloak, or tilma. When he unfurled the cloak in the presence of the bishop to show him the roses, a miraculous image of Mary was on the tilma. It wasn’t until the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared that the native people began to accept Christianity on a large scale. Today, the image forms an inextricable part of the history of Mexico, and facilitated the evangelization of an entire people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-guadalupe-82

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US House of Representatives voted 258-169 to pass the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) on Thursday, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. A total of 219 Democrats, along with 39 Republicans, voted “yea” to the bill. One hundred sixty-nine Republicans voted against it. One Republican voted “present” — neither yes or no — and four Republicans were recorded as not voting. The bill, which would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and recognize same-sex marriages on a federal level, has drawn criticism from Catholic leaders for not providing strong enough protections for those who believe marriage is between one man and one woman — a belief in line with Church teaching. President Joe Biden, a Catholic, has pledged to sign it into law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253021/house-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill-in-final-vote-sending-it-to-biden-s-desk A group of clerical sexual abuse survivors has filed a request with the Baltimore Circuit Court in an attempt to make public a recently sealed attorney general’s report that claims to chronicle hundreds of instances of clerical abuse. At issue is a 456-page report compiled by the office of Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, which consists of information given by the Archdiocese of Baltimore along with information gathered from interviews, and which claims to identify more than 600 victims of clerical abuse in the archdiocese dating back eight decades. It is currently unclear whether the report will lead to any new criminal charges. At a joint press conference Dec. 7, a group of abuse survivors and their attorneys announced they had filed a motion in support of the Maryland Office of Attorney General’s recent motion to publicly disclose the report to the public. A judge in Baltimore last week ordered all proceedings, filings, and communications related to the release of the report on clerical sexual abuse to be made confidential. Going forward, the legal processes of releasing the full report will not be disclosed to the public because of the confidentiality order. Should the full report be released, pending Judge Anthony Vittoria’s decision, it will likely be redacted. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253024/baltimore-abuse-survivors-file-request-to-make-abuse-report-public Today, the Church celebrates Saint Juan Diego, the indigenous Mexican Catholic convert whose encounter with the Virgin Mary began the Church's devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-juan-diego-409

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - According to a report published by Reuters on Wednesday, a massive forced abortion program has been carried out by the Nigerian military on at least 10,000 women since 2013. In addition to exposing the Nigerian government’s forced abortion campaign, Reuters’ findings further evidence the use of rape as a weapon of war carried out by Islamist insurgents on Nigerian civilians. 7 Division, the Nigerian military force in charge of countering the insurgents, has been forcing chemical and surgical abortions on tens of thousands of women who have been raped by Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP), a self-proclaimed regional “caliphate” of ISIS. Reuters verified that the Nigerian military has beaten and coerced women, some as young as 12, into abortions in the most unsanitary conditions. For the second consecutive year, Nigeria has been left off of the U.S. State Department’s list of countries that engage in or tolerate the world’s worst religious freedom violations, despite regular reports of kidnappings and killings of Christians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253012/reuters-exposes-massive-rape-and-forced-abortion-campaigns-in-nigerian-conflict Journalists investigating secular and Catholic Church sources in Poland have called into question allegations by a Dutch writer that Saint John Paul II “covered up” sexual abuse while still a bishop in Poland. The Polish Bishops’ Conference, in a statement published November 14, spoke of “increasingly hearing questions about John Paul II’s attitude toward the tragedy of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people by the clergy and about his response to such crimes during his pontificate.” The bishops decried these as a “media assault” on Saint John Paul II and his pontificate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253005/journalists-contradict-allegations-of-cover-up-against-john-paul-ii-before-he-was-pope Today, the Church celebrates The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which recognizes the long-held belief of the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin. Mary was granted this extraordinary privilege because of Her unique role in history as the Mother of God. Even though Mary is unique in all humanity for being born without sin, she is held up by the Church as a model for all humanity in Her holiness and Her purity in her willingness to accept the Plan of God for her. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-77

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A judge in Baltimore this week ordered all proceedings, filings, and communications related to the release of a major attorney general’s report on clerical sexual abuse to be made confidential. Judge Anthony Vittoria of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City issued a confidentiality ruling December 2 in response to a request from an anonymous group of people named in the report but who were not accused of abuse, the Baltimore Sun reported. At issue is a 456-page report compiled by the office of Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, consisting of information given by the Archdiocese of Baltimore along with information gathered from interviews that claims to identify more than 600 victims of clerical abuse in the archdiocese dating back eight decades. It is currently unclear whether the report will lead to any new criminal charges. The Archdiocese of Baltimore, which is paying the legal fees for the anonymous group of individuals, said it “does not and will not oppose the report’s release.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253002/baltimore-seals-documents-related-to-clerical-sexual-abuse-report The Catholic population in the United States has grown by about 2 million people in 10 years. With nearly 62 million people, it continues to constitute the largest religious denomination in 36 U.S. states, according to the latest religion-focused survey of America’s religious congregations. Over the last decade, many Catholics, the survey found, have moved to the South. The U.S. Religion Census’ 2020 survey reported that there were 61.9 million Catholics in the U.S., about 18.7% of the population. While Protestants collectively outnumber Catholics in the U.S, the researchers of the U.S. Religion Census viewed various Protestant bodies as their own denominational groups, not collectively. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252998/us-catholic-population-shows-growth-trends-southward A New Jersey prosecutor has dropped charges against Father Fidelis Moscinski, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, and three other pro-life advocates for trespassing at a Planned Parenthood center, according to the law firm defending the group. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252999/charges-dropped-against-red-rose-rescue-priest-who-counsels-women-against-abortion More than a hundred Santos Soccer Club fans gathered Sunday in front of the hospital in Brazil where Pelé, one of the greatest soccer players of all time, is undergoing treatment, to pray for his recovery. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, has been hospitalized since November 29 at Albert Einstein Hospital on Sao Paulo’s south side to reevaluate a treatment for colon cancer, which was diagnosed in September 2021. The former soccer player’s health has deteriorated in recent years also due to other causes, such as spinal, hip, and knee problems, which have reduced his mobility and forced him to undergo surgery, in addition to suffering from serious kidney problems. “I have a lot of faith in God and every message of love I receive from you around the world keeps me energized,” Pele said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253001/hundreds-of-fans-of-soccer-legend-pele-pray-in-front-of-hospital-for-his-recovery Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ambrose, the brilliant Bishop of Milan who influenced St. Augustine's conversion and was named a Doctor of the Church. Like Augustine himself, the older Ambrose, born around 340, was a highly educated man who sought to harmonize Greek and Roman intellectual culture with the Catholic faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ambrose-76

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican’s charity office is holding a drive to collect thermal shirts for people in Ukraine as they face an energy emergency amid the war. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s almoner, said December 5 that the charity office of the Vatican is “already stocking up” on thermal shirts for men, women, and children. Others are encouraged to join the initiative by bringing or shipping shirts to the Dicastery for the Service of Charity by the beginning of January, when the shipment of shirts will be brought to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, by truck. Systematic bombing by Russia has damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and the country’s government has warned that the networks will not withstand winter’s increased demands. People in Ukraine are facing freezing weather without electricity, heat, or water, as January, the country’s coldest month of the year, approaches. Temperatures in Kyiv are already below freezing, with a mixture of rain and snow in the near forecast. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252995/vatican-holds-thermal-shirt-drive-for-ukraine For the second year in a row, Nigeria has been left off of the US State Department’s list of countries that engage in or tolerate the world’s worst religious freedom violations, despite regular reports of kidnappings and killings of Christians, sparking outcry from members of a bipartisan government watchdog group. In Nigeria as a whole, at least 60,000 Christians have been killed, many by their Muslim countrymen, over the past two decades. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in a statement that its leaders were “outraged” by Nigeria’s exclusion from the list as well as the exclusion of India, where reports of Hindu nationalism and violence against Christians have emerged in recent years. Nigeria was included in the State Department’s list in 2020 but not in the 2021 or 2022 lists, despite Christians reporting little to no improvement in their situations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252992/observers-decry-exclusion-of-nigeria-india-from-religious-freedom-watchlist Today, the Church celebrates Saint Nicholas of Myra. Saint Nicholas was a bishop in the early church who was known for generosity and love of children. One of the most famous stories of the generosity of Saint Nicholas says that he threw bags of gold through an open window in the house of a poor man to serve as dowry for the man’s daughters, who otherwise would have been forced into prostitution. The gold is said to have landed in the family’s shoes, which were drying near the fire. This is why children leave their shoes out by the door, or hang their stockings by the fireplace in the hopes of receiving a gift on the eve of his feast. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicholas-of-myra-75

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic campus ministry center at the University of Nebraska received a purported death threat Saturday morning in a note signed “Jane’s Revenge,” a calling card used by pro-abortion activists. The note was addressed to Father Dan Andrews, pastor of the Saint John Paul II Newman Center in Bellevue. The threat is the latest in a series of intimidation tactics used against pro-life organizations. In other instances, the threats have come in the form of spray-painted messages with a variation on the words, “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you.” The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Public Safety said in a Saturday statement that the Douglas County Sheriff’s office and the Omaha Police Department are working together to investigate the threat and increase security measures. The Newman Center and the campus are maintaining normal operations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252986/catholic-student-center-in-nebraska-receives-shooting-threat-signed-jane-s-revenge A prominent Jesuit priest and artist, Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, has had his ministry restricted, reportedly after an investigation by his religious order into allegations of abuse against religious sisters in Slovenia. Rupnik, the director of the Centro Aletti in Rome, was the creator of the official image of the 2022 World Meeting of Families, and for over 30 years has designed mosaic artworks for chapels, churches, and shrines around the world. The Jesuits said in a statement dated December 2 that the order has barred the 68-year-old from hearing confessions or conducting spiritual direction since the Vatican received a complaint against him in 2021. The Vatican declined in October to carry out a canonical process due to the statute of limitations, the order said. The complaint did not include minors. The Jesuit order said the restrictions on Rupnik’s ministry were still in effect and included a ban on leading the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. The priest is also prohibited from engaging in public activities without the permission of his superior. The Jesuit is best known for overseeing the renovation of the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, which reopened in 1999 after three years of work. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252987/jesuit-artist-fr-rupnik-s-ministry-restricted-following-reports-of-abuse-allegations Today, the Church celebrates Saint Gerald, an English monk, and the bishop of Mayo in Ireland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gerald-bishop-of-mayo-74

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of December is for volunteer not-for-profit organizations. The pontiff called volunteers who work with not-for-profit organizations “artisans for mercy.” He said: “Being a volunteer who helps others is a choice that makes us free; it opens us to other people’s needs — to the demands of justice, to the defense of the poor, to the care of creation. It means being artisans of mercy: with our hands, with our eyes, with our attentive ears, with our closeness…Let us pray that volunteer not-for-profit and human development organizations may find people willing to commit themselves to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths of international cooperation.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252961/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-december Two Catholic priests captured by Russian troops are “being tortured without mercy,” the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said Thursday. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk issued an appeal to international authorities on December 1 to help facilitate the release of Father Ivan Levytskyi and Father Bohdan Heleta, who have been held in captivity for more than two weeks. The Ukrainian archbishop asked Catholics around the world to pray for the release of the priests. In an interview published earlier this week, Pope Francis described Ukrainians as “a people who are martyred.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252969/ukrainian-archbishop-appeals-for-release-of-catholic-priests-captured-by-russian-troops The second victim in a Louisiana double homicide that also claimed the life of a local Catholic priest, Father Otis Young, has been identified. Ruth Prats, a 73-year-old former staff member who worked for Young when he was pastor at Saint Peter Catholic Church in Covington, was identified as the second victim, the local coroner announced Thursday in a press conference. The homicides both occurred either Sunday night or Monday morning, the coroner’s office said. It was reported that both Young and Prats were reported missing on Sunday. On Monday evening, police announced that they had taken a suspect, 49-year-old Antonio Donde Tyson of Covington, into custody. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252968/louisiana-catholic-parish-double-homicide-victims-identified The FBI is offering a $17,500 reward for credible leads in the arson of a a pro-life pregnancy center in northern Colorado that is still under investigation after five months. Longmont Police Chief Jeff Satur told a Wednesday press conference that investigators have few leads, the Denver Gazette reported. Investigators are again asking for aid from anyone with local video from the time of the crime, this time from a wider area. They are also analyzing the handwriting of the vandals’ graffiti messages. One message was in cursive while the other was not. The fire took place early Saturday morning on June 25. The Life Choices pregnancy center in Longmont sustained fire and heavy smoke damage. The front of the building also was defaced with pro-abortion slogans, including “Bans Off Our Bodies.” The threatening phrase “If abortions aren’t safe neither are you,” was written in cursive with black spray paint. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252964/longmont-colorado-pregnancy-center-arson-fbi-reward Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bibiana, an obscure Roman martyr after which a basilica is named. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bibiana-71

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has recommended a daily examination of conscience as an “indispensable” practice in spiritual life. An examination of conscience is a prayerful reflection on one’s thoughts, words, and deeds that helps to identify moments of sin and ask for God’s mercy. This daily examination can be “an invitation to learn from our experiences” and “not to continue to repeat the same mistakes,” the pope said. Speaking at his general audience on November 30, Pope Francis said that the devil’s temptation “starts from what is most dear to us and then, little by little, reels us in.” The pope noted that prayer during the day should not be viewed as a way to avoid a job or task that needs to be done, as in “every time I have to wash the dishes or clean the house, I have a strong urge to pray!” “Prayer is not an escape from one’s responsibilities,” he said. “On the contrary, it is an aid in realizing the good we are required to do, here and now.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252944/pope-francis-spiritual-life-tip-a-daily-examination-of-conscience-helps-to-avoid-repeating-mistakes The US Catholic bishops strongly condemned in a November 28 statement what they called a “reemergence of antisemitism in new forms.” “Outraged by the deeply hurtful proliferations of antisemitic rhetoric, both online and in person, and the violent attacks on Jewish individuals, homes, and institutions, we wish to convey our sincere support to the Jewish people,” the bishops wrote. The statement was issued on the 60th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Nostrae Aetate, which made clear the Church’s condemnation of hatred and violence against Judaism, beginning a new era of understanding and cooperation between the two faiths. The bishops went on to remind the faithful of Christianity’s shared heritage with Judaism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252939/us-bishops-express-outrage-at-increase-in-antisemitic-attacks The US Senate voted Tuesday evening to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, sending the bill back to the House for a final vote before it reaches the president’s desk. The bill, which would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and provide for federal recognition of same-sex marriages, has drawn criticism from Catholic leaders for not providing strong enough legal protections for individuals who believe marriage to be between one man and one woman, as taught by the Catholic Church. The present bill would not require any state to allow same-sex couples to marry, but would require states to recognize any and all marriages — regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin” — contracted in other states. The Catholic bishops of the United States had urged Senators to oppose the Respect for Marriage Act, expressing concerns about the bill’s effect on the religious freedom of those who hold to a traditional definition of marriage. Should the House pass this amended version, the bill will proceed to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, which he has pledged to give. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252938/senate-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill-sending-it-back-to-the-house Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew, apostle and martyr. A fisherman from Bethsaida and brother of Simon Peter, Saint Andrew is said to have spread Christianity in Russia and Asia minor after Pentecost in the first century. He was crucified by the Romans in Greece on an X-shaped cross, which is now his distinctive symbol as well as the symbol of Scotland, of which he is the patron. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-andrew-apostle-403

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Saint Peter Catholic Church in Covington, Louisiana, says its community has been “rocked” by news of a double homicide that local police announced Monday morning, amid an unconfirmed report that the victims were the parish’s former pastor and a former employee. A local Covington man has been arrested and charged in connection with the murders. A local reporter posted online that the parish’s former pastor and an employee of his at the church were reported to be the victims by “multiple people with knowledge of the situation,” but the Covington Police Department has yet to officially release the identities of the victims. The parish has asked for prayers for the victims and their families. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252931/breaking-louisiana-catholic-church-community-rocked-by-reports-of-double-homicide An employee says she fears losing her lifelong job at the world’s largest cross after the government of Spain passed a law in October to close parts of it down and “re-signify” its basilica. Alejandra Gómez, who has worked for 30 years at the Valley of the Fallen’s guesthouse, says her biggest fear now is being fired. The Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen lies at the center of a memorial site about 28 miles northwest of Madrid. The landmark under the towering cross includes an abbey and the basilica. The nearly 30 employees currently working at the Valley of the Fallen’s guesthouse and boarding choir school face the same uncertainty regarding their future. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252934/new-spanish-law-threatens-future-of-worlds-largest-cross-and-its-employees Today, the Church celebrates Saint Saturninus, the first bishop of Toulouse, France. He was martyred by pagan priests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-saturninus-68

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr, bishop of Wa, Ghana, died in Rome on Sunday evening at the age of 63. The cardinal had been hospitalized for heart problems after arriving in Rome in late August and was therefore unable to attend the Vatican ceremony at which he was elevated to the College of Cardinals August 27. Baawobr, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the “White Fathers,” was known in Ghana for his charity and for his care for people with mental disabilities in a country where the stigmatization of mental illness is still high. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252922/new-cardinal-from-ghana-with-heart-problems-dies-at-63 Pope Francis has spoken out against violence in the Holy Land after one teenager died in a blast in Jerusalem and another teenager died in armed clashes in Palestine last week. A 16-year-old Israeli boy was killed, and at least 14 people were injured, after two bombs exploded at bus stops on the outskirts of Jerusalem November 23. Israeli authorities said the attacks appear to have been carried out by Palestinian militants, Reuters reported. Late on Tuesday, November 22, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes in the city of Nablus in the Israeli occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. Pope Francis said he is following with concern the “increase in violence and clashes” between Israel and Palestine, and called the twin blasts in Jerusalem “cowardly attacks.” He urged prayers for the victims and their families. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252921/violence-kills-the-future-pope-francis-condemns-israeli-palestinian-conflict-after-2-boys-die The Vatican said on Saturday that Chinese authorities had violated the terms stipulated in its provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops. A statement released on November 26 said that “the Holy See noted with surprise and regret” that Bishop John Peng Weizhao had been installed as an “auxiliary bishop of Jiangxi,” a diocese that is not recognized by the Vatican. The Vatican statement also noted reports that “prolonged and heavy pressure from local authorities” preceded the installation. The boundaries of the “Diocese of Jiangxi” were drawn by Chinese authorities without Vatican approval. The government-approved Catholic association said Peng swore an oath at the installation ceremony to “guide Catholicism to adapt to socialist society” and contribute to the “dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” The installation ceremony took place one month after the Vatican renewed its deal with Beijing on the appointment of Catholic bishops for an additional two years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252919/vatican-says-china-violated-terms-of-agreement-with-bishop-installation https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252924/analysis-is-the-vatican-s-deal-with-china-at-stake Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine Labouré, the humble member of the Daughters of Charity to whom Mary appeared, requesting that the Miraculous Medal be stamped so that all who wear it would receive great graces. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-laboure-401 The Church also celebrates Saint James of the Marches, a Franciscan priest in the 15th century who was known as an eloquent preacher. According to legend, he brought 50,000 heretics into the Church and led 200,000 nonbelievers to baptism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-of-the-marches-67

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. In the United States, today, November 24, is observed as Thanksgiving Day. Because our staff will be taking time off to observe the holiday, there will not be a new Catholic News briefing until Monday, November 28. As always, you can visit catholicnewsagency.com for the latest. God bless you, and Happy Thanksgiving.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis gave a shoutout to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the end of his weekly audience on Wednesday. Speaking to a crowd of people from around the world November 23, the pope expressed his hope the international soccer competition would foster fraternity and peace. Pope Francis added to his appeal for peace, asking for prayers for an end to all conflicts, especially the conflict in Ukraine. The choice of Qatar as host country for the men’s soccer tournament has been criticized due to conditions in the country, including the situation of Christians. Non-Islamic religions, including Christianity, which are strongly represented among migrant workers, are granted freedom only to a limited extent in the Middle Eastern nation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252893/pope-francis-gives-a-shoutout-to-2022-fifa-world-cup A major Catholic publishing house is pulling a book on Catholic princess saints, days after an illustrator took to social media saying that the company had published the book based on her ideas and illustrations. Ascension, a publisher of Catholic books and digital media, said it would no longer be selling the book “Catholic Princess Saint Stories, Volume I,” which was released earlier this month. Fabiola Garza, the illustrator who is at odds with Ascension, posted on social media that she had spent months talking with the publisher about plans for a book on princess saints. When those talks did not lead to a contract, she took her idea elsewhere, but says Ascension took her idea and produced similar illustrations. Ascension has denied any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pull the book from the shelves. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252890/ascension-catholic-publisher-pulls-book-on-princess-saints-illustrator-dispute Today, the Church celebrates Saint Miguel Pro Juarez, a priest who witnessed to the faith during a time when the Church was driven underground in Mexico. He was executed by Mexican authorities, and shouted "Viva Cristo Rey!" - "Long live Christ the King!" as he was shot. 30,000 people attended his funeral procession. Father Miguel Pro was beatified on September 25, 1988 by Pope John Paul II. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-miguel-pro-juarez-397 The Church also celebrates the fourth Pope, Saint Clement I, a disciple of the apostles who inherited the authority of Saint Peter in the first century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-st-clement-i-689 Finally, an originator of Ireland's unique monastic tradition, who went on to serve as a missionary to continental Europe during the early Middle Ages, the abbot Saint Columbanus – also known as Saint Columban – is also honored by the Catholic Church on November 23. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-columbanus-716

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic parish in southern Wisconsin suffered a graffiti attack overnight on Sunday that saw a large tiled display of the Divine Mercy image defaced with green spray-painted letters. Run by the Stockbridge, Massachusetts-based Marian Fathers, Saint Peter Parish is located in Kenosha, on Lake Michigan north of Chicago near the Illinois border. A photo shared on social media by Father Donald Calloway shows green spray-painted graffiti on one of the exterior granite shrines near the entrance to the church. The shrine will need to be professionally cleaned with help from insurance money. The Kenosha Police Department said the department did receive the criminal complaint, but they do not yet have any leads in the case. The parish’s administrative assistant requested prayers for the perpetrator of the vandalism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252880/divine-mercy-catholic-parish-in-kenosha-wisconsin-graffiti Catholic bishops in Colorado have voiced their sympathies and prayers in the wake of a shooting over the weekend that killed five and injured 25 at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub. The alleged gunman entered Club Q just before midnight on Saturday and began shooting. Several people at the club overpowered the gunman and subdued him. “Let us pray that all our beloved deceased will know the fullness of life in heaven. Let us pray and work so that through our actions and attitudes, God may bring peace and healing to our world and to our local community,” Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs said Monday afternoon. He cited Jesus Christ’s words to the faithful, that they will have trouble in this world, adding “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The shooter’s motives remain unclear. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252873/colorado-bishops-pray-shooting-at-lgbtq-nightclub Today, the Church celebrates Saint Cecilia. Cecilia was an early Roman martyr, and is the patron of musicians and poets because according to tradition, she sang while being burned in an oven during her martyrdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cecilia-61

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Carmelite nuns in Cuba announced that thanks to the donations of wheat flour they have received in recent days, they will again be able to make the Communion hosts to supply the island’s churches. In a November 14 statement, the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Havana expressed their joy for having “experienced once again that the barque of the Church is the Lord who leads it.” The Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites of Saint Teresa in the Cuban capital had informed all the dioceses November 2 that it could no longer produce any more hosts because it had run out of wheat flour, a product that has been in short supply for months in the island. Just days later, Father José Luis Pueyo of the Diocese of Villa Clara told the newspaper catorcemedio that they would have to break their remaining hosts into several pieces in order to provide for the faithful. The Carmelite sisters said that “the one who multiplied the loaves has shown his power with the multiplication of the flour.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252844/the-church-in-cuba-will-once-again-have-communion-hosts-thanks-to-donations-of-flour Organizers of the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis have announced plans for a major pilgrimage to the event — and a big budget cut. The Congress, which is the culmination of the National Eucharistic Revival — a three-year initiative by the U.S. bishops to inspire Eucharist belief — is expected to draw some 80,000 people. Despite the budget being cut almost in half from an original $28 million estimate, the congress itself isn’t being scaled down, a staff member working on the initiative told CNA. Pilgrims will depart from four different locations, he said: one in the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas; in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, at the site of the tomb of Blessed Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus; in San Francisco at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption; and a fourth site in Crookston. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252848/organizers-of-national-eucharistic-congress-announce-pilgrimage-plans-major-budget-cut The spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians has confirmed his support for finding a common date to celebrate Easter, meaning Catholics and Orthodox could one day be celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at the same time. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said this week that conversations are underway between Church representatives to come to an agreement. The Catholic president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, has supported the suggestion that Catholics and Orthodox work to agree on a common date to celebrate Easter. The eastern patriarch has said he supports a common date for Easter to be set for the year 2025. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252851/why-catholics-and-orthodox-might-once-again-celebrate-easter-on-the-same-date Today, the Church celebrates Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne. From the young age of eight, Rose had a desire to evangelize in the Americas, sparked by hearing a Jesuit missionary speak of his work there. She received a basic education at home from tutors, and religious education from her mother. Despite the opposition of her family, in 1804 she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart, which sent her to the United States in 1818. From the convent and school she founded at Saint Charles, Missouri, later moved to Florissant, Missouri, she traveled over a wide area, founding schools for girls, doing charitable work, and finally ministering to Native Americans. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-rose-philippine-duchesne-57

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has expressed his condolences for the victims of a deadly bombing on a busy pedestrian street in Istanbul over the weekend. The Vatican published a message on November 15 that expressed the pope’s spiritual closeness to the injured and those who mourn the loss of their loved ones who died in the explosion in Turkey’s capital. “His Holiness prays that no act of violence will discourage the efforts of the people of Türkiye to build a society based on the values of fraternity, justice and peace,” it said. The explosion on Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping street, on November 13 killed six people and led around 80 others to be hospitalized, according to the Associated Press. Among the victims were two girls, ages 9 and 15. Funerals were held for the victims on Monday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252816/pope-francis-prays-for-turkey-after-deadly-istanbul-bombing Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was elected Tuesday to head the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the next three years in a vote of 138-99. Broglio will be taking the role after serving for three years as secretary of the conference. Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore was elected vice president by a vote of 143-96. The new president serves a three-year term. Already, several known, high-profile challenges await Broglio. These include the first session of the sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome October 4–29, 2023; a national eucharistic congress in Indianapolis in June 2024; the synod’s concluding session in October 2024; and the US presidential election in November 2024. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252817/archbishop-timothy-broglio-elected-usccb-president Today, the Church celebrates Saint Joseph Moscati, the first modern medical doctor to be canonized. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-moscati-55 The Church also celebrates Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland. Margaret worked tirelessly to bring justice and relief to the poor of Scotland. She also built churches and encouraged practices of religious devotion. In her private life, she exhibited great prayerfulness and piety. Her influence was seen not only in her husband's life, but throughout all of Scotland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-margaret-of-scotland-657 Finally, the Church celebrates Saint Gertrude the Great, a distinguished medieval nun and writer in the Benedictine monastic tradition. One of the most esteemed woman saints of the Christian West, she was a notable early devotee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-gertrude-the-great-715

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Washington, DC., announced that its annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life, which both typically take place in conjunction with the national March for Life in Washington DC, have been canceled. The reason given is that many US dioceses are now focusing on their state level pro-life rallies. The announcement comes about five months following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide. The annual March for Life, which is now in its 50th year, began in opposition to Roe. The Youth Rally and Mass for Life had been held for over 25 years, and aims to “encourage the youth participating in the national March for Life in their witness as disciples of Christ and promoters of the Gospel of Life.” However, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has decided to continue its National Prayer Vigil for Life. The vigil has taken place on the eve of the annual March for Life since 1979. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252813/archdiocese-of-washington-cancels-youth-rally-mass-for-life-held-at-march-for-life-events https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252806/national-prayer-vigil-for-life-to-continue-post-roe The bishops of the United States are set to vote this week to create a new book of prayers for the comfort and healing of the sick specifically designed for laypeople to use. The hope is that the potential new prayer book will be helpful for laypeople who want to minister to the sick, especially when a priest is unavailable. Only priests are allowed to perform the sacrament of anointing of the sick, which can be administered whether or not the sick person is in danger of death with the hoped-for effect of physical and spiritual healing. But there are several liturgical books — including the book used for the anointing of the sick — that include material that is specifically designed to be used by laypeople when a priest isn’t available. The book that the bishops are voting to create will be a compilation of those prayers, drawn from multiple sources traditionally used in ministry to the sick. Assuming the book is approved by two-thirds of the bishops, it may be a couple of years before the book makes it into the hands of lay Catholics. After the vote this week, the Vatican will need to approve it. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252797/a-new-book-of-prayers-for-lay-people-ministering-to-the-sick-could-be-on-its-way Today, the Church celebrates Saint Albert the Great, a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of scientists. The native German joined the newly formed Dominican order in the early 13th century. He earned a doctorate from the University of Paris and taught theology there and in Cologne, Germany. Albert became known as “Great” because of his intellectual abilities; he was a respected philosopher, scientist, theologian and teacher, and was well-versed in Arabic culture. One of his students, who later became a great friend and built upon his Scholastic method, was Thomas Aquinas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-albert-the-great-656

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church last week met Pope Francis as well as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and other dicastery heads. In Rome for the first time since the war in Ukraine began, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk also celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica. On November 12, the major archbishop met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. Shevchuk said they spoke in detail about “the efforts of pontifical diplomacy in favor of peace, and above all of the efforts to assist the Ukrainian people.” According to the major archbishop, “the Russian people must realize that the Ukraine exists, admit the Ukrainian state’s right to resistance, and reconcile with the reality that the Ukrainian people have their history, language, and culture.” Check out Catholic News Agency dot com for the full interview with Major Archbishop Shevchuk. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252803/major-archbishop-shevchuk-denounces-genocidal-war-in-ukraine The US Catholic bishops are preparing to vote on whether to advance the causes for sainthood for three American women: a mother and Catholic convert considered to be a mystic, a young campus missionary who struggled with cancer, and a religious sister who ministered to the poor and the African American community. The three potential new saints are Cora Evans, Michelle Duppong, and Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy. Cora Evans was a former Mormon who converted to Catholicism in 1935, and who is considered to have had the ability to bilocate — to appear in two places at once — and to have suffered from the stigmata, Christ’s wounds on the cross present in her own flesh. Michelle Duppong dedicated her life to God, serving as a Catholic campus missionary for six years before becoming the director of adult faith formation for the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota. She died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 31. Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy founded the first order of women religious in Texas in 1893: the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate. She began the order after spending years as a laywoman ministering to the poor, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. By the time of her death, the order had grown to 15 sisters and two postulants. She died in 1907 at age 74. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252793/meet-the-3-women-us-bishops-are-considering-for-sainthood An 18-year-old New Jersey resident has been arrested in connection with threats to synagogues and Jewish centers after he shared a document on social media taking credit for an attack that he said was motivated by “hatred toward Jews.” Omar Alkattoul of Sayreville was arrested Thursday morning by federal authorities and charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce. If convicted, Alkattoul could serve up to five years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted in Newark federal court. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252796/18-year-old-arrested-after-threats-to-new-jersey-synagogues Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lawrence O'Toole, bishop of Dublin in the 12th century. Saint Lawrence was most widely known for his piety, charity, and prudence, and was respected as a negotiator. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lawrence-otoole-53

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - As pro-abortion measures won on state ballots and pro-life measures faced defeat, Catholic bishops responded to election results with profound disappointment. They professed resolve to continue to work to defend unborn human life and support pregnant women in need. Some called for prayer and fasting and emphasized that millions of lives are at stake. On Election Day about 56.7% of Michigan voters, more than 2.4 million, voted for Proposal 3 to add a broad right to abortion into the state constitution. It removes a longtime ban on abortion from state law that has not been enforced since 1973. In California, the strong pro-abortion-rights constitutional amendment Proposition 1 was projected to win. As of Thursday evening, it had 65% of the vote, with more than 3.5 million individual votes in favor. In Montana, voters rejected Legislative Referendum 131, which aimed to provide state protections and medical care for babies who are born alive after attempted abortions. As of Thursday, 77% of Vermont voters had backed a measure to create a constitutional right to reproductive autonomy. The Catholic bishops of Kentucky said they were “disappointed” by the rejection of Kentucky’s Amendment 2, which would have declared that there is no right to abortion in the state constitution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252790/catholic-bishops-reaction-to-abortion-state-ballot-defeats An arrest has been made after a two-day vandalism spree in October that included an attack on Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s residence at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Juan Velez was arrested by the New York Police Department’s Warrant Squad, police said Wednesday. In that announcement, police said Velez is being charged with 15 incidents of criminal mischief that occurred in Manhattan. Three of those incidents were attacks on churches, one of which was on St. Patrick’s Cathedral, police said. A video of the attack on St. Patrick’s Cathedral that circulated in the media shows a man approach the historic church and throw an object at its glass doors. He then can be seen fleeing the scene. On Nov. 2, police said they identified the attacker as Velez. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252789/arrest-made-in-vandalism-of-cardinal-dolan-s-residence-at-st-patrick-s-cathedral-in-nyc Today, the Church celebrates Saint Martin of Tours, who left his post in the Roman army to become a “soldier of Christ” as a monk and later bishop. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-martin-of-tours-50

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In Bahrain on Sunday morning, Pope Francis prayed with Catholics from the Arabian Peninsula and encouraged them to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel in their countries. “All who are baptized have received the Spirit and so become prophets. As such, we cannot pretend not to see the works of evil, so as to live a ‘quiet life’ and not get our hands dirty,” he said November 6 in Sacred Heart Church in Manama. “How is it possible for a Christian who wants to live his faith not to get his or her hands dirty?” the pope reiterated. “On the contrary, we received a Spirit of prophecy to proclaim the Gospel by our living witness.” Pope Francis met with Catholic priests, religious, and lay people on the last day of his historic visit to Bahrain, an overwhelmingly Muslim country. His November 3–6 trip included encounters with authorities, Muslim leaders, and the small Catholic community, including a Mass with around 30,000 people in Bahrain’s national soccer stadium — the first-ever public papal Mass in the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252742/pope-francis-tells-catholics-on-the-arabian-peninsula-to-be-bold-in-proclaiming-the-gospel A new PG-13 version of Mark Wahlberg’s latest Catholic film, “Father Stu,” is coming back to the big screen December 9 with an aim at widening the audience to include more families with children, according to the movie’s director and screenwriter, Rosalind Ross. The film chronicles the life of Father “Stu” Stewart Long, a rough-around-the-edges Montana boxer turned Catholic priest in a riveting story of loss, suffering, and redemption. However, the new cut drops more than 100 swears and all religious profanity. “We wanted to remove that obstacle and open the experience up to the whole family. We really just listened to the audience and were blessed to have a chance to react to that,” the director said. “I think it’ll open a discussion about God and redemption and suffering and purpose and things that most of us probably don’t talk about enough with our kids,” she said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252736/father-stu-profanity-edited-out-new-version-in-theaters Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Ou, one of the Martyrs of China. He was born to a non-Christian family in 1768. As a young man, he was outspoken with had a deep understanding of justice, and would eventually come to the defense of the poor and oppressed. He married and ran his own business, which was a large hotel. He was one of the first to convert to Christianity after missionaries arrived in his area, and he took the name Peter at his baptism. He enthusiastically preached Christianity to anyone who came by, later becoming a lay leader of the converts in his district. He also worked as a catechist. In 1814, he was imprisoned and tortured in a violent backlash against the faith. Under these conditions, he continued to inspire his fellow prisoners in the faith, and he led prayer services in the cells. He was sentenced to death for refusing to apostatize by stepping on a crucifix. Peter was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-ou-648

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis landed in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Thursday, becoming the first pope to visit the Muslim island nation located in the Persian Gulf. On the flight from Rome November 3, the pope told journalists aboard the papal plane it is “an interesting trip [that will] make us think about sharing good news.” Francis, who usually walks around the plane to greet media members, said he was in a lot of pain, and asked journalists to approach him where he was seated instead. Pope Francis is visiting Bahrain November 3-6. Located to the east of Saudi Arabia and west of Qatar, the country has a total population of 1.5 million. There are around 161,000 Catholics in Bahrain, many of whom are migrants from Asia, particularly the Philippines and India, according to 2020 Vatican statistics. There are two Catholic churches and 20 Catholic priests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252716/pope-francis-becomes-first-pope-to-visit-bahrain Synagogues in New Jersey should stay alert in light of a possible threat, the FBI said Thursday. “The FBI has received credible information of a broad threat to synagogues in NJ,” the Newark office of the FBI said on Twitter Thursday afternoon. “We ask at this time that you take all security precautions to protect your community and facility.” “Stay alert. In case of emergency call police,” the agency added. “We are taking a proactive measure with this warning while investigative processes are carried out.” In a report released earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League said there were at least 2,717 known anti-Semitic incidents across the US in 2021, a 34% rise over the previous year. In May 2021, leading US bishops decried a rise in anti-Semitic incidents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252729/fbi-new-jersey-synagogues-face-credible-broad-threat In recent days, residents of at least four U.S. states have received newspapers in the mail bearing variations of the name “Catholic Tribune” and featuring mostly pro-Republican articles along with quotes from U.S. bishops, among other Catholic-oriented content. Bishops in Arizona, Iowa, and Michigan have come out with statements in recent days denying any connection to the publications. The bishops have stressed that the papers are not affiliated with the Church and have reiterated that Catholics should vote based on their own well-formed consciences, and not necessarily for or against any particular person or political party. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252727/bishops-disavow-link-politically-oriented-catholic-tribune-newspapers Today, the Church celebrates Saint Charles Borromeo, a cardinal and a prominent teacher and reformer of the Catholic faith. He gave of his considerable wealth generously to charity, and later gave of his own wealth and health to help plague victims at a time when many other authorities fled. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charles-borromeo-645

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On All Souls’ Day, Pope Francis urged Christians not to “compromise with the Gospel” but to take Jesus’ words seriously when he says we will be judged by how we treat the poor. “Often, out of convenience or comfort, we tend to tone down Jesus’ message, to water down his words. Let’s face it, we have gotten pretty good at compromising with the Gospel,” the pope said in Saint Peter’s Basilica on November 2. Pope Francis offered Mass on All Souls’ Day for the repose of the souls of more than 150 deceased bishops and cardinals who died in the past year. In his homily, the pope reflected on Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” The pope said that these words in the Gospel help prepare for death and the final judgment. “The best careers, the greatest achievements, the most prestigious titles and awards, the accumulated wealth and earthly gains, all will vanish in an instant, everything,” he said. The pope said that All Souls’ Day is a good occasion to ask “if our desires have anything to do with heaven.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252710/pope-francis-on-all-souls-day-do-you-desire-heaven-above-everything-else England’s National Health Service (NHS) has issued new guidance for the treatment of children with gender dysphoria, warning that the condition is often a temporary “phase” and restricting the use of puberty blockers and sex-changing hormones. The NHS’s revised treatment policy was released last week after a review of existing policies found that gender transitioning may have “significant effects on the [child’s] psychological function.” The change follows the closing of what was the world’s largest child-gender clinic, Tavistock Clinic, due to concerns raised by an independent review and complaints from patient families. The NHS’ full guidance represents a shift away from a “gender-affirming care” model that encourages the medical and social transition of a child into the opposite sex, often with the use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252706/england-s-health-service-puts-brakes-on-transgender-treatments-for-children Today, the Church marks All Souls Day. Today and throughout the month of November, the Church makes a special effort to remember, honor and pray for the dead, especially those in purgatory. Purgatory is a place where the souls go who die in friendship with God but are still imperfectly purified, and he Church teaches that souls in Purgatory rely on the prayers of souls still on Earth to relieve some of their temporal suffering and speed their journey to Heaven. There are many different cultural traditions around this period, but one of the most consistently honored is the practice of visiting cemeteries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-souls-day-41

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of November is for children who suffer, including war victims and orphans. “There are still millions of boys and girls who suffer and live in conditions very similar to slavery,” the pontiff said. “They aren’t numbers. They are human beings with names, with a face of their own, with an identity that God has given them. Let us pray for children who are suffering, especially for those who are homeless, orphans, and victims of war,” the pope said in a video message published October 31. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252691/why-pope-francis-november-prayer-intention-is-for-children-who-suffer More than 10,000 unborn babies are alive today because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, a new report by a pro-abortion group suggests. Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount initiative reported Friday that there were 5,270 fewer abortions in July and 5,400 fewer in August after the court’s June 24 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe and freed individual states to decide abortion policy. As the New York Times pointed out in an article on the #WeCount study, abortions declined almost to zero in states with bans, but they increased in many states where abortion remained legal. In August, fewer than 10 abortions were performed in each of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. #WeCount also identified some of the states with the largest increases in abortion as North Carolina (37%), Kansas (36%), Colorado (33%), and Illinois (28%). In the two months after Dobbs, the number of women getting abortions decreased by 10,670, or 6%, the group reported. If those numbers were to continue, more than 60,000 lives could be saved from abortion in one year alone. Pro-life research organizations applauded the finding. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252698/total-abortions-decreased-by-6-percent-in-the-us-after-roe-v-wade-was-overturned Lawyers defending Cardinal Joseph Zen and five other Hong Kong democracy activists took the floor Monday in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, the same courthouse where a Protestant pastor was sentenced to one year in jail for sedition last week. In the third court date this month, Zen’s defense argued before Principal Magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee on October 31 that the charges against the trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund should be dismissed. The 90-year-old cardinal and the fund’s other trustees have been charged with failing to apply for local society registration for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund between 2019 and 2021. The fund helped pro-democracy protesters pay their legal fees until it dissolved itself in October 2021. Cardinal Zen is the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and a strong critic of the 2018 Vatican-China deal on the appointment of bishops. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252695/cardinal-zen-trial-update-defense-calls-for-charges-to-be-dismissed Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. It was instituted to honor all of the saints, both known and unknown, and, according to Pope Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/all-saints-day-40

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis prayed on Sunday that God may “convert the hearts of the violent” after an al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist attack in Somalia. “As we celebrate Christ’s victory over evil and death, we pray for the victims of the terrorist attack in Mogadishu that killed more than 100 people, including many children. May God convert the hearts of the violent,” Pope Francis said on October 30. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reported that at least 100 people were killed and nearly 300 other people were wounded by two car bombings in the country’s capital on Saturday. Al-Shabab, a Somali-based branch of al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Associated Press. The extremist group said that it targeted the country’s education ministry, calling it an “enemy” that is “committed to removing Somali children from the Islamic faith.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252689/pope-francis-prays-for-victims-of-deadly-islamic-terrorist-attack-in-somalia Catholic bishops in South Korea have offered condolences to the bereaved families of the more than 150 people killed in a crowd surge during Halloween festivities in Seoul on Saturday night. The South Korean bishops’ conference released a statement on October 30 offering prayers for the immediate recovery of the injured and calling on civil authorities to “thoroughly examine” what led to the disaster. The bishops underlined that nothing in society should be put before human life and dignity and asked local authorities to respond accordingly to ensure that a disaster like this is never repeated. Police in Seoul announced on October 31 that they had launched a 475-member task force to investigate how the crowd surge developed. The Associated Press reported that an estimated 100,000 people celebrated in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood when the crowd surge occurred. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252690/south-korea-s-catholic-bishops-pray-for-halloween-crowd-surge-victims Details are still emerging after a violent raid by Fulani herdsmen October 19 in Benue State, Central Nigeria, reportedly left dozens of Catholic villagers killed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252688/dozens-of-catholic-villagers-reportedly-killed-in-central-nigeria-raid Today the Church celebrates the Vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints, or all Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween. The Church also celebrates Saint Wolfgang of Ratisbon, regarded as one of the greatest German saints of his time. The Benedictine monk and bishop served as a missionary to pagans and a reformer of the Church in southeastern Germany in the 10th century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wolfgang-bishop-39 The Church also celebrates Saint Foillan, who founded a monastery at Fosses in the Diocese of Liege, France, and served as its abbot. He was a well-loved preacher and spiritual director, successfully evangelizing the people in the area, which grew into the modern town of Le Roeulx, Belgium. He also served as the spiritual director at the house founded by Saint Gertrude. In 655, while traveling on Church business, Saint Foillan was murdered by bandits along with his three companions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-foillan-641

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Diocese of Mamfe in Cameroon has called for prayers of thanksgiving for the release on Saturday of nine people who were abducted in September from a local parish. The nine were released October 22. “I urge each of you to pray a decade of the rosary in thanksgiving to God for the safe release of our brothers and sisters who were kidnapped,” Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo of Mamfe said. On September 16, unidentified gunmen attacked St. Mary parish in Nchang, in Cameroon’s Southwest Region. Nine people were abducted and buildings on the parish premises, including the church, were burned down. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252644/cameroonian-diocese-urges-prayers-of-thanksgiving-for-release-of-captives For the second time in less than two years, EWTN’s affiliate in Poland has had its YouTube channel suspended, reported Father Piotr Wiśniowski, general director of EWTN Poland. Without any warning or explanation, on Oct. 22 YouTube shut down the Catholic programming channel, which features a live broadcast from the adoration chapel in Niepokalanów Monastery in Teresin, Poland, which was founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Almost one million viewers visit the channel each month for what is known as the world’s most popular televised eucharistic adoration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapel was a lifeline to the faith for those who could not leave their homes to go to Mass. Apart from the adoration chapel, the content of the channel is not unlike EWTN’s English-language programming. There is Catholic news along with 4,500 videos of devotional content, movies, lectures, and homilies. Wiśniowski and the staff at EWTN Poland appealed to get the channel started up again and were told confusing and contradictory reasons for the shutdown. The channel was restored three and a half days later. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252643/youtube-shuts-down-ewtn-s-polish-channel Today the Church honors Saint Evaristus, the son of a Greek Jew originally from Bethlehem, who was the sixth Pope of the Catholic Church. He is traditionally considered a martyr, but there is no documentation of the event. He is buried in the Vatican, near Saint Peter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-evaristus-pope-33 The Church also celebrates Blessed Damian of Fulcheri. Born the son of a wealthy Italian family, Damian was kidnapped as an infant by a man who suffered from a mental illness. His parents prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary for help, and searchers were led to the unharmed boy by a miraculous light. Damian later became a Dominican priest, and he was famous for his missions throughout Italy, during which hundreds of people were converted to the faith, and was also known for working miracles. Many miracles were reported at his tomb in Modena, Italy after his death in 1484. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-damian-of-fulcheri-636

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today the Church honors Saints Crispin and Crispinian, brothers who together evangelized Gaul in the middle of the third century. They preached in the streets by day and made shoes by night. Their charity, piety, and contempt of material things impressed the locals and many were converted to Christianity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-crispin-and-st-crispinian-32

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis offered a prayer for Italy on Sunday as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni became the country’s first female leader. “And today, at the start of a new government, let us pray for unity and peace in Italy,” the pope said at the end of his Angelus address on October 23. Meloni has described herself in speeches as a Christian and has publicly expressed her admiration for St. John Paul II and her desire to meet Pope Francis in person. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252628/pope-francis-prays-for-italy-as-giorgia-meloni-becomes-first-female-prime-minister Archbishop Charles Chaput, emeritus of Philadelphia, said on Saturday that President Joe Biden “is not in communion with the Catholic faith” and that “any priest who now provides Communion to the president participates in his hypocrisy.” Biden supports abortion, despite the Catholic Church’s teaching that abortion is a grave evil and that human life is sacred from the moment of conception. In his address, Chaput said many Catholics, “even many who regularly attend Sunday Mass, no longer believe in the Real Sacrifice or the Real Presence.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252624/archbishop-chaput-president-biden-not-in-communion-with-catholic-faith On Friday, the police of the dictatorship in Cuba interrogated Adrián Martínez Cádiz, EWTN correspondent in Havana, and later fined him 3,000 Cuban pesos (about $125) for having criticized the regime on social media. In a statement to EWTN Noticias, Martínez said that he attended the summons at the Plaza de la Revolución Police Station around 10 a.m., where he was interrogated for an hour by a lieutenant colonel. Before being fined, the officer began to fill out an official written warning in order for the journalist to make a commitment to the Cuban State. The EWTN correspondent refused to “commit” and sign the document. The officer then allowed him to leave. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252617/cuban-dictatorship-fines-ewtn-correspondent-and-threatens-him-during-interrogation Today the Church honors Saint Anthony Claret, a 19th-century missionary and Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anthony-claret-634

Today the Church honors Saint Ursula and the Virgins of Cologne. In the year 383 Saint Ursula and her 11,010 companions were all found slaughtered for their purity and their Faith. This great martyrdom occurred in Cologne, Germany, and a shrine has been erected to them there, containing as many of their bones as could be rescued. A Religious Order of nuns in the Catholic Church was established by Saint Angela Merici in honor of Saint Ursula in the year 1535, known as the Ursulines. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ursula-and-the-virgins-of-cologne-27

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A major study of US Catholic priests, released Wednesday, found that despite relatively high levels of personal well-being and fulfillment among priests as a whole, a significant percentage of priests have issues with burnout, distrust in their bishop, and fears of being falsely accused of misconduct. A large percentage of the priests and bishops surveyed reported high levels of well-being: 77% of priests and 81% of bishops can be categorized as “flourishing,” based on a measurement called the Harvard Flourishing Index. The report also says that 45% of priests surveyed reported at least one symptom of ministry burnout. Many fear that a single false allegation of sexual abuse could ruin them, the report states. Among the priests surveyed, a large majority — 82% — said they regularly fear false allegations. And many diocesan priests fear being abandoned by their diocese and bishop should they find themselves falsely accused, more so than religious priests. The priests surveyed also offered several recommendations for rebuilding trust between them and their bishops, which you can read about at catholicnewsagency.com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252588/major-survey-of-catholic-priests-finds-trust-issues-burnout-fear-of-false-allegations The Pontifical Academy for Life issued a statement Wednesday defending the recent appointment of an outspoken advocate for abortion rights on the grounds that members are chosen to contribute to “fruitful interdisciplinary, intercultural, and interreligious dialogue.” An Italian-American economist and professor at University College London, Mariana Mazzucato, was among seven academics appointed by Pope Francis on October 15 to serve five-year terms with the academy. On several occasions Mazzucato shared her pro-abortion views online when Roe v Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court. The Pontifical Academy for Life was formed by Saint John Paul II in 1994, and originally members were required to sign a declaration affirming pro-life views. That requirement went away in 2016, but the academy’s new statutes still require members to conform with Church teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252589/vatican-press-office-pro-abortion-pontifical-academy-for-life-member-contributes-to-dialogue Today the Church celebrates Saint Irene, a Portuguese nun who was martyred in defense of her chastity in the year 653. Saint Irene’s body was miraculously recovered after being thrown into the river. She was canonized in part because of the great amount of miracles that occured at her tomb. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-irene-26 The Church also honors Saint Bertilla Boscardin, a sister and nurse who cared for Italian soldiers during World War One. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bertilla-boscardin-630

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis announced on Sunday that the Synod on Synodality will be extended to 2024. Speaking in his Angelus address on October 16, the pope shared his decision to divide the Synod of Bishops into two sessions that will meet in Rome in October 2023 and October 2024. Pope Francis explained that he made the decision “in order to have a more relaxed period of discernment.” “The fruits of the synodal process under way are many, but so that they might come to full maturity, it is necessary not to be in a rush,” Francis said. The two sessions of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place from October 4 to 29, 2023, and in October 2024, bringing together bishops from across the world to discuss and prepare a document to counsel the pope. Pope Francis launched the Synod on Synodality in October 2021 as a worldwide undertaking during which Catholics were encouraged to submit feedback to their local dioceses. According to a report from the U.S. bishops’ conference, about 700,000 people participated in the diocesan phase of the synod in the U.S. out of 66.8 million Catholics in the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252560/pope-francis-announces-decision-to-extend-synod-on-synodality-to-2024 Today the Church honors the early Church Father, bishop, and martyr Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose writings attest to the sacramental and hierarchical nature of the Church from its earliest days. Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate his memory on December 20. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ignatius-of-antioch-396

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishop Hugo Torres Marín of Apartadó, Colombia, said October 11 that there is a humanitarian crisis near the border with Panama as there are thousands of people risking their lives to cross the Darién jungle on their way to the United States. For several days, thousands of migrants, many of them Venezuelans, have been arriving in the area of Colombia that lies across the Gulf of Urabá from Panama and are waiting in the town of Necoclí on the Colombian coast for the opportunity to cross by boat to Capurganá in Panama, and from there cross the Darien Gap on their way north to the US, a journey of more than 3,000 miles. However, along the route they are exposed to theft, human trafficking, and death. The bishop has asked the authorities to find adequate solutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252540/bishop-warns-of-humanitarian-crisis-on-colombia-panama-border-involving-migrants-to-us Lamenting the damage that abusive Catholic clergy have caused to sexual abuse victims, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has submitted its reorganization plan to a bankruptcy judge. The plan includes a proposed $121.5 million settlement for victims and disclosure of Church documents about sexual abuse. There are nearly 400 clergy sexual abuse victims involved in the settlement. Some incidents of abuse date back more than 60 years. When the archdiocese first filed for bankruptcy in November 2018, it faced only 35 to 40 active claims. The Santa Fe Archdiocese’s website lists credibly accused clergy who worked in the archdiocese. There are 29 clergy listed as living, out of 80 on the list. There are another nine priests credibly accused of abuse in other dioceses but who spent time working in the Santa Fe Archdiocese. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252541/denouncing-clergy-sex-abuse-santa-fe-archdiocese-files-121-dollars-million-settlement-plan Today the Church honors Pope Saint Callistus the first. The saint caused a major controversy, including a schism that lasted almost two decades, by choosing to emphasize God's mercy in his ministry. However, the early Pope's model of leadership has endured, and his martyrdom in the year 222 confirmed his example of holiness. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-callistus-i-393

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Two new Catholic movies that debuted in theaters in September and October are coming back to the big screen for encores by popular demand. American moviegoers will be able to see “Saint Michael: Meet the Angel” in theaters October 12 and October 13 and “Mother Teresa: No Greater Love” on November 2. “Mother Teresa: No Greater Love” chronicles the life of the 20th-century saint and the impact both she and her religious order, the Missionaries of Charity, have had on the people they have served throughout the world. “Saint Michael: Meet the Angel” highlights the power and nature of Saint Michael the Archangel and other angelic beings. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252530/two-catholic-movies-back-in-theaters-for-encores-after-stellar-showings Today the Church honors Saint Edward the Confessor, king of England from 1042 to 1066. His saintly bearing made him a popular sovereign, and his actions even more so. He abolished an unjust tax and was known to cure people with his touch. Edward died on January 5, 1066, and was canonized by Pope Alexander III in 1161. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-edward-the-confessor-392

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - One or more unidentified individuals entered and desecrated a Catholic church in Brazil, destroying all 28 statues of saints, to the pain and outrage of the faithful. The attack took place October 10 around noon in São Mateus church in the town of São Mateus do Sul located in Paraná state in southern Brazil. “Our statues were broken, but our faith is firm,” said the pastor of the parish, Father José Carlos Emanoel dos Santos, at an October 11 press conference. The priest said he was grateful for the many expressions of solidarity they have received. At the press conference, it was also reported that the local police already have a suspect. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252525/catholic-church-brazil-desecrated-28-statues-saints-destroyed Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of Steubenville, Ohio, announced in a message to the diocese on Tuesday that a merger of the local Church with the Diocese of Columbus seems to be the best response to the decline in the area’s population. The Steubenville diocese comprises 13 counties in southeastern Ohio, and the Columbus diocese, which borders it to the west, includes 23 counties in south-central Ohio. The Steubenville diocese was erected out of the territory of the Diocese of Columbus in 1944. There has been a 45% decline in the number of persons attending Sunday Mass between 1990 and 2019. The Steubenville diocese has also experienced financial difficulties in recent years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252526/steubenville-diocese-faces-prospect-of-union-with-columbus-with-fortitude Many YouTube videos produced by Catholic or pro-life organizations will now bear an abortion disclaimer and links to an abortion webpage, as YouTube claims that abortion is a topic prone to misinformation. The move means many YouTube videos about Pope Francis, Catholic teaching on abortion, and alternatives to abortion now include links to abortion information that video creators or video subjects might reject. CNA sought comment from YouTube but did not receive a response prior to publication. YouTube announced the information panel on July 21, saying that it will remove “content that provides instructions for unsafe abortion methods or promotes false claims about abortion safety.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252518/youtube-adds-abortion-info-to-catholic-pro-life-videos Today the Church honors Our Lady of the Pillar, the first recorded Marian apparition. Mary appeared to Saint James the Apostle, the brother of Saint John the Evangelist, on the bank of the river Ebro in Saragossa, Spain. Unlike every other recorded apparition, this one took place during the earthly life of the Mother of God. In the year 40 A.D., while praying one night on the tobrt bank, the Virgin appeared with the Child Jesus standing on a pillar and asked Saint James and his eight disciples to build a church on the site, promising that “it will stand from that moment until the end of time in order that God may work miracles and wonders through my intercession for all those who place themselves under my patronage.” Nuestra Señora del Pilar is the patron of Spain and all Hispanic peoples. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/nuestra-senora-del-pilar-our-lady-of-the-pillar-622 The Church also celebrates Saint Wilfrid of York. Wilfrid worked to enforce Roman liturgical practice in seventh-century England, founded Benedictine monasteries, and rebuilt the minster of York, all while living a simply and holy life himself. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wilfrid-of-york-17

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican confirmed Tuesday that Pope Francis will join other religious leaders at a prayer service for peace at Rome’s Colosseum later this month. The Oct. 25 prayer meeting is part of a three-day interreligious summit called “The Cry for Peace,” organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio. Sant’Egidio has held an international conference on the subject of peace every year since 1986, when Pope John Paul II convened the first World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy. The conference’s final event will be the interreligious prayer service from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Colosseum. The famous monument is believed by some historians to be a site of early Christian martyrdom. Representatives of the world’s major religions will take part in the prayer service and conference. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252516/pope-francis-to-join-interfaith-prayer-for-peace-at-colosseum-in-rome The Diocese of Arlington, Virgina’s former director for the Office of Child Protection, Father Terry Specht, was found not guilty October 5 of aggravated sexual battery. Specht was indicted in December 2021 on two charges related to child sexual abuse. One of those charges was dropped during court proceedings. “While Father Specht was found not guilty, I nevertheless convey my heartfelt and sincere sorrow to anyone who has suffered sexual abuse,” Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington said. The Diocese of Arlington said that it has a “zero-tolerance policy” for abuse. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252513/former-arlington-director-of-child-protection-office-acquitted-on-sexual-battery-charge Today the Church celebrates Saint John the 23rd, who was pope from 1958 to 1963. Sixty years ago today, John the 23rd convoked the Second Vatican Council, opening the council on October 11, 1962. Pope John’s spirit of humble simplicity, profound goodness, and deep life of prayer radiated in all that he did, and inspired people to affectionately call him “Good Pope John.” He was canonized by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square on April 27, 2014, alongside the man who beatified him, Pope Saint John Paul II. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-xxiii-390

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today the Church celebrates Saint Francis Borgia, a reformer of the Jesuit order. Francis introduced so many reforms to the society of Jesus that he was considered in some ways to be its second founder. Francis was a man of contemplation and action in the fullest sense, and clearly drew much strength from the silence of his prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-borgia-389

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has expressed deep sorrow and mourning at the news of a deadly rampage at a day care center in Thailand that left at least 34 people dead — 23 of them children. “Deeply saddened to learn of the horrific attack that took place at a child-care centre in Uthai Sawan, His Holiness Pope Francis offers his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this act of unspeakable violence against innocent children,” the pope’s message said. The pope prayed that grieving families and all those injured would receive support from their neighbors and concluded his message with “blessings of peace and perseverance in every good.” According to media reports, the massacre was perpetrated by a single man, armed with a gun and knife, on October 6 in the town of Uthai Sawan, some 310 miles northeast of the capital Bangkok. The massacre is understood to be one of the worst involving children in history. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252494/pope-francis-mourns-23-children-and-several-adults-killed-in-thailand-daycare-attack Unlimited abortion would become a fundamental right, as would abortion on viable unborn children, if voters pass the proposed California ballot measure Proposition 1, a broad coalition has warned. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento said Proposition 1 seeks to make abortion a “fundamental right” in California while “removing any commonsense limits on late-term abortions.” Soto said Proposition 1 is “an unneeded, radical, and expensive proposition.” He invoked Pope Francis’ rejection of a “throwaway culture,” saying “the leaders of a ‘throwaway society’ are trying to impose an expensive ideology on California.” Bishop Soto said that October is “a time to renew our commitment to pray, advocate and do works of mercy promoting the dignity of human life.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252492/california-voters-must-reject-no-limit-proposition-1-abortion-amendment-critics-say Today the Church celebrates the yearly feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Known for several centuries by the alternate title of “Our Lady of Victory,” the feast day takes place in honor of a 16th century naval victory which secured Europe against Turkish invasion. Pope Saint Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was invoked on the day of the battle through a campaign to pray the Rosary throughout Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-rosary-617

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On the first-ever papal visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Pope Francis will close a forum on dialogue, meet with the grand imam of al-Azhar, and pray at a new Catholic cathedral. The Vatican released the full itinerary for the pope’s November 3-6 trip to the Muslim island nation in the Persian Gulf. The theme of the visit is “Peace on earth to people of goodwill,” inspired by Luke 2:14. The logo is a stylized image of two hands open toward God: one in the colors of the Vatican flag and one with the flag of Bahrain. An olive branch represents peace, while the text “Pope Francis” is in the color blue to represent the visit’s entrustment to the Virgin Mary. Bahrain, located to the east of Saudi Arabia and west of Qatar, has a population of 1.7 million. The population is nearly 70% Muslim, with the majority belonging to the Shiite branch of Islam, the country’s state religion. Christians, at approximately 210,000 people, make up 14% of the overall population, followed by Hindus at 10%. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252483/pope-francis-to-meet-muslim-leaders-small-christian-community-in-bahrain Police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, arrested a man Wednesday after he allegedly attacked a desk attendant with a sword and started a fire at Holy Family Cathedral. Police said a man attacked an employee of the building with a sword, lit incendiary devices, and attempted to set the building ablaze. There were children at the location, all of which were unharmed. The man was apprehended a short time later. The rector of the cathedral, Father Gary Kastl, identified the desk attendant as Ron Notzon. Kastl said Notzon confronted the suspect and received lacerations on his hands. Kastl said the church will offer a Mass for Notzon’s healing at 9am Thursday and will have priests, deacons, and counselors available after Mass at 11:30 am. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252480/police-man-attacked-tulsa-cathedral-attendant-with-sword-tried-to-set-building-on-fire A man visiting the Vatican museums in Rome on Wednesday flung two ancient Roman busts to the ground, causing moderate damage to the valuable works of art. According to an article in the newspaper Il Messaggero, the middle-aged American tourist asked to see the pope and became enraged when told that would not be possible. He then threw one bust to the ground and knocked the other over while trying to run away. The man had bought a ticket to the Vatican’s Chiaramonti Museum where the busts were displayed. After the incident, he was restrained by security guards and taken to the police station for questioning. The Vatican said damage to the busts “is not significant, the faces have not suffered great damage, perhaps one of the two specimens has detached a piece of the nose.” The busts have been moved to the marble restoration workshop of the Vatican Museums. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252476/tourist-who-wanted-to-see-the-pope-smashes-busts-at-the-vatican-museums Today the Church celebrates Saint Bruno of Cologne, founder of the Carthusian order of monks who remain notable for their strictly traditional and austere rule of contemplative life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bruno-founder-616

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska. Throughout her life, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina. He asked her to become an apostle and secretary of his mercy, by writing down his messages of Divine Mercy for the world in her diary. Jesus also asked Saint Faustina to have an image painted of his Divine Mercy, with red and white rays issuing from his heart, and to spread devotion to the Divine Mercy novena. Saint Faustina and Jesus’ message of Divine Mercy impacted the future Pope Saint John Paul II greatly, and he canonized her in 2000 and instituted Divine Mercy Sunday on the Sunday after Easter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-faustina-virgin-737 The Church also celebrates Saint Luigi Scrosoppi. With other priests and a group of young teachers, he dedicated himself to educating poor and abandoned girls in the practical skills of sewing and embroidery, as well as in reading, writing and arithmetic. Nine of these girls decided to take their vows as the first sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence, which Fr. Luigi founded in 1837. The congregation grew, and eventually he opened 12 houses of sisters. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-luigi-scrosoppi-424

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Most Catholics believe that President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president, should not run for a second term in 2024, according to a new EWTN News/RealClear Opinion Research Poll of likely Catholic voters released Monday. A majority of Catholics (58%) feel that Biden should not run for a second term in 2024, while only 22% support a possible re-election bid; 19% of Catholics are not sure. Most Catholics (67%-27% with 10% not sure) also do not want former President Donald Trump to run for president again in 2024. Among other highlights of the poll, Catholic voters rank inflation and the economy as the most critical issues facing the country, and most say they are very concerned about the state of education, especially after the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252446/ewtn-newsrealclear-opinion-poll-most-catholics-dont-want-biden-to-run-for-a-second-term A prominent pro-life priest known for his nonviolent attempts to hinder the operation of abortion clinics to save unborn children faces federal charges for padlocking closed the gate to a New York abortion clinic in July, blocking the entrance to the clinic in the hopes of counseling the women seeking an abortion that day to reconsider. Father Fidelis Moscinski, 52, a priest of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, was charged last week under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or Face Act, a 1994 federal law that prohibits the blocking of access to abortion clinics. The DOJ says first-time convictions of the Face Act are misdemeanor violations punishable by up to one year in federal prison; subsequent convictions are a felony. Moscinski has garnered media attention in recent years for his prayerful protests in the face of pro-abortion opposition and his work with the group Red Rose Rescue. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252453/abortion-protesting-priest-faces-possible-prison-time-after-charges-under-face-act Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Italian deacon who brought renewal to the Church through his decision to follow Jesus' words as literally as possible. At Mass one morning, he heard the Gospel reading in which Christ instructed the apostles to go forth without money, shoes, or extra clothing. This way of life soon became a papally-approved rule, which would attract huge number of followers within Francis' own lifetime.Through his imitation of Christ, Francis shared in the Lord's sufferings. He miraculously received Christ's wounds, the stigmata, in his own flesh during September of 1224. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-of-assisi-614

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis met with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the Vatican on Monday morning. Cook heads up a company whose stock market value hit $3 trillion in June. He spoke privately with Pope Francis on Oct. 3, the eve of the feast day of the pope’s namesake, St. Francis of Assisi — known for embracing radical poverty. The technology executive has been in Italy since Sept. 28. He first traveled to Naples, where he launched the first Apple Developer Academy in Europe and received an honorary degree from the University of Naples Federico II. Pope Francis has often met with tech company executives in recent years. Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, posted a photo with the pope on Twitter in June. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252448/pope-francis-meets-apple-ceo-tim-cook-at-the-vatican The European Court of Human Rights is set to rule in a landmark euthanasia case on Tuesday on whether Belgium wrongly allowed a woman to be euthanized by lethal injection on the grounds of “untreatable depression.” Tom Mortier is the son of Godelieva de Troyer, who died in 2012 after she had approached the country’s leading euthanasia advocate, who ultimately agreed to euthanize her despite being a cancer specialist. Before her death by euthanasia at age 64, neither her son nor any family member was consulted, according to a statement by the Christan legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF International). Mortier says that Belgium violated the European Convention on Human Rights for failing to adequately protect the right to life of his mother, who suffered severe mental difficulties and coped with depression throughout her life. Countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands have been at the forefront of offering euthanasia and assisted suicide, and doctors who personally object to the practice must still refer patients. Over 27,000 people have died from euthanasia in Belgium since it was legalized 20 years ago. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252447/europe-s-top-human-rights-court-to-rule-on-landmark-euthanasia-case Today, the Church celebrates Saint Mother Théodore Guérin. A Frech Sister of Providence, Mother Théodore Guérin was sent to Indiana in 1840 to found a convent of the Sisters of Providence in the diocese of Vincennes. There she pioneered Catholic education, opened the first girls’ boarding school in Indiana, and fought against the anti-Catholicism prevalent in the day. She was well known for her heroic witness to faith, her hope, and her love of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mother-theodore-guerin-382

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican confirmed Wednesday that Pope Francis will travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain, a Muslim island nation in the Persian Gulf, from November 3–6. The possibility of a papal trip to the Islamic monarchy was mentioned on the pope’s return flight from Kazakhstan on September 15. Bahrain, located to the east of Saudi Arabia and west of Qatar, has a population of 1.7 million people. The population is nearly 70% Muslim, with the majority belonging to the Shiite branch of Islam, the country’s state religion. Today, the Church celebrates Saint Wenceslaus, a Central European ruler who died at the hands of his brother while seeking to strengthen the Catholic faith in his native Bohemia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-wenceslaus-608

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A suspect was quickly arrested in the vandalism of a Denver-area Catholic pro-life medical clinic, Bella Health and Wellness. It is not clear whether the clinic was targeted for its pro-life Catholic mission, though the various graffiti included a reference to Satan and a stylized depiction of a devilish character. Bella is a nonprofit medical practice that operates in alignment with Catholic teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252386/denver-area-pro-life-medical-practice-vandalized Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others stood trial in Hong Kong on Monday for failing to properly register a fund to provide legal aid to pro-democracy protesters. The 90-year-old cardinal and retired bishop of Hong Kong arrived at the court in West Kowloon on September 26 using a cane to walk. He was arrested in May along with other democracy activists under Hong Kong’s strict national security law. In addition to Zen, who has been free on bail since early May, several others have been charged for failing to apply for local society registration for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund between 2019 and 2021. The Vatican has remained mostly silent on Zen’s trial apart from issuing a statement after the cardinal’s arrest in May expressing “concern” and that it was “following the development of the situation with extreme attention.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252387/cardinal-zen-stands-trial-in-hong-kong Today, the Church celebrates Saints Cosmas and Damian, twins born to Christian parents in Arabia, in the third century. They lived in the region around the border between modern day Turkey and Syria. They were physicians who were renowned for their skill as well as their refusal to charge for their services.In 287, they were captured and ordered to deny their faith in Christ. They refused and underwent a series of tortures, including Crucifixion, from which, miraculously, they remained unscathed. The torturers finally beheaded them both. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-cosmas-and-damian-606

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In the aftermath of the fire that gutted a church in Cameroon, Bishop Aloysius Fondong of the Diocese of Mamfé entered the ruins to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament and found the sacred Hosts and the ciborium containing them to be intact. On the night of September 16, armed men set fire to Saint Mary’s church in the town of Nchang, located in the Diocese of Mamfé, and kidnapped five priests, a nun, and three lay people. The archbishop of Bamenda, Andrew Nkea Fuanya, said that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom. The prelate commented that there are groups that see the Church as an “easy target to make money.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252363/blessed-sacrament-found-intact-in-tabernacle-of-church-burned-by-armed-men-in-cameroon President Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to erroneously suggest that the Catholic Church makes exceptions for rape and incest in its condemnation of abortion. Biden made the remarks at a fundraising event for the Democratic National Committee at a private home in New York City’s Central Park South neighborhood while discussing a Republican-backed congressional bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks into pregnancy. The president incorrectly said the bill has no exceptions for rape and incest. A White House spokesperson was not immediately available Thursday night to clarify what Biden meant. But any implication that the Catholic Church makes exceptions where abortion is concerned is incorrect. “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church states. “This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed as an ends or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252367/president-biden-catholic-church-abortion-teaching-exceptions A priest along with the former parish administrator of a Catholic church in Florida funneled nearly $1.5 million in parishioners’ donations into a secret bank account for personal use, Vero Beach police said Tuesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252364/florida-priest-and-parish-administrator-embezzled-1-dollars-5-cents-million-from-parish-police-say Today, the Church celebrates the Italian Franciscan priest Saint Pio of Petrelcina, better known as “Padre Pio” and known for his suffering, humility and miracles. Born Francesco Forgione, he joined the Franciscans in 1903. He took the new name Pio, a modernized Italian form of “Pius,” in honor of Pope Saint Pius the fifth. He made his solemn vows four years later, and received priestly ordination in the summer of 1910. Shortly after, he first received the Stigmata – Christ’s wounds, present in his own flesh. Against his own wishes, the friar’s reputation for holiness, and attending miracles, began to attract huge crowds. Some Church officials, however, denounced the priest and had him banned from public ministry in 1931. Pope Pius XI ended the ban two years later, and his successor Pius XII encouraged pilgrimages to Padre Pio’s friary. Known for patient suffering, fervent prayer, and compassionate spiritual guidance, Padre Pio also lent his efforts to the establishment of a major hospital, the “Home to Relieve Suffering.” Padre Pio died in 1968, and was declared a saint in 2002. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pio-of-pietrelcina-603

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic church in Tangamandapio and seven other Catholic churches were damaged in the state of Michoacán by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Mexico on Monday, September 19. The earthquake’s epicenter was 49 miles from the town of Coalcomán in the state of Michoacán. So far, two people have reportedly died. The earthquake, which was felt in other parts of the country such as Mexico City, occurred on the anniversary of two other major earthquakes in 1985 and 2017, which claimed many lives. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252354/eight-churches-damaged-by-sept-19-earthquake-in-mexico The vice president of the German bishops’ conference said Thursday he had thought about resigning after the publication of a report claiming he mishandled abuse cases, but that he had ultimately decided against it. A report published Sept. 20 said Bishop Franz-Josef Bode mishandled abuse cases in the Diocese of Osnabrück, in northwestern Germany, which he has led since 1995. The 71-year-old bishop has been vice president of the German bishops’ conference since 2017. He is also vice president of the German Synodal Way. He has publically supported women deacons and the development of a Church ceremony for blessing same-sex unions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252357/german-bishop-says-he-will-not-resign-after-report-he-mishandled-abuse-cases After the pro-life pregnancy center he runs outside Buffalo was firebombed and vandalized on June 7, James Harden gave investigators video-surveillance footage of the attack, along with what he described as a “mountain of other evidence.” Harden said that he has asked both the FBI and local police for access to the footage so he can make a copy of it, to no avail. The police showed him still images taken from the video, he said, but would not give him access to the footage itself. So on Tuesday CompassCare filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order the police department to provide CompassCare with a copy of the footage. The legal action is the latest manifestation of mounting frustration about what some see as a lackluster response by the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies to the wave of violent attacks on pro-life groups and Catholic churches across the US since an early draft of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade was leaked on May 2. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252352/pregnancy-clinic-firebombed-janes-revenge-no-arrests Today, the Church celebrates Saint Maurice, a member of the Theban Legion, a Roman legion said to have been constituted by Christian soldiers from Africa, which was called to put down a revolt in Aaunum, located in modern day Switzerland, in the year 287. Two legends exist about the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and his companions. According to the legends, the legion's soldiers were either ordered to take part in pagan sacrifices, or ordered to harass and kill some local Christians. In either event, the 6,600 men of Maurice's legion refused. In punishment for their disobedience, every tenth man in the legion was killed. When the remaining soldiers, fortified by Saint Maurice, still refused other legions were called in to force them to follow their orders. Persisting in their refusal, they were all massacred. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-maurice-and-companions-602 The Church also celebrates Saint Thomas of Villanova, a 16th century Spanish Augustinian monk and archbishop who lived a life of austerity in order to provide for the spiritual and material needs of his people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-thomas-of-villanova-710

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has called on Christians to support communities in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Fiona. The pope expressed his solidarity with all affected by the category 3 hurricane in a telegram sent on September 21 to bishops in the Caribbean countries. More than 1.3 million homes and businesses were left without power in Puerto Rico after the storm dumped 30 inches of rain, causing surging floodwaters, submerged homes, and damaged roads. Catholic Charities USA is currently coordinating distributions of food, water, and other essential items. Kim Burgo, vice president of Catholic Charities USA’s disaster operations, told CNA that many families are still recovering from Hurricane Maria, the 2017 storm that the government says caused $90 billion in damage in Puerto Rico. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252349/pope-francis-urges-support-for-hurricane-fiona-victims https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252344/catholic-charities-to-provide-aid-to-puerto-ricans-devastated-by-hurricane-fiona California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill into law that will allow the composting of human remains starting in 2027 — a bill that the state’s Catholic Conference had opposed. The process of human composting — also known as natural organic reduction (NOR) — is a relatively new phenomenon in the U.S. and is legal in a handful of other states. When a body is composted, it is placed in a reusable container where microbes and bacteria decompose it into soil over the course of 30–45 days. The state’s Catholic conference had expressed opposition to the bill in a June letter. Kathleen Domingo, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, said the use of a body composting method originally developed for farm animals creates an “unfortunate spiritual, emotional, and psychological distancing from the deceased.” In addition, she said, the process “reduces the human body to simply a disposable commodity.” The Catholic Church does not have an official teaching on the composting of human bodies but has weighed in many times over the years on the practice of cremation. While strongly discouraged, cremation can be permissible under certain restrictions; notably, the remains are not to be scattered and must be kept in a sacred place, out of reverence for the Church’s teaching on the eventual resurrection of the body. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252342/human-composting-california-bishops-raise-objections Today, the Church celebrates Saint Matthew the Apostle. Although relatively little is known about the life of Saint Matthew, the account he wrote of Christ's ministry – traditionally considered to be the first of the four Gospels - is of inestimable value to the Church, particularly in its verification of Jesus as the Messiah. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-matthew-apostle-601

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Vatican envoy in Ukraine prayed in silence at the recently discovered mass grave in Izium on Monday while forensic experts in white protective suits exhumed bodies, at least 146 so far. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski said during his visit to the grave site on September 19 that “seeing so many [dead] in one area is a difficult thing … to explain.” “The words of Sacred Scripture came to mind that evil must always be overcome with good,” he told Vatican News. It is the Polish cardinal’s fourth trip to Ukraine since the start of the war. Pope Francis sent the cardinal as his personal representative to “be with the people who are suffering.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252338/cardinal-konrad-krajewski-prays-at-mass-grave-in-ukraine The Synod on Synodality has thus far demonstrated the “joys, hopes, and wounds” shared by members of the Church in the United States, according to a report on the process issued Monday. “These consultations express a deep desire for greater communion,” read the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Synthesis document, released September 19. The fruit of consultation in the Latin-rite dioceses in the U.S, as well as Catholic associations, organizations, and national ministries, the synthesis noted several themes: enduring wounds, especially those inflicted by the sexual abuse crisis; enhancing communion and participation in the life of the Church; ongoing formation for mission; and engaging discernment. According to the report, about 700,000 people participated in the diocesan phase of the synod in the U.S., out of 66.8 million Catholics in the country. The report can be read on the USCCB website. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252336/us-synod-synthesis-shows-desire-for-greater-communion Today, the Church celebrates Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasañg, who were leaders of the Catholic Church in Korea. Andrew Kim Taegon was born to Korean nobility, and his parents converted when he was 15-years old. He traveled over 1000 miles to study in a seminary and became the first native Korean priest. He was tortured and beheaded in 1846. Paul Choñg Hasang was a Korean Catholic lay leader who defended the faith before the government of Korea, and reunited the Christians in the midst of the persecutions, encouraging them to stay strong in the faith. In response to his direct appeals, the Pope, Gregory the tenth, confirmed the validity of the Korean Church and sent more priests to Korea. He was martyred in 1839. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-andrew-kim-taegon-paul-chong-ha-600

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is today, and many Catholics are praying for the repose of her soul, and for the new King, Charles III. The Catholic bishops of England and Wales have released statements, made comments, and issued pastoral letters about the death of Her Majesty. “Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation,” Cardinal Vincent Nichols f Westminster said. “Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II,” he said. The cardinal said on September 8 that the queen’s “Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.” Together with many Catholics around the U.K. and the Commonwealth, the faithful in Westminster on September 11 also prayed for the queen’s son, King Charles III, as he took on the burdens of the royal office. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252329/catholic-prayers-for-queen-elizabeth-ii-and-the-new-king Gunmen set a Catholic church on fire and kidnapped five priests, one religious sister, and two lay people in western Cameroon on September 16, where a civil war has been raging since 2017. The attack took place on Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Nchang, Mamfe Diocese. Cameroon has been embroiled in a civil war known as the “Anglophone Crisis” in which armed separatists from the Anglophone regions of the country in the Northwest and Southwest have taken part in an uprising against government forces. Both sides have been accused of atrocities, including the murder and torture of civilians. About two-thirds of Cameroonians practice Christianity, while 25–30% are Muslim. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252326/catholic-church-burned-down-priests-and-religious-sister-kidnapped-in-cameroon Today, the Church celebrates Saint Emily de Rodat, founder of the Religious Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche. The congregation was devoted to caring for the elderly, prisoners, and orphans, in addition to the schools for the poor. Some of the nuns were also contemplative and spent their time in prayer and adoration. She died of cancer at Villefranche on September 19, 1852. At the time of her death Saint Emily de Rodat had opened 38 charitable institutions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-emily-de-rodat-599

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Speaking to priests, religious sisters, and missionaries living in Kazakhstan, where Catholics make up less than 1% of the population, Pope Francis on Thursday said that God’s power is made manifest when “we acknowledge our littleness.” “The Gospel says that being little, poor in spirit, is a blessing, a beatitude, and indeed the first of the beatitudes,” Pope Francis said in Nur-Sultan’s Cathedral of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help on September 15. Kazakhstan is a majority-Muslim country home to an ethnically diverse minority of Catholics — an estimated 125,000 out of the Central Asian country’s population of 19 million. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252297/pope-francis-tells-kazakhstan-s-small-catholic-community-being-little-is-a-blessing Discussing on the flight from Kazakhstan to Italy on Thursday the moral degradation of the West, particularly concerning the advance of legal euthanasia, Pope Francis said the region has taken the wrong path and that killing should be left “to the animals.” Pressed on the problem of euthanasia, Pope Francis said: “To kill is not human, period. If you kill — with motivation yes — in the end you will kill more. It’s not human. Let’s leave killing to the animals.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252304/pope-francis-the-west-has-taken-the-wrong-paths By a broad majority, members of the European Parliament on Thursday condemned the escalating repression against the Catholic Church and others in Nicaragua. The resolution, passed September 15, criticized the arbitrary “arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez” of Matagalpa and called “for his and others’ immediate and unconditional release and the annulment of all legal proceedings against them.” Pope Francis on Thursday called for dialogue, saying: “There have been talks with the government; there is dialogue. That doesn’t mean you approve of everything the government does or you disapprove of everything. It does not. There is dialogue and there is a need to solve problems.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252307/european-parliament-condemns-growing-repression-of-catholic-church-in-nicaragua-calls-for-release-of-bishop Today, the Church celebrates Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, martyrs. Saint Cornelius was elected Pope in 251 during the persecutions of the Emperor Decius. Cornelius decreed that apostates must be welcomed back and insisted that they perform an adequate penance. In 253 Cornelius was exiled by the emperor Gallus and died of the hardships he endured in exile. Saint Cyprian of Carthage is second in importance only to the great Saint Augustine as a figure and Father of the African church. He was a close friend of Pope Cornelius, and supported him both against the anti-pope Novatian and in his views concerning the re-admittance of apostates into the Church. He was martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Valerian. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cornelius-pope-martyr-and-st-cyprian-bishop-martyr-596

September 14, 2022 by Catholic News Agency

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has arrived in Kazakhstan for a brief visit to attend an interreligious meeting. The pope was welcomed by a delegation of civil and religious leaders, including President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. On Wednesday, the opening and plenary session of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will take place at the Palace of Independence. At the conference, Pope Francis will have the opportunity to meet with several Muslim leaders attending the congress, including representatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and across Central Asia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252271/why-is-pope-francis-going-to-kazakhstan-here-s-what-he-plans-to-do The prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, has asked the members of the Catholic institution for their prayers for the reform process ordered by Pope Francis, which took effect August 4. On July 22, the Vatican published the apostolic letter in the form of a motu proprio titled “Ad charisma tuendum” (To safeguard the charism), whereby Pope Francis ordered a reform of Opus Dei. Among the pope’s provisions are that the prelate who directs Opus Dei from now on will no longer be a bishop; the institution must adapt its statutes and present an annual report; and it will no longer answer to the dicastery for bishops but to the dicastery for the clergy. Opus Dei is a personal prelature, the only one in the Catholic Church. It was founded in Spain by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer in 1928 and is present in 68 countries. The overall head of the prelature is the prelate, who is appointed by the pope and who governs the institution as a jurisdiction, similar to a bishop who governs his diocese or assigned territory. In Opus Dei there are priests, celibate lay persons who are called numeraries and associates, and supernumeraries who are married members. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252270/opus-dei-s-prelate-asks-for-prayers-for-reform-ordered-by-pope-francis Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Chrysostom, considered the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, and the most prominent Greek father of the Church. In 398 he was forcefully appointed Patriarch of Constantinople, and fast became very popular with his flock through his example of preaching and courage in front of the imperial power, whose corruption and decadence he never shirked from criticizing in public. Chrysostom's many writings, especially homilies and commentaries on the Gospels, still exist and have exerted great influence over the centuries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-chrysostom-362

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis in his Angelus address on Sunday honored an Italian missionary sister who was killed by Islamist terrorists in Mozambique. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on September 11, the pope said: “In this moment of prayer, it is dear to me to remember Sister Maria de Coppi, Combonian missionary, killed in Chipene, Mozambique, where she served with love for almost 60 years.” “May her witness give strength and courage to Christians and all the people of Mozambique.” Sister Maria de Coppi was shot and killed last week as terrorists ransacked and burned the Catholic mission where she served in Mozambique’s Diocese of Nacala. The Italian priests and sisters who served at the mission were able to evacuate 68 students who were living at the mission before the church, boarding houses, rectory, and school were destroyed in the five-hour attack on the night of September 6. Sister Maria was about to flee with the other missionaries when she turned back out of concern for the 12 female students who had stayed behind at the mission, according to the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252263/pope-francis-honors-nun-killed-by-islamist-terrorists-in-mozambique A new report from the Religious Freedom Institute quantifies and analyzes the many reported incidents of violence against pro-life people and entities since May and offers recommendations for government officials on how to respond. The RFI concluded that conditions remain in place for more attacks against pro-life entities and people to occur in 2022 and into 2023. According to data compiled by CNA, at least 32 Catholic churches in the United States have been vandalized with a clear pro-abortion motive since the May leak, along with at least 50 pro-life pregnancy centers. Taking a broader view, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has tracked some 164 total attacks against Catholic entities across 37 states and the District of Columbia since May 2020. The report recommends that pro-life organizations devote more resources to security and security training for staff and volunteers, invest in relationships with law enforcement agencies, and step up their insurance. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252249/report-assesses-threats-to-religious-pro-life-americans-following-overturn-of-roe-v-wade The political group CatholicVote is inviting Christians nationwide to pray a novena asking for Saint Michael’s intercession amid the growing number of attacks targeting churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in the United States. The novena will begin on September 20 and conclude on September 29, the feast of the archangels. Catholics who “pledge to pray” online will receive access to the novena prayers and an email reminder each day to pray. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252258/catholicvote-to-hold-saint-michael-novena-in-defense-of-churches-pregnancy-centers Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Apollinaris Franco, a Spanish Franciscan who evangelized covertly in Japan in the 17th century and was burned at the stake by authorities in Nagasaki. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-apollinaris-franco-592

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, England, offered prayers on Thursday for Queen Elizabeth II, who is reportedly under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with multiple family members traveling to be by her side. The 96-year-old British monarch has been on a summer break at her Scottish home since July, the BBC reported. As of Thursday afternoon, all the queen’s children were traveling to or had arrived at the castle. Since her reign began in 1952, Queen Elizabeth has met five popes. In 2010, she welcomed then Pope Benedict XVI to the UK, the first state visit of a pope to the country. Saint John Paul II had visited the UK and met with the queen in 1982, but his was a pastoral rather than a state visit. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252239/cardinal-nichols-prays-for-queen-elizabeth-ii-amid-concerns-about-her-health A statue of Our Lady of Fatima, stolen from Catholic church in New Jersey last week has been recovered and an arrest has been made. The statue was stolen from Saint Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Gibbsboro, New Jersey on August 30. Monsignor Louis Marucci, the pastor, said that he was praying that it would be returned before today, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the day on which the parish always holds a litany of prayers from sunup to sundown in honor of Mary. A 64 year old suspect has been charged with the theft. Marucci praised the police for their efforts in finding the suspect. He also said that the parish’s security system and cameras were instrumental in capturing footage of the suspect in that act. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252233/our-lady-of-fatima-statue-stolen-from-catholic-church-in-nj-found-arrest-made Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nine months after the December 8 celebration of her Immaculate Conception as the child of Saints Joachim and Anne. The circumstances of the Virgin Mary's infancy and early life are not directly recorded in the Bible, but other documents and traditions describing the circumstances of her birth are cited by some of the earliest Christian writers from the first centuries of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-birth-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-357

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis beatified John Paul I, who reigned as pope for only 33 days, amid a thunderstorm in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday. In his homily for the rainy beatification Mass on September 4, Pope Francis said that John Paul I “embodied the poverty of a disciple” through his “victory over the temptation to put oneself at the center, to seek one’s own glory.” Often called “the smiling pope,” John Paul I died unexpectedly on September 28, 1978, a month after the conclave that elected him. In one of the shortest pontificates in papal history, John Paul I gained a reputation for his humility and his dedication to teaching the faith in an understandable manner. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252206/pope-francis-beatifies-john-paul-i-pope-for-33-days With the next World Youth Day less than a year away, Pope Francis has promised that a pope will be in attendance, but joked that it may be “Pope John the 24th.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252209/pope-francis-jokes-that-either-he-or-john-xxiv-will-attend-world-youth-day-next-year In their message for Labor Day, the US bishops have urged the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as a means of building a just economy for women and families. “There is currently no federal law requiring employers to provide short-term, reasonable accommodations to pregnant women in the workplace and the PWFA would do so,” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252194/us-bishops-urge-senate-to-pass-protections-for-working-moms-in-labor-day-message Today, the Church celebrates Saint Teresa of Calcutta, also known as Mother Teresa. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia. The youngest of three children, she attended a youth group run by a Jesuit priest called Sodality, which eventually opened her to the call of service as a missionary nun. She joined the Sisters of Loretto at age 17 and was sent to Calcutta, where she taught at a high school. After contracting tuberculosis, she was sent to rest in Darjeeling, and it was on the way that she felt what she called "an order" from God to leave the convent and live among the poor. The Vatican granted her permission to leave the Sisters of Loretto and to live her new call under the guidance of the Archbishop of Calcutta.After she left her convent, Mother Teresa began working in the slums, teaching poor children, and treating the sick in their homes. A year later, some of her former students joined her, and together they took in men, women and children who were dying in the gutters along the streets. In 1950, the Missionaries of Charity were born as a congregation of the Diocese of Calcutta. In 1952, the government granted them a house from which to continue their mission of serving Calcutta's poor and forgotten. The congregation quickly grew from a single house for the dying and unwanted to nearly 500 houses around the world. Mother Teresa set up homes for prostitutes, battered women, orphanages for poor children and houses for those suffering from AIDS. She was a fierce defender of the unborn, and is known to have said, "If you hear of some woman who does not want to keep her child and wants to have an abortion, try to persuade her to bring him to me. I will love that child, seeing in him the sign of God's love." She died on September 5, 1997, and was beatified just six years later by Saint John Paul II October 19, 2003. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-of-kolkata-585

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope John Paul the first will be beatified this Saturday. Venerable John Paul I was born Albino Luciani on October 17, 1912 in the town of Canale d'Argordo in northern Italy’s Belluno province. He was the most recent pope to be born in Italy and the first pope to be born in the twentieth century. He was elected to the papacy on August 26, 1978. He would be dead just a month later. Though his time as Roman Pontiff was brief, he had such an impact that some Catholics have sought his intercession as a saint. The photogenic smile of the pope helped cement his reputation and his nickname, the Smiling Pope. John Paul I was pope for 33 days, from August 26 to September 28, 1978. His 33-day pontificate was the 10th shortest in history. The last pope to have such a brief pontificate was Leo XI, whose pontificate lasted 27 days in April 1605. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252191/nine-things-to-know-about-john-paul-i Today, the Church celebrates the September Martyrs, a group of 191 faithful Christians who were martyred at the hands of the French Revolution on September 2 and 3, 1792. After refusing to take an oath in support of the civil consititution of the clergy, an act condemned by the Vatican which placed Catholic priests under the authority and control of the state, these priests and religious brothers and sisters were imprisoned in a Carmelite convent and then massacred in the space of two days by revolutionary mobs. They were beatified on October 17, 1926 by Pope Pius XI. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/martyrs-of-september-582

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An American religious sister ministering in Burkina Faso who was kidnapped in April is free and safe after nearly five months of captivity, according to her congregation and the local diocese. Suellen Tennyson, 83, a New Orleans native, has served at a missionary outpost in northern Burkina Faso since 2014. She was abducted by unidentified armed men on April 5 from the small home she shared with two other members of her congregation, the Marianites of Holy Cross. Reportedly abducted without shoes, she also left behind her glasses and blood pressure medication. Sister Ann Lacour, the current Marianite congregational leader, confirmed August 30 that Tennyson is now safe and in the hands of US authorities. The FBI had issued a missing person notice for the sister, but until this week there had been no news of her location or condition. Tennyson is a former international leader of her congregation who was moved to start a missionary outpost in Burkina Faso after a 2011 visit to the country. Her congregation requested continued prayers for Tennyson’s recovery, as well as privacy until she is ready to speak publicly about her ordeal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252176/abducted-american-religious-sister-freed-in-burkina-faso The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Wednesday upholding the dismissal of a Catholic school teacher who had contracted a same-sex marriage. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis commented that the court had “unanimously protected the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ right to ensure students and families receive an authentic Catholic education.” The lawsuit against the archdiocese was filed by Joshua Payne-Elliott, a former teacher at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. In 2017, Payne-Elliott entered a same-sex marriage with another Catholic school teacher in the archdiocese, Layton Payne-Elliott. Archdiocesan policy states that Catholic schools must clearly state in their contracts and job descriptions that teachers must uphold and support the teachings of the Church in their lives. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252178/indiana-supreme-court-backs-archdiocese-in-religious-freedom-case Former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev’s death on Tuesday revived shaky rumors that the last head of the communist and officially atheist Soviet Union was a Christian convert. While Gorbachev had been more friendly to religion than most of his predecessors, in March 2008 Gorbachev had to dispel claims he had become a Christian, saying that he has been and remains an atheist. Gorbachev and his wife Raisa had been baptized Christians in the Russian Orthodox Church, the two said in 1989, but they depicted this as part of normal family custom at the time of their births. They did not baptize their daughter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252180/mikhail-gorbachev-s-death-revives-unfounded-rumors-of-christian-conversion Today, the Church celebrates Saint Beatrice da Silva Meneses, a 15th century Portuguese noblewoman who founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-beatrice-da-silva-meneses-581

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Holy See said Pope Francis’ recent comments on a car bombing that killed the daughter of an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be interpreted as a “political stance.” In a statement released Aug. 30, the Vatican also called the Russia-Ukraine conflict a “large-scale war in Ukraine, initiated by the Russian Federation.” Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some of Pope Francis’ comments have come under criticism, including a statement he made in an interview in June that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was “perhaps somehow provoked.” He was also rebuked by Ukraine’s Vatican Ambassador last week for his characterization of the August 20 death of Darya Dugina, a 29-year-old journalist and political commentator known for her support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Dugina was the daughter of Aleksandr Dugin, a Russian political thinker believed to be close to Putin. The Holy See’s unsigned communication said Pope Francis has made “numerous speeches” on the Ukraine War “mostly aimed at inviting pastors and the faithful to prayer, and all people of goodwill to solidarity and efforts to rebuild peace.” “It is reiterated that the Holy Father’s words on this tragic issue should be read as a voice raised in defense of human life and the values attached to it, and not as taking a political stance,” the Holy See said. The Vatican’s statement appeared to refer in part to criticism over Pope Francis’ August 24 appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine, in which he referenced Dugina’s death. “I think of that poor girl blown up by a bomb under her car seat in Moscow. The innocent pay for war, the innocent! Let us think about this reality and say to each other: war is madness,” Francis said at the end of his general audience. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, criticized Francis’ remarks on Twitter, writing that the speech “was disappointing” and conflated the categories of “aggressor and victim.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252154/vatican-pope-francis-ukraine-war-comments-not-a-political-stance Today, the Church celebrates Saint Jeanne Jugan, also known as Sister Mary of the Cross. During the 19th century, she founded the Little Sisters of the Poor with the goal of imitating Christ's humility through service to elderly people in need. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-jeanne-jugan-707

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis created 20 new cardinals for the Catholic Church during a liturgy in Saint Peter's Basilica on Saturday. “Jesus calls us by name; he looks us in the eye and he asks: Can I count on you?” Pope Francis said in a homily addressed to the College of Cardinals and its new members on August 27. “The Lord,” he said, “wants to bestow on us his own apostolic courage, his zeal for the salvation of every human being, without exception. He wants to share with us his magnanimity, his boundless and unconditional love, for his heart is afire with the mercy of the Father.” During the ceremony, the new cardinals made a profession of faith by reciting the Creed. They then pronounced an oath of fidelity and obedience to the pope and his successors. Each cardinal then approached Pope Francis, kneeling before him to receive the red birretta, the cardinal's ring, and a document naming the titular church he has been assigned. Pope Francis embraced each new cardinal, saying to him: “Pax Domini sit semper tecum,” which is Latin for “the peace of the Lord be with you always.” Each cardinal responded: “Amen.” catholicnewsagency.com/news/252141/jesus-asks-us-can-i-count-on-you-pope-francis-creates-20-cardinals-for-the-catholic-church Pope Francis became the first pope in 728 years to open the Holy Door of a 13th-century basilica in L’Aquila, Italy, on Sunday. During a visit to the Italian city located about 70 miles northeast of Rome on Aug. 28, the pope participated in a centuries-old tradition, the Celestinian Forgiveness, known in Italian as the Perdonanza Celestiniana. The opening of the Holy Door marked a key moment in the annual celebration established by Pope Celestine V in 1294. In his brief Angelus message, the pope offered a prayer for the people of Pakistan, where flash floods have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced thousands more. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252145/pope-francis-becomes-first-pope-in-more-than-700-years-to-open-the-holy-door-in-l-aquila Today, the Church commemorates the beheading of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. As an adult, he lived as a hermit in the wilderness. After the Spirit inspired him, he went about preaching that the people should repent of their sins and be baptized in order to prepare for the Messiah. Herod imprisoned John because he had condemned Herod for committing adultery by living with his brother's wife, Herodias. At he celebration for Herod on his birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for him, and Herod was so impressed that he said he would offer her anything she liked. She consulted with Herodias who told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod did not want to kill John for fear or what his follwers might do, but because of his promise to the girl he could not refuse, and so John was beheaded. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-beheading-of-john-the-baptist-578

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In response to a question from EWTN, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the Biden administration condemns recent attacks on democratic leaders in Nicaragua, without specifically mentioning those targeting priests and other Catholic leaders. Since 2018, under the Ortega dictatorship, there have been more than 190 attacks against the Catholic Church, its bishops, priests, faithful, and houses of worship, Catholic officials in Nicaragua have said. Both the current and former White House administrations have condemned Ortega for these acts. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252126/white-house-press-secretary-responds-to-ewtn-s-question-about-nicaraguan-persecution-of-catholics Catholic bishops from two US dioceses have issued policies that would prohibit Catholic schools from promoting a view of sexual identity that contradicts Church teaching. Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bishop Donald DeGrood of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, join several other dioceses that have implemented such policies as discussions over the use of pronouns have taken up debate in the public square. The Archdiocese of Omaha’s policy requires all students, parents, guardians, employees, and volunteers to “act toward a person in accordance with his or her biological sex at birth.” Students are required to use bathrooms and locker rooms “that correspond with their biological sex” and may not attend school-sponsored dances with a date of the same sex. Failure to abide by the policy can result in possible termination for employees and possible dismissal for the student. In addition, students’ eligibility to participate in sports is based on their biological sex, the policy states. The policy does not deny school admission to those experiencing gender dysphoria, as long as the student and parents agree to abide by school policies. “Behaviors of a student that cause disruption or confusion regarding the Church’s teaching on human sexuality are prohibited,” according to the guidelines. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252121/omaha-sioux-falls-bishops-adopt-policies-affirming-students-biological-sex Today, the Church celebrates Saint Jeanne Elizabeth des Bichier des Anges. Born in 18th century France, she was the founder of the Daughters of the Cross. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-jeanne-elizabeth-des-bichier-des-anges-346

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A team of archaeologists uncovered new evidence this month about location of the house of Saint Peter. While excavating a fifth-sixth century Byzantine basilica at the el Araj archaeological site located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Israel, the team discovered a large Greek mosaic that seems to bolster the theory that the church was built over the home of Saints Peter and Andrew. The mosaic is inscribed with a petition that asks for the intercession of Saint Peter, who is referred to as “the chief and commander of the heavenly apostles.” The next excavation will take place in October. The team will complete the cleaning of the church, and hopes to uncover more inscriptions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252110/st-peter-s-house-believed-found-shore-sea-of-galilee Patriarch Kirill of Moscow will not attend an interreligious summit in Kazakhstan in September, where it was hoped he would meet with Pope Francis to discuss a peaceful resolution to the six-month-long war in Ukraine. Pope Francis will travel to Kazakhstan for the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the city of Nur-Sultan on September 13th to 15th. There had been speculation that the two religious leaders — who met in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 — might meet in person, possibly in Jerusalem, to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Kirill has publicly supported. The Vatican has said it stands ready to mediate peace talks between the two countries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252118/patriarch-kirill-will-not-meet-pope-francis-in-kazakhstan Less than a week after abducting the bishop of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Estelí, Rolando Álvarez, the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has silenced another Catholic radio station. Radio Stereo Fe of the Diocese of Estelí lamented August 24 on Facebook that “almost 28 years of radio evangelization on FM have ended today.” The reason used by the telecommunications regulatory agency of the Ortega dictatorship “is that the radio station is functioning with the license in the name of Father Francisco Valdivia,” a deceased priest, “and that the new director doesn’t have any permission.” The closure of the radio station took place just one day after the priests of the Diocese of Estelí released a statement calling on the authorities of the dictatorial regime of Ortega to convert, to allow them to work in peace, and to release Álvarez. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252114/daniel-ortega-regime-shuts-down-another-catholic-radio-station-in-nicaragua Shortly after Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma denied clemency to death row inmate James Coddington on Wednesday, the Archbishop of Oklahoma City encouraged the state not to resort to the death penalty. Archbishop Paul Coakley urged prayer for an end to the death penalty and “that our leaders may have the wisdom and compassion to recognize the humanity in every person, regardless of their state in life.” The Diocese of Tulsa plans to hold a prayer vigil outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252113/oklahoma-city-archbishop-disappointed-by-denial-of-clemency-to-death-row-inmate Today, the Church celebrates Saint Louis. As the king of France, his biographers have written of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowledge of his people. King Louis was renowned for his charity. Beggars were fed from his table, he washed their feet, ministered to the wants of the lepers, and daily fed over one hundred poor. Saint Louis was also a patron of architecture. He died of the plague near Tunis during the Second Crusade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louis-ix-of-france-570

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Four religious sisters who were kidnapped while on their way to Mass August 21 have been released, according to their order. Sisters Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu, and Benita Agu were kidnapped August 21 in Nigeria’s Imo state, located in the south of the country. After two days of seeking “intense prayer” for their “quick and safe release,” the Sisters of Jesus the Saviour announced the abductees’ “unconditional and safe release” in a statement August 23. The Sisters of Jesus the Saviour is a Nigerian order that cares for the poor, elderly, and sick. The order did not provide any details about who may have perpetrated the kidnapping. Kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria have multiplied in recent years, a situation that has prompted Church leaders to express serious concern about the security of their members and to call on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252098/kidnapped-nigerian-religious-sisters-released Father Stuart Long — the late Catholic priest recently featured in a film starring actor Mark Wahlberg — is one of seven finalists for a prestigious Catholic award called the Lumen Christi Award. The Montana boxer-turned-priest known for his dramatic conversion is the only finalist not alive today. Father Stu was diagnosed with a debilitating terminal illness around the time of his ordination in 2007, but it never deterred him from his ministry as a priest — even while in a wheelchair. The Lumen Christi Award, presented by the papal society Catholic Extension, honors “people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities they serve.” Founded in 1905, the Chicago-based nonprofit says that it “works in solidarity with people in America’s poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252094/father-stu-honored-catholic-award-finalist-mark-wahlberg-movie “Trigger laws” banning most abortions with limited exceptions are set to take effect in three states — Texas, Idaho, and Tennessee — on Thursday, August 25. When these laws go into effect, a dozen states in total will have banned abortion, most through “trigger laws” passed before the overturning of Roe v Wade on June 24. According to SBA Pro-life America, the laws going into effect could prevent as many as 69,000 abortions each year across the three states. Katie Glenn, SBAPLA’s state policy director, told CNA that the pro-life organization is “really excited that states can finally enact policies that reflect the values of their people.” The states in question all have provisions in their trigger laws stipulating that the laws would come into force 30 days after the US Supreme Court’s official judgment overturning Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252097/abortion-trigger-laws-three-states-take-effect-this-week Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bartholomew. Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament, at least not under the name Bartholomew: many ancient writers and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John. He presented as honest and innocent, a just man, who devotes much time to quiet reflection and prayer "under the fig tree” and has been awaiting the Messiah, the Holy One of God. Nothing is known for sure about the life of Bartholomew after the Ascension of Jesus, but tradition holds that he preached in the East and died a martyr's death in Armenia, being flayed alive for having won converts to the Lord Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bartholomew-apostle-569

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican released the logo and motto for Pope Francis’ September trip to Kazakhstan Tuesday. The motto of the September 13-15 visit, “Messengers of Peace and Unity,” is written in Kazakh across the top of the logo and Russian across the bottom. Russian and Kazakh are the two official languages of the Central Asian country. Pope Francis will travel to the city of Nur-Sultan for the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The sky blue and yellow logo includes two hands forming the image of a dove with an olive branch. The blue and yellow of the logo are the colors of the Kazakhstan flag. A heart on the dove's wing “represents love, fruit of reciprocal understanding, cooperation, and dialogue.” The olive branch has been drawn in the shape of a typical Kazakh Ornament, a type of ancient folk art. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252092/motto-and-logo-of-pope-francis-trip-to-kazakhstan-released The Committee for Life, the Laity, and the Family of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference expressed its opposition to four bills introduced in Congress to legalize euthanasia. The committee said the country is facing “a new manifestation of the culture of death and the throwaway culture.” In an August 18 statement, the committee said that “the Gospel commits us not to be indifferent in the face of discussions on the beginning and end of life.” There are currently four bills to legalize euthanasia: two introduced last year and two this year. In its statement, the Church in Argentina warned that “we are facing a new manifestation of the culture of death and the throwaway culture” and at the same time, “we are a people that wants such important needs as health, work, housing, and land” to be taken care of.” In its statement, the Committee for Life, the Laity, and the Family pointed out that “even in cases of diseases that have no cure, all patients must be cared for and accompanied so that their lives are respected until natural death. We are not the masters of life and therefore we place ourselves at its service.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252091/catholic-church-in-argentina-opposes-legalization-of-euthanasia Today, the Church celebrates Saint Rose of Lima. Born in Lima, Peru in 1586, at a very young age she chose to consecrate her life to God. She practiced very intense prayer and penance daily, sometimes depriving herself of food and sleep. She joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic and lived in a little hut in her parents' garden, working to help support them. She was canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671, and was the first saint of the Americas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-rose-of-lima-577

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Sisters of Jesus the Saviour announced that four of their Sisters were kidnapped in Nigeria’s Imo state on Sunday while they were on their way to a Mass. Those kidnapped were Sisters Johannes Nwodo, Christabel Echemazu, Liberata Mbamalu and Benita Agu. The Sisters of Jesus the Saviour is a Nigerian order that cares for the poor, elderly, and sick. Kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria have multiplied in recent years, a situation that has prompted Church leaders to express serious concern about the security of their members and to call on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252087/four-religious-sisters-kidnapped-in-nigeria Pope Francis called for “peaceful coexistence” between people and institutions in Nicaragua Sunday, at the end of his weekly Angelus message. Pope Francis’ comments followed the abduction Friday of Bishop Rolando Álvarez by Nicaraguan police. Police forced their way into the bishop’s residence, where he had been under house arrest for two weeks, during the early hours of August 19. Álvarez is an outspoken critic of the regime of President Daniel Ortega. Since 2018, under the Ortega dictatorship, there have been more than 190 attacks against the Catholic Church, its bishops, priests, faithful, and houses of worship. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252084/pope-francis-calls-for-peaceful-coexistence-in-nicaragua Amid the highest levels of inflation seen in the United States in four decades, food pantries across the country — many of which are run by Catholics — are seeing an increased demand for their services. Grocery prices jumped nearly 11% in July 2022 compared to the previous year. Those increases impact the food pantries themselves as well as their customers. One food bank in St. Louis saw its monthly grocery bill more than double in recent months. In Chicago, the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels food pantry said the number of families seeking help increased by 50% since last summer. And one of Louisiana’s largest food banks is reporting that the number of needy people seeking its services is increasing by 5% every month. Catholic Charities organizations in both Nashville and Gallup, New Mexico, also told CNA that their food pantries have seen a substantial increase in demand since the start of 2022. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252073/catholic-food-pantries-struggle-with-demand-as-inflation-soars Today, the Church celebrates Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Pope Pius XII proposed the traditional doctrine on the Queenship of Mary in the Papal Encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam and established this feast for the Universal Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/queenship-of-mary-343

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Police have arrested and charged the man believed to have vandalized St. Anthony School in Washington, DC, last week. The property destruction led to national outcry and support for a Catholic school celebrating its 100th year this fall. Saint Anthony’s principal of 12 years, Michael Thomasian, believes the incident was a hate crime targeted at the school’s Catholic witness. The school serves grades Pre-K-8 in the Brookland neighborhood. The incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department said, in which 32-year-old Demitrius Hansford of Northeast Washington vandalized the school’s Saint Anthony of Padua statue, stole $1,400 in cash, and trampled areas on the property in two incidents, on August 10 and August 15. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252067/man-arrested-for-burglary-property-destruction-at-catholic-school-in-dc Bishop Joseph Brennan of Fresno joined the United Farm Workers last week for a portion of the union’s march through California’s Central Valley to support a union voting rights bill. The more than 300-mile march from Delano to Sacramento is in support of Assembly Bill 2183, the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act. The bill would allow farmworkers to use mail-in ballots for union elections. The march passed through Fresno August 11. Bishop Brennan, along with his predecessor, Bishop Armando Ochoa, joined the march at Saint Anthony Mary Claret Church, and then spoke at a rally at Calwa Recreation & Park District, where Bishop Brennan also gave a blessing to the marchers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252068/fresno-bishop-joins-march-for-farmworkers-union-voting-rights-bill Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Eudes, a French missionary and the founder of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity, who was also the author of the liturgical worship of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. In 1641 he founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, to provide a refuge for prostitutes. In 1643 he founded the Society of Jesus and Mary for the education of priests and for missionary work. He wrote the first book ever on the devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-eudes-568

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The three abortion clinics in Louisiana are leaving the state following the state’s Supreme Court August 12th decision that an abortion ban will remain in effect while it is being challenged in the judiciary. It is unclear when the clinics will have finished the process of leaving and where they will relocate. Under Louisiana’s trigger laws, abortions may be provided only when "necessary in reasonable medical judgment to prevent the death or substantial risk of death due to a physical condition, or to prevent the serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ of a pregnant woman.” The laws will continue to be challenged by the state’s three abortion clinics: Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans, and Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252060/each-of-louisiana-s-abortion-clinics-are-leaving-the-state A new report from the United Nations on modern slavery provides further documentation of China’s mistreatment of the Uyghur ethnic group, a Muslim minority that according to some human rights groups is suffering genocide. The UN’s Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Dr. Tomoya Obokata, wrote that it is “reasonable to conclude” that forced labor among ethnic minorities, including the Uyghurs, “in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing has been occurring in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China.” Obokata identified two state-mandated systems that have contributed to the forced labor of the Uyghurs, one of which is a system that detains minorities and subjects them to work placements, while the other system shifts rural laborers into other forms of low-skilled, low-paid work. While the Chinese government claims that the programs provide work opportunities for minorities, the report found that “indicators of forced labor pointing to the involuntary nature of work rendered by affected communities have been present in many cases.” In recent years, Uyghurs — with estimates ranging as high as 1.8 million — have been detained in hundreds of “reeducation camps” in China’s Xinjiang, where they are reportedly subjected to torture and political indoctrination. China’s crackdown on Xinjiang also includes alleged coercion to have contraception devices inserted, forced abortions, and even full sterilization, along with systematic rape. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252059/un-china-s-mistreatment-of-the-uyghurs-amounts-to-modern-day-slavery Today, the Church celebrates Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine who according to tradition discovered the resting place of the true cross of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Three online shops that sell rosaries have reported a boost in sales following a controversial article published Sunday in The Atlantic magazine which attempted to link the rosary to right-wing extremism in the United States. The article sparked a frenzy of comments on social media, as Catholics shared photos of their rosaries. Some observed that the article's thesis had an anti-Catholic bias. Shannon Doty, CEO of Rugged Rosaries, told CNA Monday that she saw “a pretty good boost in sales” on both of her websites, RuggedRosaries.com and MonkRosaries.com amid the reaction to the article. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252046/rosaries-atlantic-extremism More than a dozen people, including several Catholic nuns, have been charged under the Philippines’ strict anti-terror law with allegedly financing terrorists. UCA News reported Aug. 16 that sixteen people stand accused by the country’s Justice Department of financing the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, which is branded a terrorist organization by the Philippine government. If found guilty, those accused — whose names have not been released — would face up to 40 years in prison and a fine of between 500,000 to 1 million Philippine pesos, or 10,000-20,000 US dollars. The nuns are associated with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, a Catholic group active in the Philippines since 1969 which works to aid and educate the poor. The RMP has consistently denied any association with Communist activities in the Philippines, saying that part of their educational mission involves teaching poor people about their rights, and not about communism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252048/nuns-in-the-philippines-charged-with-aiding-terrorists Today, the Church celebrates Saint Hyacinth, one of the first members of the Dominicans and the "apostle of the North,” also called the "Apostle of Poland." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hyacinth-566

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Maronite Catholic archbishop was bringing aid back to Lebanon when he was wrongly detained by Lebanese authorities at the Israeli border, his supporters say. The US bishops have spoken in his defense, objecting to the confiscation of medical aid and hundreds of thousands of dollars in monetary aid. “The archbishop was returning from one of his regular visits to the Holy Land and bringing much-needed aid that the Lebanese diaspora in Israel wanted to send to family members in Lebanon,” the US bishops said. “All this was confiscated by Lebanese security forces, along with his cell phone and passport.” The Maronite Catholic Church is the largest Christian group in Lebanon, where Christians make up almost 35% of the country’s 7 million people. An estimated 60% of Lebanese are Muslim and are about evenly split between Shiite and Sunni adherents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252043/after-maronite-archbishop-detained-in-lebanon-us-bishops-voice-solidarity An article published Sunday in The Atlantic magazine suggests the rosary has become a symbol of violent, right-wing extremism in the United States. The author's contention was based, in part, on his observations about the use of the rosary on social media and rosaries sold online, such as those made from bullet casings. The article set off a frenzy of reactions among Catholics, ranging from amusement to grave concern over what some see as anti-Catholic sentiment, and experts told CNA that the rosary has no connection to physical violence. The rosary, first promoted by the Dominican Order by the 16th century, is a form of prayer based on meditations on the life of Christ. The beads are a tool to help keep track of prayers that are recited before and the meditations. Since 1571, popes have urged Catholics to pray the rosary. In doing so they have often employed military terms. More recently, Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have recommended the rosary as a powerful spiritual tool. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252038/the-atlantic-publishes-article-on-the-rosary-as-a-symbol-of-far-right-violent-extremism Today, the Church celebrates King Saint Stephen of Hungary, the monarch who led his country to embrace the Christian faith during the 11th century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stephen-of-hungary-565

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At least 40 people — most of them children — died in a fire in a Coptic Orthodox church in Giza Governorate, Egypt, on Sunday, according to government and church officials. The cause of the blaze has so far not been established. Reuters reported that an electrical fire broke out at the church where people gathered during the Divine Liturgy celebration. The blaze reportedly blocked the exit from the church and caused a stampede. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252035/reports-of-at-least-40-people-most-of-them-children-killed-in-church-fire-in-egypt Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he spoke with Pope Francis over the phone on Friday and thanked the pope for his prayers and humanitarian support. In a tweet posted on August 12, Zelenskyy wrote that he had briefed the pope on Russia’s “horrible crimes” and aggression against Ukraine. “Our people need support of world spiritual leaders who should convey to the world the truth about acts of horror committed by the aggressor,” the Ukrainian president said. Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his interest in a potential visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Pope Francis is scheduled to participate in September in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan, where he could potentially meet with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who is expected to participate in the congress. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252031/in-phone-call-president-zelenskyy-thanks-pope-francis-for-praying-for-ukraine At least seven people have been arrested in connection with a devastating June massacre at a Catholic Church in Nigeria, the governor of Ondo State in the West African country has confirmed. Four of the arrests were made on August 1, according to General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Nigeria’s Defense Staff. One of the arrested suspects is a high-ranking member of ISWAP — the so-called Islamic State in West Africa Province and a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, a group that at least one government official had blamed following the attack. Two other suspects were arrested Aug. 9, and Ondo State’s governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu, reported that another person who housed the suspects before the attack was also arrested, Vatican News reported. It has not yet been announced if the suspects have been formally charged, and their names have not been released. On June 5, several gunmen attacked Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, killing at least 40 people and injuring scores more with bullets and explosives. The victims spanned in age from a 2- and a 3-year-old all the way to 85. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252029/arrests-made-in-nigeria-pentecost-massacre Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant feast day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God. Although the bodily assumption of Mary is not explicitly recorded in Scripture, Catholic tradition identifies her with the “woman clothed with the sun” who is described in the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation. Venerable Pope Pius XII confirmed this belief about the Virgin Mary as the perennial teaching of the Church when he defined it formally as a dogma of Catholic faith in 1950, invoking papal infallibility to proclaim, “that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-assumption-561

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Experts have warned that Catholic school leaders need to be aware that their schools could be cut off from the federal government's free and subsidized lunch program if their policies don't comply with the Biden administration's revised rules against LGBTQ discrimination. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252011/catholic-schools-free-lunch-funding-threatened-by-biden-lgbt-rule-change The Mexican Bishops’ Conference expressed its solidarity with the Church in Nicaragua, whose freedom of speech and religion is under attack by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega. “At this time of profound suffering, the bishops of Mexico wish to convey to you our fervent prayer, closeness, and support, imploring the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the much-longed-for peace, justice, and harmonious coexistence of your people,” the conference said in an August 8 statement. The recent wave of repression against the Nicaraguan Church began August 1, when the Ortega dictatorship ordered the closure of eight Catholic radio stations in the Diocese of Matagalpa. Later, the bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando José Álvarez, was placed under house arrest and threatened with prison for allegedly trying to “organize violent groups” to destabilize the government. The Mexican bishops also lamented “that in communities, families, consecrated life, priests, laity, children, and young people suffer from conditions that create fear, take away tranquility, and steal peace.” At the end of their message, the bishops of Mexico implored “the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, Empress of America, her maternal intercession to find paths of dialogue that lead to respect and peace.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252012/bishops-of-mexico-stand-in-solidarity-with-nicaragua-at-a-time-of-profound-suffering According to a new representative poll, 58% of German Catholics do not like "the fact that the Pope and the Church speak out against abortions." In July, a leading laywoman and co-president of the German "Synodal Way" demanded a "nationwide provision of abortion" across the European Union's most populous country. Germany currently permits abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, with mandatory counseling at a state-approved center, as well as later abortions in certain circumstances. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is a grave evil and is never acceptable at any stage of pregnancy, and Pope Francis has repeatedly and strongly condemned abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252014/majority-of-german-catholics-dont-like-church-being-against-abortion-poll-finds Today, the Church celebrates Saint Clare of Assisi. As a child she was already very strongly drawn to the things of God, praying fervently, devoutly visiting the Blessed Sacrament, and manifesting a tender love towards the poor. Saint Francis made her superior of the Poor Clares order, a post she should serve for the next 42 years of her life until her death. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-clare-of-assisi-564

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An arrest has been made after an 18-year-old student in Kansas was allegedly attacked while knocking on doors to encourage citizens to vote for a pro-life amendment. 18-year-old Grace Hartsock from Austin, Texas, an incoming freshman at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, was canvassing for the amendment when a woman allegedly shoved her in the chest with both hands, began violently hitting her in the head with closed fists, and verbally assaulted her. Police said that a 37-year-old suspect was arrested and charged in Leawood Municipal Court with misdemeanor battery and released. Harstock was not injured, and said she will continue with her pro-life advocacy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252002/kansas-woman-arrested-after-allegedly-striking-pro-life-teen-with-fists-to-the-head A group of 500 young Catholics in Ireland have signed a letter saying they love the Church’s teaching, but that their voices had not been heard in the process leading up to the Synod on Synodality in Rome. The synodal process to prepare the synod started with consultations at the diocesan level in October 2021. Peadar Hand, one of the letter’s organizers, said, “among people who are actually practicing and trying their best to live their faith, there’s no desire for [a change in Church teaching].” They express concern that the synodal process underway might falsely give the impression that all Catholics in Ireland would like to see changes made in the areas of human sexuality, marriage and ordained ministry. CNA has reached out to the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference for comment. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252005/young-catholics-in-ireland-say-their-voices-have-not-been-heard-during-synodal-process A lightning strike caused a roof fire Monday that severely damaged a historic Catholic church in Rockford, Illinois, and left three firefighters injured, authorities said. The Rockford Fire Department determined that lightning set the roof on fire, Mike Rotolo, the department's fire prevention coordinator, told CNA Tuesday. The damage to the church may exceed $3 million, he said. The church is located outside the Chicago metropolitan area in the far northern part of the state. No one was inside the church during the time of the fire and the pastor safely removed the Holy Eucharist from the building, the diocese said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251999/historic-illinois-saint-james-catholic-church-roof-fire Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lawrence, who was martyred on August 10, 258 during the persecution of the emperor Valerian along with many other members of the Roman clergy. He was the last of the seven deacons of Rome to die. After the pope, Sixtus II, was martyred on August 6, Lawrence became the principal authority of the Roman Church, having been the Church's treasurer. When he was summoned before the executioners he was ordered to bring all the wealth of the Church with him. According to tradition, he showed up with a handful of crippled, poor, and sick men, and when questioned, replied that "These are the true wealth of the Church." He was immediately sent to his death, being cooked alive on a gridiron. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lawrence-563

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The regime of President Daniel Ortega has ordered police in Nicaragua to launch an investigation into the Catholic bishop of Matagalpa, who they have detained for allegedly trying to "organize violent groups" to destabilize the government. Bishop Rolando José Álvarez, who was placed under house arrest and threatened with prison, has been openly critical of the abuses and human rights violations being committed by the Sandinista regime. In a press release published Aug. 5, the Nicaraguan national police accused high-ranking leaders of the Catholic Church in Matagalpa, and Álvarez in particular, of “using the communications media and social media” to try to “organize violent groups, inciting them to carry out acts of hatred against the population, creating an atmosphere of anxiety and disorder, disturbing the peace and harmony of the community.” Such actions have the "purpose of destabilizing the State of Nicaragua and attacking the constitutional authorities," the police continue. The Ortega regime’s police force announced they have already started an investigation “in order to determine the criminal responsibility of the people involved.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251993/nicaraguan-police-place-catholic-bishop-priests-under-house-arrest A gunman shot at a Denver-area Catholic church, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in separate early morning incidents Saturday and Monday. No one was hurt, but one estimate suggests the gunshots caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Parish staff stressed the need to pray for the perpetrator and emphasized that they are taking the utmost security precautions. Two separate rounds of gunshots hit the parish church in unincorporated Adams County just north of Denver. The Adams County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation. The parish church is on the same property as Assumption School, which serves about 130 students in pre-K through eighth grade. The shooting has not affected the school, as the school year has not yet begun. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251996/gunshots-target-denver-area-catholic-church The same day last week that Indiana adopted an abortion ban with limited exceptions, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law another measure the state’s Catholic conference says has the potential to help families. Known as SB2, the legislation, which received broad bipartisan support, provides for a tax exemption for an adopted child, cuts the state’s tax on children’s diapers, caps the gas tax, and increases the adoption tax credit, the Indy Star reported. It also creates a $45 million fund for a variety of family-related programs and initiatives, the Criterion, the newspaper of the Indianapolis Archdiocese, reported. The legislation was overshadowed by the sweeping abortion ban Holcomb signed into law the same day, Aug. 5. The law represents the first state abortion ban passed in the US following the June 24 US Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade, giving states the authority to regulate abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251995/indiana-abortion-ban-overshadows-another-pro-family-law Today, the Church celebrates Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Saint Edith Stein. Saint Teresa converted from Judaism to Catholicism in the course of her work as a philosopher, and later entered the Carmelite Order. She died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1942. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-edith-stein-557

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Twelve Polish pilgrims bound for Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina were killed Saturday when their bus crashed into a ditch, authorities said. Another 31 people were injured, some critically. The accident happened at around 5:40 a.m. local time when the bus veered off the A4 road between Jarek Bisaski and Podvorec, northeast of Zagreb, Croatia. The pilgrims included three priests and six nuns, the BBC reported. The news agency said the trip to Medjugorje, the site of alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was organized by the Brotherhood of Saint Joseph Catholic group. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251987/13-polish-pilgrims-bound-for-medjugorje-killed-in-bus-crash Archie Battersbee, the 12-year-old British boy whose family waged an unsuccessful legal fight to stop his doctors from disconnecting him from a ventilator, died Saturday. Archie had been in a coma on a ventilator since April when he was found unconscious with a ligature around his neck. His family argued that Archie needed more time to recover to whatever extent possible. But a High Court judge said the evidence that Battersbee was alive was unconvincing. She ordered that doctors remove the boy from the ventilator, saying the available medical evidence showed that Archie was brain dead as of May 31. An appeals court subsequently upheld the decision. Catholic bioethics experts condemned the decision by the hospital to take Archie off of life support. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251988/archie-battersbee-12-dies-after-being-removed-from-life-support An unborn baby is now recognized as a dependent who will qualify expectant parents for a $3,000 deduction in Georgia tax rules, under the same law which bans abortion based on a detectible fetal heartbeat. Georgia’s Department of Revenue issued new guidance stating that “any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat” is eligible for Georgia’s individual income tax dependent exemption. Georgia’s 2019 law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectible recognizes the unborn child as a “natural person.” The same law which allows expectant parents to claim their baby as a dependent also requires a father to pay child support for “direct medical and pregnancy-related expenses” for an unborn child. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251984/unborn-babies-are-tax-exempt-under-georgia-s-heartbeat-based-abortion-law Today, the Church celebrates Saint Dominic Guzman, who helped the cause of orthodoxy in the medieval Church by founding the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominicans. In 1214, Dominic's extreme physical asceticism caused him to fall into a coma, during which the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to him and instructed him to promote the prayer of the Rosary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dominic-556

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Francis has appointed a “personal health care assistant.” Pope Francis has selected Massimiliano Strappetti, a Vatican nurse whom the pope has credited with saving his life, to provide additional assistance as the 85-year-old pope faces mobility problems. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251958/pope-francis-appoints-nurse-as-his-personal-health-care-assistant Pope Francis has asked the Catholic Church to pray for small businesses during the month of August. “As a consequence of the pandemic and the wars, the world is facing a grave socio-economic crisis,” the pope said in a video message released Aug. 2. “And among those most affected are small and medium-sized businesses.” “With courage, with effort, with sacrifice, they invest in life, creating wellbeing, opportunities, and work,” Pope Francis said. “Let us pray for small and medium-sized businesses, hard hit by the economic and social crisis, so that they may find ways to continue operating, and serving their communities,” he concluded. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251965/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-august-2022 The tragic death of Republican Representative Jackie Walorski and her two staff members, Emma Thomson and Zachery Potts, in a car accident Wednesday afternoon has left many in the nation’s capital mourning the loss of the Indiana congresswoman, known for her kindness and service to her country. Walorski leaves behind a legacy of devotion to the unborn, evident in both her record as a lawmaker and personal efforts to help the most vulnerable. Walorski had a strong pro-life voting record, receiving an A+ rating from Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America. She consistently opposed attempts to spend federal money on abortions both at home and abroad and sought to protect the conscience rights of health care providers. She also advocated on behalf of dignity for victims of abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251961/rep-jackie-walorski-killed-car-accident-pro-life A prominent Chicago church that is home to a Traditional Latin Mass religious institute announced the end of all public Masses, as of last Sunday. The Shrine of Christ the King, in the Woodlawn neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, forms the U.S. headquarters of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The institute is a society of apostolic life that celebrates the traditional form of the Roman rite, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass. Among the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Chicago are a prohibition of the celebration of Traditional Latin Masses on the first Sunday of every month, Christmas, the Triduum, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251967/public-masses-suspended-at-chicagos-shrine-of-christ-the-king Today, the Church celebrates Saint Emygdius, a very successful second-century missionary to Trier, Germany. When he began to smash pagan idols, the non-converts revolted, and he had to flee to Rome for safety. When he returned to his mission, he was martyred by pagans before he could convert anyone else. He is the patron saint against earthquakes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-emygdius-323 The Church also celebrates Blessed Frederic Janssoone. His greatest desire and prayer was to help others come closer to God. His ministry as a Franciscan help him to do that, and took him to many places, from Europe, to the Holy Land and then to North America, where he died. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Frederic in 1988. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-frederic-janssoone-554

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The defeat of a proposed pro-life amendment in Kansas is in large part due to confusion and fear-mongering in the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, one leading supporter on the ground has said. Kansas voters defeated the Value Them Both amendment by about 59% to 41% in the Aug. 2 referendum. The proposed amendment would have allowed restrictions on abortion to the extent allowed by the US Constitution. It was a response to a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that ruled that a woman has a right to an abortion under the state constitution. Kansas will now have an increasingly large role as a destination for abortions, which means parishes and pregnancy crisis centers need to be prepared to provide alternatives to “meet the needs of these women that are going to be bussed in and flown into Kansas for abortions.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251955/post-roe-confusion-helped-defeat-kansas-pro-life-amendment Vin Scully, who commentated on Los Angeles Dodgers baseball games for more than two-thirds of a century, died Tuesday at his home at the age of 94. A gifted orator and storyteller who was dubbed a “poet-philosopher of baseball,” Scully deftly narrated numerous momentous events in baseball during his 67 seasons as a broadcaster. Scully was a devout Catholic who found in his faith a source of joy and comfort and sought to share it with others through personal kindness and philanthropy. In 2016, Scully — a devotee of the Virgin Mary — created a two-CD audio recording of the rosary. The sales benefitted the outreach organization Catholic Athletes for Christ, which ministers to high school students. Ultimately, Scully credited God’s providence for his longevity and popularity as a broadcaster. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251950/vin-scully-legendary-baseball-announcer-and-committed-catholic-dies-at-94 Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Vianney, patron of priests. As a parish priest in 19th century France, he prayed and worked for the conversion of his parishioners. Although he saw himself as unworthy of his mission as pastor, he allowed himself to be consumed by the love of God as he served the people. His reputation as a confessor grew rapidly, and pilgrims traveled from all over France to come to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Firmly committed to the conversion of the people, he would spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-mary-vianney-322

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Kansas citizens rejected a pro-life amendment — known as the “Value Them Both” amendment — during their state’s primary election Tuesday. The referendum represented the first major statewide vote on abortion following the overturning of Roe v Wade. The amendment needed a simple majority to pass. It would have reversed the Kansas Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that the state’s constitution protects a woman’s right to abortion. Currently, state lawmakers are, in most cases, prohibited from passing any type of abortion restriction. The amendment would have enabled state lawmakers to pass legislation to regulate or restrict abortion, and did not propose a total ban on abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251946/kansas-abortion-vote-pro-life-amendment-fails-in-first-post-roe-vote Pope Francis said Wednesday that Canada is in the process of “writing a new page” in the relationship between the Catholic Church and indigenous peoples. Speaking during his general audience in Vatican City on August 3, the pope said that his pastoral visit to Canada last week was “a different journey” from the other 36 international trips of his pontificate. The pope told the crowd that his main motivation for the trip to Canada was to be close to the indigenous peoples and "to ask for forgiveness … for the harm done to them by those Christians, including many Catholics, who in the past collaborated in the forced assimilation and enfranchisement policies of the governments of the time.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251947/pope-francis-canada-is-writing-a-new-page-in-church-s-relationship-with-indigenous-peoples The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Idaho, seeking to block the state’s trigger law which will ban abortions — with a few exceptions — beginning August 25. Announcing the lawsuit in an August 2 press conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the DOJ is suing the state because of a supposed conflict with a federal law that requires hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment to a person experiencing a medical emergency, regardless of their ability to pay. The lawsuit is the first legal challenge brought by the federal government against a state abortion restriction since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June, returning the question of abortion policy to the states. Garland asserted that Idaho's law will prevent doctors from performing abortions when the mother's life is at risk, despite the Idaho’s law providing an exception to the ban if the abortion was, in the physician’s judgement, “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” The DOJ is seeking to block Idaho’s law from taking effect. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251944/us-department-of-justice-challenges-idaho-abortion-ban-in-court Today, the Church celebrates Saint Nicodemus, a secret disciple of Jesus. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he would meet Jesus by night so that the others would not see him with Jesus. Eventually, it was Nicodemus who reminded the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to a trial. Together with Saint Joseph of Arimathea, he prepared Jesus' body and placed him in the tomb. Tradition holds that Saint Nicodemus was martyred, though no record remains. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicodemus-552

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Amid record flooding in Kentucky that has left at least 30 people dead, Catholic Charities of Lexington is collaborating with other Christian churches as well as Catholic Charities USA to provide aid to those affected. The flooding began with heavy rains on July 27, leading to widespread flooding across at least five eastern Kentucky counties by the weekend. At least 18,000 people remained without power Monday, and reports suggest that entire towns — many of which are in already impoverished areas — have been inundated. The Catholic churches in the diocese have a strong collaborative partnership with other Christian communities, since at only 3% to 4% of the population, the majority of the people in eastern Kentucky are not Catholic, especially in the countryside. He said the Catholic communities in rural Kentucky have been working to provide what aid they can for the poor and needy. The Catholic Charities office in Lexington has been in close contact with Catholic Charities USA, working to coordinate national relief efforts. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251933/kentucky-catholic-charities-coordinates-national-aid-amid-devastating-floods Voters in Kansas are set to decide Tuesday on an amendment to the state constitution which would reverse an earlier state supreme court decision, and exclude a right to abortion in the state. It marks the first statewide vote on abortion in the United States since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June. The amendment would not ban abortion, but instead, it empowers state lawmakers to regulate abortion as they see fit. Pro-life volunteers in Kansas have been going door to door canvasing for the amendment ahead of today’s vote. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251928/kansas-pro-lifers-counter-misinformation-on-value-them-both-amendment Lawmakers in the Australian Parliament have proposed a bill to allow two of Australia’s ten territories to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, following the legalization of the practices in all six Australian states despite vocal Catholic opposition. Australia has six states and ten territories, though the lawmaking abilities of the latter can be restricted by the federal parliament. If the proposed bill passes, the legislation would allow the legislatures of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, which its backers characterize as “assisted dying.” In 1995, the Australian Capital Territory was the first place in the world to legalize voluntary assisted suicide, leading to four deaths by suicide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251935/australian-bill-would-allow-legalization-of-assisted-suicide-euthanasia-in-territories Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who helped many Catholics, both clergy and laypeople, to rediscover the importance of the Eucharist. He is also considered a pioneer in involving laypeople more actively in the life of the Church. In 1851, he answered a call to establish a community of men dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration, called the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Its mission was to promote the importance and significance of the Eucharist. The congregation also worked with the poor and helped them to prepare for first Communion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-julian-eymard-551

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Plans are now set for Pope Francis to visit Kazakhstan in September for an interreligious meeting. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced in April that a papal visit was possible. In his meeting with the media on his return flight from Canada Saturday, Pope Francis confirmed his intention to travel to the Central Asian country from September 13th to 15th, saying, “That wouldn’t be too rigorous a journey.” In Kazakhstan, there are five Catholic dioceses and approximately 250,000 Latin Rite Catholics, according to 2008 statistics, making up a small minority of its population of 18 million people. The first pope to travel to Kazakhstan was Pope Saint John Paul II, who visited the country, together with Armenia, in September 2001. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251927/pope-francis-to-visit-kazakhstan-in-september Thirteen parishes in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, must stop offering Traditional Latin Masses on September 8 under new rules issued Friday by Bishop Michael Burbidge to conform with Pope Francis' liturgical directives. Under the rules, eight other parishes may continue to offer Masses in what is called the Extraordinary Form, but five of those may only do so in other locations besides their churches, including school buildings and a former church. Moreover, none of the eight parishes may publish the times of their Latin Masses in their bulletins, parish websites, or social media channels, in conformity with the Vatican's requirements. Three parishes in the 70-parish diocese may continue to host Latin Masses in their churches. They are: Saint Anthony Mission in King George, Saint Rita Church in Alexandria, and Saint John the Beloved in McLean. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251924/arlington-bishop-restricts-traditional-latin-masses Today, the Church celebrates Saint Alphonsus Liguori, a doctor of the Church who is widely known for his contribution to moral theology and his great kindness. In 1732, he founded the Redemptorists, a preaching order. He was a great moral theologian and his famous book, “Moral Theology,” was published in 1748. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-alphonsus-liguori-550

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today marks the last day of Pope Francis' visit to Canada. He will be meeting with members of the Society of Jesus and a delegation of indigenous peoples in Québec. From there, he will fly to Iqaluit, where he will meet with students of former residential schools, young people, and elders, and attend a farewell ceremony. Home to only 7,740 people, Iqaluit is the capital — and only city — of Nunavut, Canada’s northernmost and most sparsely populated territory. The first Catholic mission in Nunavut was founded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Chesterfield Inlet in 1912. There is one Catholic parish in Iqaluit: Our Lady of the Assumption. According to the pastor, Father Daniel Perreault, only a handful of his parishioners are Inuit. The rest are from different countries on at least five different continents. His parish serves more than 100 people at Mass each Sunday. Today, the Church celebrates Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. n the gospel of Luke, Martha receives Jesus into her home and worries herself with serving Him, a worry that her sister Mary, who sat beside the Lord's feet "listening to Him speak," doesn't share. Her complaint that her sister is not helping her serve draws a reply from the Lord who says to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." The overanxiousness she displays in serving is put into the right context by Jesus who emphasizes the importance of contemplating Him before all things. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-martha-528

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis concluded his second full day in Canada with a visit to Lac Ste. Anne, the site of one of Canada’s most famous Catholic pilgrimages and a place of spiritual significance for the nation’s indigenous people. The pope celebrated a Liturgy of the Word at the Shrine of Ste. Anne, with a crowd of mostly indigenous people in attendance, estimated at around 10,000. The large, shallow, and muddy lake — about an hour’s drive from Edmonton — has been revered as a place of spiritual significance, and of healing, for centuries. Known as Wakamne, “Lake of God,” by the Nakota Sioux and “Lake of the Spirit” by the Cree people, it received the name “Lac Ste. Anne” from Father Jean-Baptiste Thibault, the first priest to establish a permanent Catholic mission in Alberta, in 1842. Before the liturgy, making the Sign of the Cross towards the four cardinal points — according to indigenous custom — the pope blessed a bowl of the lake’s water, which was brought up to a small wooden structure, shaped like a teepee, overlooking the lake. The pope, after spending a moment in prayer sitting at the water's edge in his wheelchair, later sprinkled the crowds with the blessed water. Commenting on the lake’s reputation for its healing waters, the pope called on Christ’s healing power. Preaching at a Mass celebrated in Canada’s largest stadium earlier that day, Pope Francis reflected on the elderly, who he said should be honored, and who serve as an example to the Church on how to pass on faith in a loving way. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251882/pope-francis-preaches-before-50000-at-largest-stadium-in-canada Six years after Father Jacques Hamel was murdered by knife-wielding terrorists while celebrating Mass at his parish church in northern France, locals gathered to commemorate his life and to pray. Three nuns and several parishioners were present when the attack took place. One elderly parishioner was severely hurt when the attackers tried to take him hostage. The two attackers, both 19 years old, were killed by police as they exited the church. Hamel’s death shocked France and much of the world. Pope Francis offered a Mass for the priest shortly after the attack, calling Hamel a martyr. The latest commemorations come months after a French court convicted four people for crimes relating to the attack. The Rouen archdiocese began a preliminary inquiry into Hamel’s sainthood cause in 2016 after Pope Francis waived the traditional five-year waiting period. Lebrun announced the formal opening of the priest’s cause on April 13, 2017. During the diocesan phase of the investigation, archivists transcribed 600 homilies preached by Hamel. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251883/six-years-after-grisly-murder-france-remembers-father-jacques-hamel Today, the Church celebrates Saint Panteleon, the patron saint of bachelors and physicians. He was the physician for emperor Maximinianus. At one point in his life he had abandoned his faith, but he eventually returned to the Church, and gave his fortune to the poor, providing them medical treatment without charge. Some of his cures were accomplished by prayer. He was later tortured and martyred for his faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-panteleon-548

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a speech in rural Canada before a crowd of indigenous Canadian people, Pope Francis publicly apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in running much of Canada’s government-sponsored residential school system. During more than a century of operation, the system worked to stamp out aspects of native culture, language, and religious practice. “I am here because the first step of my penitential pilgrimage among you is that of again asking forgiveness, of telling you once more that I am deeply sorry,” Pope Francis said in his July 25 speech. “Sorry for the ways in which, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the indigenous peoples. I am sorry. I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the Church and of religious communities cooperated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools.” The speech marked Pope Francis’ first public address since arriving in Canada on July 24 for a weeklong visit. Later that day, speaking to a group of Catholics at Sacred Heart parish in Edmonton, Pope Francis reiterated his “shame” and sorrow at the hurt caused by Catholics during the era of Canada’s residential school system, and praised the parish community as “a house for all, open and inclusive, just as the Church should be.” Today, on Tuesday July 26, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Later today, he will participate in a pilgrimage to Lac Saint Anne, a site which plays host annually to thousands of pilgrims, billing itself as the largest annual Catholic gathering in western Canada. The pope will also celebrate a Liturgy of the Word at the site. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251870/pope-francis-apologizes-for-the-harm-done-to-indigenous-canadians-at-residential-schools https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251874/christ-offers-example-of-reconciliation-through-suffering-pope-francis-tells-indigenous-catholics-in-canada https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251871/no-remains-unearthed-yet-from-canada-residential-school-grave-sites Today, the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne. The couple's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ. The Church also celebrates Blessed William Ward, who ministered to the Catholic population and to the poor in London in the 17th century before his martyrdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-anne-and-joachim-313 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-william-ward-434

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At least one person was killed and several were injured Sunday in an attack on the inauguration of a Greek Orthodox church in Syria’s Hama Governorate. There are reports of one or two deaths from the attack, and as many as 12 wounded. The July 24 attack targeted Hagia Sophia Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah, about 30 miles northwest of Hama. The church was being built as a replica of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia by the governments of Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin in response to the Turkish government’s converting that building to a mosque. The Syrian Arab News Agency, the country’s state media, attributed the attack to “terrorist organizations.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251867/attack-on-syrian-church-inauguration-kills-at-least-one Pope Francis arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday to begin his six-day visit to Canada. During his cross-country journey, the 85-year-old pope is expected to meet with and apologize to indigenous Canadians for abuses committed at Church-run residential schools. The pope’s itinerary includes stops in Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut. He returns to Rome on Saturday, July 30. Following a flight from Rome that lasted more than 10 hours, the pope was greeted at Edmonton International Airport by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other dignitaries. Pope Francis greeted representatives of Canada's indigenous peoples inside an airport hangar. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251868/photos-pope-francis-arrives-in-canada Aboard his flight to Canada on Sunday, Pope Francis made a point to reflect on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Sunday marked the Catholic Church's second annual observance of this special day, held on the fourth Sunday in July to roughly coincide with the June 26 feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. He urged young people to stay in contact with their grandparents, comparing this practice to a “tree that takes strength from the roots and carries it forward in flowers and fruits.” In a tweet earlier in the day, Pope Francis called on grandparents and the elderly “to be artisans of the revolution of tenderness.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251865/heres-what-pope-francis-said-on-the-world-day-for-grandparents-and-the-elderly Today, the Church celebrates Saint James, the brother of John the Evangelist, the first Apostle to be martyred. He was beheaded by order of Herod of Agrippa. The Gospels tell us that the two brothers left their father, Zebedee, and followed Jesus as soon as He called out to them. James was one of the three Apostles who were particularly close to the Lord. He was there with the Lord and his brother, John, and Peter at the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is known as James "the Greater" to distinguish him from the other Apostle by the same name. He is the patron saint of Spain and of pilgrims. In northwestern Spain, he is venerated at Santiago de Compostela, a medieval pilgrimage site that is still very popular today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-547

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Wilton Gregory announced Friday that the Traditional Latin Mass will be restricted to three locations in the Archdiocese of Washington. Starting September 21, the Extraordinary Form of the Mass will only be allowed to be offered at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington DC, Saint John the Evangelist in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Saint Dominic in Aquasco, Maryland. The new protocol requires priests in the archdiocese to obtain permission to offer the Ordinary Form of the Mass ad orientem, “to the east” in Ecclesiastical Latin, in which the priest and the congregation together face the tabernacle during the Mass. Weddings and baptisms in the Extraordinary Form will not be allowed in the Archdiocese of Washington under the new limitations, which will be reviewed in three years. Gregory’s announcement of the new policy came less than a week after the anniversary of Pope Francis’ promulgation of Traditionis custodes, a motu proprio which placed sweeping restrictions on the celebration of Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal, also known as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Tridentine Mass, and the Traditional Latin Mass. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251850/cardinal-gregory-latin-mass-restrictions The US House of Representatives voted 228-195 to pass a bill Thursday that would establish in federal law a right to access, use, and provide contraceptives. The move responds to the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Roe v Wade. The legislation, pro-life leaders caution, has broad implications that extend past contraception and could go so far as to protect abortion drugs. The vote comes after the House voted in favor of a bill on Tuesday that would federally recognize same-sex marriage, and provide legal protections for interracial marriages. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251844/right-to-contraception-act-us-house-passes-bill-with-implications-for-abortion-religion Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Mary Magdelene, one of the most prominent women mentioned in the New Testament. Some scholars identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ with oil in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Others associate her with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Some believe the three figures to be one person, while others believe them to be three distinct individuals. What the Scriptures make certain about Mary Magdalene is that she was a follower of Christ, who accompanied and ministered to him. The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion. In addition, she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mary-magdalene-309

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new poll shows that a pro-life amendment on the ballot in Kansas is enjoying a narrow lead. The August 2 referendum represents the first major statewide vote on abortion following the overturning of Roe v Wade. The survey, conducted by co/efficient and shared by FiveThirtyEight, found that 47% of likely primary voters in Kansas say they plan to vote for the pro-life amendment, 43% say they plan to vote against it, and 10% are undecided. The amendment needs a simple majority of 51% to pass. The amendment would reverse the Kansas Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that the state’s constitution protects a woman’s “right” to abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251838/first-statewide-abortion-vote-after-roe-is-leaning-pro-life-kansas-poll-shows The US House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill on Tuesday that would federally recognize same-sex marriage, and provide legal protections for interracial marriages. The bill would bar a state “from denying out-of-state marriage licenses and benefits on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.” The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law signed by President Bill Clinton which defined marriage federally as the union of a man and a woman, and permitted states not to recognize same-sex marriages from contracted in other states. The vote comes after the Supreme Court’s June decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v Wade, and ahead of the November midterm elections. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251833/us-house-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill Actor Russell Crowe will star as the late Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s former chief exorcist, in an upcoming movie, “The Pope’s Exorcist.” Amorth performed an estimated 100,000 exorcisms up until the time of his death at age 91 in 2016. He was perhaps the world’s best-known exorcist as the author of a number of books, including “An Exorcist Tells His Story,” which inspired the upcoming movie. He was also frequently in the news for his comments on the subject of demonic forces. Amorth often spoke about the growing need for exorcists in a world that lacks faith in God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251834/russell-crowe-to-star-as-the-vaticans-chief-exorcist-in-new-film Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, a Doctor of the Church. In 1596, he was commissioned by the Pope to work for the conversion of the Jewish people and to combat the spread of Protestantism. He was a great preacher and refused a second term as minister general of his order, the Capuchin Franciscans, in favor of preaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lawrence-of-brindisi-543

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Following the kidnapping of two Catholic priests in central Nigeria last week, the local diocese announced July 19 that one of the two priests had escaped, while the other was “brutally” killed. Father John Mark Cheitnum and Father Denatus Cleopas were abducted at around 5:45 pm on July 15 at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, in the town of Lere in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State. Cleopas escaped with his life, but Cheitnum was “brutally killed” by his abductors on the day of his kidnapping, a letter from the diocese of Kafanchan says. His burial is scheduled for July 21 at the Kafanchan’s Cathedral of Saint Peter. The diocese did not say who the kidnappers were thought to be, or whether any ransom was demanded for the two priests. At least seven Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria in the month of July, according to data compiled by Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic nonprofit organization. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251827/kidnapped-priest-killed-in-nigeria-another-escapes A 76 year-old English grandmother who was fined for praying near to an abortion clinic has successfully overturned her financial penalty. Rosa Lalor, from Liverpool, was issued the fine during the country’s lockdown in February 2021, after a policeman questioned why she was out doors and she replied that she was “walking and praying”. The officer involved said that this was not “a reasonable excuse” and that she was in fact protesting and so she was then arrested, detained and fined. As a result of a legal challenge, Merseyside Police have now conceded that Lalor should not have been detained due to the fact she was firmly within her rights to silently pray while out walking and that her actions were reasonable and acceptable under Covid-19 regulations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251830/english-grandmother-arrested-for-praying-near-abortion-clinic-wins-religious-freedom-challenge Bishop Stephen D Parkes of Savannah has announced that Traditional Latin Masses in his Georgia diocese will cease in May 2023. The bishop said that he had requested permission from the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments for parishes in his diocese to offer Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal and received a response from Rome that one parish can offer the Mass weekly and three parishes can offer the Mass monthly until May 20, 2023. The Georgia bishop’s announcement came one day before the anniversary of Pope Francis’ promulgation of Traditionis custodes, a motu proprio which placed sweeping restrictions on the celebration of Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal, also known as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Tridentine Mass, and the Traditional Latin Mass. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251822/vatican-instructs-savannah-diocese-to-end-traditional-latin-masses-in-may-2023-bishop-says Today, the Church celebrates Saint Margaret of Antioch, a virgin and martyr. Having embraced Christianity and consecrated her virginity to God, she was disowned by her father and adopted by her nurse. Threatened with death unless she renounced the Christian faith, the holy virgin refused to adore the gods of the empire. Several attempted methods of killing her failed, and she was finally beheaded. The Greek Church honors her under the name Marine on July13, and the Latin church as Margaret on July 20. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-margaret-of-antioch-307

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Catholic bishops of the United States have condemned a bill passed by the US House of Representatives that would expand abortion access rather than help women and children. “Answering the needs of women by promoting taxpayer-funded elective abortion, as this bill would do, is a grave evil and a failure to love and serve women,” the bishops said. “Offering free or low-cost abortions, instead of increasing the resources women need to care for themselves and their children, is not ‘choice’ but coercion and callous abandonment," they said. Because Democrats lack the necessary votes to overcome a Republican filibuster, the bill is not expected to win passage in the Senate. The US bishops promoted a pro-life alternative to abortion: a parish-based ministry run by the USCCB called Standing with Moms in Need. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251818/us-bishops-call-house-bill-that-would-offer-free-abortions-a-grave-evil A Vatican policy published Tuesday says that the Holy See’s financial investments cannot contradict Catholic teaching. The policy stipulates that Vatican investments should “be aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church, with specific exclusions for financial investments which contradict its fundamental principles, such as the sanctity of life or the dignity of the human being or the common good.” The guidelines also say that investments of the Holy See and related entities should aim to contribute to a more just and sustainable world and to generate sufficient return in a sustainable way. The policy, which continues Pope Francis’ reform of Vatican finances, goes into effect September 1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251821/new-policy-says-vatican-investments-cannot-contradict-catholic-teaching Today, the Church celebrates Saint Arsenius, a Roman tutor who retreated to a solitary life. He is one of the most highly regarded of the so-called Desert Fathers, and his teachings were greatly influential on the Church’s development of asceticism and the contemplative life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-arsenius-306

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ trip to Canada next week will be a “penitential pilgrimage” to bring healing and reconciliation, Francis said Sunday. The pope is scheduled to travel to the Canadian cities of Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit from July 24-29. There he will meet members of Canadian indigenous groups, residential school abuse survivors, and Catholics. Pope Francis is expected to issue an apology in Canada on behalf of the Catholic Church for abuses committed against indigenous students in Catholic-run residential schools. The Canadian bishops said last year that they would welcome Francis’ visit as a “pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251808/pope-francis-canada-visit-will-be-a-penitential-pilgrimage The Nigerian diocese of Kafanchan has asked for prayers after two Catholic priests were kidnapped Friday evening. Father John Mark Cheitnum and Father Denatus Cleopas were abducted at around 5:45 pm on July 15 at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church in the town of Lere in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State. At least seven Catholic priests have been kidnapped in Nigeria in the month of July, according to data compiled by Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic nonprofit organization. The latest abduction brings the total up to 20 Nigerian priests kidnapped since the beginning of 2022. Three of the priests were killed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251806/two-catholic-priests-kidnapped-in-nigeria China is exploiting children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing them to work under hazardous conditions to mine the cobalt that powers electronic devices and electric cars, witnesses at a congressional hearing on human rights violations testified this week. The Democratic Republic of Congo produces more than 70% of the world's cobalt, 15% to 30% of which is produced in artisanal mines. Congolese civil rights attorney Hervé Diakiese Kyungu testified at the hearing that children are trafficked and exploited because of their small size. He explained that Congolese artisan miners often own the mines in name only. Chinese companies are the actual owners and operators of the mines, responsible for the inhumane conditions. Father Rigobert Minani Bihuzo, a Catholic priest who has worked to expose child labor and human rights violations in the DRC’s mining sector, also testified to the dangerous working condition at the mines. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251800/congo-cobalt-mines-china-child-labor Today, the Church celebrates Saint Camillus de Lellis, who turned from his life as a soldier and gambler to become the founder of an order dedicated to caring for the sick. In some other countries, he is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, July 14. He founded the Order of the Ministers of the Sick, or simply as the “Camillians,” and the group received papal approval in 1586 and was confirmed as a religious order in 1591. In addition to the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they took a vow of unfailing service to the sick. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-camillus-704

Thank you for listening to Catholic News. We will be taking our summer break the week of July 11-15. While there won't be a new audio news briefing on those days, you can always visit catholicnewsagency.com for the latest news. We will return with a brand new news briefing on Monday, July 18. Thank you again for listening, and God bless you.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, which has been in power for 15 years, expelled 18 Missionaries of Charity from the Central American country on July 6. According to the newspaper El Confidencial, the nuns were taken by the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration and the police from the cities of Managua and Granada, where they had been serving the poor, to the border country of Costa Rica. Of the 18 sisters, there are seven Indians, two Mexicans, two Filipinos, two Guatemalans, two Nicaraguans, one Spaniard, one Ecuadorian, and one Vietnamese. The religious order was founded by Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The dissolution of the Missionaries of Charity and another 100 NGOs in Nicaragua was approved June 29 by the National Assembly on an “urgent” basis and without any debate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251742/missionaries-of-charity-expelled-from-nicaragua-by-order-of-ortega-government Florida Senator Marco Rubio urged Tuesday that the Biden administration clarify that it will not pay for federal employees’ sick leave while traveling for an abortion. In the letter, the Republican senator expressed his concern that providing sick leave for employees obtaining abortions could violate the Hyde Amendment. The legislative provision bars federal funding of abortion, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. The Biden administration, he claimed, is “even willing to violate longstanding federal law prohibiting the use of taxpayer monies to fund abortions or abortion services.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251740/rubio-urges-that-biden-administration-honor-hyde-amendment-regarding-abortion-travel Today, the Church celebrates Saints Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish couple from Rome who had been exiled to Corinth, and were friends of St. Paul in the first century. They hosted St. Paul on his visit to that city and were probably converted by him. They are mentioned a few times in the New Testament in glowing terms by their friend Paul. They were tentmakers, thus sharing the same profession as Paul, and because of this it is thought that Paul may have worked with them. Acts 18:18-19 tells us that they accompanied Paul to Ephesus and stayed there with him for three years. In the era of Masses being held in house churches, their house was an important one. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-aquila-and-priscilla-531

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Four Catholic churches in Wisconsin's Chippewa county were vandalized in the past week with what appear to be pro-abortion messages. The churches are Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Notre Dame Catholic Church, and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls, and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Tilden. The perpetrator can be seen wearing a hood, a mask, and dark clothing, caught on camera during the act of the vandalism. Police ​​said that a person of interest has been identified in the vandalism of the Chippewa Falls churches. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251736/four-catholic-churches-in-wisconsin-vandalized-with-pro-abortion-graffiti Human rights advocates have raised concerns about heightened restrictions on Christians in China after Pope Francis expressed hope that the Holy See’s agreement with Beijing will be renewed in the fall. Nearly four years after the Holy See entered into an agreement with Chinese authorities in September 2018, Pope Francis told Reuters in an interview published this week that he believes “the agreement is moving well.” Human rights advocates disagree. Nina Shea, the director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, told CNA on July 6 that since the agreement was signed in 2018 “the CCP has all but destroyed the Catholic underground church and tightened conformity with its teachings over the patriotic church.” Catholic priests who minister in China legally are required to sign a paper in which they promise to support the Communist Party in China. They are only allowed to minister in recognized places of worship in which minors under the age of 18 are not allowed to enter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251728/human-rights-advocates-respond-after-pope-francis-says-vatican-china-deal-moving-well Today, the Church celebrates Pope Saint Benedict XI. Known for his loyalty and peacemaking abilities, he was Pope for only one year, dying on July 7, 1304. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pope-benedict-xi-294 The Church also celebrates Blessed Maria Romero Meneses. As a Salesian Sister in Costa Rica, her ministry became focused on social development, helping the rich to see how they could help the poor. She set up recreational centers in 1945, food distribution centers in 1953, a school for poor girls in 1961, and a clinic in 1966. In 1973, she organized the construction of seven homes, which became the foundation of the village of Centro San Jose, a community where poor families could have decent homes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-maria-romero-meneses-536

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has said he would announce the appointment of two women to the Vatican committee that elects bishops. In comments to Reuters published Wednesday, the pope said “two women will be appointed for the first time in the committee to elect bishops in the Congregation for Bishops." In the July 2 interview in the Vatican, Francis did not identify the women or say when their appointment would be announced officially, instead saying he was “open to giving [women] an opportunity" and wanted to open things “up a bit.” Asked which Vatican department could perhaps be headed by a lay man or woman, Francis suggested that they could include the department for Catholic Education and Culture and the Apostolic Library. The ultimate decision in appointing bishops rests with the pope, and he is free to select anyone he chooses. On being presented with recommendations, the pope finally makes the decision. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251727/pope-francis-announces-appointment-of-women-to-process-selecting-new-bishops Attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and Catholic churches have continued, unabated, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the regulation of abortion to the states. One of Heartbeat of Miami’s pro-life pregnancy centers in Hialeah, Florida, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti July 3. St. Bernard Catholic Church in Madison, Wisconsin, was vandalized July 2 with pro-abortion and anti-police graffiti. Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillsborough, North Carolina was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti around 12:15 a.m. on July 3. Check out Catholic News Agency dot com for the full map of the latest incidents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251725/vandalism-of-churches-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-continues-after-dobbs A Catholic priest overseeing missionaries serving in Hong Kong reportedly told the missionaries that they should prepare for a much more difficult future, as the Chinese government tightens control over the exercise of religion in Hong Kong. Archbishop Javier Herrera Corona is the outgoing head of the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong, a low-key presence on the island which represents the Vatican’s only outpost in China, and from which Vatican diplomacy observes the mainland. According to a report by Reuters, in four meetings held over several months starting in October 2021, Herrera Corona urged his colleagues to protect their missions’ property, files, and funds, according to four people familiar with the private sessions. Herrera Corona reportedly warned that closer integration with China in coming years could lead to mainland-style restrictions on religious groups. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, whose citizens historically enjoyed freedom of religion, while on the Chinese mainland religious believers of all stripes are routinely restricted, surveilled, and oppressed by the Chinese Communist Party. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251723/hong-kong-missionary-head-reportedly-warned-chinese-repression-could-worsen Today, the Church celebrates Saint Maria Goretti, a young virgin and martyr whose life is an example of purity and mercy for all Christians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-maria-goretti-530

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has expressed shock and sadness over the mass shooting that led to the death of at least six people and wounded some 30 others at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park on Monday. The pope said he joined “the entire community in praying that Almighty God will grant eternal rest to the dead and healing and consolation to the injured and bereaved.” “With unwavering faith that the grace of God is able to convert even the hardest of hearts, making it possible to depart from evil and do good,” the message continued, and Pope Francis prayed “that every member of society will reject violence in all of its forms and respect life in all of its stages.” In a statement, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago said he was praying for the victims and first responders. He also spoke out strongly against the scourge of gun violence. A 22-year-old from Highland Park was apprehended late Monday in connection with the shooting. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251717/pope-francis-condemns-senseless-shooting-calls-for-end-of-violence-after-july-fourth-parade-attack Pope Francis has said he has no plans to resign soon and that his knee injury is healing. Reports of Francis resigning began to spread last month in light of three events to happen in late August, including the creation of new cardinals and a day trip to the Italian city of L’Aquila, which Benedict XVI visited in 2009, four years before announcing his own resignation. The pope did say, as in the past, that he would consider resigning one day if he could no longer run the Church due to poor health, but only “God will say” when that might be. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251711/for-the-moment-no-really-pope-francis-dismisses-resignation-rumors-says-health-is-improving Father Mike Schmitz, the voice behind the “Bible in a Year” podcast, will launch a new “Catechism in a Year” podcast on January 1, 2023. For the 365 days of 2023, Schmitz will read through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church, while “providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way.” The new podcast will be free on all streaming platforms, as well as on the Hallow prayer app. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a compilation of fundamental Christian truths and the essential teachings of the Church. The official US version of the text is more than 900 pages long. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251705/father-mike-schmitzs-next-podcast-catechism-in-a-year-starts-jan-1 Today, the Church celebrates the life and work of Saint Otto. He was born in 1060 in Swabia, and died on June 30, 1139. He was the Bishop of Bamberg, an indefatigable evangelizer, and the apostle of the Pomeranians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-otto-bishop-289

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has asked the Catholic Church to pray in a special way for the elderly during the month of July. The prayer intention follows requests to pray for families in June and for young people in May, and coincides with the celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 24. Pope Francis said: “let us remember: grandparents and the elderly are the bread that nourishes our lives, the hidden wisdom of a people. That is why we must celebrate them, and I have established a day dedicated to them.” “Let us pray for the elderly, that they may become teachers of tenderness so that their experience and wisdom may help young people to look towards the future with hope and responsibility,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251682/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-july-2022 Since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision on Friday, attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life pregnancy centers have been reported in West Virginia, Washington, Virginia, Louisiana, Oregon, Colorado, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Check out Catholic News Agency dot com to see an interactive map of the reported incidents. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251687/attacks-on-churches-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-continue Today, the Church celebrates Saint Junipero Serra. Born on the island of Petra Mallorca in Spain in 1713, Serra joined the Franciscans and quickly gained prominence as both a scholar and professor. He chose to give up his academic career to become a missionary in the territory of New Spain, in which Spanish colonizers had already been active for over two centuries. Traveling almost everywhere on foot and practicing various forms of self-mortification, Serra founded mission churches all along the coast- the first nine of the 21 missions in what is today California. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-junipero-serra-735 The Church also celebrates Saint Arnulf of Metz. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-arnulf-of-metz-305

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archbishop of San Antonio is set to hold a memorial Mass on Thursday following the discovery of dozens of migrants who died in an abandoned tractor-trailer in Texas. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, and Auxiliary Bishops Michael Boulette and Gary Janak will preside at a memorial Mass for the migrants June 30. The migrants were found dead in an abandoned tractor-trailer baking in extreme heat in San Antonio, Texas on the evening of June 27. The official death toll has risen to at least 53, and the dead include 22 Mexicans, 7 Guatemalans, and 2 Hondurans, with the others not yet having been identified. Four people have so far been charged in the deaths. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251674/san-antonio-archbishop-to-preside-at-memorial-mass-after-texas-migrant-deaths The Nicaraguan Ministry of the Interior has ordered the closure of 101 nongovernmental organizations, including the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Saint Teresa of Calcutta that is dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. According to the government of Daniel Ortega, the missionaries are not accredited “by the Ministry for the Family to function as a nursery-center for childhood development, home for girls, and home for the elderly,” nor “do they have an operating permit from the Ministry of Education to provide remedial education for students” and their “financial statements reported to the Ministry of the Interior don’t agree” with other documents presented for review. Among other ministries, the Missionaries of Charity run the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home in the city of Granada, where they take in abandoned adolescents or victims of abuse. Managua Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Báez, who has been living in exile at the request of Pope Francis since April 2019 due to numerous death threats, deplored the decision of the Ortega government to expel the Missionaries of Charity from the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251675/ortega-government-orders-dissolution-of-missionaries-of-charity-in-nicaragua Today, the Church celebrates The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church. These “proto-martyrs” of Rome were the first Christians persecuted en masse by the Emperor Nero in the year 64, before the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. Nero was widely believed to have caused the fire that burned down much of Rome in the same year. He blamed the fire on the Christians and put them to death, many by crucifixion, being feeding to the wild animals in his circus, or by being tied to posts and lit up as human torches. Today, the site of Nero's Circus, also the location of Saint Peter's martyrdom, is marked by the Piazza dei Protomartiri Romani in the Vatican next to Saint Peter's basilica. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-first-holy-martyrs-of-the-holy-roman-church-502

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis condemned an attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, as “barbaric,” during a public address on Wednesday. A Russian missile strike hit a shopping mall in Kremenchuk on June 27. Ukrainian authorities said the next day that at least 18 people were killed in the attack and another 36 were missing. “I pray that this foolish war may soon see an end, and I renew the invitation to persevere, without tiring, in the prayer for peace: may the Lord open those paths of dialogue that men are unwilling or unable to find,” he said. “And let us not neglect to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people, who are suffering so much.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251670/pope-francis-condemns-barbaric-attack-on-ukraine-mall Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega, the archbishop of Guadalajara, revealed that last week he was stopped and questioned at a checkpoint manned by drug traffickers during a visit to the northern part of Mexico's Jalisco state. The cardinal lamented the current climate of violence in Mexico, including the recent killing of two Jesuit priests and another man in a church in the state of Chihuahua. Mexico is experiencing a dramatic escalation in violence. Between 2018 and 2021, the country recorded the highest number of homicides in its history. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251664/cardinal-reveals-he-was-detained-by-drug-traffickers-in-mexico More vandalism of Catholic churches, pro-life pregnancy centers, and a pro-life memorial have been reported since Roe v. Wade was overturned on Friday. LifeChoice pregnancy center in Winter Haven, Florida was defaced with pro-abortion graffiti June 25, and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Renton, Washington had its windows smashed and was defaced with pro-abortion slogans in the early hours of that same day. In another incident, pro-abortion graffiti was discovered June 27 on the doors of the The Church of the Ascension in Manhattan. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251667/more-catholic-churches-pregnancy-centers-and-a-pro-life-memorial-vandalized Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saints Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-peter-and-paul-501

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has asked people to pray after 46 migrants were found dead in a Texas trailer truck on Monday. “I sorrowfully heard the news of the tragedy of the migrants in Texas and Melilla,” the pope said in a social media post on June 28. “Let us Pray Together for these brothers and sisters who died following their hope of a better life; and for ourselves, may the Lord might open our hearts so these misfortunes never happen again.” The migrants were found dead in an abandoned tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas on the evening of June 27. Sixteen other people were hospitalized, including four children, according to the Associated Press. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251658/draft-pope-francis-expresses-sorrow-for-migrant-deaths-at-texas-border St. Colman Chapel, which was discovered burned to the ground the morning of June 27, was the last surviving remnant of a once-thriving Irish immigrant community in West Virginia, and its adjacent cemetery marks the final resting place of many of those Irish Catholics. The chapel burned under suspicious circumstances the night of June 26-27 and is being investigated as arson, according to the local volunteer fire department. The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston told CNA it "is saddened to hear of the devastating fire at the historic St. Colman Catholic Church near Shady Spring, WV. Thankfully, no one was inside the building when the fire occurred and the structure is a total loss. The church, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places since it was built in 1877 was not regularly used. The Diocese is truly grateful for the response of so many fire departments in the area, but the little church burned quickly and nothing can be saved. The cemetery behind the church will continue to be maintained." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251655/the-little-catholic-church-on-irish-mountain-stood-in-west-virginia-for-150-years-before-it-burned Today, the Church celebrates Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, a second-century bishop and writer in present-day France. He is best known for defending Christian orthodoxy, especially the reality of Christ’s human incarnation, against the set of heresies known as Gnosticism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-irenaeus-285 The Church also celebrates Saint Vincentia Gerosa. In 1832, she and St. Bartholomea Capitanio formed the Sisters of Charity of Lovere, with a charism to care for and educate the poor. She took the religious name Vincentia, and led the congregation after Bartholomea died in 1836, until her own death 11 years later. She was beatified in 1926 and canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-vincentia-gerosa-517

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Monday in favor of a high school football coach in a First Amendment case concerning his right to pray on the field. Kennedy, a Christian, lost his job as a public school football coach in Bremerton, Washington, for refusing to stop praying at the 50-yard line after games.The court ruled that the school district breached Kennedy’s free exercise and free speech rights. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251647/supreme-court-opinion-football-coach-prayer Two priests were killed over the weekend in Nigeria, one in Kaduna state and one in Edo state. Father Vitus Borogo, a priest serving in the Archdiocese of Kaduna, was killed June 25 after a raid on a the farm by Terrorists, the chancellor of the Kaduna archdiocese said in a statement shared with ACI Africa. The priest, who was 50, was the Catholic chaplain at Kaduna State Polytechnic. In Edo state, Father Christopher Odia was kidnapped from his rectory at St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, Uzairue, around 6:30 am June 26. He was killed by his abductors, the Diocese of Auchi has announced. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251645/two-priests-killed-in-nigeria-in-separate-incidents In a video message posted June 23, Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, secretary general of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, said that following the murder of two Jesuit priests last week, the country is being “spattered in the blood of so many dead and disappeared." Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar were murdered June 20 inside the Catholic church of Cerocahui when they tried to protect an injured man who fled inside the church as he was being pursued by an armed assailant who then shot him and the two priests, killing all three. From January 1 to June 21 of this year, according to official figures, 12,481 homicides have taken place in Mexico. On behalf of the entire Church in Mexico, Bishop Castro asked the criminals: “We implore you, we beg you, we demand, in the name of God, enough of so much evil and hatred! We all want peace.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251646/mexican-bishops-the-country-is-spattered-in-the-blood-of-the-dead-and-disappeared Today, the Church celebrates Saint Cyril of Alexandria, an Egyptian bishop and theologian best known for his role in the Council of Ephesus, where the Church confirmed that Christ is both God and man in one person. The Eastern churches celebrate St. Cyril of Alexandria on June 9. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cyril-of-alexandria-516 The Church also celebrates Saint Ladislaus. Ladislaus was the King of Hungary, born in 1040 and died in 1095 as one of Hungary's national Christian heroes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ladislaus-284

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Breaking: The US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. In a 6-3 decision released today, June 24, the court ruled that abortion is no longer legal nationwide — the legality of abortion will now be determined at the state level. More about this story is available at Catholic News Agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251247/supreme-court-roe-v-wade-dobbs-decision The Vatican has released the itinerary for Pope Francis’ visit to Canada, during which he will meet with representatives of indigenous peoples, and with indigenous Catholics. The visit to Canada will take place July 24-29, with a return flight to Rome landing on the 30th, the Vatican said Thursday. While in Canada, Francis is expected to issue an apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for abuses committed against indigenous students in Catholic-run residential schools. In addition to a visit to Edmonton, Alberta, the pope will meet with dignitaries in Quebec City before visiting Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, to meet with residential school survivors, among others. Despite the ambitious nature of the trip, the pope is expected to participate in events in Canada for about an hour at a time, owing to the health problems the 85-year-old has experienced of late. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251619/itinerary-released-for-pope-francis-trip-to-canada-in-late-july Relatives of Holocaust survivors and victims can now look through the files of more than 2,700 Jews who sought help through Vatican channels to escape Nazi persecution before and during the Second World War. The archives have gone public on the internet at the request of Pope Francis. The files are hosted at the website for the Historical Archive of the Secretariat of State’s Section for Relations with States and International Organizations. The archive hosts a photographic reproduction of each document and an analytical inventory that names all those requesting help. Some requests written by Jews or on behalf of Jews sought help to obtain visas or passports, to find asylum, or to reunify families. Others sought freedom from detention or transfers to a different concentration camp. They sought news of deported people or asked for supplies of food or clothes, financial support, spiritual support, and more. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251623/records-of-jews-who-sought-vatican-help-during-holocaust-to-go-public Pro-life pregnancy centers have saved over 800,000 lives since 2016, according to an analysis by the Charlotte Lozier Institute. The analysis says that pro-life pregnancy centers “exist to provide support, education, classes, medical care and critical resources for women faced with difficult circumstances surrounding unexpected pregnancy.” The analysis was done with data from more than 1,100 Care Net pregnancy centers, then weighted to create national estimates. Pro-life pregnancy centers began organizing in the late 1960s, the same time some states began legalizing abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251621/analysis-estimates-more-than-800000-lives-saved-by-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-since-2016 Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a moveable feast that honors the Sacred Heart. In 1675, Jesus told Saint Margaret Mary that He wanted the Feast of the Sacred Heart to be celebrated on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave. In 1856, the Feast of the Sacred Heart became a universal feast. Saint John Paul II, a great devotee of the Sacred Heart, said, “This feast reminds us of the mystery of the love of God for the people of all times.” https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/seasons-and-feast-days/sacred-heart-of-jesus-14357

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Relics of the first married couple to be beatified together by the Catholic Church can be venerated inside St. Peter’s Basilica this week during the World Meeting of Families in Rome. Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi are the official patrons of the 10th World Meeting of Families taking place in Rome on June 22-26. The Italian couple was married for 45 years, enduring two world wars together and nurturing their four children’s vocations in service of the Church amid unprecedented difficulties facing Europe. Both of their sons became priests in the 1930s and went on to concelebrate the beatification Mass of their parents with John Paul II in 2001. Their eldest son, Father Tarcisio Beltrame, a Benedictine monk, and his younger brother Father Paolino, a Trappist, both risked their lives to secretly work with the resistance during the Nazi occupation of Italy in World War II, while the Beltrame Quattrocchi family’s apartment in Rome served as a hiding place for fugitives and Italians with Jewish heritage. The beatified couple are buried together in Rome’s Sanctuary of Divine Love. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251607/first-married-couple-patrons-world-meeting-of-families Cardinal Kevin Farrell said on Thursday that Saint John the Baptist is a witness to the sacredness of life from conception to natural death. The Irish-American cardinal celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on June 23. The Mass in English was part of the World Meeting of Families 2022, taking place in Rome from June 22-26 with families from around the world. Families are also encouraged to participate in the event from home via livestream. Even before Saint John the Baptist was born, “at the moment of Mary’s greeting, he recognized the Lord Jesus and leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb,” Farrell said. The cardinal, who leads the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, which organized the World Meeting of Families, said Saint John’s reaction to encountering the unborn Jesus points to an important aspect of family life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251614/cardinal-farrell-at-world-meeting-of-families-2022-st-john-the-baptist-is-a-witness-to-the-sacredness-of-life Today, the Church celebrates The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. The Church also celebrates Saint Etheldreda. Commonly known as Audry, Etheldreda was Queen of Northumbria around the seventh century. Etheldreda was forced to marry out of political convenience, this time to the heir of Oswy, King of Northumbria. Throughout her 12 years of marriage, she kept her virginity, and she gave much of her time to devotion and charity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-etheldreda-280 Finally, the Church celebrates Blessed Basil Hopko, considered one of the many priests and religious martyred by Communism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-basil-hopko-513

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Jesuits of Mexico announced Tuesday that two of their priests were killed Monday inside a church in a mountainous region of Chihuahua state. Fathers Javier Campos Morales and Joaquín César Mora Salazar had served as Jesuit priests for nearly a century combined. The gunmen who carried out the June 20 attack on the church in Cerocahui, Chihuahua also took their bodies. “We condemn these violent acts, we demand justice and the recovery of the bodies of our brothers who were taken from the church by armed persons,” a June 21 statement released in Spanish from the Mexican Jesuits reads. “We trust that the testimonies of Christian life of our dear Javier and Joaquín continue to inspire men and women to give themselves in the service of the most vulnerable. Rest in peace.” Pope Francis said Wednesday he is mourning their deaths. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251598/two-jesuit-priests-killed-in-a-church-in-mexico https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251605/pope-francis-mourns-catholic-priests-killed-in-mexico The Lennon Pregnancy Center in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was vandalized sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. Gary Hillebrand, the center’s president, told CNA Tuesday that 12 of the clinic's front windows were smashed. Four glass doors were smashed as well, he said. He said graffiti was left that said “If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you!” Hillebrand estimates that the repairs will cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The staff at the clinic is not intimidated, he said, but they are cautious. The clinic has ordered more security cameras. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251597/pro-abortion-vandalism-michigan-minnesota Pope Francis condemned the use of nuclear weapons in favor of a “culture of life and peace” in a message released Tuesday. “I wish to reaffirm that the use of nuclear weapons, as well as their mere possession, is immoral,” the pontiff wrote. He urged that disarmament treaties are not only legal obligations but also “moral commitments.” Peace, Pope Francis said, is “indivisible,” and to be just and lasting, it must also be “universal.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251596/pope-francis-nuclear-weapons-are-immoral Today, the Church celebrates Saint Thomas More, a lawyer, author and statesman who was martyred for opposing King Henry VIII's plan to subordinate the Church to the English monarchy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-thomas-more-499

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Gunmen in Nigeria attacked a Catholic church and a Baptist church on Sunday morning, killing three people and reportedly kidnapping more than 30 worshippers. Armed bandits on motorcycles stormed villages in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna state and attacked Saint Moses Catholic Church and Maranatha Baptist Church on June 19 while people were worshiping. A local source told AP that the majority of those kidnapped were from the Baptist congregation, while the three people killed were Catholics. The attack comes two weeks after 40 Christians were killed in an attack on a Catholic church on Pentecost Sunday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251589/two-churches-in-nigeria-attacked-during-sunday-worship The diocese of Bismarck is opening an inquiry into whether Michelle Duppong, a former Catholic campus minister, should be recognized as a saint of the Church. Duppong joined the Fellowship of Catholic University Students in 2006 as a student missionary and worked for years at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and the University of Mary in Bismarck. Her missionary and mentoring work reached hundreds of students. In 2012 she joined the staff of the Diocese of Bismarck as director of adult faith formation. A cancer diagnosis in December 2014 was followed by a year of declining health. She died on Christmas Day in 2015 at the age of 31, surrounded by family at her childhood home. The investigation into her life will gather evidence about Duppong’s life and deeds, compile any private or public writings, and collect testimony from witnesses of her life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251592/did-a-saint-work-in-catholic-campus-ministry-bismarck-diocese-opens-inquiry-for-michelle-duppong Today, the Church celebrates Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Born into a noble Italian family, at age 18 he signed away his legal claim to his title and his family's lands and entered the Jesuits. He died shortly thereafter of the plague at the age of 23, having devotedly cared for plague victims in Rome in the outbreak of 1591. He is the patron saint of youth, AIDS patients and AIDS caregivers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-aloysius-gonzaga-512

A Jesuit middle school in Worcester, Massachusetts, has had its Catholic status revoked by the local bishop for defying his order to stop flying flags supporting LGBT pride and the Black Lives Matter movement. Mass is no longer permitted to be celebrated on Nativity School grounds. “The flying of these flags in front of a Catholic school sends a mixed, confusing and scandalous message to the public about the Church’s stance on these important moral and social issues,” Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester said in a June 16 decree. “The Nativity School of Worcester is prohibited from this time forward from identifying itself as a ‘Catholic’ school and may no longer use the title ‘Catholic’ to describe itself,” he said. In a June 15 letter to the school community, Thomas McKenney, Nativity School's president, depicted McManus' action as “a change in Nativity’s relationship with the Diocese of Worcester and our continued commitment to providing an excellent education rooted in the Jesuit tradition.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251572/bishop-jesuit-school-lgbt-black-lives-matter-flags Government soldiers ransacked and burned a Catholic church in a village in eastern Myanmar Wednesday, sources told CNA. Saint Matthew Catholic Church in Dawnyaykhu in Phruso Township in Karenni State was gutted by the flames, according to video footage posted by the Karenni National Defense Force, a local rebel group fighting the military junta that took over the country’s government on February 1, 2021. The KNDF video purports to show government soldiers approaching the white church building as smoke and flames pour out of the windows. Gunfire can be heard in the background. The footage shows isolated fires burning in different locations inside the building. The soldiers allegedly were under orders to burn down the church after occupying the building and looting valuables including food collected for the local poor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251566/myanmar-troops-set-fire-to-catholic-church Today, the Church celebrates Saint Albert Chmielowski, founder of the Albertine Brothers and Sisters, and one of the saints who inspired the vocation of the young Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope Saint John Paul II. A kind and compassionate person, Albert was always deeply aware of human suffering, and felt called to help those in need. In 1887, Albert founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the Albertines or the Gray Brothers. Then, in 1891, he founded a community of Albertine sisters, known as the Gray Sisters. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-albert-chmielowski-498

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The White House has condemned threats against pro-life organizations allegedly made by a group calling itself Jane’s Revenge. White House Assistant Press Secretary Alexandra LaManna said Wednesday that “Violence and destruction of property have no place in our country under any circumstances, and the President denounces this.” It remains an open question if Jane's Revenge, which claims to have conducted vandalism attacks on pro-life organizations across the country, is an organized group, or merely a call to action via copycat attacks on pro-life centers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251555/white-house-condemns-pro-abortion-violence-after-new-janes-revenge-threats The UK government announced on Thursday that it is imposing sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office said in a June 16 statement that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was being “sanctioned for his support and endorsement of Putin’s war.” The announcement came after European Union member states failed to agree on whether Patriarch Kirill should face sanctions after his name was proposed by the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU. Hungary reportedly objected to his inclusion. Numerous influential Russian citizens have been added to the UK sanctions list since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The sanctions have included asset freezes and bans on travel to the UK. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251561/uk-government-sanctions-russian-orthodox-church-leader-patriarch-kirill Today, the Church celebrates Saint John Francis Regis, a 17th-century French Jesuit known for his zealous missionary efforts and his care for the poor and marginalized. In a 1997 letter to the Bishop of Viviers, Pope St. John Paul II commemorated the fourth centenary of St. John Francis Regis' birth, honoring him as a “lofty figure of holiness” and an example for the Church in the modern world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-francis-regis-273 The Church also celebrates Saint Lutgardis, the patron saint of the blind and physically disabled. Born in the 12th century, she accepted the blindness that afflicted her for the last 11 years of her life as a gift that helped reduce the distractions of the outside world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lutgardis-507

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A pro-life pregnancy center in Philadelphia was vandalized last weekend with smashed windows and graffiti. Latrice Booker, director of Hope Pregnancy Center in Philadelphia, told CNA that when she drove by her clinic Saturday, June 11, she found four windows smashed, with one written on with graffiti. It is unclear what the graffiti says. Three glass doors were smashed as well. As of Tuesday afternoon, the windows were boarded up and the clinic is in the process of repairs, but they are still open for business. The clinic offers all its services to help women and families in need at no cost. The clinic director said that the clinic is not dissuaded in its mission by the vandalism and called on people of faith to “stand tall” despite vitriol against pro-life people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251546/philadelphia-pro-life-clinic-vandalized Pope Francis said this week that no Christian is exempt from aiding the poor. In his message for the 2022 World Day of the Poor, published on June 14, the pope said that the worst thing that can happen to a Christian community is to be “dazzled by the idol of wealth, which ends up chaining us to an ephemeral and bankrupt vision of life.” “Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated,” Pope Francis said. “No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. None of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice,” he added. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251539/pope-francis-no-christian-is-exempt-from-aiding-the-poor Today, the Church celebrates Saint Germaine Cousin, a simple and pious young girl who lived in Pibrac, France in the late 1500s. Germaine was born in 1579 to poor parents. Her father was a farmer, and her mother died when she was still an infant. She was born with a deformed right arm and hand, as well as the disease of scrofula, a tubercular condition. Banished from her house, she tended to the family's flock of sheep every day. Despite her hardships, she lived each day full of thanksgiving and joy, and spent much of her time praying the Rosary and teaching the village children about the love of God. She was barely fed and had an emaciated figure, yet despite this she shared the little bread that she had with the poor of the village. After she died at a young age, her body was found to be incorrupt. People in the surrounding area began praying for her intercession and obtaining miraculous cures for illnesses. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-germaine-cousin-497

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis described Russia’s use of mercenaries in the Ukraine war as “monstrous” in an interview published on Tuesday. Speaking to the editors of Jesuit journals, the pope also suggested that the war, which began with a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, was “perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented.” Commenting on Ukraine, the pope said: “What we are seeing is the brutality and ferocity with which this war is being carried out by the troops, generally mercenaries, used by the Russians. The Russians prefer to send in Chechen and Syrian mercenaries.” The pope added that he hoped to meet with Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill in Kazakhstan in September. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251535/pope-francis-deplores-russia-s-monstrous-use-of-mercenaries-in-ukraine US bishops are pleading for an end to violence following the ongoing attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life pregnancy centers. The bishops have tracked 139 church attacks since 2020 — a number that has increased significantly since the May 2 leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion in the abortion case Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In recent months, “charities that support pregnant mothers in need have been firebombed, and pro-life organizations have been attacked almost daily and terrorized, and even the lives of Supreme Court justices have been directly threatened,” the US Church leaders noted. The bishops explained that the Catholic Church provides a great service to all in need, and, quote, “consistently bears witness in word and deed to the beauty and dignity of every human life.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251533/title-bishops Pope Francis will not preside at a Mass and procession on the feast of Corpus Christi, the Vatican announced on Monday. The Holy See press office said on June 13 that the decision was taken “due to the limitations imposed on the pope by gonalgia,” or knee pain, “and the specific liturgical needs of the celebration.” The announcement came the day after the 85-year-old-pope apologized for having to postpone a scheduled trip to Africa in July because of his knee problem. The pope is still scheduled to visit Canada on July 24-29. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251526/pope-francis-won-t-preside-at-corpus-christi-mass-and-procession-due-to-knee-pain Today, the Church celebrates Saint Methodius of Constantinople, who worked for unity and reconciliation in the Eastern Church and served as the Patriarch of Constantinople the last five years of his life. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-methodius-of-constantinople-506

Due to technical difficulties on the part of our audio host, we are unable to bring you a news briefing today, Monday, June 13. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and plan to bring you a new briefing tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14. Thanks for being a Catholic News listener. As always, feel free to visit CatholicNewsAgency.com for the latest.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Nigerian government official said Thursday that the insurgent group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is suspected as the perpetrators of a massacre at a Catholic church last week that left dozens dead. In the June 5 attack, gunmen opened fire on Catholic worshipers attending Pentecost celebrations at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in southwestern Nigeria. Initial reports suggested that more than 50 people were killed, including children, and others injured. The official death toll for the attack currently stands at 40, with 61 injured people still in hospital. ISWAP is considered a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, another Islamic extremist terrorist group which has killed thousands of Christians and displaced millions of people in Nigeria and neighboring countries in recent years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251507/nigeria-church-massacre-isis-affiliate-group-suspected-as-perpetrators-government-official-says Pope Francis’ July trip to the African countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan has been postponed for health reasons, the Vatican said on Friday. Pope Francis was planning to spend July 2-5 in the Congolese cities of Kinshasa and Goma, and July 5-7 in the South Sudanese capital Juba. The 85-year-old pope has been suffering from a painful inflamed ligament in his knee, limiting his ability to walk. He has been using a wheelchair during public appearances since last month. He is still scheduled to visit Canada on July 24-29. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251510/pope-francis-postpones-trip-to-democratic-republic-of-congo-and-south-sudan Washington DC authorities will allow a private pathologist to examine the remains of five babies the group claims it recovered from a DC abortion clinic. The pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising said this spring that they had obtained 115 aborted babies from a driver for a medical waste company to bury them in a dignified way. Five of those babies appeared to be of late-term gestation. DC officials said the city’s medical examiner would not perform autopsies on the five babies. Pro-life groups have expressed concern that the manner in which the babies died violated federal law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251506/dc-aborted-babies-private-autopsy-ted-cruz-how-they-died Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Edward Poppe. He was one of 11 children born to a modest, pious family in Belgium. He was drafted to the military in 1910 and served as a battlefield nurse during World War I. His prayers to St. Joseph during that time led to the miraculous freeing of several prisoners of war. He was ordained in 1916 at the age of 25 and served as associate pastor, focusing his ministry to the poor, children and the dying. He also taught catechism and founded Eucharistic associations. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-edward-poppe-503

Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Texas is on fire.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A pro-life pregnancy center in Asheville, North Carolina, had its windows smashed and its building defaced with pro-abortion messaging late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. According to Asheville Police, officers discovered red spray paint on the Mountain Area Pregnancy Services building with the words “No forced birth” and “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you!” Multiple windows were broken and an anarchist symbol was left on the front of the building, said police, who are calling the damage a vandalism and are seeking the perpetrator. The police said that a forensic team found blood on a broken window, which suggests the perpetrator may have been injured. The vandalisms are the latest in a string of attacks against pro-life pregnancy centers. Centers in Washington DC, Washington state, Maryland, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Texas have been vandalized. Notably, a pro-life pregnancy center in upstate New York sustained major damage in a fire and was defaced with pro-abortion graffiti Tuesday morning. The center, CompassCare, located in Amherst, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, posted photos on its Facebook page showing the building’s windows shattered, an office burned and heavily damaged, and the words “Jane was here” spray-painted on the side of the building. Variations of that message have been featured in some of the recent attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches since a draft opinion leaked to the media last month indicated that the US Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251480/vandalism-pro-life-pregnancy-center-north-carolina catholicnewsagency.com/news/251477/police-investigation-fire-graffiti-at-upstate-new-york-pro-life-pregnancy-center Colorado’s four Catholic bishops wrote in a recent letter that Catholic lawmakers in Colorado who voted for an extreme abortion bill that stripped all rights from the unborn child should refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Voting for the Reproductive Health and Equity Act (RHEA) was “participating in a gravely sinful action because it facilitates the killing of innocent unborn babies,” said a letter to lawmakers from the state’s Catholic bishops. The law explicitly excludes any rights to unborn children, saying “(a) fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of the state.” The bishops’ letter said they tried to speak with lawmakers who voted for the abortion bill to ensure that they understand Catholic teaching, but few lawmakers accepted an invitation to meet. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251479/colorado-bishops-say-lawmakers-who-backed-states-abortion-law-should-refrain-from-communion Today, the Church celebrates Saint Medard. Born around 456 in Salency, France, he was ordained a priest at the age of 33, and did not wish to be made a bishop, but reluctantly became the Bishop of Vermand in 530. Medardus was one of the most honored bishops of his time, his memory has always been venerated in northern France, and he soon became the hero of numerous legends. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-medard-bishop-495

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has expressed his “spiritual closeness” to Nigerian Catholics mourning the victims of a massacre at a church on Pentecost Sunday. In the June 5 attack, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Catholic worshipers attending Pentecost celebrations at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in southwestern Nigeria. Initial reports suggested that more than 50 people were killed, including children, and others injured. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251467/nigeria-church-massacre-pope-francis-mourns-victims-of-unspeakable-violence In response to a federal court decision affirming the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s death penalty protocol, Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City on Monday called on state lawmakers to end the death penalty. A US District judge had ruled against 28 Oklahoma death row inmates’ argument that one of the drugs the state uses in its lethal injection protocol, the sedative midazolam, is an insufficient painkiller which makes the dying process severely and unconstitutionally painful. “No matter the decision of the court on Oklahoma’s protocol, the use of the death penalty only contributes to the continued coarsening of society and to the spiral of violence,” Coakley said in a statement. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251468/okc-archbishop-calls-for-end-to-death-penalty-in-state-amid-court-decision-affirming-its-constitutionality Two Catholic priests martyred under the Ottoman Empire were beatified in Lebanon over the weekend. Father Leonard Melki and Father Thomas Saleh were Capuchin friars and missionaries in what is now Turkey who were arrested, tortured, and martyred by the forces of the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and 1917 respectively. Melki was given a choice: convert to Islam and be freed, or die as a Christian. Refusing to apostatize, the Lebanese priest was forced to march with more than 400 Christian prisoners into the desert, where he was killed “in hatred of the faith” on June 11, 1915. Saleh was arrested and sentenced to death after giving shelter to an Armenian priest during the Armenian genocide. Before his death, he said, “I have full trust in God, I am not afraid of death,” according to the Capuchin Order in Lebanon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251464/catholic-priests-martyred-under-ottoman-empire-beatified-in-lebanon Today, the Church celebrates Saint Anthony Mary Gianelli. Ordained a priest in 1812, in 1827 he founded the Missionaries of St. Alphonsus, which lasted until 1856. He also founded the Oblates of Saint Alphonsus in 1828, which lasted only 20 years. The Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden, which he founded in 1829, still continue their ministry in education and among the sick in Europe, Asia and the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anthony-mary-gianelli-493

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At least 50 people were killed and others injured Sunday when gunmen attacked worshippers at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria. Gunmen reportedly fired at Catholic worshipers attending Pentecost celebrations and detonated explosives. The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need denounced the “Pentecost massacre” on June 5 in Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, as “another terrorist act in Nigeria, one more on the long list of crimes against Christians.” The identity of the gunman is not yet known. The archbishop of Owerri condemned “in the strongest terms the spilling of innocent blood in the House of God.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251458/nigeria-catholic-church-attack https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251462/catholic-charity-urges-world-leaders-to-condemn-nigeria-church-massacre Pope Francis condemned the war in Ukraine after Russia’s ongoing invasion of that country reached the 100-day mark. June 3 marked 100 days since the beginning of Russia’s invasion that has left thousands dead. The United Nations estimates that nearly 7 million people have fled Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, with many more displaced or stranded within Ukraine. Pope Francis, an outspoken advocate for the Ukrainian people, has expressed a desire to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow and to travel to Ukraine when the “right time” comes. His comments come after he consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in March. At the end of May, he prayed the rosary for peace in Ukraine and around the world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251457/pope-francis-ukraine-war-100-days Expectant mothers, babies, and their families can find comfort and encouragement alongside material help like cribs, diapers, and baby formula through the Saint Gabriel’s Call ministry in Rhode Island. Saint Gabriel’s Call is a ministry under the Providence diocese’s Office of Life and Family. It offers free and confidential services including financial, material, social, emotional, and other support for mothers and children. The ministry can help provide cribs, car seats, and furniture as well as baby clothes, linens, diapers, formula, toys, household goods, toiletries, and gift cards. The ministry has three locations in Providence, and five elsewhere in Rhode Island. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251450/pregnant-women-and-their-babies-can-find-help-among-rhode-islands-catholics Today, the Church celebrates Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a priest of the Society of Mary and the founder of the Little Brothers of Mary, a congregation of brothers devoted to the education of the young. The Church also celebrates Saint Norbert of Xanten, who started out as a frivolous and worldly cleric, but was changed by God’s grace into a powerful preacher and an important reformer of the Church during the early 12th century. He is the founder of the Norbertine order. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-marcellin-champagnat-262 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-norbert-491

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has announced that his prayer intention for the month of June is families. The choice is fitting, since families from around the world will gather in Rome later this month for the World Meeting of Families on June 22-26. The pope's prayer intention in May was young people. The pope describes the family as “the place where we learn to live with one another, to live with young people and those who are older.” While family love can provide us “a personal path of holiness,” the pope also stressed that “there is no such thing as a perfect family.” catholicnewsagency.com/news/251442/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-june-2021 Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa celebrated a memorial Mass at Saint Francis Hospital Thursday following a mass shooting on the hospital’s campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa police confirmed five casualties of the shooting, including the shooter, which took place June 1 at the Natalie Building, on the south side of the hospital’s campus. During his homily, the bishop stressed hope in the midst of pain. Throughout the Mass, Konderla prayed for the victims and their families. Immediately following the shooting, Konderla, along with several priests and the Religious Sisters of Mercy, were “on site to offer pastoral support to those affected.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251445/tulsa-bishop-says-mass-with-shooting-victims-families-we-should-not-fear Visitors to Assisi can once again see Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be beatified in the Catholic Church, dressed in jeans and tennis shoes through a viewing glass on his tomb. Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino removed the panel covering Acutis’ tomb on June 1, reopening it for permanent public veneration. With the lifting of Italy’s former travel restrictions for tourists, many international pilgrims will now have the opportunity to see the young Blessed for the first time. The archbishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino said that he hopes that all who come to pray at the tomb will “open themselves to the light of the Gospel and have a profound experience of faith." Blessed Carlo Acutis was a young Catholic from Italy with a passionate devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and an aptitude for computer coding. He died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, offering his suffering for the pope and for the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251440/blessed-carlo-acutis-tomb-permanently-reopened-for-public-viewing Today, the Church celebrates Saint Charles Lwanga and the martyrs of Uganda. Charles was chief page to the pedofilic King Mwanga, and forcibly protected young boys from the king’s advances. Lwanga and dozens of other men were baptized after the king beheaded a Catholic man, and Lwanga and his companions were later brutally burned at the stake by the king for refusing to renounce their faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charles-lwanga-and-companions-martyrs-of-uganda-488

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Diocese of Tulsa has requested prayer for all involved in a Wednesday night mass shooting at a medical office building near the city’s Saint Francis Hospital, which has left at least four dead. The Tulsa Police Department has confirmed four casualties of the shooting, including the gunman. No names have yet been released. Saint Francis Hospital is the anchor of Saint Francis Health System, whose website says it “is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system wholly governed and operated in Tulsa, Oklahoma whose mission is to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ to all who seek its services.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251437/tulsa-diocese-asks-for-prayers-after-oklahoma-hospital-shooting The Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Robert Barron to lead the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, in southern Minnesota. Barron, who runs the popular Catholic media apostolate Word on Fire, has served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles since 2015. He will succeed Bishop John Quinn, who submitted his resignation to the pope after reaching the retirement age of 75 in 2020. Barron will be installed as bishop on July 29. The diocese of Winona, which is currently in bankruptcy, covers more than 12,000 square miles of southern Minnesota and includes 107 Catholic parishes and over 130,000 Catholics. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251438/pope-francis-appoints-bishop-barron-to-lead-minnesota-diocese Pope Francis sent a congratulatory message to Queen Elizabeth the second on Thursday coinciding with the United Kingdom’s joyous celebration of the 70th anniversary of her reign. Queen Elizabeth, who turned 96 on April 21, is England’s longest serving monarch, having ascended to the throne in 1952 at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. Her coronation took place the following year. Elizabeth, who is the head of the Church of England, has met four popes as queen, and one as princess in 1951. Elizabeth and her late husband, Prince Philip, last met with Pope Francis in the Vatican in 2014, marking the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251439/pope-francis-telegram-to-queen-elizabeth-platinum-jubilee Today, the Church celebrates two fourth-century martyrs, Saints Marcellinus and Peter, who were highly venerated after the discovery of their tomb and the conversion of their executioner. Although the biographical details of the two martyrs are largely unknown, it is known that they lived and died during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Both men were beheaded after refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, and according to tradition, their executioner subsequently repented and joined the Catholic Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-marcellinus-and-peter-487

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The newest cardinal-elect of the island nation of East Timor says he was completely surprised by his appointment by Pope Francis over the weekend. “When I heard this news, I was so shocked I almost fainted,” Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva told reporters May 30. "I never dreamed of this and I never looked for it.” East Timor, or Timor-Leste, occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, which it shares with Indonesia. The population of the country, which was colonized by Portugal, is nearly 98% Catholic. Pope Francis had on Sunday announced the names of 21 men whom he will create as cardinals in August. Da Silva, a priest of the Salesians of St. John Bosco, has led the local Church of Dili since 2016. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251420/east-timor-cardinal-elect-almost-fainted-when-he-heard-pope-francis-had-chosen-him A Catholic woman who sued the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office claiming her son was cremated in violation of her religious beliefs will likely soon receive a settlement of nearly half a million dollars. Maria Elvira Quintanilla Cebreros, a Tijuana, Mexico woman, alleges that L.A. county failed to notify her of her son’s death after he went missing three years ago, and also cremated his remains without her permission. Earlier this month, the Office of County Counsel recommended a $445,000 settlement. The Catholic Church teaches that cremation, while strongly discouraged, can be permissible under certain restrictions. A person’s ashes are not to be scattered, nor kept in the home or preserved in mementos or jewelry, but instead must be “laid to rest in a sacred place," such as in a cemetery or church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251418/catholic-woman-may-receive-settlement-over-her-sons-cremation Eleven of the Uvalde shooting victims were parishioners at the city’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and their funerals will be held there over the next two and a half weeks. Although there will be 11 funerals, 12 lives will be commemorated and prayed for, as Joe Garcia, the 50-year-old husband of one of the teachers who was killed, Irma Garcia, will share the same funeral Mass as his wife. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio will be the celebrant for the Garcias’ funeral Mass, which will take place this morning. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251417/eleven-funerals-to-take-place-at-uvaldes-catholic-church-in-coming-weeks Today, the Church celebrates Saint Justin Martyr, an avid lover of truth with an interest in philosophy who admired Christians from a distance because of the beauty of their moral lives. After a life-changing conversation with an old man, the aspiring philosopher eventually decided to be baptized around the age of 30. Justin was most likely ordained a deacon, since he preached, did not marry, and gave religious instruction in his home. He is best known as the author of early apologetic works which argued for the Catholic faith against the claims of Jews, pagans, and non-Christian philosophers. He also wrote a very early description of the Mass and the Eucharist. Justin was scourged and beheaded by the prefect of Rome along with six companions who joined him in his confession of faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-justin-martyr-486

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A tabernacle was stolen, and the Eucharist desecrated, over the weekend at Saint Augustine Catholic Church in the Park Slope neighborhood of New York City’s Brooklyn borough. The Diocese of Brooklyn said May 29 that “the Holy Eucharist housed inside the Tabernacle was thrown all over the altar.” The burglary was discovered by Father Frank Tumino, the parish pastor, on the afternoon of May 28, and is suspected to have taken place the previous day. Police have estimated the 19th-century tabernacle’s value at $2 million. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251406/tabernacle-stolen-from-brooklyn-parish-church Pope Francis on Tuesday attended the funeral Mass of the former Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, presided at the ceremony in Saint Peter’s Basilica on May 31. Photographs showed the 85-year-old pope seated in a wheelchair as the Mass was celebrated at the Altar of the Chair. Sodano, an influential Vatican diplomat who served as dean of the College of Cardinals until 2019, died on May 27 at the age of 94. Cardinal Re praised Cardinal Sodano’s “gifts of intellect and heart, his sensitivity to the pastoral aims of the Church’s action in the world, his wisdom in assessing events, and situations and his readiness to help, seeking appropriate solutions in every case.”The cardinal’s final years were overshadowed by allegations that he covered up sexual abuse by Legionaries of Christ founder Marcial Maciel, former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, and others. Sodano’s name was mentioned 30 times in the McCarrick Report, published in 2020. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251411/pope-francis-attends-funeral-of-cardinal-sodano Archbishops José Gomez of Los Angeles and Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco both welcomed the announcement Sunday that Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego is to become a cardinal, along with 20 other men from around the world. “As brother bishops, we’ve worked together on many issues and initiatives in service to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the California Catholic Conference,” Archbishop Gmexz said. “His strong faith and the pastoral concern for the faithful he has shown in his diocese will serve the global Church well. Please join me in praying for the continued ministry of Bishop McElroy.” Pope Francis will create the 21 new cardinals in August. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251405/bishops-in-us-congratulate-bishop-mcelroy-on-his-elevation-to-cardinal Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, commemorating when Mary left Nazareth at the end of March and went over the mountains to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Feeling the presence of his Divine Savior, John, upon the arrival of Mary, leaped for joy in the womb of his mother. The earliest evidence of the existence of the feast is its adoption by the Franciscan Chapter in 1263, upon the advice of Saint Bonaventure. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/feast-of-the-visitation-of-the-virgin-mary-255

Due to the Memorial Day holiday in the United States today, there will be no news briefing. Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, May 31, for the next news briefing. And as always, the latest news will be available for you to read at CatholicNewsAgency.com. Thank you, and have a great holiday!

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio is offering financial, legal, and counseling services to people affected by the May 24 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The services, which became available May 25, are all being offered for free, according to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Anyone who is in need of these services should go to or contact Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde. A gunman killed at least 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, located about 90 miles west of San Antonio, on Tuesday. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio told CNA that multiple victims were parishioners at Sacred Heart. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251377/san-antonio-catholic-charities-accepting-donations-to-aid-those-affected-by-texas-shooting Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City thanked state leaders Wednesday “for supporting pro-life measures” after the governor signed into law the strictest abortion ban in the country. The Oklahoma law, prohibiting abortion from the moment of conception with few exceptions, comes ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could leave abortion legislation solely up to the states. “Building a culture of life in Oklahoma that recognizes the inherent dignity of every person requires the protections afforded by pro-life legislation and a profound change of heart,” Archbishop Coakley said May 25. “I encourage Oklahomans to pray for women in crisis pregnancy situations, for their families and loved ones, for families waiting to adopt, for fathers, and for the many pregnancy resource centers serving these brave parents. Thank you to Oklahoma’s legislative leaders and to Gov. Stitt for supporting pro-life measures,” he added. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251379/oklahoma-city-archbishop-encourages-culture-of-life-after-governor-signs-abortion-ban Advocates of legal abortion in Michigan have proposed a constitutional amendment that pro-life critics say is so poorly written it would affect almost everything related to pregnancy, threatening parental consent requirements for minors, bans on taxpayer funded abortions, and the state ban on human cloning. The Michigan Catholic conference announced May 24 it has joined the pro-life coalition Citizens to Support MI Women and Children to oppose the amendment. Michigan’s existing abortion law, dating to 1931, criminalizes abortion as a felony, except to save the life of the mother. The state law has not been enforced since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v Wade mandated that all states legalize abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251376/proposed-michigan-abortion-amendment-has-major-problems-pro-life-coalition-says Today, the Church celebrates Saint Augustine of Canterbury, an Italian Benedictine monk who became the “Apostle of the English,” founding the famous See of Canterbury and preached the Catholic faith to the country's Anglo-Saxon pagans during the late sixth and early seventh centuries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-augustine-of-canterbury-479

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis is inviting Catholics to pray the rosary for peace in Ukraine and around the world at the end of the Marian month of May. The pope will pray the rosary before the statue of Mary Regina Pacis, Queen of Peace, at Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major at 6 pm local time on May 31. The pope will pray the rosary in union with Marian shrines around the world, including the Shrine of the Mother of God in Zarvanytsia, western Ukraine. They will be connected via video link to the live broadcast from Rome. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251372/ukraine-war-catholics-invited-to-join-pope-francis-in-praying-rosary-for-peace Gunmen attacked a Catholic rectory and kidnapped two priests in northwest Nigeria on Wednesday. Father Stephen Ojapah and Father Oliver Okpara were abducted after gunmen broke into the rectory of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gidan Maikambo, in the middle of the night on May 25, according to a statement from the Diocese of Sokoto. Two boys were also kidnapped along with the priests. The kidnapping is the latest incident in a series of attacks that have reportedly targeted Church institutions in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. catholicnewsagency.com/news/251371/gunmen-kidnap-2-catholic-priests-in-nigeria The Communion ban in place within House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home diocese in California now extends to the Diocese of Arlington, located just outside Washington, DC. Bishop Michael Burbidge said Wednesday that he would respect the ban imposed by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone last week because of Pelosi's staunch advocacy for legalized abortion. Burbidge is the second US bishop to announce that he will apply the San Francisco Archdiocese ban in his own diocese. Bishop Robert Vasa said on May 20 that he would do so in the Diocese of Santa Rosa, where Pelosi reportedly attends Mass occasionally. At least a dozen US bishops have publicly come out in support of Cordileone's action. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251369/nancy-pelosis-communion-ban-will-apply-in-diocese-of-arlington Today, the Church celebrates Saint Philip Neri, a wealthy young man who experienced a religious conversion and moved to Rome. There he studied philosophy and theology, tutored young boys, and visited the sick. Later, he co-founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity and began to preach, and many people converted thanks to Philip's preaching and example. He then founded the Congregation of the Oratory, also known as the Oratorians, dedicated to preaching and teaching, which still exist today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-philip-neri-478

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic group in Hong Kong will not be holding Masses this year to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, citing concerns that doing so could run afoul of the Beijing-imposed national security laws under which several Catholic leaders have been arrested. In mainland China, people have not been allowed to hold official commemorations of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, but Hong Kong has long held annual vigils to commemorate its victims. Last year, at least seven churches in Hong Kong offered candlelight vigil Masses on the anniversary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251354/tiananmen-memorial-masses-won-t-be-held-in-hong-kong-this-year-amid-security-law-concerns Bishop Daniel Flores said on Wednesday that he was sick of hearing people say that “guns aren’t the problem” after a gunman killed at least 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. It was one of many responses from Catholic bishops around the US after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, about 80 miles west of San Antonio. Among the victims were 10-year-old students in the fourth grade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251362/bishop-flores-on-texas-elementary-school-shooting-don-t-tell-me-that-guns-aren-t-the-problem Cardinal Joseph Zen offered Mass after his court appearance in Hong Kong on Tuesday and prayed for Catholics in mainland China who are facing persecution. The 90-year-old retired Catholic bishop of Hong Kong prayed in Chinese for his “brothers and sisters who cannot attend the Mass in any form tonight — for they have no freedom now.” On the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, Zen said that the Holy See “made an unwise decision” to enter into a provisional agreement with the Chinese Communist Party government. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251360/cardinal-zen-martyrdom-is-normal-in-our-church The first and only certified Trappist brewery in the US has said that it will close, citing a lack of financial viability. The monks of Saint Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts say they will find other ways to support their life of contemplative prayer. The brewery was launched in 2014 to help provide a new source of revenue for the monks. The Trappist monks are formally known as the monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, an order more than 900 years old. They follow Saint Benedict’s counsel that stresses the importance of both prayer and work. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251355/america-loses-its-only-trappist-brewery-amid-competitive-beer-market Today, the Church celebrates Saint Bede. The English priest, monk, and scholar is sometimes known as “the Venerable Bede” for his combination of personal holiness and intellectual brilliance. As a monk, Bede gave absolute priority to prayer, fasting and charitable hospitality. He regarded all other works as valueless without the love of God and one's neighbor. However, Bede also possessed astounding intellectual gifts, which he used to survey and master a wide range of subjects according to an all-encompassing vision of Christian scholarship. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-bede-the-venerable-466 The Church also celebrates Pope Saint Gregory VII, who sought to reform the Church and secure its freedom against the intrusion of civil rulers during his 11th century pontificate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-st-gregory-vii-699 Finally, the Church celebrates Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, an Italian noblewoman of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries who became a Carmelite nun distinguished for her intense prayer life and devotion to frequent Holy Communion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mary-magdalene-de-pazzi-721

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Joseph Zen appeared in court in Hong Kong on Tuesday, a date which is marked as the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. The 90-year-old former Catholic bishop of Hong Kong was charged in court on May 24 with four other prominent democracy advocates who were all trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped pro-democracy protesters to pay their legal fees. All five entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of failing to register the humanitarian fund with the police, and for a first conviction, this charge can reportedly incur a fine of up to $1,274, but likely will not fall under Hong Kong’s national security law. The date set for Cardinal Zen’s trial is Sept. 19. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251342/cardinal-zen-appears-in-court-in-hong-kong A three-year-old boy was killed last week by gang members who opened fire inside a church in Fresnillo in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. Their intended target was a young man they were pursuing who fled into the church. The boy was attending Mass with his mother and was killed in the hail of bullets unleashed by the gunmen. “We once again call on everyone to lay down their arms and put an end to all forms of violence, because all of us can be builders of peace. No one has the right to attack the life of his brother and there is nothing that justifies such violence," the bishops of Mexico said in response. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251335/bishops-call-for-peace-prayer-after-gunmen-kill-boy-in-mexican-church San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone on Monday responded to criticism that he is “politicizing” the Eucharist by denying Nancy Pelosi Holy Communion, saying he would prefer the Democratic House Speaker remain in office “and become an advocate for life in the womb." “I've been very clear all along, my purpose is pastoral, not political,” he added. “I am not campaigning for anyone for office. As a matter of fact, my preference would be for Speaker Pelosi to remain in office and become an advocate for life in the womb." On Friday, Cordileone announced that he had notified Pelosi, who describes herself as a devout Catholic, that until she publicly repudiates her support for abortion, she should not be admitted to Holy Communion in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, her home diocese, nor should she present herself for Communion. Cordileone said he has not received any response from Pelosi so far. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251341/archbishop-cordileone-responds-to-criticism-that-hes-politicizing-the-eucharist Today, the Church celebrates Saints Donatian and Rogatian, brothers who were martyred for their faith in the third century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/feast-of-the-ascension-244 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-donatian-and-rogatian-465

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic politician Nacy Pelsosi has been barred from Holy Communion over her public advocacy for abortion. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said on May 20 that the step was “purely pastoral, not political.” The move comes after Pelosi, the US Speaker of the House and a Democrat who has described herself as a “devout Catholic,” repeatedly rebuffed his efforts to reach out to her to discuss her abortion advocacy. Cordileone's instructions apply only within the San Francisco Archdiocese. Other bishops have jurisdiction over such matters when Pelosi is Washington DC, and other dioceses around the US and abroad. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251305/archbishop-cordileone-nancy-pelosi-communion-abortion https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251315/read-the-letter-from-pelosi-s-archbishop-barring-her-from-communion Pope Francis on Sunday said he is praying for the Church in China and “attentively and actively following the often complex life and situations of the faithful and pastors” there. In brief remarks to pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for the Regina Caeli prayer on May 22, the pope did not specifically mention the recent arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun in Hong Kong. The 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong was arrested May 11 under China’s national security law with at least four others for his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy legal fund. He was released on bail later that day. Pope Francis did draw special attention to the fact that Tuesday, May 24 — when Zen is reportedly due back in court — is the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Francis’ predecessor Benedict XVI decreed in 2007 that the date be observed worldwide as “a day of prayer for the Church in China.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251325/cardinal-zen-arrest-pope-francis-says-he-is-praying-for-the-church-in-china A report on the handling of abuse cases in Germany’s Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, published in January, cost nearly one and a half million euros, more than twice the amount that the Archdiocese of Cologne paid for a report by the same law firm. Among other things, the Munich study covered 1977 to 1982, the period that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Benedict XVI, led the archdiocese. The more than 1,000-page report criticized the 95-year-old retired German pope’s handling of four cases during his time in charge of the southern German archdiocese. Thee pope emeritus has defended his handling of the cases. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251330/germany-s-catholic-munich-archdiocese-spent-1-point-5-million-on-abuse-report Today, the Church celebrates Saint Euphrosyne of Polatsk, the only East Slav virgin saint. She founded and ruled her own convent, Holy Savior, as well as a monastery. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-euphrosyne-of-polatsk-247 The Church also celebrates Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret, a Sister of Charity who worked tirelessly for the faith amidst persecution during the French Revolution. She founded a school and hospital in 1799 and a congregation called the Institute of the Daughters of St. Vincent de Paul. The community eventually expanded into France and Italy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-jane-antide-thouret-477

Catholic News will return on Monday, May 23 after a two-day break. Thank you for listening, and as always you can check out catholicnewsagency.com for the latest news.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun is scheduled to appear in court May 24, according to a report by the British daily The Guardian. Cardinal Zen, the archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong, was arrested May 11 under China’s national security law with at least four others for his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy fund. He was released on bail later that day. Cardinal Zen, who was Bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009, has long advocated for underground Catholics in mainland China. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251274/cardinal-zen-may-be-in-hong-kong-court-next-week A Michigan state judge said Tuesday that Michigan’s longstanding law against abortion cannot be enforced if the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade. Michigan had in 1931 adopted a law criminalizing abortion as a felony, except when necessary to save the life of the mother. The law has not been enforced since the US Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v Wade decision, but the Michigan Court of Appeals found in 1997 that there is no right to abortion in the state constitution. Planned Parenthood of Michigan, represented by the ACLU of Michigan, had filed a lawsuit against Michigan’s attorney general seeking an injunction against the law. Right to Life Michigan and the Michigan Catholic Conference are considering what llegal options they can pursue. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251276/in-michigan-rogue-decision-blocks-longtime-state-abortion-law A senior German priest has announced that he is no longer Catholic, citing his disappointment over a lack of “reforms” in the Church and admitting to having broken his promise of celibacy. Andreas Sturm, the former vicar general of the Diocese of Speyer in southwestern Germany, made the announcement on May 13. The former vicar general described the ordination of women to the priesthood, as well as issues surrounding celibacy, sexual morality, and LGBT issues as the most important topics that he believed were not being addressed. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251262/senior-german-priest-quits-catholic-church Today, the Church celebrates Saint John the first, a martyr for the faith, imprisoned and starved to death by a heretical Germanic king during the sixth century. He was a friend of the renowned Christian philosopher Boethius, who died in a similar manner. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-i-pope-241

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US Catholic bishops appealed on Monday for “an honest dialogue rooted in Christ” about the “persistent evil of racism” after two mass shootings. The bishops spoke out after a gunman killed 10 people and injured three others on May 14 at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and a shooter killed one person and wounded five others on May 15 at a church in Laguna Woods, California. Authorities called the mass shooting in Buffalo a racially motivated hate crime and said that the gunman specifically targeted the store because it is located in a predominantly Black neighborhood. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251260/us-catholic-bishops-call-for-honest-dialogue-on-persistent-evil-of-racism-after-mass-shootings The two branches of the Catholic charity, Caritas, in Ukraine say they have helped almost 1.5 million people since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Caritas Ukraine, which offers humanitarian assistance through the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, oversees an office in the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol where seven people were killed under Russian tank fire. The country’s other Caritas organization is Caritas-Spes, the charitable mission of Ukraine’s Latin Rite bishops.Caritas groups are also active in neighboring countries, where more than six million Ukrainians have fled since February 24. In Poland, which has welcomed over three million Ukrainian refugees, Caritas’ diocesan network has delivered over 1.5 million meals to more than 500,000 people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251253/this-is-going-to-be-a-long-haul-caritas-groups-help-almost-15-million-ukrainians-amid-war Christian leaders of the Holy Land on Monday condemned recent violence at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying the “tragic episode” has “deeply wounded” the Christian community. Abu Akleh was a Melkite Greek Catholic and a Palestinian American who was killed while covering an Israeli raid on a refugee camp in the West Bank May 11. The BBC reported that during her funeral procession on May 13, Abu Akleh’s coffin “almost fell” as police waded into the crowd brandishing batons and using stun grenades. The Christian leaders called the police’ actions at the funeral, which took place in the parking compound of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Jerusalem, a “violent intrusion.” On May 12, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem called “for a thorough and urgent investigation of all the circumstances of Abu Akleh’s killing and for bringing those responsible to justice.” catholicnewsagency.com/news/251256/christian-leaders-condemn-violence-at-funeral-of-palestinian-journalist-shireen-abu-akleh Today, the Church celebrates Saint Pascal Baylon, a 16th-century lay brother amongst the Franciscan friars of the Alcantarine Reform. His charity to the poor and afflicted, and his unfailing courtesy were remarkable. Although poorly educated, his counsel was sought for by people of every station in life, and he was on terms of closest friendship with personages of eminent sanctity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pascal-baylon-240

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Breaking: The US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. [link] Ten people were killed and three others injured Saturday when a teenage gunman opened fire with an assault rifle at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Authorities are calling the mass shooting a racially motivated hate crime and say the gunman specifically targeted the store because it is located in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The shooter is in custody. Bishop Michael Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo said in a statement: “The scourge of senseless gun violence that has taken the lives of so many across our nation and changed the lives of countless innocent men, women and children must come to an end.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251244/bishop-condemns-abhorrently-evil-slaying-of-10-at-buffalo-supermarket Pope Francis on Sunday recognized 10 new saints of the Catholic Church during a canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square. It was the Church’s first canonization since that of St. John Henry Newman and four others in October 2019. For a full list of all the new saints, who include religious men and women, priests, and a lay man, go to Catholic New Agency dot com. https://www.​​catholicnewsagency.com/news/251242/pope-francis-canonizes-10-new-saints-of-the-catholic-church A mob has attacked a Catholic cathedral in Nigeria amid protests demanding the release of two suspects in the killing of a Christian student. The Diocese of Sokoto said in a statement that youths targeted Holy Family Catholic Cathedral in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria, after police arrested two students in connection with the murder of Deborah Samuel. Samuel, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was beaten and burned on May 11 after being accused of posting “blasphemous” statements about Islam in a WhatsApp group. Christians in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, have suffered growing insecurity in recent years amid attacks by the Islamist organization Boko Haram and the Fulani Militia, a nomadic, predominantly Muslim group. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251241/catholic-cathedral-attacked-in-nigeria-after-arrests-over-blasphemy-killing The arrest last week of Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, continues to attract international condemnation, with the US bishops calling the situation “alarming.” Cardinal Zen was arrested May 11 under China’s national security law with at least four others for his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy fund. Zen, who was Archbishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009, has long advocated for underground Catholics in mainland China. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251239/international-community-laments-cardinal-zens-precarious-position Today, the Church celebrates Saint Andrew Bobola, a Polish-born martyr who served a Jesuit priest in Lithuania. There he worked extensively with the sick including during a plague outbreak, but he is best known as a successful missionary to Orthodox Christians. It was said that over 20 years of preaching along the roads, he converted whole villages to Catholicism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-andrew-bobola-475 The Church also celebrates Saint Simon Stock, a twelfth and thirteenth century Carmelite monk whose vision of the Virgin Mary is the source of the Brown Scapular devotion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-simon-stock-702

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican confirmed on Friday that Pope Francis will visit three cities in Canada during the last week of July. The pope will travel to Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit on July 24-30. The pope had announced last month that he planned to meet indigenous peoples in Canada this summer for the feast of Saint Anne on July 26. In Canada, Francis is expected to issue an apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for abuses committed against Indigenous students in Catholic-run residential schools. The pope’s full schedule in Canada will be published in the coming weeks. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251225/vatican-confirms-pope-francis-will-visit-3-cities-in-canada-in-july A Haitian priest has said a border wall being built by the Dominican Republic to stop Haitian emigration “is not the solution” to the problem. Father Pénès Célestin, a priest of the Diocese of Jérémie, said he invites Dominicans and Haitians to build bridges. Haiti has seen a surge of violence in recent years. There were as many as 1,200 kidnappings last year, and President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, whose economy is among the fastest growing in the region. The situation has led many Haitians to seek a better future in the neighboring country, in many cases illegally. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251221/haitian-priest-denounces-dominican-republics-border-fence Chinese Catholics on the mainland have reacted strongly to the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong. After being arrested by Chinese authorities, apparently for his involvement in a pro-democracy nonprofit, the cardinal was released on bail on May 11. The 90 year old Zen is an outspoken advocate of democracy and critic of the 2018 Vatican-China deal on the appointment of bishops. Anonymous Chinese Catholics told Catholic News Agency that his arrest is a way for China to keep people in fear, and that Catholics in Hong Kong fear that religious freedom could be suppressed in Hong Kong in the future. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251219/it-s-a-way-to-keep-people-in-fear-chinese-catholics-react-to-cardinal-zen-s-arrest Today, the Church honors Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 is the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in the small village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. She appeared six times to Lucia and her cousins Francisco and his sister Jacinta between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917. The messages that Mary imparted during the apparitions to the children concerned the violent trials that would afflict the world by means of war, starvation, and the persecution of the Church and the Holy Father in the twentieth century if the world did not make reparation for sins. She exhorted the Church to pray and offer sacrifices to God in order that peace may come upon the world, and that the trials may be averted. Our Lady of Fatima also revealed three prophetic “secrets.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-fatima-485

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic archdiocese in Nigeria on Wednesday announced the death of a priest who was kidnapped in March. The Archdiocese of Kaduna said on May 11 that Father Joseph Akete Bako died more than a month after he was seized on March 8. The 48 year old Bako was kidnapped by bandits following an attack on St. John’s Catholic Parish, where he served as pastor. The archdiocesan chancellor asked all people to “Kindly continue to pray for his peaceful repose, and for the consolation of the bereaved Christian community in the Archdiocese of Kaduna.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251215/catholic-archdiocese-announces-death-of-kidnapped-priest-in-nigeria Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken advocate for Catholics in Hong Kong, has been released on bail after his arrest by Chinese authorities yesterday. Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, was arrested on May 11 and released on bail hours later from Chai Wan Police Station on Hong Kong island. Zen is believed to have been detained in his role as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped pro-democracy protesters to pay their legal fees. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said in a statement on Thursday that it was “extremely concerned” about “Cardinal Joseph Zen’s incident.” The Vatican also issued a brief statement on May 11 expressing concern at the reports of Zen’s arrest. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251213/catholic-diocese-of-hong-kong-extremely-concerned-about-cardinal-joseph-zen-s-incident An expansive abortion bill that would declare abortion a human right, undercut existing state pro-life laws, and force objecting doctors to perform abortions, again failed to pass the US Senate on Wednesday. The Women’s Health Protection Act failed by a 49-51 largely party line vote. While leading Catholic bishops have called on Congress to stop pushing abortion, President Joe Biden called on voters to support candidates in favor of abortion rights in upcoming Senate races and pledged to sign the bill into law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251211/us-senate-again-refuses-to-to-pass-federal-abortion-law-bishops-relieved-biden-adamant Today, the Church celebrates Saints Nereus and Achilleus, as well as Saint Pancras. Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers and bodyguards of the emperor who were martyred at the end of the first century after becoming Christian and leaving their military posts. They were said to have been baptized by Saint Peter himself. Saint Pancras, or Pancratius, was a Syrian boy of pagan origin who went to Rome and was converted to Christianity. He was beheaded in 304 at the age of 14 during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-nereus-and-achilleus-st-pancras-458 The Church also honors Saint Epiphanius of Salamis, an early monk, bishop and Church Father known for his extensive learning and defense of Catholic teachings in the fourth century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-epiphanius-of-salamis-691

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic charity announced this week that it would fund the restoration of a Ukrainian seminary looted by Russian forces. Aid to the Church in Need said on May 9 that it planned to cover the costs of building repairs and replacing stolen furniture and equipment at the Catholic seminary in Vorzel, 18 miles from the capital Kyiv. Priests and students evacuated the seminary after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. They found refuge in a neighboring diocese. The pontifical foundation’s support should enable the Major Theological Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to reopen in September, seven months after 25 seminarians were forced to flee the Russian advance in northern Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251199/ukraine-war-catholic-charity-to-fund-restoration-of-looted-seminary In response to threats of violence from pro-abortion activists, the US bishops’ conference is inviting Catholics around the country to join in fasting and praying the rosary on Friday, May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the conference, urged Catholics to pray for the conversion of the hearts and minds of those who advocate for abortion, as well as for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Those in favor of legal abortion have staged demonstrations following the May 2 revelation of a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court, suggesting that the court is poised to overturn Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey. If the court’s final ruling does overturn Roe and Casey, the question of abortion legalization will return to the states, and more than a dozen states will largely curtail abortion, or outlaw it altogether. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251196/us-bishops-urge-fasting-and-prayer-in-response-to-pro-abortion-threats Breaking: Cardinal Joseph Zen has been arrested by the authorities in Hong Kong, according to local media reports. The 90-year-old former Catholic bishop of Hong Kong was reportedly detained on May 11 in his role as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, a now disbanded group which helped pro-democracy protesters to pay their legal fees. Zen, who stood down as Hong Kong’s Catholic bishop in 2009, is an outspoken supporter of the pro-democracy movement. Visit catholic news agency dot com for the latest on this story. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251201/report-former-hong-kong-bishop-cardinal-zen-arrested Today, the Church celebrates Saint Ignatius of Laconi, a Capuchin Friar known for his hard work and piety. He was particularly well loved by the poor and by children, and was often given alms by those who barely had anything to give. He refused them from the very poor, saying that it was better for them to keep it for themselves. He tended to the sick and to street children everyday on his rounds through town, and many miracles of healing were said to have occurred through his intercession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ignatius-of-laconi-457

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - This weekend, Pope Francis will preside over the canonizations of ten people, the first canonizations to be held in more than two years. Among them are some relatively well-known figures, like Charles de Foucauld, Titus Brandsma, and Devasahayam Pillai. Also being canonized are four Catholic female leaders, all of whom founded religious orders which have grown worldwide and made a lasting impact on the Church. All ten of the holy men and women will be officially recognized as saints by the Catholic Church on May 15. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251190/who-are-the-4-women-being-canonized-as-saints-this-weekend More criminal acts targeting Catholic churches and pro-life advocates were reported Monday, after a Mother’s Day weekend marked by unrest in multiple locations in the US, tied to anger over a possible Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade. In another incident, a Catholic church in northern Colorado known for its active pro-life ministry was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti over the weekend. The offices of Oregon Right to Life in Keizer, Oregon, were set on fire late Sunday night, the organization announced Monday. The fire was small and as the office was vacant at the time, no one was hurt. The pastor a Catholic church in Katy, Texas, reported on May 9 that the tabernacle had been stolen from the church overnight, though it was not immediately clear if the theft was related to the pro-abortion protests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251185/tabernacle-stolen-catholic-church-defaced-pregnancy-clinic-vandalized Today, the Church celebrates Saint Damien of Molokai, a Belgian priest who sacrificed his life and health to become a spiritual father to the victims of leprosy quarantined on a Hawaiian island. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-damien-of-molokai-456

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said on Saturday that the Catholic liturgy should not be “a battleground” for “outdated issues.” Speaking at an audience with the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in the apostolic palace, the pope said that he believes that “every reform creates resistance.” “It’s not possible to worship God while making the liturgy a battleground for issues that are not essential, indeed, outdated issues, and to take sides starting with the liturgy, with ideologies that divide the Church,” the pope said, speaking to the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251170/pope-francis-it-s-not-possible-to-worship-god-while-making-the-liturgy-a-battleground Several protesters dressed in "huge hats" and "red hooded gowns," disrupted a Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles Sunday morning. The costumes resembled those worn by members of the pro-abortion group Ruth Sent Us, which threatened to disrupt Catholic Masses on Sunday, Mother's Day, in response to a leaked draft opinion suggesting that the Supreme Court may be ready to overturn the landmark abortion decision Roe v Wade. While there were a handful of reported incidents of anger, violence, and provocation directed at Catholics and pro-life groups over the Mother's Day weekend, the demonstration in Los Angeles appeared to be the only one similar to the protests Ruth Sent Us has conducted in the past. The headquarters of Wisconsin Family Action, a pro-life organization in Madison, was set on fire in an apparent arson attack. The fire, which appeared to be started by a Molotov cocktail, was quickly put out by the Madison Fire Department. No one was hurt, police said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251176/costumed-protesters-disrupt-los-angeles-mass https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251174/threats-to-catholic-masses-mothers-day https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251175/wisconsin-pro-life-groups-hq-set-ablaze-by-apparent-arson-attack Today, the Church celebrates Saint Pachomius, the founder of cenobitic monasticism, or monks who live in community. Pachomius first started out as a hermit in the desert, like many of the other men and women in the third and fourth centuries who sought the most radical expression of Christian life. His hermit friend, Palemon, helped him to build a monastery and Pachomius insisted that his fellow monks were to aspire to the austerity of the hermits. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pachomius-454

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic diocese in Nigeria has announced “with joy” the release of a priest held captive for 40 days. The Diocese of Zaria in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, said that Father Felix Zakari Fidson was released on May 3. Father Fidson had been abducted shortly after he left his residence at Saint Ann’s Zango Tama II on his way to the diocesan headquarters on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity since 2009, when a Boko Haram insurgency began with the aim of establishing an Islamic state. In 2021 alone, at least 25 Catholic priests and pastors in Nigeria were either killed or abducted. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251154/catholic-priest-in-nigeria-released-40-days-after-abduction At the Vatican’s finance trial on Thursday, Cardinal Angelo Becciu said that Pope Francis had allowed the spending up to 1 million euros toward the liberation of a missionary nun abducted in Mali. Sister Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti was kidnapped in February 2017 and held until her October 9, 2021 release. Becciu, who was the second-ranking official in the Secretariat of State from 2011 to 2018, said a security consultant advised the pope that she could work with a British intelligence firm, The Inkerman Group, to secure the nun’s release. The trial in which this information came out is still ongoing. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251156/pope-francis-permitted-spending-dollar-1m-to-free-nun-kidnapped-in-mali-cardinal-says Today, the Church celebrates Saint Evodius of Antioch, one of the 72 disciples of Christ. Catholic tradition has always held that he was the first bishop of Antioch after Saint Peter. As bishop of Antioch, he was the first to coin the word “Christian” to refer to the disciples of Jesus. He probably died between the years 64-67, when he was then succeeded by Saint Ignatius of Antioch. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-evodius-of-antioch-468

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis used a wheelchair during a public meeting on Thursday, the first time he has done so publicly since leaving the hospital after colon surgery in July 2021. The 85-year-old pope has had difficulty walking due to a painful torn ligament in his knee. During his recent public appearances, he has apologized for being unable to stand and walk to greet participants. Pope Francis said in an interview this week that he would be undergoing a small medical procedure to provide some relief. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251148/pope-francis-uses-wheelchair-in-public-for-first-time-since-colon-surgery A Catholic parish church in Boulder, Colorado was defaced with pro-abortion slogans the evening of May 3, marking the second time in less than a year that the parish has been targeted with pro-abortion graffiti. The incident at Sacred Heart of Mary Parish coincides with the revelation May 2 of a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court, suggesting that the court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, which would allow states to curtail or outlaw abortion. The Boulder County sheriff’s office was called to investigate the incident. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251145/colorado-parish-defaced-with-pro-abortion-graffiti-for-second-time-in-seven-months Pro-life activists offered a $25,000 reward Wednesday to anyone who comes forward with information about illegal activity by Washington, DC, abortionist Dr. Cesare Santangelo. The offer comes a month after activists associated with the anti-abortion group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising claimed that they discovered the remains of 115 aborted babies outside the clinic that Santangelo operates. Five of the babies, who appear to be of late-term gestation, were located by the Metropolitan Police Department on March 30. PAAU says it arranged for the DC police to collect and examine the babies, fearing that the babies’ injuries could be evidence of illegal abortions. But DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has given no indication that the city intends to autopsy the remains. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251146/pro-life-activists-offer-dollar-25k-for-information-about-dc-abortion-doctor Today the Church celebrates Blessed Edmund Rice, an Irish businessman who was so moved by the plight of children in the port city where he worked that he founded schools and eventually a religious order to serve them. The Church also celebrates Saint Hilary of Arles, a fifth-century bishop who gave up wealth and privilege in favor of austerity and sacrifice for the sake of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-edmund-rice-467 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-hilary-of-arles-701

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis had a medical procedure done on his knee on Tuesday, according to Italian media reports. A Vatican spokesman said that from what he understood about the procedure, “it’s basically an injection.” Pope Francis has been suffering from an inflamed ligament, causing pain in his right knee and leg. He said on April 30 that his doctor had ordered him not to walk. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251117/pope-francis-to-undergo-medical-procedure-for-torn-ligament-in-knee President Joe Biden asserted Tuesday that no “mainstream” religion claims to know when human life begins, contradicting his Catholic faith. Biden made the statement while addressing a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion signaling that justices will overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide in 1973. The Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception. The president, who identifies as Catholic, supports abortion, which the Catholic Church teaches is a grave evil that destroys a human person with inherent dignity and worth. Biden also referred in his remarks to the baby in the womb as a "child," a term abortion supporters generally avoid. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251129/roe-wade-biden-when-life-begins-abortion US Chief Justice John Roberts on Tuesday confirmed the authenticity of a leaked preliminary draft opinion in a pivotal abortion case, and ordered an immediate investigation in what he called a "betrayal of the confidences" of the Supreme Court. The news organization Politico published the 98-page document, written by conservative justice Samuel Alito and calling for the overturning of the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade, on Monday night. In a statement released late Tuesday morning, Roberts said he has directed the Marshal of the Court "to launch an investigation into the source of the leak." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251125/roe-v-wade-chief-justice-roberts-leak-investigation A pioneer of faith-based feminism and a Catholic priest who ministered tirelessly during the Second World War were beatified at Milan Cathedral over the weekend. Armida Barelli and Father Mario Ciceri are now among those whom the Catholic Church has officially declared “blessed.” Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided over the solemn rite of beatification on April 30 with more than 100 priests concelebrating and 1,800 people in attendance. Both new blesseds were involved in the Catholic Action youth group in Italy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251126/armida-barelli-and-mario-ciceri-beatified-together-in-italy Today the Church celebrates The English Carthusian Martyrs, who were put to death in England under King Henry VIII between 1535-1540 for maintaining their allegiance to the Pope. The Church also celebrates Saint Pelagia, a woman in pagan Rome who sought baptism and ran afoul of the Emperor Diocletian as a result. Pelagia ran from home, giving away all of her possessions and setting her slaves free, and lived as a hermit within the mountains until her death a few years later. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-pelagia-484

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US Supreme Court will vote to overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide, according to draft opinion cited in a news report released Monday evening. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives," Associate Justice Samuel Alito writes in the purported 98-page draft document, obtained by Politico, which is labeled as the “Opinion of the Court.” CNA has not been able to independently verify if the draft opinion shared by Politico is genuine, and the court’s decision will not be final until it is published, likely to happen by the end of June. If the decision holds, more than a dozen states will immediately outlaw abortion. This is a developing story and will be updated on catholic news agency dot com. Today the Church celebrates Saints Phillip and James the Lesser, both apostles of Jesus. Phillip began to convert others as soon as he heard Jesus’ call. James the Lesser has that title because he was younger than the other Apostle by the same name. James the Lesser was related in some way to Jesus, and after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, he became the head of the Church in Jerusalem. He was martyred in the year 62. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-philip-and-james-the-less-apostles-473

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Due to an ongoing struggle with knee pain, Pope Francis on Monday met a group of Catholic pharmacists at his Vatican residence, instead of the apostolic palace. The 85 year old pope has been suffering from an inflamed ligament, causing pain in his right knee and leg. He said on April 30 that his doctor has ordered him not to walk. During some recent public audiences and liturgies, Francis has taken a smaller role or spent more time seated. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251107/pope-francis-moves-meeting-to-vatican-home-because-of-painful-knee Pope Francis has again lamented the suffering caused by the invasion of Ukraine and encouraged the faithful to pray a rosary every day for peace. Speaking to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square after the May 1 Regina Caeli prayers, the pope said his thoughts went immediately to the city of Mariupol, the “city of Mary” which he said has been “barbarously bombed and destroyed.” He again called for safe humanitarian corridors for those trapped in the city, now largely under Russian control. Up to 100,000 people could still be in the blockaded city. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251104/pope-francis-weeps-at-ukraine-suffering-calls-for-daily-rosary-for-peace Pope Francis on Sunday accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia. Hinder, who is originally from Switzerland, turned 80 years old last month, after leading the Catholic Church on the Arabian peninsula for 17 years. To succeed Hinder, Pope Francis on May 1 appointed Bishop Paolo Martinelli, an Italian priest and Capuchin friar who has been an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Milan since 2014. The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia serves approximately 1 million Catholics, and has its seat in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many of the Catholics in southern Arabia are migrant workers from India, Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines, though some are local Arabs. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251105/bishop-paul-hinder-apostolic-vicar-of-southern-arabia-retires Today the Church celebrates Saint Athanasius, the fourth century bishop who is known as “the father of orthodoxy” for his absolute dedication to the doctrine of Christ's divinity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-of-siena-451

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has asked the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to produce an annual report on what the Catholic Church is doing around the world to prevent the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. In an audience at the Vatican on April 29, the pope called on the commission to produce the annual audit to promote “transparency and accountability.” Father Andrew Small, the secretary of the commission, responded positively to the pope’s request for the report at a press conference following the papal audience. The commission’s report will not deal with specific cases, but will provide details on the status of safeguarding policies and procedures, according to Small. This will include how effectively guidelines are being implemented. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251094/pope-francis-asks-for-annual-report-on-church-s-efforts-to-prevent-abuse A Catholic doctor has been providing medical care to some 1 million people in the Nuba mountains, a contested region between Sudan and South Sudan. After the military staged a coup in Sudan six months ago, the country remains in political and economic turmoil. Its neighbor, South Sudan, faces severe food shortages and a rise in violence. Doctor Tom Catena, who works as a lay missionary and medical director of the Mother of Mercy Hospital, says that people from outside the region are now traveling to the rural hospital for care. The doctor discussed how many of their patients who come from the north are Muslims who have never had exposure to Christianity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251086/this-catholic-doctor-provides-care-for-1-million-people-in-sudan-south-sudan The European Court of Human Rights ruled this week that Swiss authorities were wrong to reject a Pakistani Christian convert’s asylum claim. The court in Strasbourg, France, said on April 26 that the expulsion of the applicant, identified only as M A M, to Pakistan would violate the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. M A M is a Pakistani national who converted from Islam to Christianity after he arrived in Switzerland in 2015. His asylum application was rejected in 2018. The court said that Swiss officials should have examined his request, which was based on his conversion, in greater detail and taken into account the overall situation of Christian converts in Pakistan as well as the applicant’s specific circumstances. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251092/european-court-sides-with-pakistani-christian-convert Today the Church celebrates Saint Catherine of Siena, a third-order Dominican, peacemaker, and counselor to the Pope. She singlehandedly ended the Avignon exile of the popes in the 14th century. She is the co-patron of Italy and of Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-of-siena-451

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Wednesday appointed Bishop Mark O’Toole to lead two Catholic dioceses in Wales. O’Toole, the 58-year-old bishop of Plymouth, southwest England, will oversee both the Archdiocese of Cardiff and the Diocese of Menevia. The 58 year old Englishman said he looks forward to “steeping myself in the historical reality and diverse experience of the two dioceses, as we work more closely together.” The latest dual appointment suggests a trend in northern Europe of uniting dioceses under a single bishop without merging them.https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251075/pope-francis-names-new-archbishop-to-lead-two-catholic-dioceses-in-wales Spanish Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, an advocate for dialogue between Christians, Muslims, and Jews, died on Wednesday at the age of 87. The archbishop emeritus of Seville died from heart failure at the University Hospital of Guadalajara, Spain, after his health declined following an April 25 operation to remove fluid from his left lung. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251076/spanish-cardinal-carlos-amigo-dies-at-age-87-after-lung-surgery A federal court on Tuesday ordered a lower court to dismiss all legal challenges brought against the enforcement mechanism of a Texas abortion law, a move which a pro-life group called a “substantial pro-life victory.” The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on April 26 remanded the case, brought by a number of abortion providers and pro-abortion organizations, to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, with instructions to dismiss all challenges to the private enforcement provisions of the Texas Heartbeat Act. The Act, in effect since September 2021, bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat except in medical emergencies, and relies on private lawsuits filed by citizens to enforce the ban. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251079/federal-court-orders-cases-brought-against-texas-pro-life-law-dismissed Today the Church celebrates Saint Louis-Marie de Monfort, a 17th century saint who is revered for his intense devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Louis-Marie is perhaps most famously known for his prayer of entrustment to Our Lady, “Totus Tuus ego sum,” which means, “I am all yours.” Pope Saint John Paul II took the phrase “Totus Tuus” as his episcopal motto. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louis-marie-grignion-de-montfort-450

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis urged Catholics on Wednesday to rediscover the Book of Ruth, the Old Testament Bible book which he said offers “valuable teaching on the alliance of the generations.” In his general audience address on April 27, the pope praised the book’s positive depiction of relations between a woman and her mother-in-law. The pope was speaking for the second time this week about the Book of Ruth. On Monday, he reflected on the four-chapter book in the Hebrew Bible in an address to Missionaries of Mercy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251074/pope-francis-wants-catholics-to-rediscover-this-book-of-the-bible Pope Francis on Tuesday changed canon law to update on the rules for dismissal from religious institutes. The new line in canon law is now consistent with the major revisions made last year to Book 6 of the code’s penal law, which classified some crimes differently, including those related to sexual abuse, and introduced new crimes, such as those related to economic and financial matters. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251065/pope-francis-updates-canon-law-on-dismissal-from-religious-institutes The Texas bishops' conference expressed gratitude Monday that a state court halted the execution of Melissa Lucio over claims she was wrongfully convicted for the death of her child. Lucio was sentenced to death in 2008 for the February 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter, Mariah Alvarez, though her lawyers argue the death was accidental. Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville said April 25 that “Our best hope is to continue in our efforts as a community to make this a less violent, more peaceful world. This requires that we continue to foster a sense of justice that does not include the taking of more lives. Let us pray and work for an end to the death penalty.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251066/bishops-in-texas-welcome-stay-of-execution-for-woman-on-death-row Today the Church celebrates Saint Zita of Lucca, a 13th century Italian woman whose humble and patient service to God has made her a patron saint of maids and other domestic workers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-zita-of-lucca-446

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis urged Sri Lankan authorities on Monday to clarify who was responsible for the bombings that claimed more than 200 lives on Easter Sunday, 2019. The pope made the appeal in an April 25 address to Italy’s Sri Lankan community in St. Peter’s Basilica marking the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Eight suicide bombers targeted two Catholic churches, one evangelical church, three luxury hotels, and other locations on April 19, 2019, killing an estimated 269 people and injuring more than 500. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, suggested last month that there was evidence that Sri Lankan officials ignored warnings of the attack. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251054/pope-francis-urges-sri-lanka-s-authorities-to-shed-light-on-2019-easter-bombings Pope Francis canceled his engagements on Tuesday due to ongoing knee pain. The 85 year old pope has been suffering from pain in his right knee, causing him to take smaller roles in some liturgies and to remain seated more often. His agenda was cleared on April 22 for medical checkups, and he preached at, but did not preside over, Mass for the Octave Day of Easter on April 24. The pope’s movements have been visibly more limited since the start of the year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251063/pope-francis-cancels-day-s-activities-due-to-knee-pain-says-vatican Pope Francis on Tuesday named Archbishop Laurent Ulrich as the new Catholic archbishop of Paris. Ulrich, the archbishop of Lille, northern France, succeeds Archbishop Michel Aupetit, who resigned in December. Among the challenges facing the 70-year-old archbishop will be to heal the divisions exposed in the Paris archdiocese during Aupetit’s tenure from 2017 to 2021. He will also oversee the restoration of the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral following a devastating fire in 2019. The cathedral is expected to reopen for worship on April 16, 2024, five years after the blaze. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251050/pope-francis-names-new-catholic-archbishop-of-paris A Catholic priest was among four people sentenced on Monday over the shooting of a bishop-elect in South Sudan. A judge at the high court in the capital Juba issued the sentences on April 25 after Father John Mathiang Machol, Moris Sebit Ater, Laat Makur Agok, and Samuel Makir were found guilty of “participating directly or indirectly” in the attempted assassination of the now Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek. Father Mathiang was given a seven-year jail term in connection with the attack on the Italian-born Carlassare, who was shot in both legs on April 26, 2021. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251062/catholic-priest-among-4-sentenced-in-shooting-of-south-sudan-bishop-elect Abortions have resumed in Kentucky after a federal judge temporarily blocked a multi-faceted abortion restrictions law and said the state needs to do more to ensure those affected by it can comply. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251058/federal-judge-blocks-kentucky-abortion-law-citing-compliance-problems Today the Church celebrates Our Lady of Good Counsel, a purportedly miraculous image of the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus which appeared in an Italian church in the 15th century. Countless miracles have been attributed to the prayerful intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-good-counsel-445

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A 72-year-old religious sister has been praised for her “extraordinary courage” after she sought to disarm a man stabbing a priest at a Catholic church in Nice, southeastern France. Sister Marie-Claude reportedly intervened after a 31-year-old man entered the Saint-Pierre d’Arene church before Sunday Mass on April 24 and repeatedly stabbed Father Krzysztof Rudziński. She received a wound to the forearm and was taken to a hospital along with the 57-year-old priest. The Diocese of Nice said in an April 24 statement that neither the sister nor the priest suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident, which police said was not related to terrorism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251051/extraordinary-courage-nun-intervenes-to-stop-man-stabbing-catholic-priest-in-france In an Easter message to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Pope Francis expressed hope that the Holy Spirit would “make us true peacemakers, especially for war-torn Ukraine.” Catholic bishops across Europe have appealed to Kirill — who is considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin — to speak out against the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pope Francis announced last week that the Vatican had canceled plans for a June summit with Patriarch Kirill in Jerusalem. It would have been the second meeting between the two leaders since their historic encounter in Cuba in 2016. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251052/pope-francis-to-russian-orthodox-leader-patriarch-kirill-let-s-be-true-peacemakers-for-ukraine Today the Church celebrates Saint Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second Gospel and the patron saint of notaries. Mark is said to have traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey through Cyprus, and to have founded the Church in Alexandria. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mark-the-evangelist-444

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis’ agenda was cleared on Friday for needed medical checkups, a Vatican spokesperson said. Francis, who is 85 years old, has been suffering from pain in his right knee, causing him to take smaller roles in some Vatican liturgies and to remain seated more often. The pope’s movements have been visibly more limited since the start of the year. Pope Francis has also received more assistance walking and going up and down stairs in recent weeks. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251035/pope-francis-agenda-canceled-for-needed-medical-checkups Pope Francis met with a delegation of Metis Indigenous people from Manitoba, Canada on Thursday. Plans for a previous visit were canceled in 2021 amid reports of possible undiscovered graves at the sites of residential schools, run by Catholic and Protestant groups and funded by the government with the goal of forcibly assimilating Indigenous people. On April 1 of this year Pope Francis voiced his “indignation and shame” at the treatment of the Indigenous people and asked forgiveness. He is expected to visit Canada this July to meet with residential school survivors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251033/more-indigenous-canadians-meet-with-pope-francis-amid-talk-of-papal-visit Today the Church celebrates Saints Cauis and Soter, Popes of the early Church, who are both venerated in tradition as martyrs, though no reliable account of their martyrdom survives today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-caius-and-soter-449

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The personal secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict the sixteenth has been in isolation for the past ten days after testing positive for COVID-19, according to German media. Archbishop Georg Gänswein has been in isolation since April 11, a time period that included all of the Easter Triduum and Benedict’s 95th birthday. Benedict has tested negative for COVID-19, according to Gänswein, as have all other residents of the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, the retired pope’s residence inside of Vatican City. Both Benedict and Gänswein have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251023/benedict-xvis-secretary-in-isolation-after-testing-positive-for-covid-19 Pope Francis has joined the head of the United Nations and the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in a call for a four-day truce in Ukraine for the Triduum and Easter. The Eastern Orthodox churches and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church follow the Julian calendar, meaning they will celebrate Easter on April 24 this year. The Vatican announced on April 21 that Pope Francis had joined the UN chief's appeal, after the pope had called for an Easter truce in Ukraine during Palm Sunday Mass on April 10. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251024/pope-francis-joins-un-chief-s-appeal-for-ukraine-war-easter-truce A West Virginia priest is speaking publicly about his role in providing a funeral Mass and dignified burial for more than 100 aborted babies that pro-life activists say they rescued outside of a Washington, DC, abortion clinic in March. Father Bill Kuchinsky, 62, a longtime advocate for the unborn who also runs the Catholic prison ministry for the entire state of West Virginia, declined to disclose the burial location other than to say it was in a private cemetery. CNA also found that Kuchinsky’s bishop, Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, fully supports the actions Kuchinsky took to ensure the babies’ remains were treated respectfully. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251015/priest-funeral-mass-burial-dc-aborted-babies Vicki Thorn, Catholic pro-life pioneer, international speaker, author, and a member of the Pontifical Academy of Life, died Tuesday, April 20 at age 72. Thorn founded Project Rachel, a groundbreaking post-abortion healing ministry that started in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and has since spread to dioceses across the US and around the world. As a certified trauma counselor and spiritual director who earned a degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, Thorn launched Project Rachel in 1984. The ministry was staffed by a team of specially trained priests, spiritual directors, and other caregivers, and received an immediate response from both women and men who had been wounded by the experience of abortion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251025/vicki-thorn-pro-life-project-rachel-abortion-healing Today the Church celebrates Saint Anselm, the 11th and 12th-century Benedictine monk and archbishop best known for his writings on Christ's atonement and the existence of God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-anselm-443

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Treating the elderly as disposable “is a grave sin,” Pope Francis said on Wednesday. During his weekly meeting with the public in Saint Peter’s Square on April 20, the pope said honoring the elderly is a form of love, giving life not only to those honored, but to those doing the honoring. Pope Francis encouraged parents to bring their children around the elderly often. And if their grandparents are in a nursing home, to visit them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251014/pope-francis-to-discard-the-elderly-is-a-grave-sin A Ukrainian military commander has written a letter to Pope Francis asking him to help save the people of Mariupol, who have suffered from limited access to food or water under Russian bombardment for more than 50 days. Major Serhiy Volyna, who has been leading the 36th marine brigade in the battle for the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, described some of the horrors of the war he has witnessed, describing the city as “hell on earth,” and pleaded with the pope to do something to help safely evacuate people from the city. Volyna, who is an Orthodox Christian, said that he was turning to the pope for concrete help “because the time has come when prayers are not enough.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251011/ukrainian-soldier-appeals-to-pope-francis-to-help-save-the-people-of-mariupol Today the Church celebrates Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, a Tuscan woman who was admitted to the Dominican convent at Montepulciano at age nine despite it generally being against Church law to allow a child so young to join. Agnes' reputation for holiness attracted other sisters, and she became an abbess at the unheard of age of 15. She lived on bread and water for 15 years, slept on the ground and used a stone for a pillow. It was said that she had visions of the Virgin Mary and of the infant Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agnes-of-montepulciano-442

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis urged 80,000 teenagers gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Monday to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary to find the courage to say yes to God’s will. From the popemobile, Pope Francis greeted the crowd of young people aged 12-17, who came from across Italy for the pilgrimage on Easter Monday evening. The youth pilgrimage was organized by the Italian bishops’ conference in an effort to reach out to young people whose education and lives were upended during the past two years of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his message, Pope Francis told the teens not to be afraid to reach out to others for help when experiencing discouragement or anxiety, saying “crises must be brought to light to overcome them.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251010/pope-francis-tells-80000-teens-to-ask-our-lady-for-courage-to-do-god-s-will Burger King has withdrawn and apologized for an offensive ad campaign in Spain that sparked outrage among Catholics during Holy Week. The fast-food chain chose to use on billboards throughout Spain the words of Jesus at the Last Supper consecrating the bread, modifying them to promote a new vegetarian burger. The ad campaign provoked the outrage of thousands of Catholics, several priests, and a bishop, and a petition circulated calling for the removal of the ads, an apology, and the firing of a top executive. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251006/burger-king-in-spain-apologizes-pulls-offensive-holy-week-ads Today the Church celebrates Blessed James Oldo, who experienced a radical conversion that led him to become a Franciscan priest. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-james-oldo-441

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican adapted Pope Francis’ Way of the Cross on Good Friday after an outcry in Ukraine over a Station involving Ukrainian and Russian families. The meditation for the 13th Station, “Jesus dies on the Cross,” was written by members of a Ukrainian and a Russian family. During the event, that meditation was not read out. The Way of the Cross was held at Rome’s Colosseum on April 15. The original plan for the Via Crucis was strongly criticized by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who described it as “untimely, incoherent, and offensive.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250997/vatican-adapts-via-crucis-after-outcry-in-ukraine In his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter 2022, Pope Francis lamented an “Easter of War” as he prayed for peace in Ukraine and around the world. Pope Francis gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing following Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Local authorities estimate that 100,000 people were present at the Vatican and in the surrounding area for the blessing. In addition to Ukraine, Pope Francis named Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa as three countries in particular need of prayers due to violence, and humanitarian and environmental crises. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251004/urbi-et-orbi-2022-pope-francis-laments-easter-of-war-in-ukraine-and-world Today the Church celebrates Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin, a Canadian woman who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Anne. Though she was the founder and superior, Sister Marie-Anne faced much oppression from the congregation’s chaplain, who eventually had her removed from her position, and she was prohibited from holding any administrative roles for the rest of her life. She spent her last 32 years without complaining, working in the order’s laundry and ironing room. Despite her demotion, her order continued to grow and spread across Canada and the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-marie-anne-blondin-440

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A special collection will be taken on Good Friday to support Christians in the Holy Land in Catholic churches throughout the world. In an interview with EWTN, Vatican Cardinal Leonardo Sandri said that the Good Friday Collection is a moment for all Catholics to be united in supporting the places where Jesus lived, died, and rose again. This year’s Good Friday collection will be taken in parishes worldwide on April 15. It is the main source of material support for Christian life in the region. U.S. Catholics can donate to the collection online, as well as at churches. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250982/how-the-good-friday-holy-land-collection-unites-catholics-with-the-places-of-christ-s-passion https://myfranciscan.org/donation-page-pontifical-good-friday-collection/ More than 70 bishops from around the world signed an open letter this week to Germany's bishops, warning that sweeping changes to Church teaching advocated by the ongoing process known as the “Synodal Path” may lead to schism, or a formal break from the Catholic Church. More signatories have added their names to the letter since its release Tuesday morning. The letter comes after the German Synodal Path assembly voted in favor of draft texts calling for same-sex blessings and changes to the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a part of a “re-evaluation of homosexuality” in February. More recently, in an interview published on March 31, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx asserted that the Catechism’s teaching here is “not set in stone” and “one is also allowed to doubt what it says.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250973/cordileone-on-signing-letter-to-german-bishops-christ-s-teaching-is-timeless Catholics around the world are being invited to congratulate Pope emeritus Benedict the sixteenth on his 95th birthday, which he will celebrate on April 16. The Tagespost Foundation for Catholic Journalism has created a website to collect messages to show to the pope emeritus on his birthday. Go to catholic news agency dot com to find the website. The pope emeritus was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger in 1927 in Marktl am Inn, a small Bavarian town not far from Austria, also on a Holy Saturday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250977/catholics-invited-to-congratulate-benedict-xvi-on-95th-birthday Today the Church celebrates Saint Peter Gonzalez, who experienced a true conversion experience thanks to a public humiliation, which set him on the road to sainthood. After being thrown from his horse into a dungheap, and withdrawing into a period of prayer and meditation, he served as the confessor and court chaplain to King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, and reformed court life. He also worked for the crusade against the Moors, went into the battlefields, and worked for humane treatment of Moorish prisoners. Fearing that the honors and easy life offered by the king’s court would lead him to return to his previous ways, he left the court and evangelized to shepherds and sailors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-gonzalez-436 Today is also Holy Thursday. Check out catholic news agency dot com to find out how to receive a plenary indulgence this Holy Week. Also, at catholic news agency dot com, you can find the complete schedule of Holy Week Masses that EWTN will be airing on television and online. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/246665/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-during-holy-week https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250974/ewtn-holy-week-easter-schedule-2022 There will be no news briefing tomorrow, Good Friday. From all of us at Catholic News Agency, we wish you a blessed rest of Holy Week, and a joyful Easter.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn urged prayer for those injured in a shooting at a subway station in the New York City borough on Tuesday, and for the first responders and transit workers. At least 23 people were injured amid a shooting on an N train at the 36th Street station on Tuesday morning. The shooter is at large, having thrown a smoke bomb to distract the crowd at the subway. Bishop Brennan visited Sunset Park, the Brooklyn neighborhood where the shooting occurred, yesterday afternoon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250957/bishop-horrified-by-brooklyn-shooting-asks-prayers-for-injured-and-first-responders The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) expressed concern on Tuesday at plans for Ukrainian and Russian families to carry a cross together at the Stations of the Cross led by Pope Francis at Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said: “I consider such an idea untimely, ambiguous, and such that it does not take into account the context of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.” Shevchuk said he had “received many appeals from the faithful of the Church and civil society, both from Ukraine and abroad,” asking him “to convey to the Holy See the great indignation and rejection of this plan by Ukrainians around the world.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250955/an-untimely-idea-ukrainian-catholic-leader-concerned-by-format-of-pope-s-good-friday-via-crucis Today the Church celebrates Pope Saint Martin the first, who ​​suffered exile and humiliation for his defense of orthodoxy in a dispute over the relationship between Christ's human and divine natures. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-martin-i-435

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis plans to visit Kazakhstan in September for an interreligious meeting. The pope intends to visit the Central Asian country for the seventh edition of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, taking place in the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan in mid-September. Kazakhstan has also been proposed as a potential country that could serve as a location for a meeting between Pope Francis and Kirill, the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, who is thought to have some influence on Vladimir Putin. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250949/pope-francis-plans-to-visit-kazakhstan-in-september Seven people were killed when a tank fired on a Caritas office in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The Catholic charitable organization Caritas-Spes announced April 11 that among the seven people killed by the Russian attack were two women staff members of Caritas Mariupol. Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine, was attacked by Russian forces on February 24, the first day of the full-scale invasion of the country. Ukrainian fighters have continued to resist the Russian advance on the city despite relentless bombing, which has destroyed many buildings and killed thousands of people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250941/seven-people-killed-at-caritas-office-in-beseiged-city-of-mariupol After almost a decade of death and destruction, and one year after the historic visit of Pope Francis to Iraq, more than 25,000 Assyrian Christians celebrated Palm Sunday in northern Iraq over the weekend. The town of Qaraqosh became the Christian epicenter of Iraq during a procession and a Mass on April 10. Qaraqosh has been only partially rebuilt after years of assaults by ISIS, and it is estimated that only half of its original Christian population has returned. The Palm Sunday procession was decorated with palm fronds, roses, bright colors, and folkloric costumes characteristic of Holy Week and Easter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250940/iraqi-christians-return-nineveh-holy-week A jury has convicted Ali Harbi Ali for the murder of British politician Sir David Amess, a pro-life Catholic. Ali stabbed Amess more than 20 times during an October 2021 attack at a Methodist Church in Essex, England. Amess had served in Parliament since 1983 and was a champion of pro-life causes. He also was instrumental in arranging Pope Benedict the sixteenth’s visit to the UK Parliament in September 2010. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250944/guilty-verdict-for-murderer-of-catholic-mp-david-amess Today the Church celebrates Saint Giuseppe Moscati, the first modern medical doctor to be canonized. The Catholic understanding of body and soul informed his understanding of illness and medicine, as he saw Confession and Communion as the “first medicine.” To help the poor, he often donated his medical services or paid for his patients' prescriptions. He lived out the Gospel through his position as a teacher and physician. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-moscati-55

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Thieves tried to desecrate a tabernacle and got away with an estimated $150,000 in technology used to livestream services from Saint Monica Church in Santa Monica, California late last month. Surveillance video showed three people inside the church with flashlights removing the church’s audiovisual equipment at about 9:30 pM on Thursday, March 24. They also removed four candle boxes with donations, and tried unsuccessfully to pry open the church’s tabernacle with consecrated hosts inside. Parish officials believe the burglars may have entered the church in the late afternoon and hid inside while the church was being closed for the night. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250934/livestream-equipment-donations-stolen-from-california-parish The new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See officially began his term on Monday with an audience with Pope Francis. Ambassador Joe Donnelly presented his credentials to the pope at the Vatican’s apostolic palace on April 11. Donnelly, a former senator for Indiana, was nominated for the post by President Joe Biden last fall. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250936/pope-francis-receives-new-us-ambassador-to-the-holy-see-joe-donnelly Government soldiers departed from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and its compound in downtown Mandalay, Myanmar, on Saturday after a search for weapons turned up only two ceremonial swords given to Archbishop Marco Tin Win. Several dozen soldiers had entered the cathedral Friday afternoon prior to a Lenten service and for several hours detained parishioners, the archbishop, archdiocesan officials, and a CNA correspondent. A local informant allegedly alerted authorities that Win Tin was hiding and supplying weapons to rebels throughout the country, but no actual weapons were found. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250929/soldiers-searching-for-weapons-leave-burma-cathedral In her first public comment on the case, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser gave no indication Friday that the city intends to autopsy the remains of five aborted babies that anti-abortion activists claim to have rescued from being disposed as medical waste. Instead, in a letter responding to Republican lawmakers in Congress who wrote to her calling for the city to investigate whether the abortionist broke the federal law, Bowser said one of the activists may have broken federal law. Nearly 70 lawmakers on Friday called on the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate the babies’ deaths. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250925/dc-mayor-aborted-babies-activist-federal-law Today the Church celebrates Saint Stanislaus of Krakow, the 11th-century bishop and martyr who is a beloved patron of the Polish nation and people. In his own country he is commemorated on May 8, the date of his death in 1079. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stanislaus-433

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The US Senate voted 53-47 Thursday to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson, a federal judge who also served as a federal public defender and a private practice lawyer, to become the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. At age 51, Jackson could serve on the nation’s highest court for decades to come. Her nomination drew strong opposition from pro-life groups. They pointed to the enthusiastic support her nomination received from Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the US, and a legal brief she co-authored as a private practice lawyer they say denigrated pro-life sidewalk counselors. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250910/senate-confirms-ketanji-brown-jackson-first-black-woman-on-supreme-court A new documentary highlighting the transformative power of the Holy Eucharist will be debuting for one day only in more than 700 theaters across the United States on Monday, April 25. Directed and produced by Spanish filmmakers, the documentary “ALIVE: Who is there?” features the testimonies of five men and women who share how the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist has transformed their lives. For its US debut, new bonus content will be featured, including exclusive commentary from Diocese of Crookston Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who is the US bishops’ conference chair on evangelization and catechesis, and is leading a three-year national eucharistic revival that will begin in June of 2022. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250912/alive-eucharist-movie-documentary Washington DC officials have yet to comment publicly after members of an anti-abortion group announced Tuesday they had intercepted a box from the clinic containing the discarded remains of 115 aborted babies, five of which they fear were aborted in violation of federal laws. Several pro-life groups have issued demands that the DC medical examiner perform autopsies on the five babies. The mayor’s office and the DC medical examiner’s office have not responded to CNA’s requests for comment. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250915/aborted-babies-found-in-dc-officials-silent-on-investigation Today the Church celebrates Saint Julie Billiart, a French woman who opened her home as a hiding place for loyal priests during the French Revolution, and received a vision that she would start a religious institute for the Christian education of young girls. Julie and a rich young woman co-founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1803. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-julie-billiart-430

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An American religious sister kidnapped in West Africa this week is a former international leader of her congregation, who was moved to start a missionary outpost in Burkina Faso after a 2011 visit to the country. Sister Suellen Tennyson, a New Orleans native, had served at a missionary outpost in northern Burkina Faso since 2014. She was reportedly abducted by unidentified armed men on April 5 from the small home she shared with two other members of her congregation, the Marianites of Holy Cross. Tennyson, 83, was the only one of the sisters kidnapped during the assailants’ invasion of the home. The current Marianite congregational leader said they are praying for Sister Tennyson’s release, and are working with governmental leaders in Burkina Faso. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250904/abducted-american-religious-sister-a-former-leader-of-her-congregation-whose-heart-turned-to-missionary-work Pope Francis on Thursday received the new Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash. Yurash said the Vatican is a sincere partner of Ukraine, “doing everything possible to stop the war.” Yurash took his post just weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since his arrival, he has participated in Catholic liturgies, spoken about the war, given interviews to media, and held meetings with other diplomats and Vatican officials. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250905/pope-francis-receives-ukraine-s-new-vatican-ambassador Today the Church celebrates Saint John Baptist de la Salle, known for promoting and reforming Christian education, especially amongst the poor. He is the founder of the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools, which teaches around the world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-baptist-de-la-salle-429

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will visit Lebanon in June, according to the president of the Middle Eastern country. President Michel Aoun said he was informed of the visit by the papal nuncio to Lebanon. Pope Francis has expressed his desire to travel to Lebanon on several occasions. In recent years, Lebanon has grappled with an influx of refugees from the war in Syria, a devastating financial crisis, a lack of stable governance, the August 2020 port explosion, and the impact of COVID-19. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is also threatening to trigger a food crisis in Lebanon, which depends on wheat imports from the East European nation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250890/breaking-pope-francis-to-visit-lebanon-in-june-says-president-aoun Nine Christian protesters in Egypt remain in detention, months after protests of the government’s apparent refusal to approve the rebuilding of a damaged church. The Coptic Orthodox St. Joseph and Abu Sefein Church was severely damaged by fire in 2016, and although authorities granted the requested permit to demolish the building, they never responded to a request for a permit to rebuild the church, an illegal delay. Dozens of Christian villagers demonstrated against the government in January, and nine were arrested. Christian communities have long faced difficulties under Egyptian law, and most applications to build or repair churches are rejected, especially requests from poor or rural areas or areas where Christians are a small minority. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250896/months-later-nine-egyptian-christians-still-detained-after-protests-to-rebuild-church An American religious sister was reportedly kidnapped in Burkina Faso the night of April 4. Sister Suellen Tennyson, 83, a member of the Congregation of Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross, has been serving in the Diocese of Kaya since October 2014. The local bishop said the sister was abducted by armed men, and they do not know where she has been taken. Burkina Faso has seen an increase in Islamist violence in recent years. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250893/american-nun-abducted-in-burkina-faso Anti-abortion activists said Tuesday that they obtained the bodies of 115 aborted babies from a driver for a medical waste company in late March, with the intention of giving the unborn children a dignified funeral and burial. Five of those babies that appear to be of late-term gestation are now in the possession of Washington, DC Metro Police, which retrieved the remains Friday from an apartment in the city where they were being stored by members of Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, a group that demonstrates against abortion and engages in activism in and around abortion clinics. Along with other pro-life groups, PAAU has called on the DC Medical Examiner to autopsy the babies’ remains to determine their manner of death in order to assess whether they died after being born, in possible violation of federal laws. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250891/pro-life-group-remains-of-115-aborted-babies-from-clinics-waste Today the Church celebrates Blessed Pierina Morosini, the patron saint of rape victims and a martyr to chastity. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-pierina-morosini-428

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Sunday denounced “horrific war crimes” reportedly committed by Russian forces in a city near Kyiv. In his daily video message on April 3, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk referred to images from the city of Bucha, around 15 miles northwest of the Ukrainian capital, and other newly liberated areas. News organizations reported that at least 20 bodies dressed in civilian clothing were found in a single street when Ukrainian forces retook the city of Bucha following the withdrawal of Russian combatants. catholicnewsagency.com/news/250879/ukrainian-catholic-leader-denounces-horrific-war-crimes-in-bucha Speaking to journalists on his return flight from Malta, Pope Francis confirmed that he was considering a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, which has faced bombardment since the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24. Pope Francis also told journalists that he was considering a face-to-face summit with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250875/will-pope-francis-go-to-kyiv-will-he-call-out-putin-by-name-here-s-what-he-told-the-media On Saturday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has appointed 49-year-old Cincinnati pastor, Father Earl Fernandes, to be the next bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. Fernandes is the first Indian-American to head a U.S. Roman Catholic diocese. His episcopal ordination and installation is scheduled for May 31. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250867/father-earl-fernandes-son-of-immigrants-from-india-named-next-bishop-of-columbus-ohio Today the Church celebrates Saint Isidore of Seville, a bishop and scholar who helped the Church preserve its own traditions, and the heritage of western civilization, in the early middle ages. A Doctor of the Church, he was more recently proposed as a patron saint of Internet users, because of his determination to use the world's accumulated knowledge for the service of God's glory. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-isidore-of-seville-425

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis says he will travel to Canada in the summer, possibly for the feast of St. Anne on July 26. The pope made the announcement during a meeting with Canadian Indigenous leaders at the Vatican on April 1, marking the conclusion of a week-long visit of representatives of the Métis, Inuit, and First Nations peoples to the Vatican. During the week, Pope Francis held private meetings with each group, and expressed his “sorrow and shame” for the role Catholics have played in the abuse of Indigenous peoples in Canada, especially in residential schools. He condemned the colonization which broke the Indigenous peoples away from their native land and ways of life. catholicnewsagency.com/news/250856/pope-francis-to-visit-indigenous-in-canada-in-july https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250857/pope-francis-expresses-sorrow-and-shame-for-catholic-role-in-abuse-against-indigenous-peoples The Catholic bishops of Arizona this week expressed gratitude at the passage of a 15 week abortion ban in the state, saying it will help to protect women and their unborn children. The bill, which Republican Governor Doug Ducey signed into law March 30, prohibits abortions after 15 weeks except in medical emergencies affecting the life and health of the mother. The measure is not currently enforceable because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, but could be allowed to come into effect depending on the outcome of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in which the Supreme Court is considering a 15 week ban in Mississippi. Arizona has passed several pro-life measures since 2009. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250854/arizona-bishops-say-15-week-abortion-ban-will-protect-women-and-their-unborn-children Today the Church celebrates Saint Mary of Egypt, a little-known saint whose story demonstrates the power of the Church as the home of forgiveness, redemption and mercy. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute for 17 years before she received the Eucharist and chose the life of a hermit. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-mary-of-egypt-422

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A tabernacle containing the Eucharist was recently stolen from a Maryland church, along with other valuable church belongings. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, located in Baltimore County, was broken into the night of March 25 to 26th. The church’s pastor asked whoever is responsible to return the items “and to please take care of the Eucharist in the tabernacle.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250842/tabernacle-with-eucharist-inside-stolen-from-maryland-catholic-church Women in the UK will now be allowed to self-administer both doses of the abortion pill at home without visiting a medical clinic, after members of the UK parliament voted to make the permission to do so permanent. The policy was first adopted during the coronavirus pandemic. A government consultation found strong criticism of the policy, including concerns that medication abortions weakened protections for sexually exploited minors or other women who are manipulated or coerced into abortion. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said March 22, “It is shocking that the House of Lords have supported an amendment that will end the lives of innocent unborn children, with total disregard for the health of those women using this system. I urge all MP’s to reject this bill and protect human life.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250843/uk-parliament-makes-at-home-medical-abortion-policy-permanent Oregon has dropped its residency requirement for assisted suicide, meaning doctors will be allowed to prescribe lethal drugs to people who do not reside in the state. In response to a federal lawsuit, the state agreed to stop enforcing the residency requirement March 28. In addition, the Oregon Health Authority agreed to write a bill for state lawmakers which would repeal the requirement entirely. Oregon Right to Life, a pro-life group active in the state, deplored the settlement and expressed worry that this would mark the start of “death tourism” in Oregon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250846/oregon-drops-residency-requirement-for-assisted-suicide Today the Church celebrates Blessed Jane of Toulouse, a 13th-century French woman known for her chastity and service to the poor, and who is considered to be the first member of the Carmelites’ third order, which is open to laypeople. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/bl-jane-of-toulouse-193

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Ukrainian Catholic leader on Tuesday gave an emotional description of the situation in the capital Kyiv, where he and other Catholics have been under Russian bombardment for over a month. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said that on the day of the invasion, they welcomed nearly 500 people in need of shelter. He noted the grave destruction that Russian forces are causing to the cities, destroying even monuments and churches. Two churches are destroyed every day in Ukraine, he said, and priests are being killed, and other innocent blood is being shed. Shevchuk thanked Pope Francis for the March 25 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for which he said both Catholics and Orthodox were grateful. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250829/i-m-sorry-for-the-tears-says-ukrainian-catholic-leader-as-he-details-life-under-bombardment A politician in Finland has been cleared of all charges related to the sharing of a Bible verse on social media. Finland’s Prosecutor General had charged Päivi Räsänen, a physician and mother of five, with incitement against a minority group, arguing that her online statements were “likely to cause intolerance, contempt, and hatred towards homosexuals.” Räsänen is an active member of the Finnish Lutheran Church, but she questioned her church’s sponsorship of an LGBT pride event in 2019. A group of US Senators had warned that a conviction “could open the door for prosecution of other devout Christians, Muslims, Jews and adherents of other faiths for publicly stating their religious beliefs.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250833/verdict-in-finland-s-bible-tweet-trial-announced On Wednesday, Pope Francis named a new bishop of the French Catholic diocese that is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of the world’s most-visited Marian shrines. Monsignor Jean-Marc Micas was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes on March 30. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has been known as a refuge for the sick for more than a century. The shrine contains a spring through which miraculous healings have been documented. The Catholic Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes traces its roots back for centuries before the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred in the town of Lourdes in 1858. The earliest record of a bishop of Tarbes was in 394 AD. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250836/pope-francis-appoints-new-catholic-bishop-of-lourdes Today the Church celebrates Saint John Climacus, a 6th-century Palestinian monk who became abbot of all the religious in the region of Mount Sinai. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-climacus-192

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic priest of the Diocese of Minna in Nigeria was among 45 people kidnapped after Mass on Sunday. On the morning of March 27, assailants abducted villagers along with Father Leo Raphael Ozigi, a priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the town of Sarkin Pawa. The people abducted were reportedly villagers who had just returned to their communities on Saturday after living in Internally Displaced Persons camps. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250822/catholic-priest-abducted-after-sunday-mass-in-nigeria A Ukrainian Catholic priest, who is married and a father of seven, recently accompanied one of his parishioners on a journey to Ukraine, where they rescued 22 orphans. Father Jason Charron flew to Ukraine with one of his parishioners, who had recently adopted a daughter from there. Crossing the border into Ukraine, the priest and the parishioner made their way to the orphanage from which the daughter had been adopted, and were able to get the orphans to safety in Lithuania. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250819/a-catholic-priest-and-a-parishioner-team-up-to-rescue-ukrainian-orphans Today the Church celebrates Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish council who went to Pontius Pilate and asked for possession of the body of Jesus after his passion and death. After receiving this permission, Joseph had Jesus laid in a nearby tomb. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-joseph-of-arimathea-191

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An ambulance blessed and donated by Pope Francis to the authorities in Lviv, western Ukraine, is on its way. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who runs the pope’s charitable office, left Rome on Saturday afternoon to drive the ambulance to Ukraine. Pope Francis donated the ambulance to Ukrainian authorities to assist with medical treatment as the city responds to the influx of people seeking safety from shelling in the capital Kyiv and other parts of the country. Around 6.5 million people have been displaced from their homes within Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250810/vatican-cardinal-brings-ambulance-from-pope-francis-to-ukraine “Enough. Stop it. Silence the weapons. Move seriously toward peace.” This is what Pope Francis said in remarks after the Sunday Angelus, referring to the war in Ukraine. The pope said war should not be something that is inevitable, and he begged every political leader to reflect on how each day of war worsens the situation for everyone. On Friday, the pope consecrated humanity and especially Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. That prayer of consecration was joined by scores of bishops, priests and lay faithful from around the world. Pope Francis thanked everyone for “such a huge and intense participation.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250807/enough-end-war-before-it-ends-us-pope-francis-says-as-ukraine-invasion-continues A new Arabic-language Catholic news website, launched on Friday, aims to tell the stories of Christians in the region, with a focus on the Churches of the East and persecuted Christians. The Association for Catholic Information Middle East and North Africa, or ACI MENA, will publish original news content in Arabic using a network of correspondents across the region. The news agency will operate from the campus of Erbil’s Catholic University. To view the website, go to A C I, M E N A dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250797/archbishop-warda-aci-mena-catholic-news-agency-in-arabic-launches-in-iraq https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250788/ewtn-aci-mena-arabic-language-news-agency-erbil-iraq Today the Church celebrates Saint Sixtus the third, the 44th Pope, who approved the results of the Council of Ephesus and actively protested against the heresies of Nestorianism and Pelagianism. He restored many Roman basilicas and corresponded frequently with St. Augustine of Hippo. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-sixtus-iii-pope-190

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this evening, entrusting the nations to Mary’s help and protection amid the ongoing conflict there. The pope has asked everyone in the world to join him. The consecration itself will take the form of a prayer that Pope Francis will recite during a penitential service in Rome. If you want to join the pope at the beginning of the penitential service, the service will start at 5 pm Rome time. EWTN will broadcast the service on cable and online. If you want to join in praying with Pope Francis at the exact moment he is praying the prayer of consecration, that will likely happen closer to 6:30 pm Rome time, according to the pope. Your diocese or parish is likely organizing a gathering to pray it together. The text of the prayer can be found at our website, catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250786/what-time-is-the-consecration-of-russia-and-ukraine-find-out-here In an 8-to-1 ruling on Thursday, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of an inmate who requested that his pastor pray aloud and “lay hands” on him during his execution. The prisoner,who identifies as Christian, asked for his pastor to be present during his execution, originally scheduled for September 2021. The court’s majority ruled that the prisoner was likely to prevail in his case under the RLUIPA, a law which provides that the government not impose “a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution.”The single dissenter, Justice Clarence Thomas, called the prisoner’s claim “insincere.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250784/supreme-court-inmate-pastor-during-execution The Archdiocese of Denver has investigated a reported miracle, and has determined that a statue of Saint Michael the Archangel was not, in fact, bleeding blood. A chemical analysis has determined that the red liquid on the statue was similar to nail polish. The statue belonged to a 57-year-old Catholic in the Denver suburb of Broomfield. After the investigation, the archdiocese said it “urges the faithful to exercise prudence in becoming involved with unapproved apparitions or alleged miracles.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250783/denver-archdiocese-supposed-blood-on-st-michael-statue-similar-to-red-nail-polish Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. This feast day celebrates the coming of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, to announce to her the special mission God had chosen for her to be the mother of Jesus, His only son. Because this is a solemnity that falls during a Friday in Lent, Catholics should feel free to eat meat today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/solemnity-of-the-annunciation-of-the-lord-188 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250781/can-catholics-eat-meat-when-a-solemnity-falls-on-a-friday-during-lent Today the Church also celebrates Saint Dismas, also called the Good Thief, who was crucified alongside Jesus. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-dismas-419

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The home of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI’s late brother has opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees. Until the arrival of two refugee families, the house in Regensburg, southern Germany, had lain empty after Monsignor Georg Ratzinger’s death on July 1, 2020, at the age of 96. The building now houses two families from the town of Horishni Plavni, around 80 miles southeast of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Local residents have donated pots, crockery, clothes, furniture, and toys to the two families. According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 3.6 million people have fled Ukraine in the first month of the war, and over 200,000 refugees have arrived in Germany. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250773/home-of-benedict-xvi-s-late-brother-opens-doors-to-ukrainian-refugees Senators are continuing to press US Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on the abortion issue during her confirmation hearings with questions such as, “When does life begin, in your opinion?” to which Jackson responded that she didn’t know. Jackson is the federal judge nominated by President Joe Biden to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Jackson has the support of abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood for her nomination. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250771/when-does-life-begin-ketanji-brown-jackson-abortion Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, March 25, entrusting the nations to Mary’s help and protection. The pope has asked all the bishops — and indeed all the faithful of the entire world — to join him. The consecration itself will take the form of a prayer that Pope Francis will recite during a penitential service in Rome. For detailed instructions on how you can join the pope in prayer, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250768/want-to-join-in-the-consecration-of-russia-and-ukraine-heres-how Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine of Sweden, who was born near the beginning of the fourteenth century to parents Ulfo and St. Bridget of Sweden. Catherine served as an abbess, and during the final 25 years of her life, was known for her austere lifestyle and her practice of making daily use of the Sacrament of Confession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-of-sweden-187

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has written a letter asking all Catholics to assemble in their parishes on Friday to pray the act of consecration of the world, particularly Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The pope is scheduled to pray the Marian consecration in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, March 25, in union with bishops around the world. Pope Francis also included the text of the consecration prayer with his letter so that all Catholics can pray it together. Visit catholic news agency dot com to find the full text of the prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250762/pope-francis-asks-all-catholics-to-take-part-in-consecration-of-russia-ukraine-to-immaculate-heart-of-mary https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250756/vatican-pope-francis-text-for-march-25-consecration-prayer Many dioceses in the United States have already announced that they will be participating in the consecration of Russia and Ukraine. Visit catholic news agency dot com to find a list of all the dioceses in the United States whose bishops have announced they will be joining the pope in the consecration, and information about how you can participate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250730/is-your-diocese-participating-in-pope-francis-consecration-of-russia-and-ukraine-find-out-here Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson called Roe v Wade “settled law” during her ongoing confirmation hearings on Tuesday. Roe v Wade is the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Jackson, the federal judge nominated by President Joe Biden to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, avoided the word abortion, instead referring to “the right to terminate a woman’s pregnancy.” Pro-life leaders have expressed concerns about Jackson’s record on abortion to the chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250759/ketanji-brown-jackson-calls-roe-settled-law-on-terminating-pregnancy Today, the Church celebrates Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, a 16th century bishop who upheld the rights of Peru's indigenous peoples, and became one of the first canonized saints of the Americas. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-turibius-de-mogrovejo-186

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he had spoken to Pope Francis on the phone, telling the pope that he would welcome Vatican mediation to end the suffering in his country. Zelenskyy said that in the conflict with Russia, at least 117 children have been killed, thousands wounded, tens of thousands of families destroyed, and millions of homes abandoned. Zelenskyy reportedly repeated his invitation to Francis to visit Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250751/ukraine-war-president-zelenskyy-tells-pope-francis-he-would-welcome-vatican-mediation Poland’s Catholics are engaging in an unprecedented effort to help Ukrainian refugees. Caritas Poland, the country’s largest charity, said on March 21 that it had collected a record sum of around $20 million, sent some 500 aid trucks to Ukraine, and organized thousands of meals a day for refugees. According to the U.N. refugee agency, Poland had seen an influx of more than 2 million refugees from Ukraine as of March 21. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250750/ukraine-war-poland-s-catholics-dig-deep-to-help-refugees On the first of four days of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Senators signaled interest in the judge’s legal view on topics including abortion and religious liberty. President Joe Biden nominated Jackson to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Jackson said she supports religious liberty, but pro-life leaders have expressed concern with Jackson’s past in regards to abortion, which includes legal representation of pro-choice groups. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250747/ketanji-brown-jackson-hearings-senators-signal-abortion-religious-liberty-concerns Today, the Church celebrates Saint Lea of Rome, a fourth-century widow who left her wealth behind, entered consecrated life, and attained great holiness through asceticism and prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-lea-185

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church accused Russian forces on Monday of committing “genocide” in the besieged city of Mariupol. In his video message on Monday, major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said: “Real crimes against humanity are happening in the temporarily occupied territories. Every day we receive news about a real humanitarian catastrophe, about murders, looting, rape.” He also said nearly 44 churches and religious buildings have been destroyed so far. Ukrainian government officials have accused Russia of engaging in genocide since the full-scale invasion launched on February 24. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250740/ukrainian-catholic-leader-accuses-russia-of-genocide-in-beseiged-city-of-mariupol Pope Francis on Saturday issued a reform of the structure of the Roman Curia, the administration at the Vatican that assists the pope in governing the Catholic Church. Among the many changes, the new reform changes the name and structure of the Vatican’s departments, and gives evangelization and charitable giving a more central role in the Vatican’s structure. Check out catholic news agency dot com for a full analysis of the changes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250733/how-praedicate-evangelium-changes-the-vatican-s-dicasteries-a-cna-explainer On Friday, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, meaning he will entrust the nations to Mary’s help and protection. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI plans to privately join in praying for the consecration of Russia and Ukraine on March 25. Bishops around the world have announced that they will join in praying for the consecration, with many inviting the public to Masses or prayer services on Friday. Check out the list at catholic news agency dot com to see if your diocese is participating. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250730/is-your-diocese-participating-in-pope-francis-consecration-of-russia-and-ukraine-find-out-here https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250738/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi-consecration-russia-ukraine Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Nicholas of Flue. During his lifetime, the Swiss saint had 10 children, became a hermit and later prevented a civil war. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-nicholas-of-flue-184

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis intends to invite all Catholic bishops and priests around the world to join the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which will be performed on March 25. Ukraine’s Latin Rite Catholic bishops asked Pope Francis earlier this month to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary amid the invasion of their country. The last time this occurred was in 1984. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250716/pope-francis-to-invite-catholic-bishops-around-the-world-to-join-him-in-consecrating-russia-ukraine A relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ heart is coming to New York City in the first week of April. The relic is a fragment of Acutis’ pericardium, the membrane that surrounds and protects the heart. Acutis was a young Catholic from Italy with a passionate devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and an aptitude for computer programming. He died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, and became the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church in October 2020. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250720/a-relic-of-blessed-carlo-acutis-heart-is-coming-to-new-york Pro-life groups in the United Kingdom are speaking out against an amendment which, if passed into law, would permanently allow women to take abortion pills at home. The amendment would extend a temporary provision which started in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the UK government announced that it was temporarily lawful for women to take both abortion pills to procure a chemical abortion in their homes up to nine weeks and six days gestation. Previously, the policy was that women were only allowed to take the second pill at home, while the first pill was required to be taken at a clinic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250717/pro-lifers-speak-out-as-diy-abortion-amendment-advances Today, the Church celebrates Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, a fourth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church whose writings are still regarded as masterful expressions of Christian faith. Cyril is also remembered for his exhaustive Biblical knowledge, and his endurance in the face of misunderstanding and opposition. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-cyril-of-jerusalem-181

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said on Thursday that women are becoming the “first victims” of the occupation of Ukraine, and warned that some women are becoming victims of violence and rape. More than 3 million people, mainly women and children, have left Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250704/ukrainian-catholic-leader-women-are-becoming-the-first-victims-of-the-occupation Three aid workers for a Catholic charity operating in Ukraine sustained head injuries last week when the van they were riding in was hit by artillery fire. The men were delivering food and supplies close to the Russian lines to Ukrainians trapped by the fighting, and planned to evacuate a group of children on the return trip. After leaving the hospital, the two men who were less seriously hurt said they were ready to rejoin the humanitarian effort. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250698/catholic-aid-group-van-struck-artillery-ukraine-jason-jones A new survey of Black Catholics in the United States has found that Black Catholics are significantly less likely than other Catholics — and also less likely than Black Protestants — to attend a church where most of the other parishioners are of the same race or ethnicity they are. About 6% of the Black population in the U.S. — around 3 million total people — is Catholic, compared with some 66% who are Protestant. Black Catholic communities in the U.S. include not only African-Americans, but also African and Caribbean immigrants. They make up about 4% of all Catholic adults. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250700/black-catholic-worship-pew-survey Today, the Church celebrates Saint Patrick. He was captured and brought as a slave to Ireland before escaping back to Britain, but later returned to Ireland as a bishop to minister to the small Christian communities. Using the traditions and symbols of the Celtic people, he explained Christianity in a way that made sense to the Irish and was thus very successful in converting the natives. He remains one of the most beloved Saints of Ireland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-patrick-of-ireland-180

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Breaking: Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary later this month, on March 25. A person— or nation— that is consecrated is set aside for a holy purpose. The word “entrustment” is often used synonymously with the word consecration. Ukraine’s Latin Rite Catholic bishops requested that Pope Francis do the consecration, amid the invasion of their country. March 25 was the day in 1984 that Pope John Paul II consecrated Russia and the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At the time of that first consecration, Ukraine and Russia were both parts of the Soviet Union. For more resources and in-depth information about the consecration, check out catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250674/pope-francis-to-consecrate-ukraine-and-russia-to-immaculate-heart-of-mary https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250675/pope-francis-consecration-russia-ukraine-meaning https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250685/we-are-grateful-ukrainian-catholic-leader-welcomes-consecration-to-mary-s-immaculate-heart https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250687/latin-american-catholic-bishops-to-join-pope-francis-consecration-of-russia-and-ukraine-to-mary-s-immaculate-heart https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250686/pope-francis-after-a-nuclear-war-humanity-would-have-to-start-from-scratch Today, the Church celebrates Saint Clement Hofbauer, an 18th and 19th-century saint who oversaw the founding of many Redemptorist monasteries, and who is the patron saint of Vienna, Austria. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar/2022-3-16

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Almost 1,000 Catholic convents in Poland are helping refugees from Ukraine, as hundreds of thousands of people cross the border, fleeing the country. Some religious communities have offered help to a few people, while others have offered assistance to as many as 18,000. The U.N. refugee agency reported that as of March 14, almost 1.8 million people have entered Poland from Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250669/ukraine-war-almost-1000-polish-catholic-convents-are-helping-refugees A Spanish seminary welcomed 60 refugees from Ukraine on Sunday, who arrived accompanied by dozens of volunteers who had helped them make the trip from the Polish-Ukrainian border. The seminary of the Diocese of Tarazona will host the group of refugees consisting of women, children, adolescents, and three men. The group of refugees arrived in Spain thanks to the initiative of several volunteers from Tarazona, who brought food, clothing, and medical supplies to the Polish-Ukrainian border and returned with refugees. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250665/spanish-seminary-takes-in-60-refugees-from-ukraine A German Catholic diocese has commissioned 17 women to administer baptisms, citing a shortfall in the number of priests. The Diocese of Essen, in Germany’s industrial Ruhr area, is the first diocese in the country to commission a group of women to administer the sacrament. Catholic Canon law allows for people other than bishops, priests, or deacons to be designated to perform baptisms if the ordinary ministers are, quote, absent or impeded. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250670/women-commissioned-to-confer-baptisms-in-german-catholic-diocese Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s former secretary has been named the new superior of the Missionaries of Charity. The sisters elected Sister Joseph Michael, who will be the third superior to lead the order since its founder’s death in 1997. Saint Teresa of Calcutta founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. Together with some of her former students, she took in men, women, and children who were dying in the gutters along the streets and cared for them. The Missionaries of Charity now have hundreds of houses worldwide and its membership includes religious sisters and brothers and priests, plus a lay organization. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250671/mother-teresa-s-former-secretary-to-lead-missionaries-of-charity Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the war in Syria. Since the war started on March 15, 2011, there have been an estimated half a million casualties. The conflict has also created an estimated 6.6 million refugees, and 6.7 million internally displaced persons. The pope’s ambassador to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, said Syria’s people continue to suffer the effects of war. Zenari said in an interview, quote, “It is sad to see repeated in Ukraine the same harrowing images of pain seen in Syria: destroyed neighborhoods, deaths, millions of refugees, use of unconventional weapons such as cluster bombs, bombing of hospitals and schools. Seeing the exact same descent into hell that was seen in Syria.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250672/syria-lost-in-oblivion-on-11th-anniversary-of-war-says-cardinal-zenari Today, the Church celebrates Saint Louise de Marillac, a spiritual directee of Saint Vincent de Paul who founded the Daughters of Charity, a group of women dedicated to serving the sick, the poor and the neglected. She was declared patroness of social workers in 1960. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-louise-de-marillac-178

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Sunday called for an end to the “harrowing war” in Ukraine, condemning in particular the “barbarism” of Russia’s reported attacks last week on civilians— including pregnant women and children— in the eastern city of Mariupol. Pope Francis said that Mariupol, a city of 400,000 which was founded and named for the Virgin Mary, “has become a city martyred” amid the assault. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250655/pope-francis-calls-for-an-end-to-the-massacre-in-ukraine-in-the-name-of-god The pope’s words echoed those of a prominent Catholic leader in Ukraine, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who on Monday called for prayer and fasting to “cast out the evil spirit of war” from his homeland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250659/expel-evil-spirit-of-war-from-ukraine-with-prayer-and-fasting-urges-catholic-leader On Monday, Pope Francis met a South Sudan bishop-elect whose consecration was postponed last year, after he was shot in the legs shortly after his nomination to lead Rumbek diocese. Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare was shot during the early hours of April 26, 2021, when two armed men fired multiple bullets at his door. His consecration as a bishop is scheduled for March 25. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250658/pope-francis-meets-shot-south-sudan-bishop-elect-at-vatican The new $1.5 trillion spending bill for the US federal government promises to place millions into the pockets of Planned Parenthood. However, pro-life leaders are still celebrating it as a victory because it includes the Hyde Amendment, which largely prohibits taxpayer dollars from going toward abortions. While Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, cannot place federal funding toward abortion, pro-life groups frequently make the case that receiving funds for certain services can free up other money for abortion. The 2,741-page bill, which the US House first passed Wednesday, now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250646/hyde-amendment-federal-spending-planned-parenthood Today, the Church celebrates Saint Matilda, the tenth-century Queen of Germany known for her considerable almsgiving. In her final years, she devoted herself to the building of many churches, convents and monasteries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-matilda-177

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic leader said on Friday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is “becoming a war primarily against the civilian, peaceful population.” In a video message issued on March 11, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk highlighted the suffering of Ukrainian children on the 16th day of the war. Nearly 600 civilians have been killed in the assault according to official estimates, though the actual number is likely much higher. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250641/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-turning-into-war-against-civilians-says-catholic-leader According to the city council of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a Russian airstrike on March 9 killed at least three people, including a child, and wounded at least 17 doctors, children, and pregnant women. Vatican Cardinal Michael Czerny, whom Pope Francis recently sent to Ukraine, called the attack “unacceptable.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250633/at-ukraine-border-papal-envoy-denounces-hospital-bombing A military aircraft attack on a town in the east of Myanmar caused severe damage to a Catholic convent’s roof, ceiling, and windows. Two Myanmar military aircraft hit the Sisters of Reparation convent, which serves as a retirement home and hospital for aging nuns. The convent is in Doungankha village in Demoso township in the eastern state of Kayah, a green and mountainous region which borders Thailand. Since fighting began in May 2021 following a military coup, at least eight Catholic churches in that area have been hit by artillery shelling or airstrikes. Some 16 parishes in the local diocese have been abandoned because of the fighting. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250635/air-strike-damages-catholic-convent-as-myanmar-conflict-continues A Mass was celebrated at a cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland, last week, the first Catholic Mass at the cathedral in nearly 500 years. The last Mass celebrated at St. Pierre Cathedral took place in 1535. After the Reformation, the building was taken over by John Calvin’s Reformed Protestant Church, which destroyed the cathedral’s statues and paintings, and banned Catholic worship. Around 1,500 people attended the Mass. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250634/first-mass-since-reformation-celebrated-at-swiss-calvinist-cathedral Today, the Church celebrates Saint Aurea, a young 11th century Spanish woman who lived a life of sacrifice in a convent before dying in her late 20s. The Church also celebrates Saint Sophronius, a courageous leader of the Jerusalem Church during the Islamic conquests of the seventh century, who is more commonly venerated among Eastern Catholics and within the Eastern Orthodox churches. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar/2022-3-11

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a video message issued on March 10, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, lamented what he described as the “mass murder” of Ukrainians following Russia’s full-scale invasion. He said the city of Mariupol, which was founded by the Greek community as the ‘City of Mary,’ has been transformed into a cemetery for tens of thousands of people. He went on: “Yesterday we saw horrific scenes of the bombarding of a maternity ward as well as scenes of mass graves, common burials, where hundreds of lifeless bodies are laid to rest.” The U.N. human rights office reported on March 9 that it had recorded 1,424 civilian casualties in Ukraine, including over 500 deaths, with the actual figures likely much higher. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250630/ukrainian-catholic-leader-mariupol-the-city-of-mary-has-been-turned-into-a-cemetery The former residence of St. John Paul II in the Polish city of Kraków has opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków said on March 9 that Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski had welcomed people fleeing the Ukraine war to the city’s Bishop’s Palace. Karol Wojtyła, the future John Paul II, lived at residence from 1958 to 1978 when he was archbishop of Kraków. According to the U.N. refugee agency, more than 2.1 million people had fled Ukraine as of March 8, and almost 1.3 million of them have traveled to Poland. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250621/ukraine-war-st-john-paul-ii-s-former-residence-in-krakow-poland-opens-doors-to-ukrainian-refugees Four men were convicted on Wednesday of terrorist conspiracy, in the 2016 murder of French Catholic priest Father Jacques Hamel. The 85-year-old priest was killed in a terrorist attack while he offered Mass in the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, in the northern French archdiocese of Rouen, on July 26, 2016. Three of the men convicted received between eight and 13 years in prison, and one received a life sentence in absentia. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250629/father-jacques-hamel-murder-catholic-archbishop-says-justice-is-done-as-4-are-convicted Today, the church celebrates Saint John Ogilvie, a 16th- and 17th-century Scotsman who converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, served as a Jesuit priest, and died as a martyr after refusing to accept King James I’s claim of supremacy over the Church. He is the only post-Reformation Scottish saint. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-ogilvie-173

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Two Catholic cardinals sent by Pope Francis to Ukraine met on Tuesday with the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the head of Ukraine’s Latin Rite bishops’ conference. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, was pictured in Lviv, western Ukraine, with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk and Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki. During the meeting the three men spoke directly with the pope via telephone. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250616/papal-envoy-meets-catholic-leaders-in-ukraine Major Archbishop Shevchuk said that “priests are being killed” amid fighting in the north, south, and east of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24. “Our spiritual heritage is being destroyed by bombing,” he said. “Churches, our spiritual values, cultural treasures.” The major archbishop stressed the unity among religious bodies in Ukraine, a country with a population of 44 million people before the war. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250618/ukraine-war-our-aspiritual-heritage-is-being-destroyed-by-bombing-says-catholic-leader Pope Francis has announced his prayer intention for March. The pope is praying that bioethical issues will be approached with respect for human life and dignity. The pope’s prayer video, released March 8, included images of a pregnant woman, a sonogram of a preborn child, an infant soon after birth, and an elderly woman in the hospital. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250607/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-march-2022 In President Joe Biden’s statement Tuesday in observance of International Women’s Day, the president detailed his administration’s efforts intended to improve the status of women, including the launch of “a whole-of-government effort to protect reproductive rights.” In contrast, pro-life groups, such as the March for Life, stressed that abortion harms women. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250613/biden-promotes-abortion-policies-on-international-womens-day Today, the church celebrates St. Frances of Rome, who from an early age felt called to religious life, but was forced into marriage at age thirteen. Despite her situation, Frances gave up all her wealth to the sick and poor, and began to go door to door raising money to aid the sick and poor. She eventually founded a charitable society of women to continue her work. She is the patron of widows and motorists, because according to legend, an angel always lit her path. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-frances-of-rome-415

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said on Tuesday that Ukraine’s ongoing resistance to a full-scale Russian invasion is a “miracle.” In a video message recorded on March 8 in the besieged Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk compared the war to the 1920 “Miracle on the Vistula,” when outnumbered Polish forces defeated Russia’s Red Army. Shevchuk recorded his latest video message as Russian forces continued to advance on Kyiv, where he is sheltering with others under the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250604/ukraine-s-resistance-to-russian-invasion-a-miracle-says-catholic-leader The Vatican’s secretary of state “conveyed Pope Francis’ deep concern about the ongoing war in Ukraine” during a call with Russia’s foreign minister on the morning of March 8. Cardinal Pietro Parolin reportedly called “for an end to armed attacks, for the securing of humanitarian corridors for civilians and rescuers, and for the replacement of gun violence with negotiation.” The Russian ministry said that both parties expressed hope that another round of negotiation talks between Russia and Ukraine’s leaders would take place soon. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250605/cardinal-parolin-urges-end-to-attacks-in-call-with-russia-s-foreign-minister The Alexandria, Virginia City Council will no longer be considering a resolution to honor abortionists, after the city’s mayor pulled the item from the agenda for the March 8 meeting. The City Council proposal would have designated March 10 as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.” Alexandria’s Catholic community had immediately spoken out against the proposed proclamation. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250593/northern-virginia-city-pulls-consideration-of-abortion-provider-appreciation-day-from-agenda Today, the Church celebrates Saint John of God. Born in Portugal in 1495, John lived through decades of sin and suffering before a profound conversion that led him to embrace poverty, humility and charity. St. John of God was canonized in 1690, and has become the patron of hospitals and the dying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-of-god-confessor-171

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church warned Saturday that Russian bombardments have left some people in Ukraine without heat in freezing temperatures. In a video message on March 5, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk urged the international community to do everything possible so that humanitarian convoys can access cities where Russian shelling has cut off power and water to residential districts. The major archbishop expressed concern that “a humanitarian catastrophe is beginning” in Ukrainian cities that have been surrounded by Russian forces. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250583/ukrainian-archbishop-warns-that-bombings-have-left-people-without-heat-in-freezing-temperatures Pope Francis condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expressed his solidarity with the country on Sunday, lamenting that, quote, “rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine.” The pope announced his desire to help the Ukrainian people achieve peace, and repeated his call from the previous week for humanitarian corridors to provide relief to Ukrainians. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250585/pope-francis-sends-cardinals-to-ukraine-where-rivers-of-blood-and-tears-flow The US Supreme Court on Friiday reinstated the death penalty to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man convicted of killing four people in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, after a lower court had overturned it in 2020. In a 6-3 decision, with Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor dissenting, the court found that Tsarnaev had received a fair trial in 2015 and had been justly sentenced to death. Although the past three presidential administrations have sought to execute Tsarnaev, the Archdiocese of Boston has called for his sentence to be commuted to life without parole, citing Catholic teaching on the death penalty. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250577/supreme-court-reinstates-death-penalty-for-boston-marathon-bomber Today, the Church celebrates Saints Perpetua and Felicity, young martyrs who died for the faith around the year 203. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-perpetua-and-felicity-and-their-companions-169

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said on Friday that the war risks creating an ecological disaster as well as a humanitarian catastrophe, as Russian forces seized a major Ukrainian nuclear plant overnight. Sviatoslav Shevchuk recorded his latest video message as Russian forces continued to advance on the capital Kyiv, where the major archbishop is sheltering with others under the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250567/ukraine-conflict-major-archbishop-says-war-risks-creating-ecological-disaster-as-well-as-humanitarian-catastrophe Archbishop Shevchuk had said the previous day that Kyiv is “being transformed into the spiritual capital of the world” following Wednesday’s global day of prayer for fasting and peace. The U.N. refugee agency said on March 3 that more than a million people had fled Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion on Feb. 24. More than half of them have found refuge in Poland, which shares a 332-mile border with the country. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250559/ukrainian-catholic-leader-kyiv-is-being-transformed-into-the-spiritual-capital-of-the-world The World War II martyr Titus Brandsma and two other blesseds will be declared saints at a canonization Mass on May 15, Pope Francis said Friday. The May 15 Mass at the Vatican was already scheduled for the canonization of Blessed Charles de Foucauld and six other blesseds. The Mass will now celebrate a total of 10 people the Catholic Church has recognized as saints, after miracles were confirmed to have taken place through their intercession. The ceremony will be the Catholic Church’s first canonization Mass since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250566/wwii-martyr-titus-brandsma-to-be-canonized-with-charles-de-foucauld-in-may Today, the Church celebrates Saint Casimir Jagiellon of Poland, a 15th-century prince whose life of service to God has made him a patron saint of Poland, Lithuania, and young people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-casimir-of-poland-167

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan in July. The Vatican announced on Thursday that the pope will spend July 2-5 in the Congolese cities of Kinshasa and Goma, and July 5-7 in the South Sudanese capital Juba. Pope Francis will become the first pope to visit South Sudan, which declared independence in 2011, and is about 37% Catholic. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has around 90 million people, roughly half of whom are Catholic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250555/pope-francis-to-visit-democratic-republic-of-congo-and-south-sudan-in-july The president of Poland’s Catholic bishops’ conference has urged the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to ask President Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. In a strongly worded letter dated March 2, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki told Patriarch Kirill of Moscow that Putin could “stop the suffering of thousands of people with one word.” Patriarch Kirill, who is believed to be close to Putin, has led the Russian Orthodox Church since 2009. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250554/polish-catholic-archbishop-to-russian-orthodox-leader-please-ask-putin-to-stop-ukraine-war A suspected cyberattack knocked out an online rosary for peace in Ukraine, being prayed by San Francisco archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. A suspiciously large surge of requests to access the event temporarily knocked the archdiocese's website offline, consistent with a method of cyber attacking called Distributed Denial of Service. Cordileone’s rosary for peace followed the lead of Pope Francis who called for prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250553/cyberattack-archbishop-cordileones-rosary-for-ukraine Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia heiress who abandoned her family’s fortune to found an order of sisters dedicated to serving the impoverished African American and Native American populations of the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-katharine-drexel-166

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Pope Francis has asked for all people to pray and fast for peace in Ukraine today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250538/ash-wednesday-fasting-ukraine-peace A bomb struck the headquarters of a Catholic diocese on Tuesday in the besieged Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Forty people were sheltering in the basement of the diocesan chancery when the bomb landed on March 1, but no injuries were immediately reported. Russian forces have advanced on Kharkiv, which has a population of 1.4 million people, since President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. According to media reports, the Russian bombardment of the city in northeastern Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of civilians, including children. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250529/ukraine-conflict-bomb-hits-catholic-diocese-s-headquarters-in-besieged-city President Joe Biden focused on the ongoing situation in Ukraine, the economic recovery in the United States, and the need to be a united American people in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Biden, speaking from the US Capitol on March 1, praised the resolve of the Ukrainian people after their country was invaded by Russian forces. The president, who is Catholic, praised the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision and said there is a need to, quote, “preserve a woman’s right to choose.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250541/biden-focuses-on-ukraine-conflict-in-state-of-the-union-address The Vatican on Tuesday amended its law to include three days of paid paternity leave for employees who have a new child through birth or adoption. The Vatican already offered five months of paid maternity leave, in line with Italy’s national maternity leave policies. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250528/vatican-introduces-three-days-of-paid-paternity-leave-for-employees Today, there are several saints honored. Saint Angela of the Cross, a 19th-century Spaniard, is the Foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross, a group dedicated to prayer and silence, as well as to serving the poor and dying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-angela-of-the-cross-165 St. Agnes of Prague, a European who lived in the 13th century, entered the monastery after turning down the Holy Roman emperor’s overtures of marriage. Emperor Frederick is said to have remarked: "If she had left me for a mortal man, I would have taken vengeance with the sword, but I cannot take offense because in preference to me she has chosen the King of Heaven." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agnes-of-prague-170 And finally, Blessed Charles the Good was a Flemish warrior and ruler known for his just, compassionate, and wise actions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-charles-the-good-412

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has asked people around the world to fast and pray for peace in Ukraine on March 2, Ash Wednesday. After meeting Pope Francis on Monday, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris invited Muslims in France to pray for peace in Ukraine. In a statement after his private audience at the Vatican on Feb. 28, Chems-Eddine Hafiz said that the pope expressed deep concern about the fate of migrants arriving in Europe and the conflict in Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250518/after-meeting-pope-francis-leader-invites-france-s-muslims-to-pray-for-peace-in-ukraine March 5 will mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ historic trip to Iraq, as the first pope to do so. In a meeting with Iraqi Christian leaders at the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis called it an “unforgettable visit” and emphasized the importance of the Christian presence in the Middle Eastern country. The Christian population in Iraq, a country of around 40 million people, has been steadily dwindling for decades, from around 1.4 million in 2003 to about 250,000 today. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250515/pope-francis-remembers-historic-iraq-visit-1-year-later The Women’s Health Protection Act failed in the U.S. Senate on Monday. Pro-life groups had called it the most radical abortion bill in U.S. history. The Feb. 28 vote needed 60 votes to proceed, with all but one Senate Democrats voting for the Act, and no Republicans. The vote marked the first time that the Senate voted on a standalone bill to proactively codify Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250523/pro-abortion-womens-health-protection-act-fails-in-us-senate Today, the Church honors Saint David of Wales, the patron of the Welsh people, who is remembered as a missionary bishop and the founder of many monasteries during the sixth century. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-david-of-wales-163 - Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Today, there are several saints honored. Saint Angela of the Cross, a 19th-century Spaniard, is the Foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross, a group dedicated to prayer and silence, as well as to serving the poor and dying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-angela-of-the-cross-165 St. Agnes of Prague, a European who lived in the 13th century, entered the monastery after turning down the Holy Roman emperor’s overtures of marriage. Emperor Frederick is said to have remarked: "If she had left me for a mortal man, I would have taken vengeance with the sword, but I cannot take offense because in preference to me she has chosen the King of Heaven." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-agnes-of-prague-170 And finally, Blessed Charles the Good was a Flemish warrior and ruler known for his just, compassionate, and wise actions. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-charles-the-good-412

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com Here’s the latest on the Ukraine crisis. Pope Francis told the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Friday that he would do everything he can to help end the Ukraine conflict. The pope called Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who is based in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, in the late afternoon on Feb. 25, according to the Secretariat of the Major Archbishop in Rome. “During the phone call, Pope Francis was concerned about the situation in the city of Kyiv and in general throughout Ukraine. Pope Francis told His Beatitude: ‘I will do everything I can,’” the secretariat said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250497/ukraine-conflict-pope-francis-to-ukrainian-catholic-leader-i-will-do-everything-i-can-to-help-end-war No one can afford to be silent in the face of the bloodshed happening in Ukraine, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said in a video message on Saturday. The major archbishop is based in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where, he said on Feb. 26, the sun has risen after another difficult night. “It rises above the Ukrainian Kyiv, Kyiv that wins. Above the city of Kyiv that has passed another night, difficult but blessed by God,” Shevchuk said, according to the Secretariat of the Major Archbishop in Rome. In his message, Shevchuk thanked all those who have been speaking up in support of Ukraine after Russia launched a full-scale attack on the country on the morning of Feb. 24. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250503/ukraine-conflict-ukrainian-catholic-leader-no-one-has-the-right-to-stay-silent In other news, messages from around the world have flooded Twitter as the beloved “Digitalnun,” Sister Catherine Wybourne, died of cancer Feb. 24, at the age of 68. Wybourne took to Twitter in 2009 and became known as the “Digitalnun.” With over 28,000 followers, she tweeted about life as a nun and the happenings of the world. Her daily tweets requesting to know the prayer intentions of her “tweeps” and her prayers for the world were unending. She also ran a blog. In one of her last blog posts, after receiving this news, she wrote, “Catholicism can be a hard religion to live by but is a beautiful religion in which to die.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250498/beloved-social-media-nun-dies Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Villana de’Botti, a wife and a Third Order Dominican. She was born in Florence in 1332. She became a Dominican tertiary, concentrated on her vocation of married life, and spent her free time praying and reading Scripture and the lives of the saints. She was given to religious ecstasies at Mass, visions of Our Lady and the saints, and had the gift of prophecy.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Here’s the latest on the Ukraine crisis, as Russian forces close in on the capital, Kyiv. Pope Francis visited the Russian Embassy to the Holy See on Friday morning to, quote, “show his concern for the war.” Expressing great sadness at the worsening situation in Ukraine, Pope Francis asked world leaders to “make a serious examination of conscience before God.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250485/pope-francis-visits-russian-embassy-to-vatican-to-show-his-concern-at-ukraine-conflict The Catholic bishops’ conference of Russia has called on political leaders to end the conflict with Ukraine. “Our peoples deserve peace,” the bishops said, “not just the absence of war, but the kind of peace that consists in a firm determination to respect other people, other peoples, and their dignity.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250483/russia-s-catholic-bishops-call-on-leaders-to-end-conflict-with-ukraine The Catholic Church in Poland is mobilizing to help thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge in the country. Parishes and Church institutions in the Central European country are opening their doors to a stream of refugees crossing the 332-mile border with Ukraine. Other Church organizations are preparing retreat houses and other buildings to house people fleeing the war. Jasna Góra, Poland’s largest shrine, is providing space for Ukrainians in its pilgrim house. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250482/how-poland-s-catholics-are-helping-ukrainian-refugees The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has committed one million euros to support the work of the Church in Ukraine, and is accepting help raising funds to assist the Church in the country. Among other things, the financial support will aid the 4,879 priests and religious brothers and 1,350 religious sisters in Ukraine. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250479/aid-to-church-in-need-ukraine-catholics The Italian city of Assisi will host a prayer vigil for Ukraine and a Mass for peace in the Basilica of St. Francis this weekend. Assisi, known as “the city of peace,” hosted the Catholic Church’s first World Day of Peace 36 years ago, when Pope John Paul II invited representatives of other world religions to come together to pray for peace. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250486/assisi-to-host-mass-for-peace-in-ukraine-at-the-tomb-of-st-francis Pope Francis will no longer be traveling to Florence to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass, citing acute knee pain and doctor-ordered rest. The pope was also scheduled to spend the morning of Feb. 27 in Florence to speak at a meeting of bishops and mayors of the Mediterranean region. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250484/pope-francis-cancels-ash-wednesday-mass-trip-to-florence-due-to-knee-pain Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani, a 19th-century Italian nun who is remembered for her sanctity, love of the poor, self-imposed sacrifices, and ecstasies so complete that she was seen levitating. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-maria-adeodata-pisani-158

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Breaking: Russia has invaded Ukraine, drawing strong condemnation and pleas for peace from Catholics around the world. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, supported Ukraine’s right to defend its independence as Russia attacked Ukrainian military targets on the morning of February 24. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, condemned Russia’s attack and assured Ukrainians of Poland’s “closeness, prayer and availability to help.” The Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said, quote, “There is still time for good will, there is still room for negotiation, there is still room for the exercise of a wisdom that prevents the prevalence of partisan interests, protects the legitimate aspirations of each and spares the world from madness and saves the world from the folly and horrors of war.” Go to catholicnewsagency.com for the latest on the Ukraine crisis. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250468/ukraine-major-archbishop-responds-to-russian-invasion-the-lord-is-with-us https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250469/catholics-in-europe-react-to-russia-s-invasion-of-ukraine https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250470/vatican-laments-tragic-invasion-of-ukraine-by-russia The U.S. Senate is expected to vote next week, February 28, on a piece of legislation that one pro-life group warns would “effectively enshrine an unlimited abortion ‘right’ in federal law.” The Biden administration has repeatedly expressed support for the bill, which would override states’ pro-life laws and remove restrictions on abortion up to the point of birth in some cases. While the act is not expected to pass, the vote itself on legislation to enshrine abortion rights in federal law is the first of its kind. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250462/us-senate-to-vote-on-pro-abortion-women-s-health-protection-act The president of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, spoke out against the Constitutional Court’s decision to decriminalize abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. The president, who describes himself as a pro-life person, warned that the court's decision could lead to "abortion in Colombia becoming a means of contraception." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250465/colombian-president-bishops-condemn-courts-decriminalization-of-abortion The Vatican released Pope Francis’ Lenten message on Thursday, in which the pope recommended that Lent 2022 can be a time to put down the smartphone and encounter those in need face to face. The pope encouraged ‘authentic encounters,’ face to face and in person.” The liturgical season of Lent begins on March 2 with Ash Wednesday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250467/pope-francis-lent-2022-message-addiction-to-digital-media-can-hurt-human-relationships Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Thomas Maria Fusco, a 19th-century Italian priest who was known for preaching spiritual retreats and missions, teaching catechism to youth and organizing prayer for young people and adults at his parish. He worked to build a strong devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus among the people he served. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-thomas-maria-fusco-157

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has called for people to fast for peace on March 2, Ash Wednesday, amid mounting tensions in Ukraine and the threat of war. The pope said, quote, “I would like all those who have the political responsibility to make a serious examination of conscience before God, who is the God of peace and not of war … He wants us to be brothers and not enemies. I pray that all parties involved will refrain from any action that will cause even more suffering for people, destabilizing coexistence among nations and undermining international law.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250456/ukraine-crisis-pope-francis-calls-for-global-day-of-fasting-for-peace-on-ash-wednesday The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said on Tuesday that “all of humanity has been placed in danger” by Russia’s decision to recognize the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Lugansk and Donetsk as independent entities. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk denounced Russia’s move as creating, quote, “serious challenges and threats for the entire international community and for international law.” Shevchuk appealed to people of goodwill “not ignore the suffering of the Ukrainian people, brought on by Russian military aggression.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250457/major-archbishop-russia-s-east-ukraine-move-places-all-of-humanity-in-danger Bishop Gustavo Oscar Zanchetta has denied all charges of alleged sexual abuse of two former seminarians, during the first hearing of his civil trial. The Argentine bishop was, in 2017, appointed by Pope Francis to a specially created position overseeing the Vatican’s real estate holdings and other sovereign assets. In addition to the charges of sexual abuse, Bishop Zanchetta has been charged with financial misconduct. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250452/bishop-zanchetta-pleads-not-guilty-at-civil-trial-for-sex-abuse-in-argentina Today, the Church celebrates Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of the apostle and evangelist St. John. Polycarp is celebrated on the same date by Eastern Orthodox Christians, who also honor him as a Saint. According to tradition, Polycarp was martyred by Roman authorities by being stabbed to death, but only after no flames touched his body during an attempt to burn him alive. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-polycarp-of-smyrna-156

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Traditional Latin Mass attendees expressed cautious optimism on Monday, after a traditionalist community said that Pope Francis had given them permission to continue to celebrate Mass with the pre-Vatican II 1962 missal. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter said Monday that Pope Francis has given the group full permission to offer the Traditional Latin Mass, carry out the sacraments, and fulfill the Divine Office, according to the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary that were used in 1962. The group said that Pope Francis signed the decree on February 11, but the Vatican has not yet confirmed the text of the decree. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250442/traditionalist-communities-cautiously-optimistic-after-fssp-news Spain’s Catholic bishops have commissioned a law firm to conduct an independent investigation of sexual abuse committed by Church members. The independent audit is intended to create a “comprehensive report” of all clerical sex abuse cases, and also to open an independent channel to receive potential complaints and recommend further preventative measures. catholicnewsagency.com/news/250439/spain-s-catholic-bishops-ask-law-firm-to-open-independent-audit-on-clerical-sex-abuse Colombia’s Constitutional Court has ruled to decriminalize abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. The ruling means that until the 24th week of pregnancy, abortion will not be a punishable crime in Colombia, and will be allowed for limited reasons up until birth. Pro-life advocates in the country decried the ruling, saying the judges had failed the Colombian people. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250444/colombias-constitutional-court-decriminalizes-abortion-up-to-six-months Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, which commemorates the papacy, and St. Peter as the first bishop of Rome. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/chair-of-saint-peter-155

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A leading Polish bishop asked his people on Monday to be hospitable to Ukrainian refugees if Russia takes further military action and invades Ukraine. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki lamented the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, amid the amassing of some 150,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. The archbishop said, quote, “The history of Poland shows that for centuries, our homeland has been a refuge for those who, respecting Polish culture and laws, fled from persecution and hatred.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250437/polish-catholic-bishops-leader-calls-for-open-and-hospitable-hearts-to-refugees-from-ukraine Pope Francis is praying for the victims of cyclones in Madagascar, which have displaced thousands and killed more than 100 people this month.Tropical storm Dumako hit Madagascar on February 15, killing at least 14 people and forcing 4,323 to seek shelter with the state disaster relief agency, according to Reuters. Earlier this month, 124 people were killed by tropical cyclone Batsirai. Madagascar’s national meteorological service predicts that another cyclone could hit the island tomorrow, February 22. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250434/pope-francis-prays-for-cyclone-victims-in-madagascar A Mexican priest last week lamented the murder of journalists in Mexico and attempts to silence them, and encouraged those working in the media to have "great courage." According to the Mexican press, the first three years of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term have been the most violent for journalists, with 30 homicides, six in 2022 alone. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250427/mexican-diocese-laments-murders-attempts-to-silence-journalists Today, the Church honors Saint Peter Damian, a Benedictine monk who strove to purify and reform the Church during the early years of its second millennium. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-damian-154

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A principal at a school in the Archdiocese of Chicago will not return to the school, after defying a mask mandate. The principal was suspended from his elementary school earlier this month, after he announced that his school could go mask-optional. At the time, the archdiocese still required masks in schools, regardless of local regulations. That policy has since changed. A former executive of a historically Catholic non-profit in Michigan has been sentenced to prison, after pleading guilty on a charge related to embezzlement. John Lynch was CEO of Holy Cross Services from 2015 to 2017. He was fired after the board found apparent evidence of embezzlement. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, related to his embezzlement of almost $250,000 in funds. The pope has advanced the sainthood cause of an Argentine cardinal who helped organize the first World Youth Day. Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio was a member of the Roman Curia for two decades. He was friends with Pope Francis when they both lived in Argentina. The future pope even heard the cardinal’s confession at one point. The cardinal died in 1998. Today is the feast day of Saint Simon, a relative of Jesus who is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew and Acts.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Washington has dropped its mask mandate for its schools, following an outcry from parents. The policy change applies only to schools located in Maryland, because the District of Columbia still has a mandatory indoor masking order. Masks are also now optional at schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Italy’s constitutional court has blocked a move to decriminalize physician-assisted suicide in the country. In its decision, the court said the referendum in question had inadequate protections for the weak and vulnerable. The Italian bishops’ conference praised the decision. A verdict is expected next month in the trial of a Christian member of parliament in Finland. The woman is on trial after tweeting a Bible verse, and publishing a pamphlet about human sexuality. The state prosecutor said the statements were likely to cause intolerance toward people with same-sex attraction. Today is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites. The seven men lived in Florence in the thirteenth century and received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. - A coalition of healthcare workers, has again petitioned the U-S Supreme Court, to block a coronavirus vaccine mandate for healthcare employees in New York. The mandate does not allow for religious exemptions. The men and women say they are willing to be tested frequently, and wear additional equipment, rather than receive the coronavirus vaccine. They say receiving the vaccine violates their religious convictions. The Church is filled with inconsistencies and sins, but it is also filled with goodness and holiness. Those were the words of Pope Francis this morning, during his general audience in Rome. The pope encouraged all Catholics to love the Church. He said only those who are motivated by love are able to speak the truth fully. Today is the feast day of Saint Onesimus. He was a slave to Philemon, an influential man who had been converted by Saint Paul. He met Saint Paul while Paul was in a Roman prison, and he was baptized. He became a preacher and bishop, and was martyred in the year 90.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. - Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the U-S are asking for your prayers as the Russian military gathers at the Ukrainian border. The bishops prayed for the safety and courage of the people of Ukraine, and prayed that the Lord would preserve Ukraine. Super Bowl champion Harrison Butker is speaking out in support of the Traditional Latin Mass. The 26-year-old is the starting placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs. His team won the Super Bowl in 2020. Butker has said the Traditional Latin Mass played a large role in his return to the Catholic Church while in college. Vatican firefighters successfully rescued a cat today, after the cat became stuck on top of the colonnade surrounding Saint Peter’s Square. It’s unclear who the cat belongs to, or how it was able to ascend the colonnade. Today is the feast of the 17th century French Jesuit, Saint Claude de la Colombiere. He is remembered for authenticating and writing about Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An ongoing study of anti-religious acts in France has uncovered more than 800 anti-Christian incidents reported in 2021. Catholic churches in France are frequently targeted by vandals, and in August 2021 a Catholic priest was murdered. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250372/more-than-800-anti-christian-incidents-reported-in-france-in-2021 Pope Francis on Monday reorganized the internal structure of the Vatican’s doctrine office into two sections, creating a doctrinal section and a disciplinary section. The disciplinary section will deal with certain serious canonical crimes. The change is part of Pope Francis’ ongoing reform of the Vatican’s governance structure. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250378/pope-francis-changes-structure-of-vatican-doctrinal-office Today, the Church honors Saints Cyril and Methodius, two brothers who spread the Gospel throughout Eastern Europe in the ninth century. Together they serve as the patron saints of Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-cyril-and-methodius-147 Today is also St. Valentine’s Day. To learn all about St. Valentine, check out today’s episode of our companion podcast, CNA Newsroom. Just search for CNA Newsroom on your favorite podcast platform, or ask your smart speaker for it. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-valentine-738

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic schools across much of the Archdiocese of Chicago can now make masks optional. The archdiocese announced this week that it would no longer require masks, unless a school is located in a place where local health authorities have a mask mandate. The archdiocese said none of its classrooms are in quarantine, and nearly half of its schools are reporting no cases of the coronavirus. The Vatican Observatory has discovered an object orbiting the sun. The object is classified as a “trans-Neptunian object” because it orbits the sun at a greater distance than that of Neptune. It is believed the object could help scientists understand more about the origins of the solar system. A priest with the Vatican Observatory discovered the object in December. The discovery was announced this week. Pope Francis has appointed a bishop to lead two Catholic dioceses in west Ireland. The dioceses will share a bishop, but they will remain autonomous. Today the Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Lourdes honors the Blessed Virgin Mary’s eighteen appearances to a 14-year-old French girl named Bernadette.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The province of Quebec in Canada now requires citizens to show a COVID-19 vaccine passport to attend religious services. Bishops in the province have said they accept the requirement for now, but will continue to petition the government to end it. The vaccine passport system involves an electronic record that allows vaccinated individuals to access certain places or activities. It has been in place since September of last year. The archbishops of Los Angeles and Cincinnati have announced a friendly wager, ahead of the Super Bowl this Sunday. If the Los Angeles Rams lose, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles will send baked goods to Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati. If the Cincinnati Bengals lose, Schnurr will send Gomez a crate of locally-made ice cream. The archbishops are also donating money to support their Catholic schools. The pope will make a two-day visit to Malta in April. The Archdiocese of Malta confirmed the visit this week. The visit is expected to include a stop at an immigration reception center for migrants from Africa. Today is the feast of Saint Scholastica, a nun who was the twin sister of Saint Benedict.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that the dying need palliative care, which seeks to improve the quality of life of people suffering from severe illnesses, rather than euthanasia or assisted suicide. The pope remarks came amid growing acceptance of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Western countries, including Australia, Austria, England and Wales, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250333/at-general-audience-pope-francis-says-the-dying-need-palliative-care-not-euthanasia-or-assisted-suicide Pope emeritus Benedict XVI personally requested forgiveness from abuse survivors on Tuesday, in a letter responding to a report that faulted his handling of cases during his tenure as Munich archbishop from 1977 to 1982. The almost 1,000-word letter was accompanied by a three-page rebuttal of the criticisms of the pope emeritus contained in the Munich abuse report, published last month. Benedict XVI’s advisers defended his actions in all four cases of alleged mishandling of abuse cases highlighted by the study. Concluding his letter, Benedict, who turns 95 on April 16, looked ahead to his judgment before God. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250319/benedict-letter-munich-sexual-abuse-report-analysis Today, the Church honors Saint Apollonia of Alexandria, a holy virgin who suffered martyrdom in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians in the early 3rd century. She is popularly invoked for toothaches because of the torments she had to endure during her martyrdom. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-apollonia-of-alexandria-142

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope emeritus Benedict the Sixteenth has personally requested forgiveness, from survivors of clerical sex abuse. Benedict released a letter today, responding to a report that faulted his handling of cases while he was archbishop of Munich. Benedict also defended himself, saying he was not aware of sexual abuse, or suspicion of sexual abuse, committed by priests in any of the cases mentioned in the report. A Catholic priest in Phoenix has apologized and resigned as pastor of a parish, after it was determined that he failed to baptize validly over his two decades of priestly service. The priest had been baptizing people using an invalid formula. He had served as a priest in Brazil, the Diocese of San Diego and the Diocese of Phoenix. Human trafficking is an open injury on the body of Christ. Those were the words of Pope Francis today, in a video message for the International Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking. The pope condemned the trafficking of laborers, and sex trafficking. Today is the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Josephine was a religious sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis gave his first interview to a television talk show Sunday night, asking viewers who do not pray to send him “good thoughts, good vibes.” Speaking with Italy’s most popular prime-time talk show, Che Tempo Che Fa, the pope said that he needed prayers and closeness right now. During the interview, the pope made a heartfelt plea to end the production and sale of weapons. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250312/pope-francis-makes-first-tv-talk-show-appearance Statistics from the National Catholic Educational Association show that enrollment numbers at Catholic schools across the United States are rebounding, after a difficult 2020-2021 school year. Overall, enrollment in Catholic schools in the U.S. is up from 1.63 million last year to 1.69 million this year, an increase of more than 3.5%. Despite the increase, enrollment numbers do not appear to have yet reached 2019 levels, which saw 1.74 million students enrolled. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250302/catholic-school-enrollment-numbers-rebounding-in-some-of-the-largest-dioceses-and-the-us-overall The Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, concluded a five-day visit to Lebanon on Friday, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and the Holy See. The week included meetings with political authorities, Christians, and victims of the Aug. 4, 2020 port explosion. Archbishop Gallagherreportedly told politicians to “stop using Lebanon and the Middle East for outside interest and profit.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250306/vatican-foreign-minister-visits-lebanon-still-suffering-from-financial-and-political-crises Today, the Church honors St. Richard, an English saint who rejected an inheritance and instead chose to live an ascetic lifestyle. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-richard-140

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Tennessee law restricting abortions on the basis of sex, race, or prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome is back in effect. But legal challenges against the law continue to play out in court. The 6th U-S Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the law last September. This week, the same court allowed the law to go back into effect. The court last year allowed a similar ban in Ohio to remain in effect. Catholics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are praying a novena for a young priest who was murdered in the country this week. The 36-year-old priest was assassinated by armed men while driving to his parish. He had just offered Mass . The pope has appointed a new archbishop of Glasgow. Bishop William Nolan is a longtime bishop from southwest Scotland. He also leads the Scottish bishops’ commission for justice and peace. The previous archbishop of Glasgow died suddenly last year, two days after his 70th birthday. Today is the feast of the Franciscan Saint, Joseph of Lenissa.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis prayed for the Burmese people, and for the success of the Winter Olympics, during his general audience yesterday in Rome. Burma is home to a small Catholic population, but Catholics have played a large role in protests since a military coup last year. The Winter Olympics begin today. A shouting man was physically removed from the pope’s general audience yesterday. The man was reportedly shouting about masks in churches. At the end of his catechesis, Pope Francis asked for prayers for the man. The cause for sainthood has advanced, for a Pakistani man who helped prevent a suicide bombing, at a Catholic church in the country in 2015. The 20-year-old physically blocked a suicide bomber who attempted to enter a Catholic church. His actions saved more than 1,000 Catholics inside from a direct blast. Today is the feast of the bishop and martyr, Saint Blaise.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pope will meet with a delegation of indigenous leaders from Canada in March. The visit was originally planned for December, but it was rescheduled after a surge in coronavirus cases. The visit comes almost a year after the discovery of what may be unmarked graves at former residential schools. Canada’s residential school system operated from the 1870s until 1996. The Catholic Church, or Catholic religious orders, ran more than two-thirds of these schools. The bishop of Las Vegas has asked all Catholic politicians who do not agree with Church teaching on abortion, not to present themselves for Holy Communion. The statement was in response to a recent pro-abortion column, written by a Catholic politician. Bishop George Thomas said he welcomes a private conversation with any Catholic politician who considers themselves to be pro-abortion. Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The feast commemorates Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Advocates of the traditional Latin Mass are petitioning the bishop of Arlington Virginia to lift restrictions on the sacraments in the Extraordinary Form. A petition was reportedly brought to the bishop’s office on Monday, bearing nearly 2,800 signatures. The bishop or Arlington has not restricted any of the existing Traditional Latin Masses, but he has banned new sacraments in the Extraordinary Form, including baptisms and weddings. The Catholic Church in France has secured more than $22 million in compensation for victims of child sex abuse. The news comes about four months after a report estimated that hundreds of thousands of children were abused in the Catholic Church in France, over the past 70 years. Today is the feast of Saint Brigid of Kildare. The feast will be a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, beginning next year. Brigid is Ireland’s female patron saint. It will be the first Irish public holiday named after a woman.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic police officer in Kentucky has won a 75,000 dollar settlement with the city of Louisville, after he was suspended for praying outside an abortion clinic. The officer was off-duty when he stopped to pray with his father on the public sidewalk outside an abortion clinic in his city. He was then suspended for more than four months and placed under investigation. An Anglican pastor was shot dead after church on Sunday, in northwest Pakistan. The pastor’s car was ambushed by two gunmen on motorcycles. He died instantly. The local Catholic archbishop has promised his solidarity with the Anglican community of Pakistan. He has called on authorities to quickly identify and arrest the gunmen. The Lord always surprises us. This is the beauty of an encounter with Jesus. Those were the words of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope encouraged Catholics to open their hearts, to the newness Jesus wants to bring in their daily lives. He reflected that the Lord asks us for an open mind and a simple heart. He said the Blessed Virgin Mary is a model of these traits. Today is the feast of Saint John Bosco. The 19th-century Italian priest is remembered for his ministry to young people.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Being properly informed with scientific data is a human right. Those were the words of Pope Francis today, during a meeting with a Catholic fact-checking group, focused on misinformation surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. The pope warned of what he called an ‘infodemic,’ in which reality has become distorted by fake news. A grotto at a Catholic parish in northern Virginia was vandalized this week. The grotto depicted Our Lady of Fatima speaking to the three child visionaries. Unfortunately, the statues were damaged beyond repair. Donations to Peter’s Pence fell by some fifteen percent last year. Peter’s Pence is the Holy See’s annual collection, to finance the pope’s charitable works and other priorities, including the Roman Curia. The collection is usually taken up in June, in Catholic churches across the world. Today is the feast of the 13th-century theologian, Saint Thomas Aquinas.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Justice Stephen Breyer will retire from the U-S Supreme Court. The 83-year-old associate justice served for 27 years. It is unclear when exactly his retirement will go into effect. He is a member of the liberal wing and has consistently supported abortion throughout his time on the court. President Joe Biden is expected to appoint someone of a similar ideology to the court. Cardinal Reinhard Marx has offered a personal apology to abuse survivors, in the wake of a report criticizing the handling of cases in his archdiocese of Munich and Freising, in Germany. The report accused Marx of mishandling two cases of abuse. It also accused Pope emeritus Benedict the 16th of mishandling four cases, when he was archbishop of Munich. The pope will reportedly travel to Malta for two days in April. Francis was initially scheduled to visit Malta in May of 2020, but that visit was postponed. The Vatican has yet to confirm the new trip. An overwhelming majority of Malta’s population are baptized Catholics. Catholicism is the state religion under the Constitution of Malta. Today the Church honors the foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, Angela Merici.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Lawmakers are asking the Food and Drug Administration to oversee non-invasive prenatal testing, after a bombshell investigation that was published this month. The New York Times found that noninvasive tests are wrong far more often than they are correct. About one in three pregnant women take non-invasive prenatal testing during their pregnancies. Positive results are wrong around 85 percent of the time. Many women are pressured or moved to consider abortion after a test comes back positive. The tests have had very little regulation by the FDA. Catholics across the world are uniting in prayer today for peace in Ukraine. The day of prayer was initiated by Pope Francis. The pope made an earnest appeal to those in power today, to do what they can to prevent war. Today the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. The men were close companions of the Apostle Paul, and bishops of the Catholic Church in its earliest days.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Confirmations in the traditional rite will no longer be allowed in the Archdiocese of Westminster in England. The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, has organized annual confirmations in the traditional rite, for the past twenty years. The archbishop of Westminster established the new rules in response to the pope’s motu proprio, restricting the celebration of Traditional Latin Masses. Pope Francis has appointed two new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of New York, and one of them will be one of the world’s youngest bishops. Father Joseph Espaillet is 45 years old. He is director of the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal for the archdiocese. He has been pastor of a parish in the South Bronx since 2015. He launched a podcast and a YouTube series last year. More than 15,000 pro-life advocates gathered in San Francisco this past weekend, for the annual Walk for Life West Coast. The event coincided with the 49th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide. Today the Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul. Paul was one of the most fierce enemies and persecutors of Christians. But after an encounter with God while traveling, Paul converted and became one of the Church’s greatest evangelists.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Sunday called for January 26 to be a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine, as the threat of a Russian invasion rises. Russia has sent an estimated 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border in recent days, with some NATO countries fearing an invasion. Catholic bishops in Ukraine and Poland said on Monday that rising tensions with Russia pose “a great danger” to the whole of Europe. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250191/pope-francis-calls-for-day-of-prayer-for-ukraine President Joe Biden pledged to defend a so-called right to abortion and reaffirmed his commitment to the widespread availability of the procedure in a Jan. 22 statement marking the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.The statement was released one day after tens of thousands of pro-life advocates gathered in Washington for the annual March for Life. Biden is the second Catholic president and the first to be elected since Roe v Wade. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250190/president-joe-biden-and-vice-president-kamala-harris-release-pro-abortion-statement-on-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade Today, the Church celebrates St. Francis de Sales, a 16th-century French priest and bishop who is the patron saint of writers and Christian unity. During Francis’ ministry in heavily Protestant Switzerland, he wrote and distributed religious tracts that helped between 40,000 and 70,000 return to the Catholic faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-de-sales-126

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The annual March for Life is taking place today in Washington. Tens of thousands of pro-life advocates were expected to gather for the pro-life event. During a vigil Mass last night, Baltimore’s archbishop encouraged Catholics to promote a culture of life and support for mothers. The U-S Senate has confirmed Joe Donnelly as ambassador to the Holy See. Donnelly is a former senator for Indiana. He is Catholic, and he received both an undergraduate and a law degree from Notre Dame. Pope Francis has declared Saint Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church. Saint Irenaeus is a 2nd-century bishop and writer revered by both Catholics and Orthodox Christians. He is known for refuting the heresies of Gnosticism with a defense of both Christ’s humanity and divinity. He is the 37th Doctor of the Church, and bears the title, “Doctor of Unity.” Today the Church honors the virgin and martyr, Saint Agnes. Not much is known about Agnes’ life, but the story of her martyrdom has been passed on with reverence since the fourth century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Investigators have released a report detailing the handling of abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, in Germany. The report faults Pope emeritus Benedict the Sixteenth, for his handling of four cases during his leadership of the archdiocese. Benedict strongly denies any allegations of cover-up. He sent 82 pages of observations to investigators compiling the report. A 20 million dollar proposal in California’s new draft budget, would repay the student loans of health care workers who commit to providing abortions. The proposal would also give scholarships to prospective abortion industry workers. Pro-life advocates in the state have decried the proposal. The pope’s annual Lenten retreat with members of the Roman Curia has been canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This is the third consecutive year the pope has not joined the retreat. He canceled in 2020 because of a cold. The retreat was canceled last year because of the pandemic. The pope has asked members of the Roman Curia to make their own private retreats, during the week of March that the retreat was scheduled to take place. Today is the feast of Saint Sebastian. Sebastian was martyred in 288.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholics who support the Traditional Latin Mass have petitioned the bishop of Arlington Virginia to lift restrictions on the liturgy. The bishop did not restrict any existing Latin Masses in the diocese, but he did prohibit any sacraments in the Extraordinary Form, including baptisms and weddings. A petition this week garnered more than 1,000 signatures. The president of France is calling for abortion to be added to the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. The suggestion was reportedly applauded by lawmakers in the European Parliament. The charter recognizes the right to life, but it does not mention abortion. Last summer, the European Parliament voted in favor of describing abortion as essential healthcare. The forgiveness of God is greater than even the ugliest sin. Those were the words of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The pope encouraged Catholics to encounter God’s mercy, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He said that God always forgives, and we are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness. Today is the feast of Saint Canutus, the King of Denmark. Canutus began his reign in the year 1080. He was killed in a church, during a rebellion in his kingdom, after confessing his sins and receiving Holy Communion.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican Secretary of State has tested positive for the coronavirus. Cardinal Pietro Parolin reportedly has very mild symptoms. He is fully vaccinated and has received booster shots. The cardinal travels frequently for his role, but he recently canceled an upcoming trip to northern Italy. A Jesuit-run publication in Rome is under fire, after publishing an article supporting a bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Italy. La Civiltà Cattolica is produced by the Jesuits in Rome, and is approved before publication by the Vatican Secretariat of State. A Catholic couple in Colorado say their statues of the Blessid Virgin Mary are still standing, after a devastating fire that destroyed their home. The couple were among 1,000 Coloradans who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire in December. A statue of Saint Jude at their home also survived the fire. Today is the feast of Saint Charles of Sezze. The Italian and lay Franciscan was born in 1613. He was known for his simplicity and charity. He also worked tirelessly with victims of the plague.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court has blocked President Joe Biden’s sweeping vaccine or test mandate for businesses with 100 or more employers. The mandate would have gone into full effect in February. The court has allowed a new federal rule requiring U-S health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. A 26-year-old woman faces a hate crime charge after vandalizing Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The woman turned herself in to law enforcement this week, three months after spray painting anti-Christian messages and symbols on the cathedral and nearby statues. She also faces some 10,000 dollars in vandalism damage. A bishop in India, charged with the repeated rape of a nun over the course of two years, was acquitted in court today. The judge in the case found the prosecution failed to prove all of the charges. Lawyers for the nun say they will appeal to the high court. Today is the feast of the first Patriarch of Serbia, Saint Sava.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The University of Notre Dame, and Georgetown University, are among sixteen private schools facing a federal lawsuit, for allegedly illegally conspiring to reduce financial aid awards to students. The lawsuit depicts the schools as a cartel, that fixes prices in order to reduce the amount of total aid offered by each school. Gunmen killed at least two hundred people last week in northwestern Nigeria. The bandits targeted nine villages over the course of three days. Some 10,000 people are estimated to have been displaced by this month’s violence. Visitors to the Vatican Museums will meet new COVID-19 requirements. The new rules require visitors to show proof of full vaccination, or recovery from the virus. Visitors will also be required to wear medical-grade masks. The regulations will be in place through at least February. Today is the feast of Saint Hilary of Poitiers. The fourth-century philosopher and bishop is remembered for his strong defense of Trinitarian theology.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Speakers at this year’s March for Life will include actor Kirk Cameron, “Duck Dynasty” star Lisa Robertson, podcast host Father Mike Schmitz, and two members of Congress. The annual pro-life March will take place on January 21st, in Washington. An Albanian nun, who baptized babies in secret under communist persecution, has died at the age of 92. The nun also risked her life to bring Holy Communion to the sick and dying. She met with Pope Francis in Albania in 2014. Pope Francis observed a moment of silence during his general audience in Rome today, for those who have lost their jobs during the pandemic. He lamented that some workers have been so burdened by their job loss that they took their own lives. Today is the feast of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. Marguerite founded a religious congregation, and was instrumental in establishing the Canadian city of Montreal.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Lawmakers in New Jersey have voted to pass a bill expanding abortion access in the state. The bill was vigorously opposed by the state’s Catholic conference. New Jersey law already includes a so-called right to abortion. Advocates of this latest bill say it will protect abortion in the state, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade. New Jersey Right to Life says the wording of the bill would allow abortions up to the point of birth. An Italian bishop has barred unvaccinated priests and lay people from distributing Communion in his diocese. The bishop has also suspended all in-person activities. The new rules aim to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the southern Italian diocese. The bishop repeated Pope Francis, who said that getting vaccinated is an act of love. Pope Francis has sent his condolences for the death of the president of the European Parliament. David Sassoli died today, at the age of 65. He had been hospitalized since December 26th with an immune disorder. Today is the feast day of Saint Theodosius.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pope is praying for the victims of New York City’s deadliest fire in decades. Nineteen people, including nine children, died Sunday in an apartment fire in the Bronx. The fire is believed to have been caused by a malfunctioning space heater. Pakistan’s Supreme Court has granted bail to a Christian accused of blasphemy. The man was arrested and imprisoned in 2017, after a property dispute. He was charged with insulting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, a crime that is punishable by death in Pakistan. The man’s supporters believe he was falsely accused. Pope Francis baptized sixteen babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday. This was the first time the annual event has taken place since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Today is the feast of Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Gregory made significant contributions to the doctrine of the Trinity and the Nicene Creed.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Three Kings parades were held at more than 600 locations across Poland on Thursday. The annual processions, in which actors portray the Magi who traveled to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus, took place on Jan. 6, the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Organizers believe that the annual parade, known in Polish as Orszak Trzech Króli, is typically the largest street nativity play in the world. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250038/photos-three-kings-parades-held-at-more-than-600-locations-across-poland March for Life Chicago — which calls itself “the largest pro-life event in the Midwest” — is expecting more than 10,000 pro-life Americans at its 2022 march in downtown Chicago on Jan. 8. One-hundred-fifty people attended the 2013 march. Just seven years later, in 2020, it attracted 9,000 marchers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250042/march-for-life-chicago-learn-about-the-midwest-s-largest-pro-life-event The Spanish bishops conference has said that a news report which said that priests not vaccinated against COVID-19 would be barred from ministry was a hoax. The report appeared on December 28, a day that is observed in Spain much like April Fools’ Day. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250041/spanish-bishops-report-that-only-vaccinated-priests-may-minister-a-prank Today, the Church honors Saint Raymond of Penafort, a twelfth-century Dominican priest who worked to aid Christian captives during the era of the Crusades and also helped organize the Church’s legal code. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-raymond-of-penafort-109

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that it is a loss to civilization when dogs and cats replace children in society, encouraging couples to “take the risk” to become parents. The Pope said during his Wednesday audience, quote, “Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children. Yes, it’s funny, I understand, but it is the reality, and this denial of fatherhood and motherhood diminishes us, takes away humanity.” The Pope also prayed and asked St. Joseph to intercede for couples who wish to have a child. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250016/pope-francis-general-audience-society-loses-when-dogs-and-cats-take-the-place-of-children For the second year in a row, authorities in the Philippines have canceled the country’s “Black Nazarene” procession, an annual event where millions of Catholics accompany a revered statue of Jesus through the streets of Manila. For centuries, the Black Nazarene, a statue of a dark life-size Jesus carrying his cross, has symbolized passion, struggle, and faith for Filipino Catholics. The faithful usually carry a replica of the statue through Manila on January 9, but the festival was halted for a second year due to COVID-19 concerns. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250026/black-nazarene-philippines-covid Following a fire in a Philadelphia apartment building that killed at least 13 on Wednesday, the city's archbishop offered condolences and prayed for those who died. The fire occurred at a public housing block owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority. There are believed to have been 26 people in the building when the fire started around 6 am, and seven children are known to be among the dead. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250023/archbishop-offer-condolences-to-those-mourning-after-philadelphia-fire Today is the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, a verb that means "to shine upon," "to manifest," or “to make known.” The visit of the Magi to the child Jesus is emphasized on Epiphany Day. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/the-epiphany-of-our-lord-672 Today the Church also celebrates St. Andre Bessette. Born Alfred Bessette to a poor Quebec family in 1845, he joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal and performed the most humble jobs and daily tasks as a porter. For 25 years, he welcomed many sick and heartbroken visitors to a chapel that he built, inviting them to pray to St. Joseph. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-andre-bessette-732

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A recent New York Times investigation found that some prenatal blood tests have alarmingly high false positive results for genetic disorders that frequently result in the abortion of unborn children, and pro-life leaders say they are deeply disturbed. The Times found that among five common DNA tests performed on fetuses, positive results are wrong around 85% of the time, yet a positive test result can amount to a death sentence for an unborn child. While the Times report does not delve deeper into screening for Down syndrome, pro-life advocates stressed that those tests, too, can be unreliable. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250012/prenatal-tests-wrong-times-abortion The Missionaries of Charity, founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta, have begun to ration their distribution of food and other items to the poor in the wake of the Indian government’s decision that they and other non-profits are no longer eligible to receive donations from abroad. The missionaries normally help some 600 people at their Kolkata motherhouse and their children’s orphanage Shishu Bhavan. While foreign donations are not allowed at the moment, donations from within India help some work continue. A spokeswoman for the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata said last week that funding for the missionaries’ work would not be affected immediately due to local support. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250015/in-india-missionaries-of-charity-ration-food-after-government-blocks-foreign-funds French officials introduced a plan January 1st to offer free contraception to women under 25 years of age. French officials said that the change would apply to three million young women out of a population of 67.4 million people. Contraception is already free for girls under 18. Along with Sweden, France has the highest total fertility rate of the 27 member states of the European Union, with 1.84 live births per woman, which is still below replacement level. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250010/ireland-to-follow-france-in-offering-free-contraception-to-women-under-25 Today, the Church honors St. John Neumann, a native of Bohemia who emigrated to New York to serve Catholics in America. Neumann continued his missionary work until he was elected bishop of Philadelphia in 1852, and later became the first American bishop to be beatified. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-nepomucene-neumann-106

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archbishop of Denver has opened an emergency fund to help the victims of a historic wildfire, which burned over a thousand homes last week. The Marshall Fire, fanned by high winds, burned more than 6,000 acres of the towns of Superior and Louis-ville, near Boulder, starting on December 30. Archbishop Samuel Aquila said local Catholic parishes have been opened to receive displaced families, and that funds collected will be distributed through parishes in the affected region. Visit catholicnewsagency.com to find the donation link. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250001/archbishop-aquila-open-parishes-launches-emergency-fund-for-victims-of-colorado-wildfires Fr. Luke Mewhenu Adeleke, a priest of the Diocese of Abeokuta in Nigeria, was shot dead on Christmas Eve while returning home after celebrating Mass . He was shot in his car by unknown gunmen. The murder and kidnapping of Christians in Nigeria have multiplied in recent years, a situation that has prompted Church leaders to express serious concern about the security of their members, and to call on the government to prioritize the security of its citizens. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249998/nigerian-priest-shot-dead-on-christmas-eve For the first month of 2022, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to pray for those facing religious discrimination and persecution. In a video appeal released Jan. 4, the pope called religious persecution “inhuman” and “insane.” Overall, an estimated 340 million Christians worldwide face persecution, according to one report, an increase of 30 million from the previous year. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250011/this-is-pope-francis-prayer-intention-for-january-2022 Today, the Church honors Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the United States to be declared a saint. A convert from Episcopalianism, Elizabeth was the foundress and first superior of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-elizabeth-ann-seton-105

Merry Christmas from Catholic News. New episodes Jan. 4.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, has apologized for a painting at the school, that has caused controversy and confusion. The painting features the Blessed Virgin Mary holding a male figure. Many have interpreted the male figure as a divinized depiction of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in police custody in May of 2020. The painting was stolen in November. A replica of the painting was also stolen earlier this month. The university’s president said the man was meant to generally depict Christ in the most distressed among us. A German court has ruled against one city’s restrictions on a pro-life prayer vigil outside of a center that advises women to have abortions. A prayer group with 40 Days for Life registered to hold a 40-day prayer vigil outside the center. But city authorities set limits on when and where the vigil could take place. A Frankfurt court ruled the limits violated the prayer group’s right to free assembly. Pope Francis has named a new bishop for the Diocese of Gaylord, in Michigan. Father Jeffrey Walsh is a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, in Pennsylvania. Bishop-elect Walsh will be ordained on March 4th. The Diocese of Gaylord has been without a bishop for more than a year and a half. Today the Church honors Saint Peter Canisius. Peter was an important figure in the Catholic counter-reformation. He is a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican has issued further guidelines regarding the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass . In a document released Saturday, the Vatican banned confirmations and ordinations celebrated according to pre-Vatican 2 Roman Missals. A Vatican official said the new restrictions aim to foster greater communion in the Church. The state of New Jersey will now allow for non-doctors to perform abortions. The state will also allow for abortions past the 14th week of pregnancy, in an office setting. The State Board of Medical Examiners unanimously passed the new policies in October. They went into effect this month. The policies allow for physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, and advanced practice nurses to perform first trimester abortions. If you’re in a bad mood, or experiencing self-pity, try serving others. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday during his Angelus address in Rome. The pope said that we can help ourselves rise up from difficulties when we help others. He suggested looking for ways to make small acts of kindness for others, like calling somebody who is sick and homebound. The pope had a belated celebration of his birthday on Sunday. Children and families served by the Vatican’s charitable pediatric clinic, gathered at the Vatican for cake, songs and skits. Pope Francis turned 85 years old on December 17th. Today is the feast of Saint Dominic of Silos. Dominic was born in the year 1000 in Spain. He was a Benedictine monk, known for his miracles of healing.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Twelve Christian missionaries were released by a Haitian gang on Thursday, exactly two months to the day after they were kidnapped while working at an orphanage. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249906/final-12-kidnapped-missionaries-released-by-haitian-gang A Nigerian Catholic bishop has challenged the United States Secretary of State to justify his decision to remove Nigeria from a persecution watchlist, saying that he has witnessed firsthand the brutal ongoing persecution against Christians. Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of the Diocese of Yola said in an interview released yesterday, quote, "As far as we are concerned, here in Nigeria the persecution is more intense now than ever.” In Nigeria as a whole, at least 60,000 Christians have been killed in the past two decades. An estimated 3,462 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 200 days of 2021, or 17 per day, according to a new study. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249904/christian-persecution-in-nigeria-is-more-intense-now-than-ever-says-a-leading-nigerian-catholic-bishop On Thursday, The Food and Drug Administration lifted restrictions on mifepristone, a drug approved for use in medical abortions. Doctors will now be allowed to prescribe abortion pills online and send them through the mail, allowing women to perform abortions up to ten weeks of gestation at home. The FDA's move drew strong criticism from Catholic leaders and pro-life groups, who pointed out that it will lead to more lives lost through abortion, as well as increased danger for mothers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249915/breaking-fda-allows-women-to-get-abortion-pills-by-mail A new survey of U.S. adults has found that just over half of Catholics pray every day, down from 59% from 2014, and only 26% of Catholics report attending religious services at least once a week. A little less than 10% of Catholics attend religious services once or twice a month. That leaves the far majority of Catholics, 65%, only attending religious services a few times a year or less. While the majority are infrequent attendees, only 14% of Catholics said they “never” attend. In the same survey, 61% of Protestants reported praying every day, while 22% say they pray weekly or monthly. Only 10% of Protestants seldom or never pray. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249916/pew-survey-half-of-us-catholics-pray-every-day-and-the-number-is-dropping The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill on Thursday, banning goods made with forced labor in the Chinese region of Xinjiang from entering the United States. This comes after the U.S. accused China of committing genocide against the Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249917/senate-sends-uyghur-forced-labor-bill-targeting-china-to-biden-s-desk The blood of St. Januarius liquefied on Thursday after a day of intense prayer in the Italian city of Naples. During the miracle, the dried, red-colored mass confined to one side of a reliquary becomes blood that covers the entire glass. In local lore, the failure of the blood to liquefy signals war, famine, disease, or other disaster. The reputed miracle is locally known and accepted, though it is yet to receive official Church recognition. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249909/san-gennaro-s-blood-liquefies-for-third-time-in-2021 Today the Church honors St. Olympias, a fourth-century disciple of St. John Chrysostom who made numerous generous donations to the early Church and to the poor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-olympias-87

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The former archbishop of Paris plans to sue a French magazine for defamation. The magazine Paris Match published photos of the archbishop taken with a telephoto lens. The photos show the former archbishop having lunch with a 46-year-old consecrated virgin, followed by a walk. The woman is reportedly also considering legal action. New statistics suggest forty-five priests and four bishops have died from COVID-19 in Venezuela, since the start of the pandemic. A little more than twenty percent of priests were infected with the virus. A prayer movement is making its way across Europe, and the world. The initiative began last week in Austria, in response to a new wave of the coronavirus. More than a thousand people prayed the rosary together, at several hundred locations across the country. The prayer movement is spreading to Germany, Switzerland, and even the United States. The oldest known nativity scene figurines are on display in Rome. The marble statues were sculpted by an Italian architect in the late 13th century. They were commissioned by Pope Nicholas the Fourth, the first Franciscan pope. Today is the feast of Saint Adelaide. Adelaide was born in 931 in France.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pro-life Catholics gathered thousands of roses outside the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each rose represented a person praying and fasting, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s conversion on the issue of abortion. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the unborn. Organizers of the prayer campaign plan to send 100 roses to Pelosi each day. The archbishop of San Francisco has agreed to reschedule a visit to a local parish, at the pastor’s request. The archbishop recently disclosed that he has not received a COVID-19 vaccination. Parish policy requires priests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to celebrate Mass. The pope has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Marie Rivier. The French nun founded a religious congregation amid the French Revolution. The miracle involved the healing of a newborn baby in the Philippines. Blessed Rivier can now be canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. Today the Church honors Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli. Virginia was born in Italy in 1587.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Boston has reimplemented its mask mandate, in preparation for the Christmas season. All Catholics will now be required to wear masks for public Masses, weddings and funerals. The Archdiocese of New York has also directed parishioners to follow a statewide mask mandate. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was seemingly untouched, outside a Catholic parish in Kentucky, that was heavily damaged by storms this weekend. A striking photo of the statue was published by a local newspaper this week. A series of storms passed through several states on Friday and Saturday. Western Kentucky was the hardest hit, with more than 70 confirmed deaths. Pope Francis may meet with the authors of a landmark abuse report about the Catholic Church in France. The study suggested some 216,000 children suffered abuse by priests, deacons, monks, or nuns, between 1950 and 2020. The pope met with French bishops on Monday, and reportedly said during the meeting that he was completely available for a meeting with the authors of the study. The Vatican financial trial will reportedly reconvene in February, with witness testimony. The historic trial involves the Secretariat of State’s investment in a London property, for 350 million euros. The trial began in July, but it has been mired in procedural problems. Today is the feast day of Saint John of the Cross. The 16th-century Carmelite priest is best known for reforming his order, together with Saint Teresa of Avila.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis promised his prayers for those affected by tornadoes that struck several U-S states this weekend. Tornadoes killed more than 70 people in Kentucky alone. France’s interior minister has condemned threats against Catholics celebrating a Marian procession this weekend. Dozens of Catholics gathered in the western suburbs of Paris on Saturday, for an annual Marian procession, in honor of the Immaculate Conception. An unknown group of assailants shouted profanities at the Catholics. They also threw water and a torch. Local law enforcement are searching for the people responsible for the attacks. American Cardinal Raymond Burke celebrated his first public Mass on Saturday, since his hospitalization with COVID-19. During the Mass, the cardinal thanked God, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, for his recovery from the virus. The 73-year-old was hospitalized with COVID-19 in August, and was placed on a ventilator. Today is the feast day of the virgin and martyr, Saint Lucy.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Abortion advocates in California have introduced a plan to make the state a sanctuary for women seeking the procedure. The plan is in response to the possibility that the U-S Supreme Court could overturn legalized abortion nationwide. Recommendations include subsidizing travel and lodging for people traveling from other states to procure an abortion. California’s governor has said he could include some of the report’s suggestions in his next budget proposal. France’s heritage authorities have approved the controversial plans for the interior of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The committee did have reservations about a proposal to remove statues of saints in the chapels, and plans to install moveable pews. More than 100 leading art and academia leaders in France have criticized the plans. The cathedral was badly damaged by a fire in 2019. Pope Francis has named a new auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Father Joseph Williams is a priest of the archdiocese. A former auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, was installed this week as the new bishop of Crookston, Minnesota. Today the Church honors Saint Eulalia of Mérida, a Spanish virgin and martyr from the early fourth century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A man attacked a statue of Our Lady of Fatima this week, on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. Security-camera footage shows a man cutting the hands from the statue, and hammering at the face. There have been at least 100 incidents of vandalism at Catholic sites in the U-S since May of 2020. The University of Notre Dame will require all students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. The rule applies to students who wish to attend classes both on and off campus. The school already mandated that students receive a coronavirus vaccine, or an exemption, by the start of the 2021 fall semester. The U-S Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case from Maine, involving the inclusion of faith-based schools in a state tuition assistance program. Maine currently bars students from using aid to attend schools associated with a particular faith or belief system. Attorneys representing the family at the center of the case said they are feeling confident following Wednesday’s oral arguments. Today, the Church honors Saint Juan Diego. The indigenous Mexican Catholic convert’s encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary began the Church's devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A scheduled meeting between the pope and a delegation from Canada has been delayed until next year, due to the latest variant of the coronavirus. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place next weekend. It had been in the works since June, following the discovery of unmarked graves at the site of former residential schools. The pope made a private, early morning visit today to the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome. The pope traditionally visits the statue in the afternoon, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. But the tradition was canceled again this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles celebrated its annual procession and outdoor Mass on Sunday, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration is the oldest religious procession in Los Angeles. It was established by Catholics who fled persecution by the Mexican government, during the Cristero War, in 1931. Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The feast celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s conception without original sin. It is a holy day of obligation in the United States and several other countries.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has announced plans for a consolidation of its parishes. Parishes will be grouped into “families.” The consolidation process is expected to take several years. The archdiocese said it fielded some 8,000 comments, before finalizing the plan. The archbishop of Cincinnati said the consolidation will help ensure all diocesan resources are being properly utilized. Employees of Catholic schools and other private schools in New York City, are speaking out against a new city mandate requiring vaccination against COVID-19. The city is now requiring staff at private businesses and schools to receive one dose of the vaccine by the end of the month. A new report suggests the right to conscientious objection is under threat in France, Spain and Sweden. In Sweden, Christians working in healthcare can face dismissal for exercising their freedom of conscience. The report also flagged a vote in June, by the European Union, to define abortion as essential healthcare.” The report was compiled by the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Ambrose. The fourth-century bishop influenced the conversion of Saint Augustine, and is a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An internal document at the European Union reportedly discourages staff from using the word “Christmas.” The document has been withdrawn, but Pope Francis spoke about the document today, on his return flight from Greece to Italy. The pope warned that many dictatorships have tried to replace religion with secularism, without success. He encouraged the European Union to uphold the ideals of its founding fathers, including several committed Catholics. A bus fell into a river in southeastern Kenya on Saturday. At least thirty-three people, including children, died in the accident. The bus belonged to a minor seminary in the area. The bus toppled when its driver attempted to cross a submerged bridge. Pope Francis visited a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday. During his visit, the pope met with dozens of refugees. He decried European indifference to the plight of migrants in the Mediterranean as a “shipwreck of civilization.” This was the pope’s second visit to the island. His first visit was in 2016. Today is the feast of Saint Nicholas. The early-century bishop was known for generosity and love of children. He is the inspiration for the modern day Santa.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Christians in Nigeria have been threatened with attack, abduction, and arson, if they worship publicly in their churches. The threat was included in an anonymous letter, signed only by a “Fulani association.” Fulani herdsmen are semi-nomadic and largely Muslim people. The letter was delivered to police headquarters last month. Tapes of interrogations, with a key witness in the ongoing Vatican finance trial, have been leaked to an Italian newspaper. The video footage documents interviews between Vatican prosecutors and a former official at the Secretariat of State. In one excerpt of the videos, the archbishop indicates that Pope Francis authorized the Secretariat of State to negotiate with the businessman, who is one of the trial’s defendants. Pope Francis met with Orthodox bishops today, on the second day of his trip to the Mediterranean island countries of Cyprus and Greece. During the meeting, the pope expressed his hope that the Catholic Church, and Orthodox Church, continue to journey toward full unity. The pope’s trip will run through Monday, December 6th. The pope’s representative to the European Union died Thursday, after he was hospitalized with COVID-19. The 67-year-old archbishop was appointed to the position in May. Today, the Church honors Saint Francis Xavier. Francis was one of the first Jesuits to evangelize parts of Asia.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support of legalized abortion Wednesday, as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could overturn legalized abortion nationwide. Biden said he believes his support of legalized abortion is a rational position. He said he did not listen to Wednesday’s oral arguments. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the archbishop of Paris. The archbishop allegedly had a relationship with a woman before he was installed in 2018 as archbishop of Paris. The 70-year-old has denied the allegations. Sixteen martyrs of the Spanish Civil War will be beatified in February at the Granada Cathedral. All of the martyrs were priests, except one seminarian and one layman. Today is the feast of the Roman martyr, Saint Bibiana.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishops in the Netherlands have canceled Christmas Midnight Masses again this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bishops said they want to prevent large crowds, and that it is difficult to maintain good ventilation with multiple Masses in one evening. There have reportedly been cases of the new variant in the Netherlands. Former vice president Mike Pence has called on the U-S Supreme Court to overturn legalized abortion nationwide. The court heard oral arguments today in a case that challenges two landmark abortion decisions: Roe v Wade, and Planned Parenthood v Casey. The case, out of Mississippi, would restrict most abortions after 15 weeks. Pope Francis is praying for catechists during the month of December. In a video accompanying the announcement of his intention, Pope Francis prayed that catechists would witness to the Gospel with courage and creativity. Earlier this year, the pope created a new ministry of catechist, for lay people who have a particular call to serve as a teacher of the faith. Today is the feast of the sixth-century French saint, Eligius. He is the patron saint of metalworkers, horses and veterinarians.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new survey of American priests suggests a more pessimistic view of the Catholic Church today, as compared to 2002. Priests were also significantly more likely to describe themselves as conservative, as compared to 2002. The new survey reused questions from a 2002 poll of Catholic priests, and a couple questions from a survey of priests from 1970. The Archdiocese of Paris will present its plans next week to restore the interior of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral was badly damaged by a fire in 2019. The restoration plans have faced criticism for allegedly turning the cathedral into a kind of theme park. The archdiocese has denied these allegations. The Church’s message about vaccination is clear, vaccination is an act of love. Those were the words of the Vatican’s Secretary of State, in a recent interview. The cardinal was responding to waves of protests across Italy, against the country’s vaccine rules. One Italian priest reportedly blessed a crowd of anti-vaccination protestors in Verona. Italian authorities plan to release a new pass, that will prevent unvaccinated people from dining indoors at restaurants, going to the gym, visiting museums or other tourists sites, or attending weddings or other public ceremonies until mid-January. Today, Catholics celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew, the apostle and martyr. Andrew is said to have spread Christianity in Russia and Asia minor after Pentecost, in the first century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The U-S Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Wednesday, in a case that has the potential to overturn legalized abortion nationwide. The case of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, concerns Mississippi’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks. The court will consider whether all bans on pre-viability abortions are unconstitutional. Pope Francis has canceled public acts of veneration in Rome for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Traditionally, the public gathers at the Spanish Steps on December 8th, to venerate a statue of the Immaculate Conception. This is the second year the tradition has been canceled, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in the Channel Island of Jersey, near the coast of France, have voted to approve assisted suicide. If the island changes its laws, Jersey will be the first place in the British Isles to allow assisted suicide. Do you want to live a joyful life? You must pray. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his Angelus address in Rome. The pope reflected that prayer is the fuel, that keeps the lamp of the heart burning. He said prayer awakens the soul from sleep, and helps the soul focus on what truly matters. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of ‘All the Saints of the Seraphic Order.’ The feast honors the many Franciscan saints who followed in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A former Catholic priest has filed a lawsuit against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, and the Archdiocese of Newark. The lawsuit alleges that McCarrick sexually abused him when he was a seminarian. Catholic bishops in Austria have tightened rules for attending Mass, following a full national lockdown this week. Catholics are now required to wear a mask at indoor, and outdoor Masses. Priests and liturgical ministers will be required to show proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or a negative COVID test. The bishops encouraged Catholics to postpone sacraments, including baptism and marriage, during the lockdown, which is expected to last at least two weeks. Saint Joseph continues to protect the Church today, just like he protected the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus. That was the reflection of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The Gospel of Luke depicts Saint Joseph as a guardian of Jesus and Mary. Pope Francis said Joseph is also the guardian of the Church. The pope closed his audience with a prayer to Saint Joseph, to help anyone who is struggling to find meaningful human bonds in their life. Today, the Church honors a group of 117 martyrs who died in Vietnam during the nineteenth century. The majority of the martyrs were Vietnamese, though some were Spanish and French. Eight of the martyrs were bishops.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pope is praying for those affected by the SUV incident last weekend, at a Christmas parade in Wisconsin. A papal message was sent to the archbishop of Milwaukee. In the message, the pope asked God to bestow upon everyone the spiritual strength that triumphs over violence, and overcomes evil with good. Five people died, and nearly 50 were injured, when an SUV drove through a Christmas parade. The Diocese of Charleston has barred confirmation, and the anointing of the sick, in Latin. The diocese will also limit the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. The new policy is a response to the pope’s recent restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass. The policy will go into effect on Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent. The archbishop of San Francisco has encouraged students at a local Catholic high school to reject the lies of the abortion industry, and become courageous advocates for life. The archbishop met with student leaders at the high school earlier this month, following a boycott of a pro-life assembly at the school. Today, the Church remembers Blessed Miguel Pro Juarez. Miguel was a Mexican Jesuit priest, who was martyred in the 1920s.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic priest, parishioners and Catholic schoolchildren were injured on Sunday, when an SUV drove into a crowd, during a Christmas parade in a suburb of Milwaukee. At least five people died in the incident, and another forty were injured. Police have a person of interest in custody. The local Catholic community will hold a live streamed prayer service today. The last Trappist monk, who survived the abbey massacre in Algeria in 1996, died Sunday, at the age of 97. Father Jean Pierre Schumacher was one of two monks who survived an attack on his abbey in 1996, during the Algerian Civil War. Seven monks from his community were kidnapped and beheaded. The seven martyred monks were beatified in 2018. Christ is not like other kings, because He is a King for others. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday, in his Angelus address for the feast of Christ the King. The pope reflected that Jesus is free from the desire for earthly fame and glory. He encouraged Catholics to reflect on our own lives, and how we can imitate Jesus in his detachment from earthly fame and glory. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Cecilia. Cecilia was a martyr, and is the patron of musicians and poets.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Oklahoma’s governor commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones on Thursday, just hours before his scheduled execution. The archbishop of Oklahoma City praised the decision, and the governor’s tremendous courage to grant clemency in the case. Jones will now serve life in prison, without the possibility of parole. U-S bishops decided this week to change the name of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults— or R-C-I-A. It will now be known as Order of Christian Initiation for Adults— or O-C-I-A. The name change applies to both the process by which one enters the Church, and the book that contains the ritual text and prayers for those steps. The decision reflects greater fidelity to the original Latin. A Christian florist who was sued after declining to create floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding ceremony, will pay a small settlement and retire. The 77-year-old florist, said she was not interested in seeking another hearing at the U-S Supreme Court, regarding her case. The U-S Supreme Court considered the case in 2018. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Raphael Kalinowski. Raphael lived in the mid-19th century, in Lithuania.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - In a near unanimous vote, U-S bishops approved a new document on the Eucharist yesterday, during their fall meeting in Baltimore. The document highlights the indispensable role of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. It does not reference whether bishops and priests ought to deny the Eucharist to public figures, at odds with Catholic teaching on abortion and other moral issues. Indianapolis will host the first national Eucharisic congress in decades, in July 2024. The congress will mark the culmination of a three-year Eucharist revival campaign by U-S bishops, that will begin next summer. The last national Eucharistic congress was in 1976. U-S bishops voted to advance the sainthood causes of two men and one young woman. Charlene Marie Richard was diagnosed with cancer at the age of twelve. She offered up her suffering to God. Auguste Robert Pelafigue had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart, and Joseph Ira Dutton was a Civil War veteran, who joined Saint Damian of Molokai in his ministry to lepers. Today the Church honors Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne. The French saint entered the convent at 19, against her parent’s wishes. She came to the United States in 1818 to serve as a missionary.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - For the first time in history, several Orthodox bishops are attending the U-S bishops’ fall meeting, taking place this week in Baltimore. The head of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States addressed Catholic bishops on Tuesday. The Orthodox archbishop spoke about a dialogue of love between the two faiths, and the potential for increased unity. The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, will donate more than five million dollars, to help Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria. The funds will help establish a project to support young newlywed couples in Syria, who are starting families after ten years of war. Cathedrals and monuments around the world are illuminated in red this week, to build awareness about the plight of persecuted Christians. Pope Francis reflected on the witness of Saint Joseph, during his general audience today in Rome. The pope said Saint Joseph teaches us to see and care for the people who are overlooked by the world today. He said Saint Joseph reminds us that what is truly important does not attract our attention, but requires patient discernment to be discovered and appreciated. The Year of Saint Joseph will end on December 8. Today, the Church remembers Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth was a medieval noblewoman. She responded to personal tragedy by embracing the Franciscan spiritualities of poverty and service. She is a patron of secular Franciscans.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of New Orleans will pay more than $1 million, in a settlement related to allegations of fraud, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Department of Justice received allegations that the archdiocese, and two historically black universities, improperly applied for, and received, millions of dollars in federal funds after Hurricane Katrina. The archdiocese declined to comment about the settlement, but has in the past denied any wrongdoing. A district court judge in Rhode Island entered “no plea” this week on behalf of Father James Jackson, FSSP. The Providence-based priest is facing state and federal child pornography charges. Some 200 men and boys from across the United States met in Baltimore this week for a pro-life march. The march began in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, and ended outside the hotel where U-S bishops are meeting this week. The bishops are slated to vote on a document on the Eucharist. The document grew out of discussions over communion for pro-abortion Catholic politicians, though a draft of the document does not include any criteria for denying the sacrament in such cases. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the first modern medical doctor to be canonized, Saint Joseph Moscati.

U-S bishops are in Baltimore this week for their annual fall meeting. This is their first in-person assembly since 2019. The bishops began their meeting today with a session that was closed to the media. It is believed the bishops will use that private session to have a frank exchange about a document on Eucharistic coherence. The document could have ramifications for pro-abortion Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Diocese of Madison is defending its decision, to not host onsite COVID-19 vaccination clinics, at parishes and other diocesan entities. Some media outlets and Catholic personalities have characterized the decision as a condemnation of the vaccine. The diocese has said the decision was never about discouraging vaccination. Wisconsin bishops have encouraged Catholics to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Are you investing your life in the eternal things that really matter, or passing things, such as money, success, and appearance. Those were the questions posed by Pope Francis on Sunday, during his Angelus address in Rome. The pope reflected on scripture, which warns that this world will pass away, and only love will remain. Today is the feast of Saint Albert the Great, a Doctor of the Church, and the patron saint of scientists.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic parish in Houston held a prayer vigil this week for victims of a stampede at the Astroworld music festival. At least nine people died in the stampede, and hundreds were injured. A 9-year-old boy remains in a medically induced coma. A criminal investigation is underway. A pro-life display at Saint Louis University was vandalized this week, shortly after it was set up. The display featured hundreds of small flags, in the shape of a cross. Each flag represented over 800 abortions performed last year, in the United States. Within hours, several young people began trampling the flags. The archbishop of Sydney is calling on Catholics to speak out against euthanasia. The New South Wales parliament is debating a bill that would legalize euthanasia. The public inquiry period for the bill ends November 22nd. Portugal’s bishops will create an independent commission to investigate clerical sexual abuse in the country. The bishops announced the decision this week, at the close of their plenary assembly in Fatima. Hundreds of Catholics sent a letter to the bishops ahead of the assembly, calling for an independent investigation into clerical abuse. Today, the Roman Catholic Church and some Eastern Catholics remember Saint Josaphat. Josaphat was a bishop, monk, and martyr.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic bishops in Poland are calling for fervent prayer, for an end to the crisis at the country’s border with Belarus. Thousands of Middle Eastern migrants are gathered at Poland’s border with Belarus, seeking to enter Poland. Many of the migrants are fleeing violence in Belarus. A cathedral in central Burma was reportedly struck by military artillery fire yesterday, during ongoing armed clashes between government and rebel forces. The city surrounding the cathedral was reportedly evacuated. This was the third artillery attack since a coup in February, by the Burmese military. A priest in Cleveland was sentenced to life in prison this week, on convictions of sex trafficking of youths under 18, child pornography, and sexual exploitation of children. Father Robert McWilliams was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland in 2017. He was arrested in December 2019. Today, the Church remembers Saint Martin of Tours. Martin was born around the year 316 in modern-day Hungary. He is remembered for abandoning his post in the Roman army to become a soldier of Christ, as a monk, and later, a bishop.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday, in the case of a man seeking to pray with his pastor as he is executed. John Henry Ramirez was scheduled to be executed in September, in Texas. His execution was delayed, after the Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. Ramirez has requested to have a baptist pastor present with him, as he receives lethal injection. He has also requested that the pastor be able to lay hands on him as he is dying. He was told personal contact by his pastor would not be permitted. Slovakia’s parliament is debating a bill that would increase support for pregnant women, in hopes of reducing the number of abortions in the country. The bill would extend the mandatory waiting period before an abortion, ban abortion advertising, and offer more financial support to new mothers. Abortion is legal in Slovakia up to twelve weeks. Are you feeling discouraged or exhausted? Try calling on the Holy Spirit. That was the message of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The pope recommended all Catholics carry a copy of the prayer that the Church recites on Pentecost, or simply pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come.” Today the Church honors Pope Saint Leo the Great. The fifth-century pope is remembered for his involvement in the fourth ecumenical council, which helped prevent the spread of error concerning Christ’s divine and human natures.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican’s liturgy chief has said that the Traditional Latin Mass was “abrogated by Pope Saint Paul VI.” Archbishop Arthur Roche made the comment in a letter dated August fourth to the English Cardinal Vincent Nichols. The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments was replying to a letter from the cardinal dated July twenty eighth, regarding the application of Pope Francis’ motu proprio Traditionis custodes in England and Wales. A married father of three from the Diocese of Lansing claims that Blessed Solanus Casey, the humble Capuchin friar and priest, visited him twice in hospital and hastened what he believes to be a miraculous recovery from COVID nineteen. The fifty two year old construction worker, Nolan Ostrowski, had been placed on a ventilator and was suffering from severe respiratory issues. One night, he saw a man sitting at the end of his bed. He said, quote, "he reached out and he touched my rib cage under my arm and then at the bottom of my rib cage. I remember kind of lifting my arm a little bit, but it was all very quick. And then he just stepped back a couple steps, and I felt like there was this ease that came over me and I felt very relaxed and comfortable. I knew I was saved.” That apparent visitation occurred on July thirtieth, the Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. It marks the dedication of the cathedral church of Rome by Pope Sylvester I in 324. This church is the cathedra (or chair) of the bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com A child’s tip led police to arrest a Catholic youth leader in McLean, Virginia, on nine counts of aggravated sexual battery on November first. Antonio Pérez-Alcalá, seventy five, is accused of sexually assaulting minors while serving as a local leader for Secular Institute Stabat Mater, a program dedicated to the “formation of young people toward integrating the spiritual with the secular” through Ignatian spiritual exercises with Marian devotion. Authorities say he ran the group from his home until a child revealed to an adult that he was sexually assaulted by a leader there. A student from Loyola Marymount University, a Catholic university in California, has restarted the school’s inactive prolife program after the university hosted a Planned Parenthood fundraiser on campus. Two days before the fundraiser took place, Megan Glaudini made the decision and also held a rosary rally before the Planned Parenthood event. The rosary rally pulled in over 20 people including faculty, Jesuit priests on campus, and students. During his weekly Angelus, Pope Francis said the sacred things of our Catholic faith must be freed from their ties with money. In a reflection on the Gospel of the “widow’s mite”, the pope praised the woman for giving everything she had, without concern for how it would look to others. Today the Church honors saint Elizabeth of the Trinity. She was born in France, became a discalced carmelite and died at the age of twenty six of Addison’s disease.

Federal authorities have filed additional child pornography charges against Father James Jackson. The priest was arrested last weekend, after investigators allegedly found hundreds of explicit sexual images on an external hard drive in his rectory office. He is a member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, and pastor of a parish in Providence Rhode Island. He was previously pastor of a Traditional Latin Rite parish in Colorado. Texans voted this week to prohibit the state from taking any action that would prohibit or limit religious services. The vote is widely considered to be a response to the closing of churches and religious services during the COVID pandemic. Pope Francis will travel to Cyprus and Greece in early December. The four-day trip will include stops in Athens, Nicosia, and the Greek island of Lesbos. This will be the pope’s second trip to the island of Lesbos. The island is home to an infamous refugee camp that was damaged in a fire last year. Today the Church honors Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, the parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was a relative of Mary, but the exact biological relationship between them is unclear.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic high school in San Francisco is defending its decision to host a pro-life speaker at an all-school assembly, after students at the school staged a walkout because of the speaker. Students reportedly began to exit the assembly about five minutes into the presentation. By the end of the walkout, only a few dozen of the school’s more than 800 students remained in the auditorium. Despite the walkout, the school’s president said the assembly was an opportunity for students to learn more about the dignity of human life. Pope Francis celebrated Mass today for the repose of the souls of more than two hundred cardinals and bishops, who died in the past year. Seventeen cardinals, and 191 bishops and archbishops died in the past year. Last year’s Mass commemorated six cardinals, and 163 bishops and archbishops. The higher death rate of this year reflects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Church’s leadership. The pope has appointed a Franciscan sister to the second-ranking position in the government of the Vatican City State. Sister Raffaella Petrini is the first woman and non-clergy member to hold the position. The appointment makes her one of the highest-ranking women at the Vatican. Today is the feast of Saint Charles Borromeo.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court has declined to hear a case involving a Catholic hospital, that refused to perform a hysterectomy, on a woman who identifies as a transgender man. The hospital refused to perform the surgery on the grounds that the surgery would violate Catholic ethics, and directives from US bishops. A draft text of the US bishops’ forthcoming document on Eucharistic coherence does not explicitly mention denying the sacrament to any Catholics. Instead, the document focuses on the importance of teaching about the Real Presence of the Eucharist, and the Eucharist as a tool for evangelization. It had been widely speculated that this document would address communion for President Joe Biden, a Catholic who supports abortion. Twelve bishops in Mexico are reportedly under investigation for covering up the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The investigations are under the norms established by Pope Francis in his 2019 motu proprio, "Vos estis lux mundi." The pope’s prayer intention this month is for people suffering from depression or burnout, that they might find the support they need. The pope said sadness, apathy and spiritual tiredness can sometimes dominate a person’s life. He encouraged Catholics to be close to those who are exhausted, or without hope. Today is the feast of Saint Martin de Porres from Peru.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court heard nearly three hours of oral arguments on Monday, in a pair of cases challenging an abortion ban in the state of Texas. The law restricts most abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which typically happens at about six weeks gestation. The two challenges heard on Monday focus on the way the law is designed to be enforced, through private civil lawsuits, rather than by state officials. One of the challenges was brought to the court by the Biden administration. A 28-year-old man was arrested Monday, after bringing a gun to a parish in Providence Rhode Island. The man threatened a priest and parishioners at a Monday evening Mass. It was the former parish of a recently arrested priest in Providence. Police have said the threat was related to the recent arrest of the former pastor. Pope Francis prayed today before the tombs of deceased popes, in the crypt beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica. The pope visited the tombs after celebrating Mass for All Souls’ Day, at a military cemetery in Rome. Pope Francis also prayed before the tomb of Saint Peter. Today is the feast of All Souls Day. The celebration is based on the doctrine that the faithful on earth can help souls trying to reach Heaven, by prayers, almsgiving, and the sacrifice of the Mass.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden reportedly received Communion during Mass, Saturday evening, in Rome. Biden met with Pope Francis on Friday. After the meeting, the president said the pope told him to continue receiving Communion, despite his views on abortion. The Vatican has not released any official details of Biden’s visit with the Pope. Biden is in Rome for the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit. Four martyrs of the Spanish Civil War were beatified over the weekend. All of the martyrs were priests with the Fraternity of Diocesan Worker Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints presided over the beatification, in Catalonia. An estimated half million people died in Spain’s civil war, from 1936 to 1939. More than 2,000 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War have been beatified, and 11 have been canonized. The causes of 2,000 candidates are under consideration. True happiness is found in following Jesus Christ, not in being young, wealthy or successful. Those were the words of Pope Francis today, in a special Angelus address for All Saints’ Day. The pope said the path to sainthood is illustrated in the Beatitudes. He said the poor in spirit find true happiness, because they live in the certainty of God’s loving gaze. Today is the Solemnity of All Saints.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis met President Joe Biden today, at the Vatican. This was Biden’s first official visit to the Vatican since his inauguration. Biden is the second Catholic president in U-S history. He is in Rome to attend the G20 summit, this weekend. A provision creating a national paid leave program will not be included in the social spending package being crafted by Congress. The “Build Back Better Act,” originally called for twelve weeks of paid family and medical leave. The length was negotiated down to four weeks, and then dropped entirely on Thursday. The United States is one of only eight countries with no national paid parental leave policy. It is only one of a few countries without a national medical leave policy. Lawmakers in Illinois have voted to repeal parental notice requirements for abortion. The law required abortion providers to notify the parents of a minor seeking an abortion, at least 48 hours before the scheduled abortion. Catholics in Illinois have decried the repeal of the law. Today, the Church honors Saint Narcissus. He was born toward the end of the first century. He was nearly 80 years old when he was named the bishop of Jerusalem. He was involved in the decree that Easter be kept always on a Sunday, and not continually with the Jewish Passover.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholics who visit a cemetery on any day in the month of November, to pray for the dead, can earn a plenary indulgence. Typically Catholics can earn this plenary indulgence for praying for the dead only during the first week of November, which is the week of the Solemnity of All Soul’s Day. Last year, the Vatican extended the indulgence to every day of November, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese authorities have reportedly kidnapped a Catholic bishop in eastern China. The 58-year-old bishop has been arrested several times since he was appointed to his diocese in 2016. Detentions of underground clergy in China are common. The Chinese government will pressure clergy to join the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The pope has donated $170,000 to the Catholic Church in Syria, for its work with the poor. More than 350,000 people have been killed in Syria, since civil war broke out in 2011. Pope Francis has appointed new archbishops of Seoul, South Korea, and Nairobi, Kenya. The new archbishop of Seoul is a member of the Discalced Carmelites. The new archbishop of Nairobi has been president of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops since 2015. Today the Church remembers Saints Simon and Jude. Saint Jude was a brother of Saint James the Lesser, and a relative of Jesus. He was martyred in Persia. Little is known about the life of Saint Simon the Zealot, but it is believed that he preached in Egypt, and then joined Saint Jude in Persia.

Vatican City is now providing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vulnerable, and those over the age of 60, are being prioritized. Pope Francis and Benedict the Sixteenth may be among the first group to receive a third dose. The Vatican City State is requiring all employees, officials and visitors to show proof of vaccination or recent recovery from the coronavirus, or a recent negative COVID test. Pope Francis is considering a visit to Canada. Canadian bishops invited the pope to visit Canada, to be a part of the Church’s process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. No date has been set for the visit. The pope will also meet in December with delegations of Indigenous tribes from Canada. Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew the First met with U-S leaders in Washington this week, including President Joe Biden. The leaders discussed religious freedom and climate change. They also announced an interfaith initiative to encourage vaccination against COVID-19. Does your spiritual life need a boost? Place yourself in front of Christ Crucified. That was the message of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The pope encouraged Catholics to hold a Crucifix, and take some time in adoration, to reconnect with God. The pope’s words were a continuation of his reflections on Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Today is the feast of Saint Frumentius, the patron of Ethiopia.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholics in India are speaking out against a proposed survey of Christian missionaries, and their places of worship. The state government of Karnataka, in southwest India, has proposed the survey. The state is considering passing an anti-conversion law. Catholics in India say the survey could lead to church workers being unfairly targeted. Eight of India’s 29 states have passed anti-conversion laws. The laws aim to prevent conversions from Hinduism to minority religions, including Christianity. The president of an advocacy group for Christians in the Middle East has resigned, over his ties to illegal campaign contributions to a now-indicted congressman. Toufic Baaklini resigned on Sunday from leading the Washington-based group In Defense of Christians. Earlier this year, he admitted to personal involvement in illegal donations, to the re-election campaign of Nebraska Representative Jeff Fortenberry. Nearly 130 Catholics martyred during the Spanish Civil War were beatified this month in Spain. The group was largely made up of Catholic priests, but included several seminarians and religious, and nearly 40 lay people. Nearly all of them were imprisoned before their martyrdom. Today, the Church remembers its sixth pope - Saint Evaristus. He is traditionally considered a martyr. It is believed he was martyred at the same time as Saint Ignatius of Antioch. He is buried in the Vatican, near Saint Peter.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis made an appeal for migrants Sunday, calling on the international community to stop deporting migrants to unsafe countries. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope asked the Catholic pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray in silence for migrants, many of whom he said had been subjected to “inhumane violence.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249387/pope-francis-appeals-that-migrants-not-be-sent-back-to-unsafe-countries On Monday, Pope Francis appointed economist Jeffrey Sachs to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. Sachs, the director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York, has been a frequent visitor to the Vatican in recent years. Sachs has in the past advocated for a reduction in fertility rates in developing countries through the dissemination of contraception, a view at odds with Catholic teaching. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249389/pope-francis-names-jeffrey-sachs-to-pontifical-academy Catholics are praying following the execution of Willie B. Smith III on Thursday evening, the first execution in Alabama since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith was sentenced to death in 1992 for the murder of a 22-year-old woman. His attorneys have argued that Smith was borderline intellectually disabled. The Catholic Mobilizing Network said they were praying for the repose of Willie Smith’s soul, and the diocese of Birmingham stated that, quote, “capital punishment devalues human life and contributes to a climate of violence in our communities." https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249376/catholics-pray-after-alabama-executes-death-row-inmate After seven hours of debate and notable opposition in the House of Lords on Friday, the sponsor of a bill that would legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales chose not to take the bill to a vote. The bill would have permitted assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live, subject to the approval of two doctors and a high court judge. The Catholic bishops of England and Wales, as well as a number of other religious leaders, have strongly opposed the idea of legalizing assisted suicide. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249373/english-assisted-suicide-bill-not-put-to-vote-in-house-of-lords Today, the Church celebrates Saints Chrysanthus and Daria, third century martyrs and spouses who converted dozens of people before their martyrdom.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic, Anglican, and Jewish leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed opposition to a parliamentary bill that would legalize assisted suicide. The bill would allow for assisted suicide for terminally ill patients, a practice which is currently illegal in the UK. The religious leaders who signed the letter said that their opposition to the bill was rooted in a conviction that every human life is sacred. The bill is also facing opposition from medical professionals. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249366/catholic-anglican-and-jewish-leaders-urge-uk-parliament-to-reject-assisted-suicide-bill A U.K. lawmaker has proposed adding an amendment to a bill going through Parliament, ensuring that Catholic priests can administer the last rites at crime scenes. The push comes after Sir David Amess, a Catholic and pro-life member of parliament, was stabbed to death last week during a meeting with contituents. A priest reportedly tried to enter the crime scene to give Amess last rites, but was denied entry. The “Amess amendment” would seek to protect the right of Catholic priests and other ministers of religion to pray alongside the dying. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249360/sir-david-amess-death-uk-lawmaker-proposes-adding-amess-amendment-on-last-rites-to-bill The number of Catholics in Asia and Africa continued to grow in 2019, according to newly released statistics. The world population grew by 81.3 million in 2019, while members of the Catholic Church increased by 15.4 million, for a total of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. The new statistics compare 2019, the last year for which data is available, with 2018 and therefore do not reflect the effects of the global coronavirus outbreak in 2020. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249354/number-of-catholics-in-asia-and-africa-continues-to-rise Today, the Church celebrates Pope St. John Paul II. Born Karol Józef Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, he was the first non-Italian Pope in more than 400 years. John Paul II is remembered for, among many other things, his deep prayer life, extensive travels, dialogue with other religions, and prolific writings during his 27-year papacy. In 2019, the Polish bishops’ conference called for the Polish pope to be granted the title of Doctor of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-paul-ii-713

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archbishop of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, announced this week that his archdiocese won’t take part in the Synod on Synodality, saying that it would run “the risk of becoming ideological.” Vaduz is one of the smallest archdioceses in the world, with fewer than 40,000 Catholics. The archbishop said his archdiocese is small enough that, quote, “All those who wish to do so can enter into dialogue with one another, listen to one another, and maintain personal communication about suggestions, wishes, and ideas in everyday Church life.” The Synod on Synodality is a two-year, worldwide consultative process that Pope Francis launched this month, and in which all dioceses in the world have been asked to participate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249340/catholic-leader-says-his-archdiocese-won-t-take-part-in-synodal-process-citing-ideological-risk Pope Francis has shared a letter written by a clerical sexual abuse survivor with candidates preparing for the Catholic priesthood. The anonymous abuse victim wrote that she was sharing her story because she would like to see “loving truth” win out. The letter reads, in part, “God has called you to be his instrument among men. You have a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY! A responsibility that is not a burden, but a GIFT! Please treat it according to the example of Jesus... with HUMILITY and LOVE!” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249339/pope-francis-wants-seminarians-to-read-this-letter-from-a-clerical-abuse-survivor A Kansas City-area Baptist megachurch has reached a $150,000 settlement with the county over coronavirus restrictions. Abundant Life Baptist Church filed a lawsuit against Jackson County, Missouri over a year ago, arguing that the county’s coronavirus restrictions treated places of worship more harshly than secular institutions such as retail stores. Since the lawsuit was filed, several Supreme Court decisions related to coronavirus restrictions on worship have been handed down that make it likely that the church would have won the case. Under the terms of the settlement, Jackson County vowed that in exchange for the church dropping the lawsuit, it would ensure that future enforcement measures would not impose stricter requirements on religious organizations than their secular counterparts. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249350/missouri-christian-church-wins-settlement-over-coronavirus-restrictions-on-worship The Bishop of Buea, Cameroon, has condemned both the Thursday shooting death of a five-year-old girl at a police checkpoint in the city, and the lynching death of the officer responsible. The girl was shot to death when the driver of the car in which she was travelling to school refused to stop at a police checkpoint. A crowd soon gathered at the site, capturing the officer and beating him to death. The Cameroonian bishop urged prayers for the dead. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249349/bishop-in-cameroon-shocked-by-shooting-death-of-young-girl-lynching-of-policeman Today, the Church honors Saint Ursula and the Virgins of Cologne, who fled England during the fourth century Saxon invasion and were martyred on the European continent. Saint Ursula is the patroness of Catholic education, especially the education of girls; Cologne Germany, educators, holy death, schoolchildren, students, and teachers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ursula-and-the-virgins-of-cologne-27

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Benedict XVI said in a letter this month that he looks forward to joining his friends in heaven. The 94-year-old retired pope sent a condolence message following the death of Cistercian priest Father Gerhard Winkler, and wrote, quote, “Now he has arrived in the next world, where I am sure many friends are already waiting for him. I hope that I can join them soon.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249327/i-hope-that-i-can-join-them-soon-benedict-xvi-sends-condolence-message-after-friend-s-death The Vatican has launched a new prayer website and smartphone app to help Catholics pray for the success of the synod on synodality. At prayforthesynod.va, Catholics can find information in English, Spanish, and other languages about how to support the synod through prayer. During the two-year synod process, which Pope Francis launched earlier this month, Catholics around the world will be encouraged to submit feedback to their local dioceses. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249337/vatican-launches-prayer-website-to-accompany-synod-on-synodality In the wake of last week’s stabbing of a Catholic lawmaker in England, a bishop has called for a greater recognition of last rites as an “emergency service.” Police reportedly turned away a priest who sought to administer the last rites to Sir David Amess, who was attacked and killed last Friday while meeting with constituents. Last Rites help to prepare Catholics for death by offering them the sacraments of reconciliation, the anointing of the sick, and Holy Communion. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249325/sir-david-amess-death-catholic-bishop-calls-for-last-rites-to-be-recognized-as-emergency-service The gang responsible for the kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries in Haiti is demanding a $17 million ransom for their safe release. Christian Aid Ministries, the group that sent the missionaries to Haiti, is requesting prayers for their safety. The Haitian gang responsible for the most recent kidnapping is the same criminal gang behind the kidnapping of Catholic priests and religious in April. All of those kidnapped in April were released within several weeks, and ransom was paid for just two of the kidnapped priests. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249332/christian-aid-group-requests-prayers-for-kidnapped-missionaries-in-haiti The Italian archdiocese of Catania will have no new godfathers for the next three years. Archbishop Salvatore Gristina has said that he decided to temporarily suspend the naming of godparents and Confirmation sponsors because the tradition had become, quote, a “social custom in which the dimension of faith is hardly visible.” The role of a godparent is to help “the baptized person to lead a Christian life in keeping with baptism,” and the law does not stipulate that godparents are required for the sacrament. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249338/godfather-ban-sicilian-catholic-diocese-suspends-naming-of-godparents-at-baptism-for-3-years Today, the Church honors Saint Peter of Alcántara, a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded several convents and became known for his constant vigilance in prayer and meditation. He is the patron saint of night watchmen and guards.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Scotland’s national shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes was the target of an arson attack last weekend. The fire damaged several memorials at the shrine. Parishioners built the shrine by hand in 1922. The shrine welcomed more than 70,000 pilgrims a year, before the pandemic. Police are investigating the fire. A digital Bible app, and a Quran app are no longer available in China, at the request of Chinese officials. The Bible app was removed by the company that created it, due to permit requirements. The Quran app was removed by Apple itself. Permit requirements have also tripped up Audible, the audiobook and podcast service owned by Amazon. Audible removed its app from the mainland China Apple store last month. The Vatican has released new regulations for postulators. Postulators help guide the process behind the declaration of a saint in the Catholic Church. The new regulations clarify tasks and procedures. They aim to prevent conflicts of interest. Postulators can be clergy, religious men or women, or lay people. Today is the feast of the Italian mystic, Saint Paul of the Cross.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A heartbeat law in Texas is still in effect, after an attempt by the U-S Department of Justice to reinstate an injunction. The Biden administration has pledged to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate an injunction. The law bars abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is around six weeks gestation. The Mayor of Los Angeles announced last week that the city would change the informal name of a local park to no longer honor Saint Junipero Serra. A statue of Serra had been in the park since the 1930s. Last year, protestors toppled the statue, amid racial tensions and claims that the saint was involved in the injustices of the Spanish colonial period. The park will temporarily be called La Plaza Park, until a new name is adopted. Cardinal Raymond Burke has asked for prayers amid his continued recovery from COVID-19. It has been about one month since the 73-year-old cardinal was removed from a ventilator, and left the hospital ICU. He is reportedly now able to offer daily Mass. Do good from a spirit of service, not from a desire for personal glory. Those were the words of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope said even Catholics can be tempted to use everything in their lives, including relationships, to feed their personal ambition. He said Christians should aim to be servants. Today, the Church honors Saint Luke, the physician and companion of Saint Paul. Luke’s gospel preserved the most extensive biography of Jesus Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Lawmakers in Northern Ireland are considering a proposal to require so-called “buffer zones” around abortion clinics. A buffer zone is an area where protests are not allowed. If the proposal passes, it would be the first law of its kind in the United Kingdom. Patients and employees of abortion clinics will be identified as protected persons. A British lawmaker died today, after suffering multiple stab wounds at a Methodist church in southeast England. Sir David Amess was a member of Parliament since 1983. He was Catholic, pro-life, and reportedly a strong supporter of Catholic education. He was holding a meeting with his constituents when the fatal attack took place. A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing. Pope Francis will visit Assisi on November 12th. The visit will be in honor of the World Day of the Poor, which falls on November 14th. The pope will make a private visit to a chapel in Assisi. He will also meet with a group of 500 poor people, for prayer and conversation. Pope Francis created the World Day of the Poor in 2016, to mark the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila. The Spanish Carmelite reformer and mystic is remembered for her role in the renewal of the Church following the Council of Trent. She founded what is known today as the Order of Discalced Carmelites, with the help of her close collaborator Saint John of the Cross. She was one of the first two women Doctors of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden and his wife Jill will meet with Pope Francis on October 29th at the Vatican. The White House confirmed the visit today. This will be Biden’s first meeting with the pope during his presidency. Biden previously met with Pope Francis in 2016, as vice president. He also spoke on the phone with Pope Francis last year, when the pope congratulated him on his election as president. The Supreme Court heard arguments this week about whether or not to reinstate a federal death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Tsarnaev was sentenced to death in 2015, but a three-judge panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the sentence in 2020. The panel unanimously found that he had not received a fair trial. A prominent Anglican bishop has entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali was once considered a potential future Archbishop of Canterbury. He reportedly could be ordained as a Catholic priest as early as the end of the month, within the ordinariate. Benedict XVI created the ordinariate in 2011 for former Anglicans wishing to preserve elements of their patrimony. Three seminarians abducted from their seminary in central Nigeria this week have been released. Bandits abducted the seminarians Monday evening, and injured six other seminarians. Kidnappings of Christians in Nigeria have become more common in recent years. Today, the Church remembers Pope Callistus I. Not much is certain about Pope Callistus’ life. He was martyred in 222 by an anti-Christian mob.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Venerable John Paul I will now be declared “blessed,” after Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to his intercession. John Paul I was often called “the smiling pope.” He died unexpectedly, after just 33 days in office. A priority of his short pontificate was carrying forward the work of the Second Vatican Council. Three seminarians were abducted from their seminary in central Nigeria this week. Bandits attacked the seminary Monday evening. Another six seminarians were injured. Nigeria has experienced an increase in kidnappings over the past several years due to conflict between herdsmen and farmers. The dean of the Cathedral in Toledo, Spain, has submitted his resignation following the improper use of the cathedral for a music video. The music video featured sensual and provocative dances inside the cathedral. A Spanish rapper reportedly paid 15,000 euros for the use of the cathedral in the music video. The dean said the situation was complicated by communication failures. In his general audience today, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church is universal. He said the Church embraces all cultures, because Christ died for all people. The pope based his reflections on Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians, in which Saint Paul writes about true freedom. Today is the feast of Saint Edward the Confessor. Edward was born in 1003. He was the son of the Duke of Normandy, and nephew of the King of England. He renounced worldly ambition to devote himself to God. He was called to the throne of England in 1042, and he dutifully accepted. He abolished an unjust tax, and was known to cure people with his touch.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican has sovereign immunity, and cannot be sued in local courts for the actions of clerical abusers. That’s according to a ruling this week by the European Court of Human Rights. This was the first time the international court has considered a case related to the Holy See’s immunity. Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was spray-painted with anti-Catholic slogans on Sunday. Eyewitnesses reportedly saw a woman spray-painting the church around 7:45 am, in broad daylight. Parishioners and other volunteers helped remove most of the graffiti on Sunday. Two other Catholic parishes in Denver were the targets of vandalism and theft this summer. Parishes in nearby Boulder and Louisville were similarly targeted. The image of Our Lady of La Leche, in Florida, was canonically crowned on Sunday. A canonical coronation honors an image’s universal importance for the Catholic Church. The image of Our Lady of La Leche features the Blessed Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus. The image has roots in Bethlehem, but it was brought to modern day Florida in 1577 by Spanish settlers. It is only the fourth image in the United States to be canonically crowned. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. This was the first Marian apparition in history. Our Lady appeared to the apostle Saint James, in Spain. Unlike every other recorded Marian apparition, this apparition took place during the earthly life of the Mother of God. Tradition holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary promised Saint James that she would appear to him to encourage him in his difficult mission to the pagans in modern-day Spain.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Texas’ heartbeat law is in effect again, after a ruling by a federal court. The law restricts abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is around six weeks gestation. The law is still the subject of an ongoing court fight. The pope’s recent restrictions on traditional liturgy are unpopular among regularly practicing Catholics, but most American Catholics have not even heard of the changes. That’s according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. The survey found that about 58% of Catholics who attended Mass weekly had heard about the restrictions. Regular Mass attendees were the most skeptical of the restrictions. Pope Francis met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday. Pelosi has clashed repeatedly with the archbishop of her home diocese, over her support for abortion. The Vatican has not announced what the pair discussed during their meeting. On Sunday, Pope Francis formally launched the two year, global consultation process that will culminate in the synod on synodality in 2023. The pope prayed that Catholics taking part in the synodal path should strive to become experts in the art of encounter. He encouraged Catholics to devote more time to prayer, and adoration, listening to what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church. The diocesan consultation phase will run through April of 2022. Then a continental phase will begin. Today, the Church honors Pope Saint John XXIII. Pope John XXIII was elected in 1958. He is remembered for his pastoral heart, and for convoking the Second Vatican Council in 1962.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - California’s governor has rolled back several safeguards surrounding assisted suicide. State law requires patients to make two separate requests for assisted suicide medication. There was previously a required 15 day waiting period, between requests. That waiting period is now 48 hours. The new law also no longer requires patients seeking assisted suicide to make a final attestation for their cause. The Vatican has indicated that Pope Francis will not attend the United Nations climate summit next month in Scotland. The pope expressed his wish to attend the conference, during a radio interview in September. The Vatican delegation will instead be led by the Vatican’s Secretary of State. A Catholic archbishop entrusted Poland to Saint Joseph yesterday, in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Poland was also consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June. About 92% of Poland’s population are baptized Catholics. U-S bishops will elect five new committee chair positions, at their general assembly next month in Baltimore. The meeting is the first in-person meeting of the conference in two years. Committees open for elections include the migration committee, the committee on divine worship, and the committee on laity, marriage and family life. Today, the Church remembers Saint Thais. Little is known about her life, but it is believed Thais was a sinful woman converted by a monk. She then lived a life of penitence for three years, in a narrow cell.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A federal judge has blocked a heartbeat law in Texas, about one month after the law went into effect. The heartbeat law restricts most abortions after detection of a fetal heartbeat. In a ruling Wednesday, a federal judge blocked enforcement of the law, by the state and private citizens. Pro-life advocates have criticized the ruling as unfettered judicial activism. Catholic bioethicists say conscience protections built into the government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees are insufficient. Federal employees are now required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22nd. Employees requesting a religious exemption to the mandate, must first establish that their refusal is based upon sincere, religious belief. They must also answer questions about their adult vaccine history and the length of time they have held their religious beliefs that support their objection. Pope Francis will declare Saint Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church. Irenaeus was a second-century bishop and writer. He is remembered for refuting the heresies of Gnosticism, with a defense of Christ’s humanity and divinity. He would be the first martyr to receive the title. Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The feast commemorates a 16th-century naval victory, which protected Europe from Turkish invasion. Pope Saint Pius the Fifth attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The naval victory coincided with a rosary campaign in Europe.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis expressed sadness and shame today, in response to a report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in France. The report estimated that hundreds of thousands of children were abused in the French Church over the past 70 years. Pope Francis said he felt pain for the trauma that victims have endured, and shame that the Church had not adequately addressed the crisis. Missouri executed Ernest Johnson on Tuesday, despite pleas for clemency by the Holy See. The 61-year-old Black man was sentenced to death for murdering three people in the 90s. His lawyers had argued that he was intellectually disabled, and should be spared the death penalty. The Holy See pointed out his humanity, and the sacredness of all human life. True freedom flows from the Cross of Christ. That was the message of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The pope said the Cross of Christ frees us from slavery to sin. He said it is difficult to remain free from sin, but it is possible to make progress during one’s lifetime. Today, the Church remembers Saint Bruno, the founder of the Carthusian order of monks.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Hundreds of thousands of children were abused in the Catholic Church in France over the past 70 years. That’s according to a new landmark report detailing the abuse crisis in the French Church. The report said an estimated 216,000 children were abused by priests, deacons, monks or nuns, from 1950 to 2020. The number of abused children jumps to 330,000 when including abuse by other Church workers. Three Swiss Guards have quit their posts, after refusing to comply with the Vatican’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement. Three other guards have been suspended until they are fully vaccinated. Vatican City is requiring all employees and visitors to provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from the coronavirus, or a recent negative COVID test. The Swiss Guard is requiring all 135 guards to be fully vaccinated. The next World Youth Day will take place August 1-6, 2023, in Lisbon Portugal. Lisbon is about 75 miles from Fatima, one of the most visited Marian pilgrimage sites in the world. Portugal also reportedly has one of the highest levels of weekly Mass attendance among young people in Europe. The last World Youth Day was in 2019, in Panama City. More than 300,000 people participated in a March for Life in Mexico City last weekend. Marchers chanted in the defense of life, and carried posters criticizing the Supreme Court for legalizing abortion, and restricting the right to conscientious objection of health professionals. Today is the Memorial of Saint Mary Faustina Kowalska. Faustina was born in 1905 to a poor but devout Polish family. She entered the convent at the age of 20, and spent time in convents in both Poland and Lithuania. Jesus appeared to Faustina throughout her life, asking her to become an apostle of his mercy, and to commission the painting of an image of his Divine Mercy.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Holy See has asked the governor of Missouri to cancel the scheduled execution of Ernest Johnson. Johnson was sentenced to death for murdering three people in the 90s. The papal nuncio to the United States emphasized Johnson’s humanity, and the sacredness of all human life. He said all of society benefits when violence is restrained, including the violence of a legal execution. Johnson is scheduled to be executed tomorrow. A 78-year old Cardinal has been hospitalized with COVID-19, after traveling to the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest last month. The cardinal had been fully vaccinated last May. He is being treated at a hospital in northern Italy, where he served as an archbishop until his retirement last year. Pope Francis has asked countries around the world to work quickly toward net zero carbon emissions. The environmental plea was a joint statement with dozens of international religious leaders. The pope presented the statement to the head of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Greatness is found in placing one’s hope entirely in the Lord. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his Angelus address in Rome. The pope said the secret to greatness is not self-sufficiency, but smallness, and trust in God. He encouraged Catholics to ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for the grace of humility, and trust in God. Today is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Italian deacon is remembered for selling everything to devote his life to God. He received the stigmata - or the wounds of Christ. He was canonized in 1228, two years after his death.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archbishop of San Francisco has launched a prayer campaign for the conversion of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the issue of abortion. The campaign consists of praying one rosary a week, and fasting on Fridays. Catholics can sign up online with the Benedict XVI Institute. A rose will be sent to Pelosi as a symbol of the prayers and fasting. The next World Meeting of Families will have limited in-person attendance, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Rome in June of 2022. Participants can meet in-person, online, and in their individual dioceses, though most in-person events will be limited to around 2,000 people. Those 2,000 people will be selected by bishops conferences and family associations, to represent the church around the world. A Catholic diocese in the Australian Outback, plans to open the first ever Catholic elementary school named for Blessed Carlo Acutis. Acutis was a young Catholic from Italy, with a passionate devotion to the Eucharist. He was the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church. The Australian diocese said it hopes Acutis will inspire students in their own faith. Today is the feast day of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Thérèse was born in France in 1973. She entered the Carmelite Monastery at 15, with the permission of the pope. She lived a life of humility, and childlike trust in God. She died of Tuberculosis at a young age. Today, millions have been inspired by her little way of loving God and neighbor. She is a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Muslim herdsman in Nigeria killed at least 49 people this week in a two-hour massacre on villages in a northern state. Victims included women and children, and at least twenty homes were destroyed. A Catholic priest in the area described the attacks as a massacre against native people, many of whom are Christian. A Catholic parish in Boulder, Colorado, was desecrated with pro-abortion graffiti this week. The parish has a memorial to aborted babies on its front lawn. The memorial includes a display of 4,000 small white crosses, representing a baby aborted each day in the United States. The vandals also trampled or desecrated many of the crosses. Local police are investigating the incident. The number of abortions reported in Germany is down by 8.5% from last year, according to numbers released this week. There is no clear cause for the downward trend. Abortion is legal in Germany in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The country recorded about 100,000 abortions last year. Pope Francis has asked Catholics worldwide to pray during the month of October for every baptized person to be engaged in evangelization. The pope would like every baptized person to be witnesses of a life flavored by the Gospel. He shared his monthly prayer intention in a video released today. Today, the Church honors Saint Jerome, a priest, monk and Doctor of the Church. Jerome is remembered for his translations of the Bible into Latin in the Vulgate.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis is reportedly expected to receive President Joe Biden on October 29th. The visit will be the president’s first official visit to the Vatican since his inauguration. Biden is also expected to meet with the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. Biden first met Pope Francis in 2015, at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. A federal appeals court will wait to rule on a pro-life law in Georgia, until the Supreme Court makes a decision in the abortion case, Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The appellate court was considering whether to continue to block a heartbeat law in Georgia. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the bishop of Brooklyn, Nicolas DiMarzio. The Vatican cleared DiMarzio of sexual abuse allegations earlier this month. But the bishop is 77 years old, two years past the age at which bishops are required to submit their request to retire to the pope. Pope Francis appointed the bishop of Columbus Ohio, to lead the Diocese of Brooklyn. EWTN, Relevant Radio and Napa Institute are asking Catholics to join them in praying the rosary daily, during the month of October, to bring an end to legal abortion in the United States. EWTN will broadcast the rosary each day with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, Mother Angelica, from Lourdes in France, or from the Holy Land with Father Mitch Pacwa. Today, the Church honors the three Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. These angels are the only angels named in Sacred Scripture. All three have important roles in salvation history.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishops in Canada are aiming to raise $30 million dollars over the next five years, to support the Indigenous peoples of the country, including survivors of residential schools. The bishops also issued an apology this week for the Church’s role in the country’s residential school system. California’s governor has signed two bills related to privacy surrounding abortion. One bill allows insured individuals, including minors, to keep sensitive services confidential from the insurance policyholder, generally their parents. Another bill makes it illegal to film or photograph patients or employees within 100 feet of an abortion clinic. The second bill could affect pro-life campaigners who may want to film or photograph themselves and their work outside clinics. The Archdiocese of Toronto will now require regular COVID-19 testing for clergy and employees who are unvaccinated. The archdiocese will not require proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to attend Mass, or other religious services. Lava following the eruption of a volcano in the Canary Islands destroyed a Catholic Church this week. Thousands of people have been evacuated, and there have been no reported deaths. The last eruption on the island was in 1971. Local Catholics removed the tabernacle, crucifixes, statues and paintings from the church, in anticipation of the eruption. Today, the Church honors Saint Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus died at the hands of his brother, while seeking to strengthen the Catholic faith of his native Bohemia.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Abortion and euthanasia are murder. That was the strong message of Pope Francis Monday, in a speech to members of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The pope reflected that abortion and euthanasia are the result of a throwaway culture. He said that to understand what abortion is, it is helpful to pose two questions: is it right to eliminate a human life to solve a problem, and is it right to hire a hitman to solve a problem. The pope said that is what abortion is. The remains of Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun returned to his home state of Kansas on Saturday. Kapaun was a U-S Army Captain and chaplain in both World War II, and the Korean War. He died in a North Korean prisoner of war camp 70 years ago, at the age of 35. A funeral Mass will be celebrated for him in Wichita on Wednesday. His remains will then be interred at the Cathedral in Wichita. The Republic of San Marino voted Sunday to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The vote ended the country’s ban on abbortion, which had been in place since 1865. More than 77% of voters approved the motion to allow abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. Abortion will also be legal after 12 weeks in cases of fetal abnormalities, or for the health of the mother. Switzerland voted Sunday to legalize same-sex marriage. Switzerland is the world’s 30th country to approve same-sex marriage. The country has recognized civil unions for same-sex couples since 2007. Today, the Church remembers Saint Vincent de Paul. The 17th-century French priest is known as the patron of Catholic charities, because of his work among the poor and marginalized.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended her support for legal abortion this week, saying God gave her free will, to honor her responsibilities. Pelosi is working to pass an abortion bill in California. The Women’s Health Protection Act would allow for abortions, in some cases, throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Her local ordinary, the archbishop of San Francisco, has said the bill is nothing short of child sacrifice. Dioceses in Canada continue to announce their policies for COVID-19 vaccines. The Diocese of Saint John New Brunswick, has said proof of vaccination will not be required for Mass or the other sacraments. Other dioceses in the province have said they will require proof of vaccination to attend Mass. The U-S bishops’ conference, and Catholic Charities, are ramping up their efforts to welcome refugees from Afghanistan. The organizations will welcome upwards of 7,500 refugees. The USCCB is one of nine resettlement networks in the United States, and it is partnering with 45 Catholic Charities agencies, to provide resettlement services. Eight elderly nuns in the Philippines have died of COVID-19, after an outbreak at their convent. The outbreak infected 62 sisters in the community. 52 staff and personnel also tested positive for COVID-19. The convent is located in Manila. Today the Church remembers Blessed Anton Martin Slomshek. Anton was born in 1800 in Slovenia. He was largely responsible for the nearly 100% literacy rate among Slovenians. He is the first Slovenian to be beatified.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic leaders are calling for better treatment of Haitians and other migrants, crowded under a bridge at the U-S Mexico border. Thousands of migrants have crowded under the international bridge in Del Rio, Texas in recent days. Many of the migrants are from Haiti, and are seeking better job opportunities. The Biden administration is bringing more federal personnel to the border to expel asylum-seekers, due to health concerns from the ongoing pandemic. London’s High Court has rejected a challenge to U-K law, allowing abortion up to birth for disability. The court declared the law was not discriminatory. The challenge was brought by a woman with Down syndrome, and the mother of a child with Down syndrome. There were more than 3,000 abortions on the basis of disability recorded in England and Wales in 2020. About 700 of those abortions followed a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The president of The Catholic University of America will step down from his role as of June 30, 2022. John Garvey is the university’s third lay president. He has served in the role since 2010. A fire has severely damaged a historic Catholic church in Ukraine’s capital city. The fire began during an organ music rehearsal earlier this month. The fire destroyed the organ, charred the interior of the church, and sent a chandelier crashing to the ground. The church is the second-oldest Latin Rite Catholic church in the capital. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as “Padre Pio.” The Italian Franciscan priest is remembered for his suffering, humility and miracles. He received the Stigmata, or Christ’s wounds, present in his own flesh.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Justice Department this week asked the Supreme Court to uphold legalized abortion in the U-S . The court will hear oral arguments later this year, in a major abortion case that could overturn Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The court had previously refused to consider appeals in favor of other state pro-life laws restricting abortion. An abortion doctor in Texas who said he performed an abortion in violation of a new state law was sued this week, by two non-Texas residents. The lawsuit appears to be the first legal action taken since Texas’ heartbeat bill took effect this month. Pope Francis met today with three Afghan refugee families at the Vatican. The families included a Catholic family of four children, and a man whose parents were killed by the Taliban. Several refugee children presented the pope with some of their drawings, and Pope Francis prayed with the families. In his general audience today, Pope Francis said the Christian faith in Europe is being diluted by consumerism and ideologies. He said prayer and the witness of humble love are especially needed today. Francis made his comments in reflection on his recent trip to Hungary and Slovakia. He called the trip a pilgrimage of prayer in the heart of Europe. Today, the Church remembers Saint Thomas of Villanova. Thomas was a 16th-century Spanish Augustinian monk and archbishop. He lived a life of austerity to provide for the spiritual and material needs of his people.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a critical abortion case on December 1st. The case of Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is a challenge to Mississippi’s law restricting most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The case is considered to be the latest, and perhaps the best opportunity, for pro-life advocates to overturn Roe v Wade, a Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The House will vote on a bill this week that U-S bishops have warned would effectively impose abortion on-demand throughout pregnancy. The Women’s Health Protection Act, recognizes the right of women to have abortions. It also states the right of doctors and other medical staff to perform abortions. It prohibits limitations on the right to abortion, including state laws requiring ultrasounds or waiting periods before abortions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House vote on the bill after Texas passed its heartbeat law earlier this month. The tiny European nation of San Marino will hold a referendum on the legalization of abortion later this month. Abortion has been illegal in the nation for nearly a century and a half. San Marino is home to about 35,000 people, and is estimated to be over 90% Catholic. A vote later this month will determine whether to allow abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy. The vote will also determine the legality of abortion after 12 weeks, in cases of fetal anomalies, or for the health of the mother. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Matthew. Matthew was a first-century tax collector turned apostle. He chronicled the life and ministry of Christ in his Gospel.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Poland’s March for Life drew 5,000 people this year. The annual march took place in Warsaw Sunday. Marchers carried Poland’s red and white flag, and posters with pro-life slogans. This was Poland’s first March for Life since Poland’s constitutional court ruled against abortion for fetal abnormalities. The ruling is expected to lead to a significant reduction in the number of abortions in Poland. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said the example of Catholic nuns, and his grandparents, taught him how to navigate and survive the negativity of a segregated world. He said they also taught him that all people were children of God. Thomas is only the second Black Supreme Court justice. He made his comments in a lecture hosted by the University of Notre Dame. The Vatican will require all visitors and personnel to show proof that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, have recovered from COVID-19, or have tested negative for the virus. The new requirement will go into effect beginning October 1st. The rules will apply to any visitors in Vatican territory, including tourists, employees, and officials. In his Angelus address Sunday, Pope Francis said the true measure of success is what someone gives, not what someone has. The pope centered his reflection on the day’s Gospel reading from Mark, in which Jesus declares that anyone who wishes to be first shall be last, and the servant of all. Francis said those who wish to follow Jesus must take the path of service. Today, the Church remembers several leaders in the Korean Catholic Church, who were martyred in the late 19th century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Three sex abuse lawsuits were filed this week against the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey. One lawsuit names disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. McCarrick was bishop of the diocese from 1981 to 1986. The lawsuit dates back to his time as bishop. The plaintiff was between the ages of 19 and 22 during that time. Catholics are the religious group most vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States, according to a new national survey by the Pew Research Center. The survey found that 82% of self-identified Catholics had received at least one does of a COVID-19 vaccine. Hispanic Catholics were slightly more likely than White Catholics to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of the major religious groups in the United States, White evangelical Protestants had the lowest vaccination rate, with only 57% saying they had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The cardinal archbishop of Manila in the Philippines has tested positive for COVID-19. The archdiocese said the archbishop has only a slight fever, but he is in quarantine, and doctors are monitoring his condition. The news comes just two days after a religious congregation in Manila announced that 62 of its nuns, and at least 50 of its staff - also tested positive for COVID. The nuns were still waiting to be vaccinated, but all staff members were fully vaccinated. The pope spoke today about his hopes for the new ministry of catechist, which he established in May. Francis said he hopes the new ministry will help awaken the vocation of every Christian to proclaim the Gospel. The pope established the new ministry in May, through an apostolic letter. Catechists have served the Church since New Testament times, but this is a type of formal, vocational service within the Church. The ministry is for lay people who have a particular call to serve the Church, as a teacher of the faith. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Italian cardinal and theologian Saint Robert Bellarmine. Robert is one of the great saints of the Jesuit order. He is also a Doctor of the Church, and the patron of catechists.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The bishop of Paterson in New Jersey has strongly encouraged clerics of his diocese to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In a letter sent out this week, Bishop Kevin Sweeney said non-medical exemptions will be minimal, and there may be discussion of whether non-vaccinated priests can remain in active ministry. The bishop said vaccination will protect clergy, and the people they serve. Bishops in Mexico will hold a march for women and for life in Mexico City next month. The event is the Catholic Church’s latest response to recent rulings by Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalizing abortion. The march will take place October 3rd. The pro-life group Live Action has said Google canceled its advertisements for abortion pill reversal services. Live Action’s founder said the act is further evidence of a pro-abortion bias at Google. Google reportedly disapproved all of Live Action’s advertisements for abortion pill reversal, claiming the ads were unreliable, and contained false information. The ads had been running for over four months, and had previously been approved by Google. The Pontifical Swiss Guard is overhauling its Vatican barracks, and the new design could accommodate women guards. The $60 million project includes a private room and bathroom for each guard. Currently guardsmen sleep in shared rooms, or in housing outside the Vatican. A spokesman for the Swiss Guard said the individual rooms would be able to accommodate women, but there are currently no plans to allow women guards. Today, the Church remembers Pope Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian. Both were martyred in the third century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - More than 2,500 people demonstrated this week outside the Mexican Supreme Court building in Mexico City, to defend life and oppose abortion. Protestors represented several states across Mexico. Last week, Mexico’s Supreme Court twice ruled against pro-life articles. The court is now considering conscientious objection to abortion for medical professionals. The trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom is no longer officially opposed to the legalization of assisted suicide. The British Medical Association adopted a neutral stance on the issue this week, following a vote at its annual meeting. The change marks a significant shift. It had previously been opposed to assisted suicide since 2006. Pope Francis offered Mass today outside Slovakia’s National Shrine of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. In his homily, the pope said Our Lady of Sorrows is a model of how to live the faith with compassion, and care for the suffering. Mary stays at the foot of the Cross, the pope said. She does not run away, or try to save herself, or find ways to alleviate her grief. Some 60,000 people attended the Mass. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The feast commemorates the seven great sorrows which Mary lived, in relation to her Son. They include the flight into Egypt, Meeting Jesus on his way to Calvary, and the burial of Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Priests of the Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 may no longer minister to the sick, elderly and homebound. The new policy was announced on Saturday. It is unclear whether priests in the diocese must publicly disclose that they have not received a COVID-19 vaccination. There have been at least 95 reported incidents of vandalism of Catholic churches across the United States, since May 2020. That’s according to a recent report by the US bishops. Incidents include arson, the destruction of statues, and the defacement of church buildings and gravestones with swastikas and anti-Catholic language. Incidents occurred across 29 states. Christianity without the cross is worldly and sterile. Those were the words of Pope Francis in Slovakia today, in honor of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The pope celebrated the Byzantine Divine Liturgy. He reflected that crucifixes are found all around us: on necks, in homes, in cars, in pockets. He asked Christians to reflect on how often they allow themselves to be struck by the wounds Christ bore for our sake. Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The feast celebrates two historical events: the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on Calvary by Constantine.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A federal appeals court has ruled against abortion restrictions in the state of Tennessee. A 2020 law restricts abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The law also prohibits abortions conducted because of the race or sex of the baby, or because of a Down syndrome diagnosis. The ruling came about a week after another pro-life heartbeat law went into effect in Texas. The founder of the Peruvian terrorist group known as Shining Path died over the weekend at a military hospital. The 86-year-old founded Shining Path in the 1960s on communist principles. He began armed conflict in the 1980s, in hopes of stoking a revolution that would gain control of the Peruvian countryside, and eventually cities. Three European priests killed by the Shining Path in 1991, were recognized as martyrs by the Vatican in 2015. Over the weekend, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to spend more time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, to become more like Christ. The pope spoke about adoration during the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest. Pope Francis was the first pope to attend an International Eucharistic Congress since 2000. The Church must respond to secularization with creativity, not defensiveness. Those were the words of Pope Francis today, during a meeting with clergy and lay people in Slovakia’s capital. The pope said Christians have inherited a rich tradition. But for many people, that tradition feels like a relic from the past, not something that can affect how they live their lives today. He said the creativity of the Gospel is key to helping the world reclaim a sense of God, and the joy of faith. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint John Chrysostom. John was perhaps the greatest preacher in the history of the Church, and the most prominent Greek father of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Biden administration has sued Texas over its new law prohibiting most abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The Justice Department said Texas acted in open defiance of the Constitution in restricting most abortion. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction on state officials and private parties from enforcing the law. Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled against the protection of life from conception in the constitution of another Mexican state. This is the court’s second ruling in favor of abortion in less than one week. The ruling could have dramatic consequences in other Mexican states. Currently, 23 of 32 Mexican federated entities have constitutional protections for the defense of human life from conception. A bishop in England is urging Catholics to oppose the legalization of assisted suicide in England and Wales. Bishop John Sherrington asked Catholics to write to members of the House of Lords, and urge them to oppose an assisted suicide bill. The proposed bill would permit physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with fewer than six months to live. The Vatican has ordered that minors living in houses, schools, or boarding schools, run by the private Catholic association the Heralds of the Gospel, return to their families. The Vatican decree says the change will allow younger children to foster a relationship with their families, and help to prevent abuse. The Heralds of the Gospel is a private association of the faithful. It’s based in Brazil, and includes various forms of consecrated life. The organization has filed an appeal to the decree. Today is the feast of the 13th century Italian friar, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino. Nicholas became an Augustinian friar at the age of 18, and was ordained seven years later. He is remembered for practicing severe mortifications and strict fasts. He is also remembered for obtaining healings for many of the sick in his community.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court halted the execution of a Texas death row inmate, who was scheduled to be executed last night. The inmate had requested his pastor be allowed to lay hands on him and pray in the execution chamber. Texas has a law prohibiting chaplains from vocal prayer and physical contact with inmates inside the execution chamber. The court agreed to hear the inmate’s case challenging that law. In an unprecedented joint message, Pope Francis and the leaders of the Anglican and Orthodox churches called the climate crisis a devastating injustice. The Christian leaders warned there would be catastrophic consequences for future generations, unless the world took responsibility for environmental damage. The archbishop of Washington said yesterday that Catholic President Joe Biden did not demonstrate Church teaching, when he said life does not begin at conception. Last week, Biden said that he did not agree that life begins at conception, and that he supports legalized abortion. Cardinal Wilton Gregory said that the Catholic Church teaches that human life begins at conception, and the president did not demonstrate Catholic teaching in his comments. A 70-year-old priest was shot to death in northern Haiti this week. The priest was attacked by several people on motorcycles. He was shot outside a bank, where he had just completed a transaction. The attackers did not take the money he was carrying. Haiti has seen a surge of violence in recent years, including an increase in kidnappings for ransom. Today, the Church celebrates Saint Peter Claver, a Jesuit missionary who spent his life in the service of African slaves brought against their will to South America, during the 17th century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new bishop of Wuhan China was ordained Wednesday, under the terms of the Vatican-China deal. The bishop is the sixth to be consecrated in China under the deal. He is a Franciscan, who is said to be close to the Chinese government. The Wuhan diocese had been without a bishop for the past 14 years. Mexico’s Supreme Court invalidated several pro-life articles in the penal code of a northern state this week. The decision opens the door to legal abortion, and is expected to have wide-ranging effects throughout Mexico. Elective abortion is legal up to twelve weeks of pregnancy in Mexico City and three states. Six nuns from the same convent in Brazil died in less than a week. Five of the nuns died from COVID-19. The nuns lived at the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family of Mary. They ranged in age from 70 to 95. The sisters do not know how the virus got into the convent. Pope Francis sent 15,000 ice creams to prisoners in Rome this week. This summer is one of the hottest on record in Italy. The island of Sicily registered a temperature of 119 degrees Fahrenheit in August, believed to be the highest ever recorded in Europe. The Catholic Church celebrates today the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The circumstances of Mary’s infancy and early life are not directly recorded in the Bible, but it is cited by some of the earliest Christian writers from the first centuries of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The International Eucharistic Congress kicked off Sunday in Budapest. The congress is a celebration of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It will continue through Sunday, September 12th. Slovakia is easing its COVID rules to allow more Catholics to see the pope during his visit to the country early next week. Papal events will no longer be limited to the fully vaccinated. Catholics with a recent negative COVID test result, or proof of recent recovery, will also be able to attend papal events. Pope Francis will visit Slovakia Sunday through Wednesday. Three priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago have been asked to step aside from ministry pending investigation of their inappropriate acts with fellow adults. The priests have acknowledged the acts. Each of the priests will spend some time in prayer, spiritual healing and discernment, under the direction of the archdiocese. A joint beatification took place in Warsaw Sunday, of a nun and a Cardinal who led the Polish Church’s resistance to communism. Two women, who were miraculously healed by the newly beatified nun, carried the nun’s relics during the beatification ceremony. Silent prayer with the Gospel is the secret to spiritual health. That was the reflection of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope reflected that we hear sometimes thousands of words each day. He asked how many of those words come from scripture. At the end of his Angelus address, the pope prayed for the people of Afghanistan, and all affected by Hurricane Ida. Today, the Church remembers Saint Clodoald, popularly known as Saint Cloud. He escaped from violent political intrigue in the mid 6th century, and pursued life as a monk and priest.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick pleaded ‘not guilty’ today, to several charges of sexual assault. McCarrick appeared for the first time today in a Massachusetts court. The 91-year-old has been charged with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14. The incidents allegedly took place in the 1970s. Each of the criminal charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. McCarrick’s next court date is October 28th. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has released its plan for implementing the pope’s new restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass . Several parishes may continue to celebrate Traditional Latin Masses, but several others must stop. The archbishop of Galveston-Houston warned clergy and lay faithful against the dangers of letting personality and personal preference dominate celebrations of the Mass. A bishop in Central England is urging Catholics to resist a bill seeking to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales. The bill passed its first reading in the House of Lords on May 26th, and is awaiting a date for its second reading. The bill would legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live. Patients will need to secure the approval of two doctors and a high court judge. Some pro-life advocates believe the bill has the potential of passing. Today is the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Gregory was a central figure of the medieval western Church, and one of the most admired popes in history.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A divided Supreme Court has declined a petition to block a new heartbeat law in Texas, allowing the law to stand for now. The law prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The law is enforced by allowing private lawsuits in cases of illegal abortions. The court denied the petition by a 5 to 4 decision. The leaders of several traditional Catholic institutions in France, have appealed to the country’s bishops, to discuss the pope’s recent restrictions on the traditional liturgy. The institutions have asked to create a mediator to address the challenges of the new restrictions. France is one of the world’s leading centers of Catholic traditionalism. French bishops have said they respect communities that celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass. A historically Black Catholic parish in Denver was robbed this week. Thieves stole vessels used for Mass, a laptop used for live streaming Masses, and a soundboard used to connect the church’s microphones. They also stole the tabernacle and several consecrated hosts. The parish has no leads on the robbery. This is the first break-in the church has had. The thieves also damaged the church’s furnace, and flooded the church basement. Scientists may have identified the relics of three of Korea’s oldest Catholic martyrs, using DNA testing. Blessed Paul Yun Ji-chung and two of his companions were among the first of thousands of Catholics to be tortured and executed under the 500-year rule of the Choson dynasty. Their remains were discovered during renovations of a historic Catholic site in South Korea. Today, the Catholic Church remembers the September Martyrs, a group of 191 Christians martyred during the French Revolution.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - All Masses in the Extraordinary form will be permanently suspended at the North American College, the most important American Catholic institution in Rome. The college will also no longer teach the Extraordinary Form to seminarians. The rector of the college said the decision is in line with the pope’s new regulations on the traditional liturgy. The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon has said its Catholic schools will comply with a statewide vaccine mandate for school administrators. Oregon has mandated that all school teachers, staff and volunteers become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-October. The archdiocese said individual Catholics are free to seek religious exemptions, but clergy are not to write any letters supporting such exemptions. The pope will reportedly visit Cyprus in December. A local official told the Associated Press the visit will take place December 2-3. The Vatican has not confirmed the trip. The pope did express interest in visiting Cyprus in an interview broadcast today. Cyprus has a population of about 875,000 people, including approximately 10,000 Catholics. In his general audience Wednesday, Pope Francis said Catholics must reflect on how they live their faith. He said Christ must be at the center of everything in life. The pope warned that otherwise the faith can be reduced to mere formalities. Pope Francis based his reflections on a passage from Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In the passage, Saint Paul berates the Galatians for becoming distracted from the truth of the crucified Christ. Today is the feast of Saint Beatrice da Silva Meneses. The Portuguese saint abandoned her noble background in the mid-15th century to enter the convent, and eventually started a new religious order.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Abortion advocates are asking the Supreme Court to block a Texas law that would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers for offering illegal abortions. The law bans most abortions in the state after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can happen as early as five weeks into pregnancy. The law is scheduled to go into effect this week. Abortion advocates have asked the Supreme Court to block the law. Vandals attacked the cathedral in Buenos Aires late last week. The vandals spray painted the walls with slogans against the Church, Catholic priests, and the Bible. Some of the tags bore the anarchist symbol. Others were directed against police shootings. The vandalism took place around the time of a protest against police shootings. Organizers said they had nothing to do with the graffiti. Pope Francis has asked all Christians to intensify their prayer, penance, and fasting for those affected by the situation in Afghanistan. The pope also entrusted the souls of those who have died to God’s mercy. He said he is following the situation in Afghanistan with great concern. Today is the feast day of Saint Raymond Nonnatus. Raymond was a Catholic priest in Spain in the early 13th century. He is remembered for his quiet persistence in prayer and study. He is the patron saint of pregnant women, childbirth, and newborns.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - More U-S bishops are weighing in on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and conscientious objection. One of the latest was the archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas, who also leads the U-S bishops’ pro-life committee. Archbishop Joseph Naumann encouraged Catholics to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. He said the act of receiving the vaccine is not in itself supportive of legal abortion. Many Catholics have avoided the COVID-19 vaccine because of its connection to cell lines derived from abortions decades ago. Cardinal Raymond Burke has said he is healing, and recovering from COVID-19. The 73-year-old American cardinal was placed on a ventilator two weeks ago, due to complications from COVID-19. He is still hospitalized, but is no longer in the intensive care unit. The cardinal spoke about his condition, and thanked his doctors and nurses, in a personal statement on Twitter. The Catholic Church in Poland will hold a day of solidarity with the people of Afghanistan on September 5th. The Polish bishops’ conference is asking Polish Catholics to offer prayers, and financial support to the people of Afghanistan, who are now under Taliban rule. Complaining and blaming others is a waste of time. The way to defeat evil is to conquer it first within our own hearts. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his Angelus address in Rome. The pope encouraged Christians to ask God to purify their hearts, to make the world a better place. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Jeanne Jugan, who founded the Little Sisters of the Poor in the 19th century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic Charities at the US-Mexico border can continue its ministry to migrants, after a federal court decision this week. A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on a Texas state order that would have restricted the ministry. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued the executive order in July. The order restricted transportation of migrants in the state to law enforcement, due to the pandemic. The order directed law enforcement to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion it was carrying migrants. The pope met Thursday with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad. Murad is a survivor of enslavement by the radical Islamic group, ISIS. She has been outspoken in her concern for the future of Afghan women under Taliban rule. It is not clear what the pair spoke about during their private audience on Thursday. The Supreme Court of Colombia has ruled that minors as young as 14 can legally marry or cohabit with an adult, without parental consent. The court said minors must have a responsible intention to form a family. The ruling is in response to an inheritance lawsuit involving a 14-year-old boy and an adult woman, who later died. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Monica, the mother of Saint Augustine. Monica’s holy example, and fervent intercession, led to her son’s conversion to the Catholic Church, one of the most dramatic conversions in Church history.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Chicago will require all archdiocesan employees and clergy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees and clergy will have six weeks to receive the vaccine. The archdiocese will allow exemptions only for medical reasons. Chicago’s archbishop, Cardinal Blaze Sue-pitch, said the new directive follows the lead of Pope Francis. The pope has said getting vaccinated is an act of charity. Religious sisters from the Missionaries of Charity, and fourteen disabled children from an orphanage in Afghanistan, have arrived safely at Rome’s international airport. They arrived on one of two evacuation flights from Kabul. Italy has welcomed more than 2,600 evacuated Afghans, about a third of them children. Pope Francis has named a religious sister to the second-highest position in the Vatican’s social development office. The 46-year-old Salesian sister is from Italy. She is an economist and professor. She will serve as secretary of the office on an interim basis. She is now one of two women to hold a second-ranking position in an important Vatican office. Today is the feast day of Saint Jeanne Elizabeth des Bichier. Jeanne was born in 1773 to a noble family in France. She cofounded the Daughters of the Cross. By the time of her death in 1838, the community had more than sixty houses all over France.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic school students in the Diocese of Palm Beach will be required to wear masks indoors for at least the first sixty days of school. The policy went into effect Monday. Administrators will review the policy after the first sixty days of school. Students who refuse to wear a mask will be sent home. Parents have the option to apply for a medical accommodation, but the child must continue to wear a mask until the application is processed and approved. Florida is in the midst of a COVID-19 case surge brought on largely by the spread of the Delta variant. Catholics in Sri Lanka wore black and raised black flags last weekend, to protest what they consider to be the government’s failure to respond to the Easter Sunday attack on churches in 2019. The archbishop of the capital of Colombo has urged the government to name the perpetrators behind the coordinated bombings. More than 260 people died and more than 500 people were injured in the bombings. The Holy See is urging countries around the world to welcome refugees from Afghanistan. During an emergency session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, a Vatican diplomat stressed the right to life, the freedom of religion, the right to freedom of movement, and the right to peaceful assembly. He said that the Holy See had been following the situation in Afghanistan with great concern, and was hoping for a peaceful and swift resolution through dialogue. Hypocrisy within the Church is detestable. Those were the strong words of Pope Francis today, during his general audience in Rome. The pope said there are many hypocritical Christians and ministers. He urged Christians to remember the words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew: ‘Let what you say be simply Yes or No. Anything more than that comes from evil.’ Today is the feast day of the French king, and patron of builders, Saint Louis the Ninth.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pope will send $230,000 to Haiti, to support victims of a recent earthquake. The donation is reportedly an initial contribution, to help Haitians as their recovery process is in an emergency phase. The money will be distributed to the Catholic dioceses most in need, through collaboration with the Vatican’s embassy in Haiti. The earthquake killed more than 2,200 people. Hundreds are still missing and thousands are injured. More bishops are weighing in on the COVID-19 vaccine. The Bishop of Spokane in Washington has said conscience rights should be respected, but that priests should not sign any religious exemptions for parishioners. The five bishops of Wisconsin have encouraged vaccination, but said nobody can be forced to accept a vaccine. The first ever March for Life in California will take place tomorrow, at the state capitol in Sacramento. Large pro-life events have taken place in several major California cities, but the California March for Life is the first of it’s kind in the state. The pro-life rally was organized by the national March for Life organization and the California Family Council, which is a state affiliate of Focus on the Family. Today is the feast day of one of the Twelve Apostles, Saint Bartholomew. Bartholomew is believed to have preached in the East, after the Ascension of Christ. He is believed to have died a martyr.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Raymond Burke has been removed from a ventilator and will move out of the ICU, as he continues to battle COVID-19. The cardinal’s family shared the news of his recovery on Saturday. The 73-year-old was placed on a ventilator on August 14th, due to complications from COVID-19. It is not clear if Cardinal Burke was vaccinated against COVID-19, but he has been a vocal opponent of closing churches, as well as mandatory vaccines. A priest in Northern Costa Rica has been suspended after celebrating the Ordinary Form of the Mass in Latin. The priest also reportedly celebrated the Mass ad orientum, or facing away from the congregation. Costa Rica’s bishops banned the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, following the release of the pope’s new restrictions on the liturgy. Vandals have stolen a cross from a Catholic church in the Holy Land. The church was built on the site where tradition holds that Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the five loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand people. The six-inch iron cross was embedded in an outdoor altar. Israeli police are investigating the theft. Do not water down the reality that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus. That was the warning of Pope Francis on Sunday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope said the truth of the Eucharist - and the humanity of Christ - can cause scandal, and they are difficult for people to accept. He warned we may have watered down these revelations, if they do not throw us into crisis. Today is the feast of Saint Rose of Lima, the first saint of the New World. Rose was born in Lima, Peru in 1586. She consecrated her life to God at a very young age, and practiced intense prayer and penance daily. She joined the Third Order of Saint Dominic.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archdioceses of Philadelphia and Chicago have instructed their clerics to not provide parishioners religious exemptions from receiving COVID-19 vaccines. The archbishop of Chicago said Catholics are free to determine their own actions, but they cannot use the teaching of the church to justify such decisions. He said there is no basis in Catholic moral teaching for rejecting vaccine mandates on religious grounds. A campaign to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia in Italy is gaining ground. Activists circulated a petition to bring to vote a referendum to change Italy’s law concerning euthanasia. The change would effectively decriminalize assisted suicide for adults. The petition reportedly reached the minimum signatures needed for parliament to choose whether to initiate the referendum. The Diocese of Arlington has released an eight-page document about gender ideology. The document states that Catholics must show charity for self-identified transgender people, without compromising their faith, or adopting simplistic solutions offered by activists. The document rejected bullying of any person experiencing gender dysphoria, but also warned of a great danger of a misguided charity and false compassion. Today is the feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Bernard is a Doctor of the Church. His writings and sermons greatly influenced Europe during the 12th century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The bishop of Gallup, New Mexico has said that COVID-19 vaccines can be taken by Catholics with a clear conscience. He said the state ought not universally mandate the vaccine, without allowing for conscientious objection. The bishop made his comments in a letter released Wednesday. Some Catholics have raised concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine’s remote connection to aborted fetal tissue. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Brazilian bishop, days after a sexually explicit video of the bishop was shared on the internet. The 60-year-old bishop led a diocese north of the city of São Paulo from 2012 until this week. The bishop has been investigated multiple times by the Vatican for alleged sexual misconduct, or for covering up sexual misconduct. A man has been arrested and charged in connection to a fire at a Catholic church in Glasgow last month. The fire destroyed the 163-year-old church, which was considered to be the spiritual home to Glasgow’s Polish community. The 24-year-old man has been charged with deliberately starting a fire, with the intention of damaging property. Today is the feast of the French missionary, and founder of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity, Saint John Eudes. John is remembered for his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Heart of Mary. He wrote the first book ever on the devotions to the Sacred Hearts.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Raymond Burke, who was recently hospitalized with COVID-19, is reportedly stable, and has received the sacraments. The 73-year-old cardinal lives in Rome, and became ill while visiting Wisconsin, where he was raised. The pope has sent his condolences after a violent attack on a group of Catholic religious sisters in South Sudan. Nine Catholic sisters were traveling in a convoy of three vehicles, when they were ambushed. Five of the sisters were killed in the ambush. Pope Francis collaborated with the Ad Council to produce a public service announcement promoting COVID-19 vaccines. In the announcement, the pope is heard saying that getting the vaccines is an act of loveThe promotion also included six cardinals and archbishops from North, South, and Central America. The promotion will be distributed in English, Spanish and Portuguese. In his general audience today, Pope Francis said Catholics must observe the commandments, in order to encounter Jesus. The pope said Catholics cannot say they believe in Jesus Christ and then do whatever they want. He said the commandments are an aid to the encounter with Christ. Today, the Church remembers Saint Helena, a Roman empress who is believed to have discovered the cross of Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of Los Angeles will not provide religious exemption letters to individuals who object from receiving the coronavirus vaccine. In a statement Monday, the archdiocese recommended all local Catholics who can receive a COVID-19 vaccine should do so. The archdiocese cited the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the U-S bishops’ conference, and the California Catholic Conference. The Diocese of Avila in Spain is providing shelter for locals displaced from their homes by a wildfire. The fire began with a vehicle, and has spread across more than 29,000 acres. The diocese has opened its retreat house and school to local authorities and displaced families. More than 1,000 people have been evacuated due to the fire. Tens of thousands of people rallied in Puerto Rico’s capital on Saturday, in opposition to the new gender ideology curriculum in the nation’s public schools. Puerto Rico’s governor issued an executive order last week implementing the new curriculum. The pope will not offer a public Mass during his short visit to Scotland in November. The pope will travel to Glasgow for the opening days of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. He will reportedly be in Scotland for only a few hours. He will meet with Scotland’s bishops. Today, the Church remembers Saint Hyacinth, the patron of Poland. Hyacinth was one of the first members of the Dominicans.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has called for prayers and solidarity after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Aug. 14. The pope prayed for the people of Haiti from the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer, asking the crowd to offer a Hail Mary. The death toll of the most recent earthquake has reached nearly 1,300. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248694/pope-francis-urges-solidarity-with-haiti-after-devastating-earthquake Several Latin American Catholic groups asked for help for the thousands of migrants on their way to the US who are stranded in the Darien Gap, a jungle region at the Panama-Colombia border. According to data from the Panamanian authorities, more than 10,000 migrants are in transit in the Colombian-Panamanian border area through the Darien jungle. So far this year more than 40,000 migrants have crossed the border. The archbishops of the area said that it is necessary to establish temporary reception centers for migrants and refugees, in order to guarantee their basic rights. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248682/latin-american-bishops-ask-help-for-migrants-stranded-in-jungle-on-panama-colombia-border The first annual Mother Angelica Award has been bestowed on Archbishop Charles Chaput, the former archbishop of Philadelphia. The award was created to recognize the foundress of EWTN, Mother Angelica, as well as to honor people who have devoted their lives to service to the Church. In his remarks, Archbishop Chaput said all people who are involved in the New Evangelization should rise above discouragement and despair and maintain a sense of adventure. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248692/archbishop-chaput-honored-with-first-annual-mother-angelica-award Today, the Church honors St. Stephen of Hungary, an 11th-century king who led his country to embrace the Catholic faith. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-stephen-of-hungary-565

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Senate has narrowly approved language against tax-payer funding of abortion. The language was part of a budget resolution, related to a proposed $3.5 trillion spending package for the 2022 fiscal year. The pro-life amendment was included by a vote of 50 to 49. The amendment is non-binding, but pro-life leaders say it is a significant step to prevent Congress from including abortion funding in next year’s budget. The U.S. bishops have criticized the Biden administration for dropping a conscience rights lawsuit. The lawsuit involved a Vermont hospital, which allegedly coerced a nurse into helping with an abortion in 2017. The hospital reportedly showed a pattern of discrimination against staffers opposed to abortion. The Justice Department quietly dismissed the lawsuit this week. Catholic Charities has defended its ministry to migrants, amid criticism that one of its member agencies is acting recklessly, considering the pandemic. Officials in Texas have warned of high rates of COVID-19 among undocumented migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. A recent state order restricted volunteer work with migrants. Catholic Charities has said it takes great care to provide COVID tests for migrants, and isolate COVID-positive migrants. The archbishop of Lima, the capital of Peru, has reportedly asked the Vatican for permission to place lay persons in charge of administration of parishes in his archdiocese. He said he believes lay people could run parishes, while priests study and celebrate Mass. Canon law does allow a bishop to entrust the pastoral care of a parish to a deacon, or another person who is not a priest, if there is a shortage of priests. Today is the feast of Saint Maximus. Maximus was born in Constantinople around the year 580. He is considered one of the chief theological writers of the Greek Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholic bishops in South Dakota have given their support for religious exemption from any vaccine mandate. Many employers or other authorities in the state are instating COVID-19 vaccine mandates. South Dakota’s bishops said Catholics whose well-formed consciences tell them not to receive a vaccine, should be free to seek a religious exemption from any vaccine mandate. The bishops called the decision to accept or reject a vaccine “intimate and personal.” The archbishop of Chicago has condemned rising levels of gun violence in the city. Last weekend one police officer was shot and killed, and another was injured. Cardinal Blase Cupich has called for common-sense gun reform laws, including universal background checks. He urged Catholics to avoid becoming numb to the recurring news of gun violence and mass shootings. A federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The lawsuit was filed by a former Catholic school guidance counselor who was fired for entering a same-sex marriage contract. The court ruled the counselor qualified as a minister of religion, so the archdiocese and school were exempt from federal workplace discrimination prohibitions. Pope Francis met briefly this week with the actor who plays Jesus in the popular internet series, The Chosen. The Catholic actor is in Rome this week to visit pilgrimage sites related to the Gospels. He met Pope Francis during the pope’s general audience. The actor addressed the pope in Spanish, and asked Francis to pray for him as he continues to portray Jesus in the series. Today, the Church remembers Blessed Pope Innocent the Eleventh. His pontificate was marked by the long struggle with the then-king of France over papal authority in France.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Olympic gymnast and Catholic, Simone Biles, sparked controversy earlier this week when she announced on Instagram that she is very much pro-choice. The 24-year-old asked her followers to submit their unpopular opinions for her to comment on. One of her fans made the submission that abortion is wrong. The gymnast replied that she is pro-choice, because of her experience as a child in the foster care system. Later, on Twitter, Biles said that in no way did she favor aborting babies as an alternative to the foster care system. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke has tested positive for COVID-19. He is reportedly doing well. The Cardinal tweeted that he was resting comfortably and receiving excellent medical carre. He also asked for prayers. Pope Francis made an unknown phone call at the end of his weekly general audience today. The pope spoke on the phone for around two minutes, gestured to the crowd that he would return soon, and left the room. He returned shortly afterward to greet the people gathered to see him. There is currently no information available about the mysterious phone call. EWTN will present its first annual award named after its founder, Mother Angelica. The Mother Angelica Award will recognize individuals who have advanced the New Evangelization. The award will be presented in a televised ceremony on the Solemnity of the Assumption, which is also the 40th anniversary of EWTN’s launch. Today is the feast of Saint Clare of Assisi. Saint Claire was born to a noble family in Assisi in 1193. When she was 18, she heard Saint Francis of Assisi preaching. She abandoned everything to follow Saint Francis. She led an order of women who became known as the Poor Clares. She was canonized two years after her death.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Italian police have identified the person who sent a questionable letter to the pope this week. The letter was addressed to Pope Francis, and contained three bullets. Police have not released the name of the individual, but said it is a French citizen, who is already known to Vatican security. The Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services has said he supports a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for servicemen. The Pentagon is reportedly set to require that all troops receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The archbishop said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Pope Francis, had recognized the morality of the vaccine. He said that is the best guidance Catholics have. The archbishop said that while a person could object from the mandatory vaccine due to their personal conscience, “even that should be formed by the teaching of the Church.” A grassroots petition is calling for a temporary suspension of the charitable status of Canada’s Catholic bishop’s conference, and more than 300 Catholic charities. The petition is in response to the Catholic Church’s participation in residential schools in Canada. The petition had about 16,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for Canada’s Revenue Agency said a suspension is only possible if an investigation, and hearing, prove an organization violated its charitable status conditions. Catholic dioceses and parishes in Thailand are converting many church facilities into field hospitals and isolation centers. Thailand is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. The archbishop of Bangkok said the more humanity suffers, the more we need love, mercy and sharing. Today is the feast of Saint Lawrence. Lawrence was martyred in the year 258. He is venerated as a patron of Rome, along with Saints Peter and Paul.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Breaking: A Catholic priest has been murdered in western France, according to an announcement from the country’s Interior Minister on Monday. The Diocese of Luçon named the murdered priest as Fr. Olivier Maire, French provincial superior of the Montfort Missionaries, ​​and a popular retreat-giver. A suspect has reportedly handed himself in to the police. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248621/breaking-catholic-priest-murdered-in-france-says-countrys-interior-minister An envelope addressed to Pope Francis, containing three bullets, was intercepted in Milan late on Sunday night, according to Italian media reports. The piece of mail had no return address, but carried a French stamp. Local law enforcement have seized the note and are investigating its origins. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248622/report-envelope-with-three-bullets-addressed-to-pope-francis-intercepted Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of Argentina will go on trial on sexual abuse charges in October. The 57-year-old bishop is charged with abusing two men, reports of which surfaced as early as 2015, and which he denies. The Vatican has repeatedly denied having prior knowledge of sexual abuse allegations against Zanchetta before his December 2017 appointment to a high-level post. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248617/bishop-zanchetta-faces-trial-on-sexual-abuse-charges-in-october American pop star Britney Spears announced last week that she is Catholic now, and attends Mass. In a since-deleted Instagram post, Spears, who was raised Baptist, said she is Catholic and asked her followers to pray. It is not certain if she was previously baptized, and it is unclear if she has received any other sacraments. Her statements about her faith come amid revelations that as part of a conservatorship, Spears has been forced to wear an intrauterine device despite wanting to have another child. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248608/update-britney-spears-says-she-is-catholic-now-in-social-media-post Today the Church honors St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born Edith Stein, St. Teresa converted from Judaism to Catholicism in the course of her work as a philosopher, and later entered the Carmelite Order. She died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1942. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-edith-stein-557

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a mandatory 48-hour waiting period for abortions in Tennessee. The waiting period went into effect in 2015. In 2020, a federal judge struck down the waiting period for being unconstitutional. A lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom praised the waiting period as common sense, compassionate and constitutional. She said many women resort to abortion because they feel it is their only choice. The archbishop of San Francisco has decried disrespectful responses to the Pope’s recent regulations on the Traditional Latin Mass. The archbishop said the pope introduced the new norms out of a concern for unity. He said he supports Pope Francis, while affirming the validity of the Norvus Ordo form of the Mass, and the Second Vatican Council. The International Eucharistic Congress will feature a Mass setting in a language spoken by the Romani people in Hungary. The event will mark a significant moment for the traditionally nomadic Romani people, who are Hungary’s largest minority group. The Congress will open on September 5th, in Budapest. Today is the feast of the Transfiguration. The feast commemorates one of the pinnacles of Jesus’ earthly life, when he revealed his divinity to three of his closest disciples, by means of a miraculous and supernatural light. The feast is celebrated today by both Roman and Eastern rite Catholics.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new civil sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The lawsuit also named an Opus Dei priest who is currently a pastor in the Archdiocese of New York. Lawyers say Father Michael Barrett abused the plaintiff for several years, beginning when the plaintiff was twelve. The lawsuit was filed under New York’s Child Victims Act, a law which created a temporary window for new civil sex abuse lawsuits to be filed in old cases where the statute of limitations had already expired. The time window for civil lawsuits expires on Aug. 14. A top publisher of hymns will stop publishing works by Catholic composer David Haas. GIA Publications has reportedly received additional allegations of sexual misconduct against Haas. Haas, a member of the laity, was a mainstay in the "contemporary liturgical music" movement that began in the 1970s. Among his more popular songs are, "Glory to God," "You are Mine," "We are Called," and "Blest are They," Some Catholic institutions are calling for conscience exemptions to COVID-19 vaccinations. New York City announced this week that it will require proof of vaccination for workers and patrons of some businesses. The local archdiocese has warned priests against granting religious vaccine exemptions for Catholics. The head of the National Catholic Bioethics Center has argued that well-founded conscientious objections are part of Catholic doctrine. The Catholic archbishop of Dublin paid tribute this week to a local priest, who died saving the life of his parish secretary. The 72-year-old priest died on Tuesday, after reportedly pushing his secretary out of the way of an oncoming bus, in a village in County Cork. The bus driver also died. Local reports suggest he lost control of the bus after suffering a medical trauma. Today is the feast of the second-century Saint Emygdius. He was a bishop who was martyred for his missionary work in Germany. He is a patron against earthquakes.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. - Pro-life advocates have filed more than 75 amicus briefs at the Supreme Court, supporting Mississippi’s ban on most elective abortions after 15 weeks. The Supreme Court will consider the ban this fall. Pro-life advocates say the case presents an opportunity for the court to reevaluate, or even possibly overturn its previous rulings that claimed a right to abortion. Catholic gymnast Simone Biles returned to competition at the Olympics on Tuesday, and will leave with two medals. Biles had been favored to win as many as five gold medals in Tokyo, but she withdrew from four events, after revealing that she was suffering from the twisties. The twisties refers to a disconnect between a gymnast’s brain and body, and results in random loss of muscle memory. Biles has spoken about her Catholic faith in the past, and she keeps a rosary in her gymnastics bag, and prays prior to competitions. She says she lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, prior to competition. In his general audience today, Pope Francis said Christians must receive the truth of the Gospel as it was announced, without seeking to negotiate with it. Francis said faith in Jesus is not a bargaining chip, it is salvation and redemption. One month has passed since the pope underwent surgery on his colon. Vatican commentators said the pope appeared agile, attentive and responsive during today’s general audience. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint John Vianney, the patron of priests. John was born in 1786 in France. He was a parish priest in a remote French community. While there, he prayed and worked for the conversion of his parishioners. He restored his parish church, opened an orphanage, and cared for the poor. Pilgrims would travel from all over France to come to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Archdiocese of New York has instructed priests not to grant religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines. The archdiocese said such an exemption would contradict Pope Francis, who has said it is morally acceptable to receive any of the vaccines, and there is a moral responsibility to get vaccinated. Dioceses in the capital city of Manila, in the Philippines, have suspended public Masses for three weeks, due to a rise in COVID-19 infections. Masses will be available only online until August 20th. Officials fear a surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19. There were reportedly more than 8,000 recorded infections a day from Friday to Monday. The archbishop of San Francisco has instituted a monthly Traditional Latin Mass at the city’s cathedral. The archdiocese said it established the monthly Masses, in response to the enthusiasm of local Catholics for the Traditional Latin Mass. San Francisco’s archbishop has said Traditional Latin Masses will continue in his diocese, as the pope’s recent motu proprio allows. The pope is asking Catholics around the world to pray, during the month of August, for the reform of the Church. In a video message, the pope said renewal is only possible by discerning God’s will in our daily life. Today, the Church remembers Saint Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a secret disciple of Jesus. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He reminded the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to a trial. He also helped prepare Jesus’ body, and placed him in the tomb. Tradition holds that St. Nicodemus was martyred, though no record remains.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick now faces a fifth civil sex abuse lawsuit, in New Jersey. The lawsuit came one day after McCarrick was criminally charged in a Massachusetts district court for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. The 91-year-old is the first U-S cardinal to be criminally charged with sex abuse of a minor. Catholics in Washington D-C are asking their archbishop to reinstate a pontifical Mass scheduled for August 14th at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass was canceled after Cardinal Wilton Gregory withdrew his permission for it, because of new papal restrictions on traditional liturgies. The cardinal has reaffirmed his decision. A new study has found that nearly 3,500 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 200 days of this year. This equates to roughly 17 Christians being murdered every day in the country. The report suggested Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the majority of the killings. In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis said God wants a loving relationship with us. The pope said Catholics are called to mature in their faith, leaving behind self-interest and calculation. Pope Francis made his comments in reflection on Sunday’s Gospel reading, which detailed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Today, the Church remembers Saint Peter Julian Eymard. The French priest was born in the early 19th century. He established a community of men dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration. The congregation also worked with the poor and helped them to prepare for First Communion.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Massachusetts in the 1970s. This is the first time the ex-prelate has been criminally charged since accusations of longstanding sexual misconduct by him first came to light three years ago. The 91-year-old faces three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14. He has not been arrested, and he is scheduled to appear in court August 26th. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The U-S House has passed spending bills that would allow funding of abortions both in the United States and abroad. One bill excludes the Hyde Amendment, a federal policy which bars funding of most elective abortions in Medicaid. The bill also excludes an amendment which encourages state and local governments to uphold conscience protections in health care. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas have spoken out against the spending bills. The bishops said the funding of abortion and violation of conscience rights are grave abuses of human rights. The Catholic health care network Ascension will require coronavirus vaccination for its employees, physicians, volunteers and vendors. The network promised some exemptions to the mandate for people with health problems or religious exemptions. Tens of thousands of its employees have already been vaccinated, but the network said it wants to do more to overcome the pandemic. Today is the feast of Saint Peter Chrysologus. Peter was a fifth-century Italian bishop known for testifying to Christ's full humanity and divinity, during a period of doctrinal confusion in the Church. He is a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new bishop created under the 2018 Vatican-China deal has been ordained in China. Pope Francis appointed the 49-year-old coadjutor bishop of a diocese in north-central China. Before his appointment as bishop, he was secretary of the Chinese bishops’ conference. The retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office underwent robot-assisted surgery this week in Italy. Cardinal Robert Sarah was the most senior African prelate at the Vatican before his retirement. Doctors said the surgery on the 76-year-old was successful. The reason for Cardinal Sarah’s surgery has not been made public. A Catholic priest in southern India has been arrested for alleged hate speech after making political remarks, including criticism of India’s ruling party. The priest has denied the charges. He says videos criticizing his remarks were deceptively edited. He apologized for any hurt he may have caused. The Vatican has unveiled the official image of the next World Meeting of Families, which will be held next June, in Rome. The image features the Wedding at Cana, the first miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The image was painted by a Slovenian Jesuit priest. The priest said he painted the Wedding at Cana because the family is the expression of a sacrament. Today is the feast day of Saint Martha. Martha is mentioned in three Gospel passages. In the Gospel of Luke, she receives Jesus into her home and worries herself with serving him. In the Gospel of John, she witnesses Jesus raising her brother Lazarus from the grave. She is mentioned another time in the Gospel of John. Saint Martha is the patron of housewives, servants, waiters and cooks.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington has reportedly withdrawn permission for a solemn pontifical Mass that was to be offered on August 14 in D-C . The cardinal reportedly cited the pope’s recent motu proprio, restricting the Traditional Latin Mass . A pontifical Mass is celebrated by a bishop in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The Mass was to take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of the Solemnity of the Assumption. Cardinal Gregory has otherwise not yet applied the motu proprio to his archdiocese. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland issued a formal directive requiring that full abortion services are available in the region by March of 2022. Catholic bishops, including the Primate of All Ireland, are lamenting the directive as unjust and gravely disquieting. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but abortion law is considered to be a devolved issue under the control of the Northern Ireland Assembly. But due to the suspension of the regional government, the British parliament decriminalized abortion in Northern Ireland in October 2019, and obliged the U-K government to create legal access to abortion in the region. A new report shows the toll of the coronavirus pandemic on the Church in Mexico. The report suggests Mexico has lost five bishops, more than 230 priests, and fifteen religious men or women during the pandemic. The Archdiocese of Guadalajara has been the hardest hit, with 25 priests who have died. Today the Church remembers one of its earliest popes - Saint Victor the First. Victor was pope from 189 to 199. He is most famous for decreeing that Easter be universally celebrated on a Sunday. He may have died from martyrdom.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. - Catholic Relief Services has warned of a hunger pandemic affecting the elderly population in Cuba. The country is experiencing shortages of food, hygiene supplies and personal health protection equipment, due to the coronavirus pandemic. About twenty percent of Cuba’s population is elderly. Catholic Relief Services and other humanitarian agencies are running a house-to-house soup kitchen program. The archbishop of Munich and Freising has said he may again ask Pope Francis to accept his resignation. Cardinal Reinhard Marx first submitted his resignation in May, amid the fallout from the clerical abuse crisis in Germany. Pope Francis declined his resignation. Marx is a member of the pope’s advisory Council of Cardinals. He is also coordinator of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy. Until last year, he was chairman of the German bishops’ conference. Monday marked the five year anniversary of the murder of French priest Father Jacques Hamel. The priest was killed during Mass in 2016, by supporters of the Islamic State. Four people suspected of involvement in the attack will go on trial in Paris in early 2022. The priest’s cause for sainthood formally opened in 2017, one year after his death. The Vatican court held the first hearing today in a trial against ten people charged with committing financial crimes against the Holy See. Among the defendants is Cardinal Angelo Becciu. He is the first ever cardinal to be tried by the tribunal of the Vatican City State since Pope Francis changed the rules to allow it in April. Today the Church remembers Blessed Mary Magdalen Martinengo. Mary was born to a noble family in Italy. She joined the Capuchins and eventually became superior of her community. She had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. - The pope offered his blessing on Sunday to athletes competing in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Pope Francis prayed that the games be a sign of hope, universal brotherhood and healthy competition. Among the more than 11,600 athletes are several committed Catholics, including U-S gymnast Grace McCallum. Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has expressed concern about the lack of faith within Church institutions in Germany. Benedict shared his concerns in a written conversation that was published in a German magazine. Benedict wrote that many people in Church institutions in Germany do not share the inner mission of the Church. He warned that this will, in many cases, obscure the witness of the Church. The written conversation was published in honor of the 70th anniversary of Benedict’s ordination to the priesthood. The archbishop of Tokyo has been named the new secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. The archbishop made headlines last week for asking Olympic athletes to not visit churches to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The archdiocese of Tokyo had reportedly been preparing to care for the spiritual needs of Olympic athletes, but canceled those plans because of the coronavirus pandemic. Today, the Church remembers the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne. The couple's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A church in Washington state won its case against a state abortion coverage mandate on Thursday. State law requires employers, including churches, to cover abortions if their health plans also included maternity coverage. The law allowed religious groups not to pay for abortion coverage, but Cedar Park Church argued it could not find a health plan without abortion coverage included. On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cited her Catholic faith, while defending efforts to permit federal funding of elective abortions. A House committee recently approved a draft spending bill that excludes the Hyde Amendment. The federal policy prohibits funding of most abortions in Medicaid. The archbishop of Pelosi’s home diocese of San Francisco has said no one can claim to be a devout Catholic and condone the killing of innocent human life. Bishops and cardinals continue to respond to the pope’s recent motu proprio restricting the Traditional Latin Mass . In England, Cardinal Vincent Nichols has said he will grant faculties to priests seeking to celebrate Traditional Latin Masses , as long as they fulfill the conditions of the pope’s motu proprio. Bishops in the Philippines issued a statement supporting the motu proprio. Cardinal Raymond Burke has called the restrictions severe and revolutionary, and questioned the pope’s authority to revoke use of the rite. Today is the feast day of Saint Bridget of Sweden. Bridget received visions of Christ’s suffering many times throughout her life, and eventually founded the order of the Most Holy Savior.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A new bill would defund public colleges and universities that perform abortions, or offer the abortion pill to students or staff. Pro-life lawmakers introduced the bill on Wednesday. They said the bill is a response to a new law in California, requiring campus health clinics at state colleges and universities to make abortion pills available to students on-campus starting in 2023. New Hampshire is moving to restrict late term abortions. The state’s 2021 budget limits abortions in the state to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. New Hampshire currently has no gestational age limit on abortion. Catholics are continuing to respond to Pope Francis’ recent Motu Proprio restricting the Traditional Latin Mass. The retired bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, has said the new restrictions are a blow, even if they were expected. Papal biographer George Wiegel described the motu proprio as theologically incoherent, pastorally divisive, unnecessary and cruel. Some U-S bishops have said nothing will change, including in the Archdiocese for the Military Services and Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as the dioceses of Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Knoxville, and Lincoln. Today is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, one of the most prominent women mentioned in the New Testament. The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion. She was also the first recorded witness of the Resurrection.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The general secretary of the U-S Conference of Catholic Bishops resigned from his post on Tuesday. The resignation came ahead of a media report alleging that he frequented gay bars and private residences while using a popular “hookup” app on his mobile device. Bishops around the world are still responding to the Pope’s recent motu proprio restricting the use of the Traditional Latin Mass . The bishop of Springfield in Illinois has dispensed two parishes in his diocese from the new restrictions. Bishops in Costa Rica have prohibited the use of the Traditional Latin Mass in all eight of the country’s dioceses. The Archbishop of Cincinnati has said he was not informed of President Biden’s upcoming visit to a Catholic university in his archdiocese. He did not approve of the university hosting the event. President Joe Biden will appear at a town hall event today hosted by Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati. President Biden is the second Catholic president in U-S history. U-S bishops are concerned about his policies on abortion, gender issues, and religious freedom. An environmental charity recently awarded Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for limiting their family to two children. The award was in honor of World Population Day. Catholic leaders have challenged the award, suggesting that welcoming children and embracing family contributes to the prosperity of the environment. Pope St. John Paul II once stressed that an appreciation of the human person is necessary for interest in others, and the earth. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The state of California has ruled that the Los Angeles Unified School District violated federal law in ways that prevented assistance for academically struggling students in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The decision could restore millions of dollars to Catholic schools. The Archdiocese filed a complaint in 2019 after the district blocked all but 17 of the more than 100 previously eligible Catholic schools from receiving Title 1 funds. These funds assist underperforming students with math, English and counseling. The Diocese of Calgary has promised compensation for survivors of local residential schools. The diocese said the fund is one way it hopes to bring about justice and healing to Canada’s Indigenous population. Hundreds of unmarked graves were recently discovered at the sites of several former Catholic-run residential schools. A New Mexico state senator said he was denied Communion this weekend because of a political matter. His diocese of Las Cruces has said he was privately warned he should not approach Communion, due to his support for a pro-abortion bill. The senator’s parish pastor similarly warned the senator in private not to approach Communion. A request has been made to open the beatification cause of the co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way. Carmen Hernández died five years ago at the age of 85. The ecclesial movement draws its inspiration from the practices of the early Catholic Church, providing “post-baptismal” Christian formation in some 40,000 small parish-based communities. The movement has an estimated membership of more than a million people across the world. Today is the feast of Saint Margaret of Antioch, a virgin and martyr.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Diocesan bishops are considering how to implement the pope’s motu proprio on the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. The Archbishop of San Francisco has said the Traditional Latin Mass will continue to be available in his local Church. The Diocese of Arlington will allow all parishes that had planned on offering Masses in the Extraordinary Form to continue. The Diocese of Little Rock will limit the celebration of Traditional Latin Mass to two parishes administered by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. The Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut filed for bankruptcy last week, amid several sexual abuse lawsuits related to a former school administered by the diocese. More than 60 lawsuits have been filed related to alleged abuse at Mount Saint John School, a former residential school for troubled boys an hour south of Hartford. Norwich’s bishop described the school, which was funded and audited by the state, as a “ministry” of the diocese. Pope Francis prayed for Cuba on Sunday, in his first Angelus address since undergoing surgery. The pope promised his closeness to the Cuban people, after the largest protests in decades in the communist country. Cubans are struggling with inflation, food shortages, and the coronavirus pandemic. Today is the feast of Saint Arsenius. The 5th-century saint was a tutor to the son of a Roman Emperor. But he gave it all up to live a life of prayer in the desert.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Today Pope Francis issued a document restricting Masses celebrated in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. Among many provisions, the document requires that groups celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass do not deny the validity of Vatican II and the Magisterium. It also imposes new requirements for newly ordained priests wishing to celebrate the Extraordinary Form, and instructs bishops to verify that already-established parishes that celebrate the Extraordinary Form “are effective for their spiritual growth and to determine whether or not to retain them.” It further instructs bishops to “take care not to authorize the establishment of new groups” that celebrate the Extraordinary Form. The Pope wrote the document in response to a 2020 survey of bishops, and explained that he was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. catholicnewsagency.com/news/248392/breaking-pope-francis-issues-restrictions-on-extraordinary-form-masses-in-new-motu-proprio The top bishop of Ireland on Thursday criticized a plan from the government of the United Kingdom to end all future investigations and prosecutions related to the 20th-century religion-fueled conflicts known as the Troubles. The proposition, brought by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, would impose a statute of limitations that would effectively ban legal proceedings on all Troubles-related incidents. Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh wrote in a July 15 letter that in light of the UK government’s plan, “it is disturbing that victims and survivors, those who have paid the highest price for the fragile peace we all enjoy today, once more feel marginalised and neglected.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248389/n-irish-bishop-criticizes-uk-plan-to-end-inquests-prosecutions-related-to-the-troubles The Knights of Columbus on Thursday expressed sorrow that the proposed appropriations bill, which funds the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education, does not include the usual prohibitions on abortion funding. The $253.8 billion proposal does not include the Hyde Amendment, federal policy since 1976 that prohibits funding of most elective abortions in Medicaid. During his 2020 presidential campaign, President Joe Biden called for an end to the use of the Hyde Amendment, in a reversal of his previous support of the policy. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248390/knights-of-columbus-disappointed-by-advancement-of-funding-bill-without-hyde-amendment The diocese of Assisi in Italy announced July 15 that the reopening of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb had been postponed due to COVID-19, with a promise that it would reopen permanently in the future. During Acutis’ beatification ceremonies last year, visitors to the Church of St. Mary Major in Assisi were able to see the Italian teen dressed in tennis shoes and jeans through a viewing glass on his tomb. While currently unable to view his body, visitors can still pray at the closed tomb and venerate the first millennial to be beatified. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248384/blessed-carlo-acutis-permanent-reopening-of-tomb-postponed Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The formal beginnings of the Carmelite religious order are attributed to a group of monks who, in the 13th century, began living and praying on the mountain, which sits in the plain of Galilee. They venerated the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was instituted by the Carmelites sometime between 1376 and 1386. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/our-lady-of-mount-carmel-523

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Bishops in South Africa are calling for an end to violence and looting following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. More than seventy people have died in the violence. The bishops attributed the crisis in part to extreme economic inequalities and high unemployment. The mass looting began on July 8th, after the former president was imprisoned for refusing to testify in an investigation into allegations of corruption. A member of Congress is seeking a vote to require the Biden Administration to push for a change of venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The event is scheduled to take place in Beijing. The U.S. State Department has determined that China is committing ongoing genocide against ethnic and religious minorities. The Archdiocese of St. Louis announced Monday that face masks will be optional at its Catholic schools this fall. The announcement follows the most recent recommendations from the CDC. The archdiocese also strongly encouraged all eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to receive one. Missouri is experiencing a surge in virus cases. Church officials are studying a reported miracle attributed to an Italian Catholic who died in 1964 at the age of 21. Nicola d’Onofrio was diagnosed with cancer in 1963, when he was discerning with the Camillian order in Rome. Those around him were struck by his peaceful demeanor and ready smile as he underwent treatment. He died one year later, after making a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Today is the feast Saint Bonaventure. The 13th century saint is remembered for his leadership of the Franciscans, and his great intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis returned to the Vatican today, after spending eleven days in a Rome hospital to recover from colon surgery. The pope stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on his way to the Vatican. He arrived at his residence shortly before noon Rome time. The Catholic archbishop of Tokyo has asked visiting Olympic athletes and coaches to refrain from attending local Catholic churches, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The city of Tokyo has already enforced a state of emergency two weeks ahead of the Olympic Games, which are scheduled to begin on July 23. Spectators have also been banned from the Olympic sporting events to curb the spread of COVID-19. A dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Masses is still in place in the Tokyo archdiocese, which serves around 100,000 Catholics out of a total population of almost 20 million. More than 220,000 people left the Catholic Church in Germany in 2020, according to official figures released on Wednesday. The number is almost 19% lower than in 2019, when some 272,000 people left the Catholic Church. Pro-abortion protestors blocked a pro-life procession in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday morning. Brooklyn’s Witness for Life day of prayer takes place the second Saturday of each month. It includes a rosary procession to the local Planned Parenthood clinic. Brooklyn’s bishop said the attempts to silence the procession were very disturbing and disheartening. Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. She was the first Native American to be canonized. Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks," Kateri lived a life of holiness and virtue, despite obstacles and opposition within her tribe.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The pope is praying for the victims of a fire today in a coronavirus isolation ward at a hospital in southern Iraq. More than sixty people were killed in the fire, and more than one hundred others injured. Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the fire. The ward opened three months ago. Pro-life advocates say a draft spending bill would force taxpayers to subsidize abortion on demand. A House subcommittee advanced the bill on Monday without the Hyde Amendment, which bars funding of abortions in Medicaid. In Cuba, a Catholic priest was beaten and arrested on Sunday during protests against the communist government. The priest was reportedly defending young protesters. He was arrested and accused of public disorder. Cuban Catholics held a peaceful demonstration at the police station on Monday to demand the priest’s release. Today marks ten days since Pope Francis underwent intestinal surgery at a hospital in Rome. The Vatican said the pope is continuing medical treatment in order to return to the Vatican as soon as possible. A Vatican spokesman had originally announced that the pope would spend around seven days in the hospital, barring complications. Today the Catholic Church celebrates the memory of Saint Henry the Second. The German king led and defended Europe’s Holy Roman Empire at the beginning of the first millennium.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis will continue to stay in the hospital this week, as he recovers from surgery on his colon. A Vatican spokesman said the pope will remain at the hospital a few more days, to optimize the medical and rehabilitation therapy. Francis was originally expected to stay at the hospital around seven days, barring complications. Thousands of people took to the streets of major local cities in Cuba this weekend to protest a scarcity of resources and the death toll of COVID-19. Cuba has experienced months of food and medicine shortages. Cuba’s hospitals have collapsed under the pressure to respond to the pandemic. The weekend’s protests were the largest demonstrations in Cuba in more than 60 years of Communist rule. The Christian Liberation Movement called on Cubans to continue to pressure Cuban communist authorities to open general elections. The pope will visit Scotland in November, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Scotland’s bishops said the papal visit will be very short, and the pope will likely spend most of his time at the climate conference. The Conference is scheduled to take place November 1st through 12th. Pope Francis prayed the Angelus from the balcony of his hospital on Sunday. It was his first public appearance since having surgery on July 4. In his message, Francis said good healthcare should be accessible to all. Today is the feast of Saint John Gualbert. The Italian was born around the year 993 to a noble family. His older brother was murdered. Saint John worked to avenge his brother’s death. But when he faced his brother’s killer, he had a vision of Christ on the Cross. He went straight to a monastery after his vision and begged to join. Saint John eventually founded his own Benedictine monastery. He became known for his humility, holiness and wisdom.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden has excluded the Hyde Amendment from his budget request to Congress for the 2022 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits the funding of elective abortions in Medicaid. According to one estimate, it has resulted in some 60,000 fewer abortions per year. Catholic leaders have warned that without the Hyde Amendment, billions of federal tax dollars would go toward the funding of elective abortion. The Pope will lead the Sunday Angelus from his hospital room, as he continues to recover from intestinal surgery. The pope underwent surgery on July 4 to remove part of his colon. Francis is staying in the same room where Saint John Paul the Second stayed during many of his hospital treatments. The non-profit organization Young Catholic Professionals is expanding. The organization is slated to open five more chapters around the country by the end of this year. Young Catholic Professionals brings together young adults and business professionals in a variety of programs, to foster Catholic identity, encourage community and inspire action. Pope Francis and two other Christian leaders have sent a message to the political leaders of South Sudan on the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence. In the message, the leaders said that “much more needs to be done in South Sudan to shape a nation that reflects God’s kingdom, in which the dignity of all is respected and all are reconciled.” Today, the Church celebrates the feast of 120 Martyrs of China. Religious persecution has a long history in China, especially persecution of Christians, thousands of whom have died for their faith in the last millennium. These 120 martyrs were killed between the years 1648 and 1930. They were canonized by Saint John Paul the Second in 2000.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Pope underwent a CT scan of his chest and abdomen this morning, after running a fever during his hospitalization. A Vatican spokesperson said the scans were routine and found nothing of concern. Pope Francis is at a Roman hospital recovering from a surgery that removed part of his colon. Pope Francis has offered his condolences to the Haitian people, after their president was assassinated in his home Wednesday, by a group of gunmen. The pope received the president in a private audience in 2018. The two men discussed Haiti’s social problems, including severe poverty. Haitian police have said that four of the suspected gunmen were killed and two others have been arrested. A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in North Carolina was vandalized and restored this past weekend. The statue stands in front of the basilica in Asheville, North Carolina. The statue was splashed with red paint from the neck down to the base on Sunday morning. The statue was fully cleaned by noon Mass that day. The religious order founded by Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the saint’s canonization. St. Frances was an Italian missionary. She died in 1917, after spending much of her life working with Italian immigrants in the United States. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Aquila and Priscilla. They were a Jewish couple from Rome who had been exiled to Corinth. They were friends of Saint Paul in the first century, and were likely converted by him. According to tradition, they were martyred in Rome.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Vatican said today that Pope Francis is making regular and satisfactory progress in his recovery from surgery. The pope underwent an operation on his colon on July 4th. A Vatican spokesperson said the pope was moved by the many messages he’s received since his surgery. Abortion advocates are preparing for a potential reversal of Roe v Wade. The 1973 Supreme Court ruling struck down a state abortion ban and legalized abortion nationwide. The Supreme Court is considering Mississippi’s ban on most abortions after 15 weeks, and the court may send the question of legal abortion back to the states. Some pro-abortion groups are reportedly organizing to provide surgical or chemical abortions, in the event Roe is overturned and future state abortion bans are enacted The Diocese of Burlington in Vermont has reported a record-low number of priests this year, with only 50 diocesan priests ministering to the entire state. Several international priests serving in the diocese had to return to their home countries, after their visas were set to expire. Burlington’s bishop transferred and reassigned a significant number of priests to compensate for the priest shortage. A Catholic priest in Nigeria has been abducted by suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorist group. The priest has been missing since June 30th. There has been no official communication with the priest’s kidnappers. The abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings in Nigeria that appear to target Christians, including priests. Today is the feast day of Saint Pope Benedict the Eleventh. The saint was born in Italy in 1240. He entered the Dominican order at the age of 14. He was pope for only one year, and during his pontificate he restored peace with the French court.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis is expected to spend the next week in the hospital, as he recovers from intestinal surgery. The pope underwent surgery July 4 to relieve complications caused by diverticulitis. The surgery lasted about three hours, and included the removal of the left part of his colon. Pro-life advocates are celebrating the failurer of an attempt to introduce abortion on demand, up to birth, in England and Wales. If the bill became law, it would have been one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world. A Catholic archdiocese in India is continuing to distribute food to families affected by the country’s devastating second wave of COVID-19. The Archdiocese of Bhopal in central India is also helping the poor to pay medical bills. India, which has a population of 1.3 billion people, has recorded more than 30 million cases of COVID-19, and over 400,000 deaths as of today. Pope Francis will visit Hungary and Slovakia in September. The Vatican confirmed the trip on Sunday. The trip will include the closing Mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Maria Goretti. The young virgin and martyr is best known for her commitment to purity, and the courageous defense of her faith, at the young age of eleven.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An additional 182 undocumented graves were discovered Thursday outside a former residential school in Canada. The residential school system was set up by the Canadian federal government, beginning in the 1870s, as a means of forcibly assimilating indigenous children and stripping them of familial and cultural ties. The Catholic Church or Catholics oversaw more than two-thirds of the schools. The last remaining federally-run residential school closed in 1996. The Iowa Attorney General’s office has released a 30-page report on sexual abuse by members of the clergy, almost exactly two years after the bishops agreed to release their records regarding sex abuse in their dioceses. The office reportedly received 50 complaints of clerical abuse, both by Catholic and non-Catholic clergy. The report notes that none of Iowa’s four bishops were involved in cover-ups. The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Maryland has a special exhibit of items from the saint’s life, in honor of the 200th anniversary of her death. Items on display include the iconic bonnet Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton wore. The exhibit will also include personal books, her personal rosary and crucifix, and her daughter’s baptismal gown. Today, the Church remembers Saint Otto. The saint was born in 1060 in Germany. He was a bishop, who is best remembered for his evangelization of Pomerania. He baptized more than 22,000 people, and established 11 churches.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Canadian authorities are investigating two more fires at Catholic Churches in Canada as suspicious. Four churches on tribal lands in Canada burned down within one week. Politicians on the local and national level spoke out against the repeated fires at churches in Canada. Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington has opened five new cooling shelters in Spokane. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave. Portland, Oregon recorded an all-time heat record of 116 degrees on Monday. Both Portland and Seattle have recorded hundreds of emergency room and urgent care visits for heat-related illness. U.S. Olympic gymnast Grace McCallum is bringing both her skills and her Catholic faith to the Tokyo games in July. McCallum reportedly does not travel anywhere without her rosary and a special cross from her grandmother. At just 18 years old, McCallum is one of six women competing in the Tokyo summer Olympic games this year. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Chicago auxiliary Bishop John Manz. The bishop turned 75 in November, which is the age at which bishops are required to send a resignation letter to the pope. He was one of eight auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He dedicated his priesthood to advocating for immigrants. Today is the feast day of Arnulf of Metz. Saint Arnulf was a first-century statesman and bishop.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden’s regular parish in Washington DC has said its priests and ministers will not deny Communion to those approaching to receive. Holy Trinity parish in Washington released the statement on Tuesday. Biden has attended Sunday Mass at the parish at least six times as president. Biden supports the codification of legal abortion in federal law, and the taxpayer funding of abortion. Several organizations in Spain are planning massive demonstrations against the current government’s laws that violate a right to life. The government legalized euthanasia in March. Lawmakers are also working to pass a bill that would criminalize sidewalk counseling or demonstrating by pro-lifers near abortion clinics. The dramatic conversion of Saint Paul should remind us that God has a plan for our lives. That was the message of Pope Francis on Wednesday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope asked how often we ask how it is possible for God to use a sinner to do his will. Francis said everything has been prepared in God’s plan. Yesterday was Pope Emeritus Benedict the Sixteenth’s 70th ordination anniversary. The future Benedict the Sixteenth, Joseph Ratzinger, was ordained at the age of 24 in Bavaria. He was ordained alongside his brother. The pope emeritus reportedly offered Mass privately to mark the anniversary. Today, the Church remembers the first Christians persecuted and martyred under the Emperor Nero in the year 64. These men and women were martyred before Saints Peter and Paul. They are called the “Disciples of the Apostles”, and their firmness in the face of their gruesome deaths was a powerful testimony that led to many conversions in the early Roman Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Catholics in Miami are uniting in prayer, as the search continues for survivors of a condominium collapse late last week. At least ten people have been confirmed dead, and 151 people are still unaccounted for. A monstrance was stolen from a Catholic Church in the Bronx last Friday, before the parish’s morning Eucharistic adoration. The monstrance stolen from the parish is worth $10,000. The parish told CNA the Eucharist was not in the monstrance at the time of the theft. Pope Francis celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul today, with a message that true freedom is found in Christ. The pope said Peter and Paul set free the power of the Gospel in the world, only because first they themselves had been set free by their encounter with Christ. The pope made his comments during Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. It was the largest Mass in the basilica since the start of the pandemic. A new poll suggests that a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases after the first trimester. The poll was conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll follows a Gallup poll, which suggested that, for the first time in two decades, more Americans believe abortion to be morally acceptable than morally wrong. Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saints Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis offered prayers and condolences to all affected by a deadly condominium building collapse in Florida last week. Early on Thursday morning, a 12-story beachfront condo partially collapsed. As of Monday, nine people have been officially declared dead, and 152 are still unaccounted for. An explosion inside a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least two people “seriously injured.” The explosion took place early in the morning on Sunday. A homemade bomb was placed in the first row after the altar. It is believed the bomb was meant to target crowds gathered for a Confirmation Mass later that day. On Sunday, Pope Francis challenged Catholics to let Jesus see and heal their hearts. The pope said that intimacy with Christ is the path to inner healing. He said Catholics are also called to look at others with the gaze of Christ, a gaze the pope described as non-judgmental, but welcoming. The pope made his comments in his Angelus address. Today, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons. The second-century bishop and writer is best known for defending Christian orthodoxy against the set of heresies known as Gnosticism. Eastern Catholics celebrate his feast in August.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A nearly 150-year-old church in Beirut, Lebanon is due to reopen next month, after sustaining major damage in the port explosion last year. The Church of St. Joseph has been restored with funds from Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation. Located less than two miles from the port of Beirut, the church’s windows and wooden doors were destroyed by the explosion last August, which also damaged the pitched roof and lighting fixtures. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248126/beiruts-st-joseph-church-badly-damaged-in-port-explosion-to-reopen The European Parliament voted Thursday in favor of a report describing abortion as “essential healthcare” and seeking to redefine conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care.” The report also declares that violations of “sexual and reproductive health and rights” are “a form of violence against women and girls.” Catholic leaders and pro-life groups had urged the European Parliament to reject the report, and Catholic bishops in Poland, and Ireland are already speaking out against it. The president of the European Parliament is expected to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248121/breaking-european-parliament-backs-extreme-abortion-report-despite-protests The U.S. bishops’ conference on Thursday emphasized the need to welcome immigrants after the Supreme Court resolved a challenge to the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. The protocols, which the Biden administration ended earlier this month, required non-Mexican asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to remain in Mexico while their requests were adjudicated in immigration court, which led to long waits in poor conditions at the border. However, the border remains closed to asylum-seekers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248129/after-remain-in-mexico-policy-is-dismissed-usccb-urges-acceptance-of-migrants A man who allegedly stole more than $250,000 from the cathedral in Lubbock, Texas, has been located in Colombia. The suspect managed the cathedral’s donations and its Venmo and PayPal accounts, and was allegedly embezzling the donations. The cathedral rector was not implicated in the theft, but resigned after its discovery. Federal officials have asked the Colombian government to detain the suspect through INTERPOL. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248135/lubbocks-catholic-cathedral-finds-250k-missing-fbi-finds-embezzlement-suspect-in-colombia Today the Church honors St. William of Vercelli, an 11th-century noble who decided to dedicate his life to God as a hermit. While living as a hermit, he was credited with healing a blind man. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-william-of-vercelli-514

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - After 72 hours in captivity, a Catholic priest and four other people who were kidnapped in the West African nation of Mali, have been released. The five kidnapping victims were dropped off on a roadside yesterday, and are reported to be in good health. Kidnappings have become common in Mali, especially since 2012, with militants seeking either to obtain ransom money or exert political pressure. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248118/kidnappers-free-catholic-priest-and-four-others-in-mali Leading U.S. bishops on Wednesday praised President Joe Biden for pledging 500 million COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, and urged his administration to work with Catholic and other faith-based groups on vaccine distribution. Pope Francis, in his Easter message, called vaccines an “essential tool” to combat the pandemic, and asked the international community, “in a spirit of global responsibility,” to expedite vaccine distribution to poorer countries. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248111/leading-us-bishops-praise-bidens-global-vaccine-pledge Police in British Columbia, Canada are investigating two fires at Catholic Churches that happened earlier this week. Both churches served indigenous First Nations families, and there are concerns the fires could have been targeted attacks, either against the indigenous community, or against the Catholic Church itself. The local native chief said many Canadians are angry about recently discovered Mass graves outside a former Catholic-run residential school in the province. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248122/police-investigate-after-two-catholic-churches-burn-on-british-columbia-tribal-lands The Vatican’s new liturgy chief has recommended the practice of adoration to help increase awareness of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Archbishop Arthur Roche likened the practice of adoration to radiotherapy for sinfulness. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248119/adoration-is-like-radiotherapy-for-our-sinfulness-says-vaticans-new-liturgy-chief Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, preacher and relative and Jesus, who baptised and prepared people for Jesus’ coming. He was born to Zachary and Elizabeth, an elderly married couple. The Angel Gabriel had visited Zachary and told him that his wife would bear a child, even though she was already past the child-bearing age. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-the-baptist-515

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A Catholic priest is among five people kidnapped on Monday in the West African nation of Mali. The group of Catholics were reportedly traveling to a funeral when the abduction took place. Mali is a predominantly Muslim country, and it has experienced a surge in violence involving both civilians and the military since 2012. Kidnappings have become common, with militants seeking either to obtain ransom money or exert political pressure. The cardinal in charge of Saint Peter’s Basilica, has clarified details of a recent ban on the celebration of private Masses in the upper part of the basilica. The cardinal said requests to celebrate - instead of concelebrate - early morning Masses at Saint Peter’s may be allowed, depending on the group’s particular and legitimate needs. The new protocols were released in March, to the criticism of several cardinals including Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah, and Raymond Burke. At his general audience today, Pope Francis warned against preachers who sow division and mistrust online. The pope said such preachers present themselves, not primarily to announce the Gospel of God, who loves man in Jesus Crucified and Risen, but to insist as true ‘keepers of the truth,’ ... what is the best way to be Christian. He said that these “new preachers” can be recognized by their “rigidity,” which contrasts with preaching the Gospel that makes us free and joyful. The pope had an unusual guest at his general audience in Rome today: Spider-Man. The man inside the costume is a young Catholic Italian, who dresses up as the comic-book character to visit sick children in hospitals across the country. He gave Pope Francis a Spider-Man mask of his own. The man briefly met the pope, and he said the pope already knew who he was, and about his mission. Today, the Church remembers Blessed Basil Hopko. He is considered one of the many priests and religious martyred by Communism. He died in 1976 of poor health, after he was imprisoned and tortured for a time for subversive activity.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The U.S. bishops are seeking to deepen “awareness” of the Eucharist with their new teaching document, the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference said on Monday. At their annual spring meeting last week, the U.S. bishops voted decisively to begin drafting a teaching document on the Eucharist. Such a document, while addressed to all Catholics, was needed to clarify the problems of Catholic public officials advocating policies contrary to Church teaching on grave moral issues. Pope Francis has appointed 12 new members of the Vatican’s highest court, including Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark. The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is one of three courts within the Holy See, and functions as a sort of Supreme Court, hearing appeals coming from the two other tribunals. The court’s new members were appointed for a term of five years. There is no retirement from spreading the faith. Rather, the prayers of the elderly are needed by the Church and the world. Those were the words of Pope Francis in his message ahead of the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The pope said elderly have a vocation to preserve their roots, to pass on the faith to the young and to care for the little ones. The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly takes place annually on the fourth Sunday of July. Today is the feast of Saint Thomas More. The lawyer, author and statesman was martyred for opposing King Henry VIII's plan to subordinate the Church to the English monarchy. Before the executioner, More said, “I die the king's good servant, but God's first.” St. Thomas More was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and canonized in 1935 by Pope Piux XI. The Academy Award-winning film “A Man For All Seasons” portrayed the events that led to his martyrdom.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Dozens of Catholic members of Congress issued a statement on Friday, claiming that denial of Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians is a “weaponization of the Eucharist.” The statement was released hours after U-S bishops voted at their spring meeting to draft a document on the Eucharist. In the statement, sixty House Democrats claimed their Catholic faith influences their actions in Congress, and that denial of Communion for their support of legal abortion would be “contradictory.” Inmates of a Rome prison met with Pope Francis this morning at the Vatican, before making a visit to the Vatican Museums. The group of around 20 prisoners met Pope Francis shortly before 9 a.m. at his residence, the Vatican said. The men are inmates of a low-security prison, located in Rome’s east suburb. The prison caters to those with addictive disorders and includes a treatment center and program for inmates with substance dependence. Pope Francis has declared venerable a Frenchman who is known as one of the key founding fathers of the European Union. Robert Schuman dedicated much of his life to unifying Europe, including seeking peace and reconciliation with Germany after the second World War. In his Angelus message this Sunday, Pope Francis offered a reminder that the Lord wants us to seek his presence in the trials and storms of life. How often do we remain fixated on problems, rather than going to the Lord and casting our concerns upon him, the pope asked. He encouraged Catholics to pray for the grace of a faith that never tires of seeking the Lord. Today is the feast of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Aloysius was born into a noble Italian family. At 18 he signed away his legal claim to his title and his family's lands and entered the Jesuits. He died shortly thereafter of the plague at the age of 23, having devotedly cared for plague victims in Rome in the outbreak of 1591. He was canonized in 1726 and is the patron saint of youth, AIDS patients and AIDS caregivers.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Supreme Court on Thursday, decided unanimously in favor of Catholic Social Services, in its lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia. The court ruled that the city violated the group’s free exercise of religion. In 2018, the city stopped partnering with the agency in its foster-care program, since Catholic Social Services would not certify same-sex couples as foster parents, on religious grounds. U.S. bishops held extensive debate on Thursday, before voting on whether to draft a teaching document on the Eucharist, at their annual spring meeting held virtually this week. The text of a proposed Eucharistic document has not yet been drafted, but a proposed outline explained the Church’s Eucharistic teaching on a number of points, including the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the importance of Sunday as a holy day, and the need for Catholics to live out the Church’s teaching in their lives after receiving Communion. In a nearly unanimous vote, U.S. bishops have advanced the sainthood causes of two Americans. Father Joseph Verbis Lafleur was a World War II military chaplain, and Marinus Leonard LaRue, a merchant mariner who became a Benedictine monk. Teachers in Ireland say they’re worried that bullies in schools are targeting practicing Catholics. The teachers shared their concerns at a parliamentary meeting this week. The teachers suggested bullying is driven by issues of identity, including faith and ethnicity. A 2016 census found that 78.3% of Ireland’s population identified as Catholic, the lowest level recorded. Today, the Church celebrates Saint Osanna Andreasi. The saint was a Dominican tertiary. She spent her adult life serving the poor and sick. She was also a mystic and visionary, and bore the red marks of the stigmata.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The president of the US bishops made a passionate call for unity, in his address opening the bishops’ annual spring meeting. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said that only a Church that is united can heal brokenness, and challenge injustices. US bishops are meeting virtually through Friday, to deliberate and vote on several agenda items, including approving of two causes of canonization, approving a pastoral statement on marriage ministry, and authorizing statements on Native American ministry and the Eucharist in the life of the Church. Two parishes in the Archdiocese of Vancouver were vandalized last weekend. Vandals wrote ‘release the records’, and ‘killers’, on the front door of one parish. At another, a pro-life memorial gravestone was knocked to the ground, while the stone on which it was standing has been broken. The incidents come shortly after the discovery of the remains of 215 indigenous children in unmarked graves at a Catholic-run residential school in Canada. A group of young Catholics in Spain have launched a campaign of prayer and fasting, leading up to the day when a euthanasia and assisted suicide law goes into effect in Spain. Spain’s legislature passed a law legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide in March. The Vatican is partnering in an event that will bring together scientists and religious leaders, ahead of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The event will take place in October at the Vatican. It was organized by the British and Italian Embassies to the Holy See. The Holy See’s secretary for Relations with States has said it is highly likely Pope Francis will attend the October meeting at the Vatican, given his commitment to the issue of climate change. Today is the feast of Saint Albert Chmielowski. The Polish saint founded the Albertine Brothers and Sisters, and he was among those who inspired the vocation of the future Pope John Paul the Second.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to reinstate a death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for his role in the Boston Marathon bombings. The past three administrations have pushed for the federal death penalty for Tsarnaev. The Boston archdiocese has instead called for life in prison without parole. Catholic bishops will consecrate the Middle East to the Holy Family on June 27. The consecration will take place during Mass, in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Catholic bishops throughout the Middle East will then celebrate an annual Mass for peace starting June 27. Catholics should take courage in the fact that, even as Jesus was dying on the cross, his most agonizing moment on earth, he was praying for them. Those were the words of Pope Francis in his general audience today. The pope said that “even in the most painful of our sufferings, we are never alone.” A street in the capital city of Burkina Faso has been renamed after Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. The country’s apostolic nunciature is located on the street. Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, with a population of 20 million people, around 19% of whom are baptized Catholics. Today is the feast day of Saint John Francis Regis. The 17th-century French Jesuit is remembered for his zealous missionary work, and his care for the poor and marginalized. Although June 16 was established as his feast day, there are differing local and particular customs, including the Jesuits' celebration of his feast on July 2.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - President Joe Biden’s attendance at early morning Mass with Pope Francis was nixed from an early plan for the first meeting of both leaders. A reliable Vatican source told CNA the Vatican nixed the Mass from a meeting proposal, after considering the impact that Biden receiving Holy Communion from the pope would have on the discussions US bishops will have at their Spring Meeting this week. Bishops will vote on creating a committee that would draft a document about Eucharistic coherence. First Nation leaders are encouraging Canadian Catholics to skip Mass, in response to historic abuses at Catholic-run schools for Indigenous children. The remains of 215 Indigenous children were recently discovered in unmarked graves, at the site of a former Catholic-run boarding school in British Columbia. Since the discovery, there have been demands for Pope Francis to issue a formal apology. Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto said that a formal papal apology would require a papal trip to Canada, involving significant logistical difficulties. A record number of abortions took place in England and Wales in 2020, according to new statistics. The figures, released June 10, showed that there were 210,860 abortions last year. That’s the highest number since the Abortion Act 1967 was introduced. A pro-life group said that the figure marked “a devastating surge” in abortions, after the government allowed women in England to complete medical abortions at home, in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Archdiocese of Paris launched a multimillion-dollar appeal Monday to restore the interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral, following the devastating fire in 2019. The archbishop of Paris hopes to reopen the cathedral in 2024. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Germaine Cousin. Germaine was a simple, pious girl, who lived in France in the late 1500s. She was born with a deformed right arm. She died at the age of 22. She was incorrupt.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Texas supreme court, on Friday, rejected a defamation lawsuit against the Lubbock diocese. The suit was filed by a former deacon, who disputed the diocese listing him as “credibly accused” of abuse of a minor. The Texas supreme court ruled, that the First Amendment shields the internal management decisions of churches, from secular courts and governments. A new Gallup poll reveals, for the first time in two decades of surveys, more Americans believe abortion is “morally acceptable” than “morally wrong.” 47% of people surveyed found abortion to be “morally acceptable,” which is the highest tally since the poll began in 2001. 46% of those surveyed, said that they believed abortion to be “morally wrong.” Catholics in the English seaside town of St. Ives Cornwall, were surprised Sunday to find the President of the United States at Mass in their parish church. Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attended the 9 a.m. Mass at a parish in southwest England. They were in England for the G7 summit. Pope Francis said today that “the very concept of democracy is jeopardized”, when the poor are marginalized, and treated as if they are to blame for their condition. The pope made his comments in his message for today’s World Day of the Poor. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Aloysius was born into a noble Italian family. He received his first Communion from St. Charles Borromeo and studied under St. Robert Bellarmine. At 18, he signed away his legal claim to his title and his family's lands and entered the Jesuits. He died a few years later after caring for plague victims in Rome, in the outbreak of 1591. He is the patron saint of youth, AIDS patients, and AIDS caregivers.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - After a lengthy legal battle, a secular group will be permitted to install a mock Nativity display at the Texas Capitol. The scene mimics the traditional Nativity scene. But instead of the Holy Family, it features the Statue of Liberty as the Blessed Mother, and the founding fathers surrounding the Bill of Rights in a manger. The pope has named a new prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy. The 69-year-old bishop is the first Korean to lead a Vatican congregation. He succeeds an Italian Cardinal, who led the dicastery beginning in 2013. The dicastery oversees the world’s diocesan priests and deacons. The Vatican issued a decree today, setting limits on the terms of leaders of international associations of the faithful, and new communities. The new decree limits the terms of office in the central governing body to a maximum of five years, with one person being able to hold positions at the international governing level for no more than 10 years consecutively. Pope Francis Thursday urged a group of Italian seminarians to avoid rigidity, which he said lacks humanity, and encouraged them to ask God for the gift of docility. The pope spoke about the qualities of a good seminarian and priest, in a meeting with the students, rector, and formators of the Pius XI regional pontifical seminary, located in central Italy. Today is the feast of Saint Barnabas. The apostle and missionary was among Christ's earliest followers, and was responsible for welcoming St. Paul into the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has declined the resignation of the influential German Cardinal, Reinhard Marx. Marx sent his resignation to the pope last month, over the German Church’s handling of clerical sex abuse. The pope asked Marx to continue as archbishop of Munich and Freising. The 67-year-old cardinal is also a member of the pope’s Council of Cardinals, and the coordinator of the Vatican Council for the Economy. Until last year, he served as the chairman of the German bishops’ conference. The number of Canadians who ended their lives by euthanasia and assisted suicide, increased by 17% in 2020, the country’s health department announced on Monday. A total of 7,595 people received “medically assisted deaths” last year, a figure which amounts to 2.5% of all deaths in Canada for the year. Euthanasia was legalized in Canada in 2016. The website of the University of Notre Dame has a feature post celebrating Pride month, on its diversity and inclusion page. The university’s media relations staff did not reply to CNA’s multiple requests for comment. The university’s campus ministry office told CNA, that it was not aware of any plans for an initiative honoring the Sacred Heart in the month of June. Three lay Catholics in Germany have asked the Vatican if the Church in Germany is in schism, through a process called a “dubium.” A dubium, from the Latin word meaning “doubt,” is a question addressed to the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation, that can be answered with a “yes” or “no.” One of the Catholics told CNA he is concerned about demands in Germany for the ordination of women, blessings of same-sex couples, and lay people preaching at Masses. Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Edward Poppe, a priest from Belgium who died in 1924, at the age of 33. Poppe is remembered for his priestly ministry to the poor and dying. He spent the last years of his life studying, praying, and producing thousands of writings against Marxism and secularism.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Ireland’s High Court will hear a case later this month, involving a couple who claim that their unborn child was aborted, after they were mistakenly told that the baby had a fatal, fetal abnormality. Ireland’s constitution recognized the right to life of the unborn, until Irish citizens voted to repeal pro-life laws in 2018. Arizona bishops are concerned that the state could resume executions this fall, including the possibility of executions by gas chamber. Documents obtained by journalists show that Arizona’s department of corrections spent more than $2,000, on the necessary ingredients to make hydrogen cyanide gas. In 2018, Pope Francis ordered a revision to the Church’s catechism, calling the death penalty “inadmissible”, and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” Cardinal George Pell turned 80 years old on Tuesday, losing his eligibility to vote in a future papal conclave. The Australian was made a cardinal by St. Pope John Paul II in October 2003. Ten years later, Pope Francis appointed Pell a member of his Council of Cardinals, and the year after, put him in charge of Vatican finances. In total, six cardinals have turned, or will turn 80 years old in 2021, losing their right to vote in a conclave. During his general audience today, Pope Francis encouraged busy Catholics, to say the “Jesus Prayer” throughout the day. The short prayer goes, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ It is at the heart of Eastern Christianity’s mystical tradition. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Ephrem of Syria. The deacon, hermit, and Doctor of the Church, made important contributions to the spirituality and theology of the Christian East, during the fourth century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Diocese of Buffalo has placed three diocesan priests on administrative leave, following a new abuse accusation that dates back to the 1990s. The accusation was filed anonymously. Buffalo’s bishop has said the decision to place the priests on administrative leave is not intended to indicate guilt, or any determination about the truth or falsity of the complaint. The priests have reportedly denied ever committing any acts of abuse. The Archbishop of Toronto has responded to requests for a papal apology, over abuses at Canadian Catholic-run schools, for First Nations and other Indigenous children. The Cardinal said a papal apology would need to happen on a papal visit to Canada. He said the pope has already called on individual bishops to continue the process of reconciliation, in their own dioceses. Weakness is a chance for an encounter with God. That was the message of Pope Francis on Monday, in a meeting with young priests from France. The pope encouraged the priests to release any dreams of greatness, and to put God and people at the center of their concerns. The French priests are in Rome for their studies. Today is the feast of Saint Medard. The fifth-century bishop is venerated in northern France. Legend says that when he was a child, Medard was once sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle. This is his most common depiction in art, and it led to his patronage of good weather.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis expressed sorrow on Sunday, at the discovery of Indigenous children’s graves, at a Church-run residential school in Canada. The pope assured Canadians of his sympathy and prayers. He did not issue a formal apology for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools, as requested by the Canadian government. A majority of U.S. adults still support the administration of capital punishment, according to a June 2 Pew Research Center report. The report referred to a survey taken in April, that was conducted online. The survey concluded about six-in-ten U.S. adults favor the death penalty, for people convicted of murder. Majority support for the death penalty gradually rises with an increase of the age of respondents. The most supportive of the death penalty are adults, ages 50 to 64, with 69% in favor. Pope Francis said Sunday that we need to “enlarge our hearts,” to truly appreciate the gift of the Eucharist. He said enlarging our hearts will break us out of the smallness of our egos, and bring us into the vast expanse of wonder, and adoration. The pope made his comments in his homily during Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi, in Rome. A Catholic organization is suing a Michigan township, after it was denied permission to build a chapel and prayer trail dedicated to Padre Pio, on land it already acquired. Catholic Healthcare International is alleging that Genoa Township is violating its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. According to the lawsuit, the proposed chapel, parking spaces, and prayer trail did not violate any of the township’s zoning laws. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Anthony Mary Gianelli. The Italian priest founded several religious communities, including the Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden, who continue their ministry in education and healthcare today, in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis and President Joe Biden could meet for the first time since Biden's election, as early as June 15, according to sources in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. Biden and Pope Francis spoke on the phone several days after Biden’s election. Although the in-person meeting has not been confirmed, another source from the Vatican Secretary of State said that the meeting “is likely to occur.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247883/pope-francis-and-president-biden-may-meet-on-june-15-sources-say For the second year in a row, Chinese authorities have forbidden people in Hong Kong from gathering at a candlelight vigil on the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Last year, thousands of people in Hong Kong defied the ban and gathered for a vigil, remembering the thousands of people who died in the 1989 massacre. An auxiliary bishop celebrated a memorial Mass in Hong Kong last year, and this year churches across the island will be celebrating Masses for the dead. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247891/hong-kong-advocacy-organization-condemns-chinas-refusal-to-allow-commemoration-of-tiananmen-square-protests Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and Freising in Germany, has offered his resignation to Pope Francis. The influential cardinal said he is resigning in part because of mistakes he made in handling the abuse crisis in Germany. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247895/cardinal-marx-offers-resignation-to-pope-francis Pope Francis has hinted at new regulations regarding the celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form, although he has not yet spoken about the matter in detail. A source at the Congregation for Divine worship told CNA this week that the pope may soon issue a document on the matter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247884/pope-francis-believed-to-be-preparing-restrictions-for-the-traditional-mass A historic Catholic abbey in Belgium is brewing beer again for the first time in 200 years. The Grimbergen Abbey, near Brussels, was forced to abandon beer-making, when the abbey was dissolved, following the French Revolution. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247878/beer-making-returns-to-belgian-catholic-abbey-after-200-years Today the Church honors St. Francis Caracciolo, a 16th-century priest known for his ardent devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; as well as St. Optatus, a fourth-century convert from paganism, best known for his opposition to the heresy of Donatism. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-francis-caracciolo-489 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-optatus-695

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Six Catholic dioceses in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware, are the latest to announce plans to lift the dispensation from the Sunday obligation. The obligation will be reinstated in those dioceses beginning June 26. Dioceses in New Jersey, and several dioceses in upstate New York will lift the dispensation beginning on June 5, for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The International Society for Stem Cell Research has lifted a limitation on how long scientists can experiment on lab-grown embryos. For decades, researchers were prohibited from experimenting on lab-grown, human embryos, beyond 14 days of formation. Bioethicists have warned against the relaxation of the rule. A community of Benedictine nuns, known for inventing and distributing low-gluten Communion hosts, has seen their business decimated by the pandemic. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Missouri said their business in 2020 dropped by about 75%. The sisters said business is increasing as dioceses reinstate the Sunday Mass obligation, but they doubt demand will reach pre-pandemic levels. A historic Catholic abbey in Belgium is brewing beer again for the first time in 200 years. The Grimbergen Abbey, near Brussels, was forced to abandon beer-making, when the abbey was dissolved, following the French Revolution. Today is the feast day of Saint Charles Lwanga, and many other martyrs killed for the faith in Uganda in the late 1880s.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Canadian bishops have pledged to work towards healing and reconciliation with the country’s indigenous populations, after the remains of more than 200 indigenous children were discovered in unmarked graves, at the site of a former Catholic residential school, late last month. It is unknown how the children died, or who they were. The deaths are believed to have been undocumented. The European Parliament will vote next week on a measure that would allow access to abortion in all member states. The report would also recognize a right to abortion, and a redefinition of conscientious objection as a denial of medical care. Most of the European Union’s 27 member states permit abortion on demand, or on broad social grounds, except Malta and Poland, which have strong pro-life laws. Catholic bishops in Austria are speaking out against assisted suicide. Austria’s top court ruled in December that assisted suicide should no longer be a criminal offense, because it violates the right to self-determination. It ordered the Austrian government to lift a ban on assisted suicide in 2021. Pope Francis said Wednesday, that just as Jesus prayed for his friends while on earth, he also prays for each person eternally, before the Father in heaven. The pope made his comments during his general audience in Rome. He also prayed that the upcoming Solemnity of Corpus Christi would spark a deeper awareness of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Today, the Church remembers two fourth-century martyrs, Saints Marcellinus and Peter. Although the biographical details of the two martyrs are largely unknown, they became highly venerated after the discovery of their tomb, and the conversion of their executioner.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - On Monday Pope Francis asked for the intercession of Mary, Undoer of Knots, as he completed a month-long global rosary marathon. The pope launched the prayer marathon on May 1 at St. Peter’s Basilica. On each day of the event, a different Catholic shrine around the world led the rosary. He encouraged Catholics to continue to pray for the protection of the whole world from the pandemic and access to vaccines for all. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247848/pope-francis-turns-to-mary-undoer-of-knots-at-end-of-rosary-marathon-for-end-to-pandemic The Vatican published several revisions to canon law today. Under the revised laws, among other things, lay people, including founders of lay religious movements and parish employees, can be sanctioned for sexual abuse. The reforms also introduced new crimes in the area of economic and financial matters to canon law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247850/pope-francis-unveils-sweeping-reform-of-catholic-churchs-penal-sanctions The Chinese government announced a new policy that couples can now have up to three children, amid a sharp fall in the country’s birth rate. China aggressively enforced a “one-child policy” from 1980 to 2016 in an effort to curb population growth, a measure which the Catholic Church has consistently opposed. China’s National Bureau of Statistics said earlier in May that the country recorded 12 million births in 2020, the lowest number reported since the 1960s. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247845/china-unveils-3-child-policy-amid-sharp-drop-in-births Today the Church honors St. Justin Martyr, a second-century philosopher who is best known for arguing for the Catholic faith against the claims of Jews, pagans, and non-Christian philosophers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-justin-martyr-486

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Lawmakers in California are considering a bill that would remove several safeguards on assisted suicide. The bill would replace a 15-day waiting period for lethal drugs, with a 48-hour waiting period. It would also remove a mandatory mental health assessment. The California Catholic Conference is urging local Catholics to speak out against the bill. Assisted suicide has been legal in California since 2015. A proposed bill in Spain would criminalize efforts to interact with women entering abortion clinics. The bill characterizes as harrassment approaching women with photographs, models of babies, and proclamations against abortion. Penalties include jail terms of three months to a year, or community service. The pope has ordered an apostolic visitation of Germany’s Cologne archdiocese, amid fierce criticism of its handling of abuse cases. The pope will send a Cardinal from Stockholm, and the president of the Dutch bishops’ conference, to evaluate the handling of abuse cases by the Cardinal who leads the Cologne archdiocese. The visitation will take place during the first half of June. The Vatican has imposed penalties on a retired Polish bishop, after an investigation into his handling of clerical abuse cases. The bishop led a diocese in southern Poland from 1992 to 2013. The investigation was conducted under the norms of the pope’s motu proprio, Vos estis lux mundi. Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Bernard of Menthon. Bernard was an Italian priest in the late first-century, who founded a series of centers of hospitality for travelers through the Alps.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - U-S bishops are praying for all affected by a shooting Wednesday at a rail yard in San Jose, California. A gunman killed nine people, and injured multiple others, before taking his own life. The head of the U-S bishops’ committee on domestic justice said something is fundamentally broken in U-S society and culture. Pope Francis has appointed a new leader for the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship, and the Discipline of the Sacraments. English Archbishop Arthur Roche is currently secretary for the congregation. He will succeed Cardinal Robert Sarah, who led the congregation for six years, before the pope accepted his resignation in February, at the age of 75. Florida State University has agreed to a settlement with a Catholic student, who sued the school last year. The student sued the university over his removal from the student senate, after comments he made in a private text messaging forum. In the forum, the student cautioned other students against financially supporting the A-C-L-U, and the official Black Lives Matter organization, because the groups’ policies violated Church teachings on abortion and gender issues. A man with a gun allegedly robbed the bishop of Oakland of his episcopal ring, and some money, near the city’s cathedral. The attack took place on Saturday, the same day the cathedral was scheduled to hold a vigil against gun violence. Bishop Michael Barber was reportedly praying the rosary while taking a walk, when he was attacked. Today is the feast day of Saint Augustine of Canterbury. The Italian Benedictine monk founded the famous See of Canterbury, under the direction of Saint Gregory the Great. He preached the Catholic faith to the country’s Anglo-Saxon pagans during the late sixth and early seventh centuries.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pro-life advocates are calling on President Joe Biden, and congressional Democrats, to preserve the pro-life Hyde Amendment. The amendment bars the use of taxpayer funds for most elective abortions. The policy is not permanent law, so it must be attached to individual appropriations bills in order to take effect. During his presidential campaign in 2020, Biden reversed his previous support for the amendment. The rosary that Mary Queen of Scots took to her execution, was stolen last week. Thieves broke into a castle in southern England, and stole the rosary and other items worth more than $1.4 million. The president of the Peruvian bishops’ conference has condemned the killing of sixteen people by the Shining Path, a communist rebel group. The attack took place on May 23rd in central Peru. Investigators believe the attack was an attempt to bully locals into not voting in Peru’s upcoming general election. In his general audience in Rome today, Pope Francis reflected on the reality that sometimes prayers seem to go unanswered. The pope said Christians can find hope in the Resurrection, when all human longings will be fulfilled. He also encouraged Christians to meditate on the Gospels, where the response of Jesus is at times immediate, and at times delayed. Today is the feast of the 15th-century Italian saint, Philip Neri. He is remembered for founding the Congregation of the Oratory, dedicated to preaching and teaching. He is the patron of Rome and the U-S Army Special Forces.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Four people were killed in Myanmar on Monday, after the Burmese army shelled a Catholic church. Hundreds of people had sought refuge in the church amid clashes between the military and a group called the People’s Defense Force. Vatican News reported that all those killed and injured were Catholics. English Catholic bishops are warning against a proposed bill, that would legalize assisted suicide in the United Kingdom. The bill would make assisted suicide available to those who are terminally ill, with a diagnosis of six months or less. England’s bishops have said a true culture of caring protects the sick, vulnerable and elderly. Dioceses in the state of New York are updating their COVID-19 guidelines. Parishes in Brooklyn and Queens are now open to full capacity. Parishes in the Archdiocese of New York will again be using collection baskets, physical bulletins, and hymnals in churches. Pope Francis has reportedly hinted that there will soon be a new head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship. The position has been vacant since February, when the pope accepted the retirement of Robert Cardinal Sarah. Projected candidates include two Italian bishops and an English archbishop. Today is the feast of Saint Bede, an English priest, monk, and scholar. Saint Bede is remembered for his personal holiness and intellectual brilliance. He is a doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Italy’s Catholic bishops are uniting in prayer, for the victims of a cable car crash, in Northern Italy on Sunday. A cable snapped while carrying passengers up a mountain, killing 14 people. The accident happened one day after Italy reopened ski lifts and cable cars, after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you feel trapped by loneliness, despair, or pain, open yourself to the Holy Spirit. That was the message of Pope Francis on Sunday, in his homily for Pentecost. The pope said the Holy Spirit offers true consolation. Pope Francis has asked for prayers for Christians in China today, as they celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sheshan. Chinese Catholics celebrate the feast at a national Marian shrine, located about 25 miles south of Shanghai. The Dominican Order is celebrating a jubilee year, in honor of the anniversary of the death of their founder, Saint Dominic. The saint died 800 years ago, in 1221. Pope Francis praised the Dominican charisms of preaching and missionary discipleship, in a letter celebrating the jubilee. Today is the Feast of the Ascension of Christ into heaven. The Ascension is described in the Gospels of Mark and Luke, and the Acts of the Apostles.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Gunmen attacked a Catholic parish in northern Nigeria Thursday, killing one priest and kidnapping another. The incident is the latest in a series of abductions and killings of clergy in Africa’s most populous country. Bishops in Nigeria have repeatedly called on the government to do more to improve security in the country. A Christian college in Missouri, has asked a federal court, to suspend the Biden administration’s new directive, prohibiting housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The College of the Ozarks says the directive violates its faith-based standards, prohibiting men and women from living together in the same dormitories. Pope emeritus Benedict the Sixteenth praised the vitality of the Catholic faith in Poland, in a letter to a minor seminary in the country. Benedict wrote that he is delighted to see that the faith that has withered in Germany still blossoms in Poland. The letter was dated May 7th. The Vatican is postponing a Synod of Bishops on synodality until 2023, in an effort to involve Catholic dioceses worldwide. Over the next year, the Vatican will send dioceses questionnaires and proposals for consultation. The Vatican will then combine responses in 2022 into a working document ahead of the Synod of Bishops in 2023. Today is the feast day of Saint Christopher Magallanes, and two dozen others, who were martyred during the Cristero uprising in the 1920s in Mexico.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The governor of Texas on Wednesday, signed into law, a ban on most abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Amazon is now encouraging employees to practice mindfulness, through a new program called “AmaZen.” Mindfulness is typically included among the practices of Buddhism. A spokesperson for Amazon told CNA the new program is not religious in nature. The president of Malta said this week that he would rather resign than sign a bill decriminalizing abortion. A bill that would decriminalize abortion was introduced in Malta’s parliament on May 12. The bill is the first of its kind in the Mediterranean country. Distractions, spiritual dryness, and sloth are three obstacles to prayer. Those were the words of Pope Francis in his general audience yesterday. The pope said it is important to know the enemies of prayer, recognize them, and overcome them. Today is the feast of Saint Bernadine of Siena. The Franciscan friar and preacher is known as the Apostle of Italy, for his efforts to revive Italy’s Catholic faith during the 15th century.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The newly appointed bishop of Hong Kong gave a press conference Tuesday in which he said he believed that prudence and dialogue were a way forward in the challenges facing his diocese. Bishop-elect Stephen Chow told journalists on May 18 that he did not think it would be wise to comment on especially controversial issues, particularly regarding China, the day after his appointment. But, Chow did affirm religious freedom as a basic right. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247694/hong-kong-bishop-elect-i-am-not-afraid-but-i-believe-prudence-is-a-virtue A Catholic priest serving in northern Nigeria was kidnapped on Monday, along with 10 other people. Gunmen reportedly attacked the community of Kadaje on May 17, killing eight people and capturing eleven. https://www.aciafrica.org/news/3490/catholic-priest-among-11-people-kidnapped-within-nigerias-kaduna-archdiocese The Vatican Secretary of State said Tuesday that the Vatican wants to help end the Israel-Gaza conflict, but not as a mediator. Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists that the conflict requires direct negotiations between the two sides. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247707/cardinal-parolin-vatican-wants-to-do-everything-possible-to-end-israel-gaza-conflict The Diocese of Brooklyn is requesting increased police presence after two incidents of vandalism in three days at church properties. The two acts of vandalism are being investigated as potential hate crimes. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247699/brooklyn-diocese-requests-greater-police-presence-outside-churches-after-acts-of-vandalism Today the church honors St. Ives, a 13th century priest who is one of the patron saints of lawyers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ives-242

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is asking Catholics worldwide to pray for peace and justice in the Holy Land. Conflict between Israel and Hamas has killed more than 200 people. The patriarch said the Christian faith is rooted in the Holy Land, so suffering in the Holy Land is painful in the whole Church. The vandalization last week of a crucifixion display in Brooklyn is being investigated as a possible hate crime. The display was outside a Catholic parish in Brooklyn. It was topped over and lay face-down on the ground, after ten years of being upright. The archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has a new auxiliary bishop. Pope Francis today appointed an Italian-born, Somascan priest, Father Italo Dell’Oro. The 67-year-old bishop-elect has been in Texas since 1992. South Carolina this week officially sanctioned the use of the firing squad for executions. It is the fourth state to do so. The state will now use electrocution or firing squad, if the drugs for lethal injection are not available. The Diocese of Charleston told CNA it was extremely disappointed in the decision. Today is the feast of Saint John the first. The sixth-century pope was martyred by a heretical Germanic king.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis on Sunday pleaded for an end to violence in the Holy Land. Conflict between Israel and Hamas has killed more than one hundred people, including many children. The pope called on local leaders to work toward peace. A Jesuit priest has been appointed the next bishop of Hong Kong. Pope Francis appointed Father Stephen Chow. The priest led the Jesuits’ Chinese Province during the signing of the Vatican-China deal, and the crackdown on Hong Kong’s democracy protest movement. Hong Kong has been without a permanent bishop for two years. The Supreme Court will consider a case involving Mississippi’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks. The Gestational Age Act was signed into law in 2018, but is not currently in effect. Pro-life advocates praised the court’s decision to take up the case. Pope Francis met this weekend with President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry. The Vatican has yet to release any details about what the two men discussed. Kerry is in Europe to meet with government officials and business leaders, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November. Today is the feast day of Saint Paschal Baylon. Saint Paschal was a 16th-century Spanish Franciscan. He is remembered for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He is the patron saint of eucharistic congresses and societies.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The Texas Senate passed a heartbeat bill this week. The bill would ban abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can happen as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The bill is headed to Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law. A Catholic university in India has opened several care centers in Kolkata, to treat COVID-19 patients. The facilities will have beds, oxygen, nebulizers, and trained medical staff. Cases of COVID-19 have surged in recent weeks in Kolkata, which is one of India’s most densely populated cities. Which is more valuable? Children? Or money? That was the question posed by Pope Francis today, in his message for a conference about Italy’s low birth rate. The pope warned that if families are not the center of the present, there will be no future. Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. A seminarian for a diocese in New Jersey was killed this week in a hit-and-run accident in Manhattan. The 29-year-old was crossing a street in Manhattan’s East Side, around 10 pm on Tuesday, when he was hit by a suspected drunk driver. He was a first-year theology student at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. Today is the feast day of Saint Matthias. He was chosen to replace Judas as one of the twelve Apostles. Scripture states Saint Matthias was with Jesus since his baptism, and was a witness to his Resurrection.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - U-S bishops are praying for peace in the Holy Land. Conflict between Israel and Hamas has killed more than 80 people, and has sparked mob violence between Arabs and Jews throughout Israel. Today marks forty years since the attempted assassination of Saint John Paul the Second in Saint Peter’s Square. The Polish pope was struck by four bullets, while greeting a crowd of about 10,000 people. John Paul the Second credited Our Lady of Fatima with saving his life. He publicly forgave the man who shot him. A new film starring Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson will feature the story of a Montana priest who died in 2014 at the age of 50, because of an autoimmune disease. The priest pursued careers in boxing, acting, teaching, and museum management, before discerning the priesthood. The film is currently in production, and has no release date yet. Today is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. On this day, in 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared, for the first time, to three shepherd children in Fatima. The Fatima Shrine in Portugal hosted a Mass of celebration today. At the Mass, a cardinal preached that the world needs a spiritual restart, and economic reconstruction.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Louisiana will now recognize the anniversary of legalized abortion in the United States as a day of mourning. Citizens will be encouraged to lower their flags to half-staff, on the anniversary of Roe v Wade, which takes place on January 22nd. President Joe Biden will not deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this year. The decision is a break with tradition. During the last three administrations, U.S. presidents or vice presidents have addressed the university’s commencement in their first year in office. Notre Dame did invite Biden to give the address, but he reportedly had scheduling issues. Pope Francis spoke about prayer, during his general audience in Rome today. The pope said persistent prayer can lead to miracles, because prayer goes directly to God’s tender heart. Today was the pope’s first general audience with members of the public in six months. An icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary survived a fire at a church in Belarus this week. The icon is venerated by Catholics in a village north of the capital. The pastor was able to remove the icon and the Blessed Sacrament, before the fire destroyed the roof of the church. Today is the feast day of Saint Pancras of Rome. Saint Pancras was a fourth-century convert and martyr. He is the patron saint of young people looking for work.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has now formally instituted the new lay ministry of “catechist.” This new ministry is for lay people who have a particular call to serve the Catholic Church as a teacher of the faith. In an apostolic letter released May 11, the pope said that instituted catechists will be dedicated to the transmission of the faith through proclamation and instruction. He also emphasized the importance of lay teachers of the faith throughout the history of the Church. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247611/pope-francis-institutes-new-ministry-of-catechist https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247613/what-is-the-new-ministry-of-catechist-a-cna-explainer The Vatican has corrected a problem on its website that had caused at least two different English editions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to appear on the site simultaneously. One of the versions accidentally displayed was an older edition. The fix to the website comes after cyber security experts urged the Vatican to strengthen its defenses against hackers. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247612/vatican-fixes-website-glitch-showing-two-versions-of-catechism Today the Church honors St. Ignatius of Laconi, a Capuchin Friar who spent forty years begging for his community, and was known for his piety and love for the poor. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-ignatius-of-laconi-457