Catholic World News Headlines
Changes in Roman Curia, JPII Institute: Dallas bishop named prefect of new dicastery
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas as prefect of the Vatican’s new Dicastery for Laity, the Family, and Life. Born in Dublin in 1947, Bishop Farrell was ordained a priest of the Legionaries of Christ in 1978. Six years later, he became a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington. St. John Paul II named him auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2001, and Pope Benedict...
Pope Francis reflects on multiplication of loaves and fishes
Continuing his series of Wednesday addresses on mercy, Pope Francis devoted his August 17 general audience to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. “In St. Matthew’s account,...
Same-sex, humanist weddings exceed Catholic weddings in Scotland
The number of same-sex wedding ceremonies exceeded the number of Catholic weddings in Scotland in 2015, according to an annual demographic report released by Scotland’s government. Over 5%...
Caritas workers kidnapped in Congo
Three aid workers associated with the Catholic relief and development agency Caritas were kidnapped in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on August 16, according to...
India: bishop who led diocese through anti-Christian pogrom passes away
Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, the retired archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, India, died of cancer on August 14 at the age of 81. Archbishop Cheenath led the Church in the eastern Indian state of...
Court upholds legality of disinheritance on basis of religion
Upholding a lower court decision, a New Jersey appeals court ruled that state anti-discrimination law does not prevent parents from disinheriting children on the basis of religion. In his 1987...
Priest who wrote speeches for Nixon dead at 89
John McLaughlin, a Jesuit priest who worked as one of President Richard Nixon’s speechwriters and was subsequently dispensed from his vows, has died of cancer at age 89. McLaughlin worked...
Oklahoma Christians counter Black Mass with prayer rally
More than 1,000 Christians gathered for a prayer rally on the streets of Oklahoma City on August 15, to counter a Black Mass conducted at the city's civic center. Only a handful of people...
'Sexting' charge against former vicar general of California diocese
A California man has brought a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Msgr. Lawrence McGovern, the former vicar general of the Stockton diocese. The suit alleges that Msgr. McGovern had made overtures...
French bishop plans speedy cause for beatification of Father Hamel as martyr
Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen, France plans to open a cause for the beatification of Father Jacques Hamel without observing the usual five-year waiting period after his death. The...
Evangelical Lutheran Assembly approves 'historic' statement of accord with Catholics
America’s largest Lutheran organization has announced that “Church-dividing issues” have been resolved, and the path is clear for unity with the Catholic Church.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in...
Milwaukee's archbishop pleads for end to urban violence
Milwaukee's Archbishop Jerome Listecki has appealled for calm and referred to the violence sweeping that city as a "self-inflicted wound." Riots broke out in the Wisconsin...
Quebec monastery opens award-winning hotel
A Quebec Augustinian monastery for women that was cloistered until 1965 has been named the top destination for a “mental and physical reboot” by National Geographic Traveler. The...
Turkish government says it will not tear down seized churches
Turkey’s Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning stated that it will not tear down Armenian churches that Turkey expropriated during a March offensive against Kurdish separatists in...
Papal prayers for Congo
Following his August 15 Angelus address, Pope Francis prayed for inhabitants of the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following a massacre there. The nation’s...
Mary precedes the faithful into heaven, Pope says on Feast of the Assumption
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary “is a great mystery that concerns each one of us; it concerns our future,” Pope Francis said during his August 15 Angelus...
Church needs missionaries, not managers, Pope says
Reflecting on Christ’s words, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing” (Lk. 12:49), Pope Francis called upon the faithful to be open to the...
Oklahoma archbishop calls for prayers as Satanists plan Black Mass
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City has called the faithful to prayer as a Satanist group prepares to conduct a Black Mass at the city's Civic Center on August 15. The Satanist ceremony,...
Argentine cardinal raps corruption of former president's administration
Cardinal Mario Polli of Buenos Aires has taken a public slap at the administration of Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, calling attention to charges of...
Archbishop Chaput: both major presidential candidates are 'problematic'
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia has offered his personal thoughts on this year's American presidential race, revealing that he has not yet decided how he will vote. "Both major...
Vatican prelate challenges Islamic scholars to give peaceful interpretation of Qu'ran
The president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences has acknowledged that passages of the Qu’ran seem to offer clear support for the use of violence.” Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo said...
'Burkini' wear banned at beaches of Cannes
The mayor of Cannes, the French resort town, has announced a ban on the wearing of "burkinis"-- the full-length swimsuits worn by Muslim women. Mayor David Lisnard said that the...
German bishops praise Luther as 'teacher of the faith'
The German Catholic bishops' conference has issued a report praising Martin Luther as a "teacher of the faith." The Reformation in Ecumenical Perspective, a document of over 200...
Pope visits women rescued from sexual trafficking
On August 12, Pope Francis dropped in on a Rome center for refugee women who have been rescued from work as prostitutes. The Pope's visit-- which, like his visit to two Italian convents...
French police tighten security for annual pilgrimage to Lourdes
Police in France are taking special precautions to ensure the safety of an annual pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Lourdes, which will take place on August 15, the feast of the Assumption. A...
Papal condolences following death of bishop involved in Bloody Sunday
Pope Francis sent a special message to mourners at the funeral of Bishop Edward Daly, the retired bishop of Derry in Northern Ireland, who died on August 8 at the age of 82. On Bloody Sunday in...
Vatican newspaper tribute to 'underground' Chinese bishop
L’Osservatore Romano has paid tribute Bishop Vincent Huang Shoucheng of Xiapu (Funing), who recently died at the age of 93 and whose ministry was not recognized by the Communist...
Ukrainian Catholic leader: the Church must save the family
Speaking recently to a participants in a movement for married couples, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said that “the institution of the family as inseparable and fruitful...
Arizona employee cleared in Lourdes trip email investigation
The office of Arizona’s attorney general has concluded that the director of the state’s Department of Economic Security did not break the law when he sent an email relating to a...
Archbishop at US-Mexico border: we need to tear down walls
The new archbishop of Tijuana, Mexico, visited the US-Mexican border on August 11, leaned on the border fence, and said, “We need to build bridges, and tear down walls.” Archbishop...
California legislator backs off bid to force equal treatment for gay students in religious schools
A California state legislator has dropped an effort to force religious schools to offer equal treatment to homosexual students. State Senator Ricardo Lara announced that, under heavy lobbying...
Indian cardinal sees Father Hamel as model for clergy
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India has exhorted his priests to imitate Father Jacques Hamel, and show the determination to be faithful "up to the end." At an annual meeting for...
Pope has lunch with Syrian refugees
Pope Francis hosted a group of Syrian refugees for lunch at his residence on August 11. The 21 refugees, who were brought to Rome by the Pontiff after his April visit to the Greek island of...
Catholic editor, facing threats, leaves Bangladesh
A Catholic newsletter editor in Bangladesh has fled the country because of threats to her life and family. Rosaline Costa, who has edited "Hotline Bangladesh" for 30 years,...
Islamic-Christian relations deteriorating in Philippines, missionary priest reports
Relations between Christians and Muslims have deteriorated badly in the Philippines, a veteran missionary priest told Aid to the Church in Need. “Before, the Philippines was a dream place...
LCWR calls for civility in presidential campaign
In a letter delivered to the campaigns of the four leading presidential candidates, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious called for civility. “We need courageous leaders willing to...
Westminster Cathedral to be lit in red to raise awareness of persecution
In November, Westminster Cathedral will be lit in red with floodlights to commemorate the persecution of Christians. “If every parish in the country did the same it might at last wake up...
Russian patriarch: no contradiction between religion, science
There is no conflict between religion and science, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow said in a recent talk to scientists. Speaking in Sarov-- Russia’s center for nuclear research-- the head of the...
State Department highlights blasphemy laws in annual religious freedom report
The US State Department has issued its annual international religious freedom report and highlighted the relation between blasphemy laws and human rights violations in “deeply conservative...
Diocese: government aggressively pushing HHS mandate despite suit
Three months after the US Supreme Court gave a temporary victory to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh, and other plaintiffs who objected to the HHS mandate, the...
Turkish media see 'mentality of the Crusade' behind alleged coup leader
Turkish journalists have charged that Fethullah Gülen, the exiled Islamic reformer who has been named by the government as the inspiration for last month's abortive coup, has the...
17th arson attack on Chilean church
A Catholic church in Collipulli, Chile was torched on August 9, in the 17th arson attack on a church in the region in recent weeks. Militants from the indigenous Mapuche people, who have burned...
Former Irish seminarians cite secrecy demands at Maynooth
Two former students at Ireland's national seminary have reported that they were asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, promising not to sue the institution. The former seminarians told...
US fertility rates hit all-time low
Fertility rates in the US have reached a historic low point, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report. There were 59.8 births for every thousand American women between the ages of 15 and 44...
Pope makes unscheduled visits to two Italian convents
Pope Francis made unsheduled visit to two convents in Italy's Rieti region on August 9, the Vatican has disclosed. Without any prior announcement, the Pope traveled north of Rome to Borgo San...
Myanmar plans demolition of Buddhist monasteries
The government of Myanmar has announced plans to destroy all houses of worship that have been built without government approval. "Every religion in Myanmar has to follow rules and...
Aggressive prosecutor seeks new conviction in landmark Philadelphia abuse case
A Philadelphia prosecutor says that he never hesitated in his determination to pursue a new trial of Msgr. William Lynn, although the priest has already served nearly the full minimum sentence for...
Cardinal Bagnasco says Europe marginalizes Christians out of fear
"Today Christians are martyrs," the president of the Italian bishops' conference said on August 10. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, celebrating Mass in the cathedral of St....
Pope Francis reflects on baptism and raising of widow’s son
Continuing his series of Wednesday catechetical addresses on mercy, Pope Francis devoted his August 10 general audience to the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17). “Jesus,...
Papal condolences for hurricane victims in Mexico
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, has sent a message of condolence in Pope Francis’s name to hurricane victims in Mexico. “In the face of the grave...
Czech cardinal calls for frank dialogue on causes of terrorism
Cardinal Dominik Duka of Prague has called for honest conversation about the causes of recent terrorist attacks in Europe, including the slaying of Father Jacques Hamel. To “remain...
Abuse victims wounded by bishops’ defensive posture, says papal commission member
A member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors said that a defensive posture on the part of Church leaders has caused deep wounds to abuse victims. “I've heard from...
Canada: Catholic school board suspends teacher following remarks at anti-Israel protest
A Catholic school board has suspended a teacher at St. Catherine of Siena School in Mississauga, Ontario, following remarks she reportedly made at a Quds Day protest in Toronto. Iran founded Quds...
Colorado priest, 2 laity receive USCCB pro-life award
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has conferred the People of Life Award on a Colorado priest, an...
Over 13 million Jubilee pilgrims to Rome thus far
More than 13 million people have passed through the Holy Door at St. Peter's basilica during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Vatican figures are based on official registrations. Many pilgrims...
New Iraqi priests ordained in refugee camp
Three Iraqi men were ordained to the priesthood in a refugee camp in Erbil on August 5. Archbishop Yohanno Petros Moshe of Mosul ordained the priests for the Syriac Catholic Church. The ceremony...
Boko Haram's new strategy: arm Muslim herdsmen to attack Christian farmers?
A Nigerian bishop fears that the Boko Haram terrorist group may have chosen a new strategy: arming Muslim herdsmen to attack Christian farmers, in a bid to drive Christians out of areas that are now...
Papal condolences following terrorist attack in Pakistan
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, has sent a message of condolence in Pope Francis’s name following a terrorist attack on a hospital in...
Vatican message for atomic bomb anniversaries
Father Michael Czerny of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace delivered a message in Hiroshima on August 6 commemorating the anniversary of the use of atomic bombs against Hiroshima and...
Vatican newspaper highlights ‘Earth Overshoot Day’
The Vatican newspaper gave prominent front-page coverage in its August 9 edition to “Earth Overshoot Day”—the day on which, according to the Global Footprint Network,...
African-American bishop reflects on Black Lives Matter
Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, said that the Church in the United States has historically been slow in addressing race-related issues such as those raised recently by the Black Lives...
Kosovo will not extradite fugitive British ex-abbot
Citing the statute of limitations, a court in Kosovo has declined to extradite a fugitive English Benedictine ex-abbot, according to a report from a Serbian news agency. Father Laurence Soper was...
Priest cited in Spotlight commits suicide
Father Bonifacio Buzzi, a priest mentioned in the film Spotlight, hanged himself in his jail cell in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The priest, who was convicted and jailed from 2007 to 2015 for...
Migrant protest ends in German diocese
A month after dozens of migrants occupied the Catholic cathedral in Regensburg, Germany, demanding that they be allowed to remain in the country, the diocese announced that their protest has...
Illinois weakens conscience-protection law
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU have welcomed changes to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act that were signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner. Under the changes, health-care workers...
Employees of Catholic Relief Services contribute heavily to pro-abortion political candidates
Among the political contributions by employees of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) that are logged on federal data bases, the overwhelming majority have been given to candidates who support legal...
Papal encouragement for refugee team at Rio Olympics
Pope Francis sent a message of encouragement to the refugees who are participating in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Pope's message is addressed to ten athletes, each one of whom...
Most US churchgoers hear political messages, but not endorsements
Most American churchgoers are hearing messages on political topics-- most frequently, homosexuality and religious freedom-- but few are hearing political endorsements during this campaign year,...
Constantinople denies plan to create new Orthodox jurisdiction in Ukraine
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has shot down rumors that it might recognize a new ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Ukraine. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is guided by a desire for...
Coptic Orthodox leader distances himself from demonstrations in US
Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros has expressed concern that demonstrations in the US against anti-Christian violence in Egypt could have a negative effect. The demonstrations, organized by Copts...
Plans for canonization of Mother Teresa include new Vatican stamp, catechesis by Pope
The Vatican will release a new postage stamp, and Pope Francis will offer a special catechetical session for volunteer workers, as part of the September celebration of the canonization of Mother...
Irish seminary trustees to meet as criticism of gay culture mounts
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh has called a meeting of the trustees of Ireland's national seminary, as reports of an aggressive gay culture at the institution continue to circulate in the...
Zambian prelate blasts state-run media
As Zambian voters prepare to go to the polls on August 11, a bishop strongly criticized the bias of state-run media. “For a lack of a better term, the public media has become an...
Aleppo Carmelite: ‘we are constantly hearing the shells’
As the Syrian government and rebel forces fight for control of Aleppo, a Discalced Carmelite spoke about the situation via telepone with Aid to the Church in Need. “We are constantly...
Vatican newspaper op-ed: address climate change now before it is too late
In a front-page column in the August 7 edition of the Vatican newspaper, Italian philosopher Luca Possati said that climate change must be addressed now before it is too late. Citing a report...
US bishops chide Biden for same-sex wedding ‘counter witness’
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), joined by two USCCB committee chairman, reacted to Vice President Joe Biden’s decision to officiate at a homosexual...
Pope prays for Syria
Following the recitation of the Angelus on August 7, Pope Francis invited the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square to join him in prayer for Syria. “Lamentably, from Syria we...
Pope Francis reflects on almsgiving, vigilance
Commenting on the day’s Gospel reading at Mass (Lk. 12:32-48), Pope Francis devoted his August 7 Angelus address to almsgiving and vigilance. Christ invites his disciples “to give...
New vice-provost at Jesuit school also chairs board of abortion provider
The newly appointed vice-provost for student life at the Jesuit-run University of San Francisco also serves as chairman of the board of an abortion provider, the California Catholic...
Debates on Amoris Laetitia will bear fruit: Cardinal Ouellet
The prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops believes that the debates generated by the release of Amoris Laetitia will lead to a better understanding of the Catholic approach to...
Chaldean prelate looks forward to rebuilding Iraq after defeat of Islamic State
Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako has suggested a plan for the reconstruction of Iraq, based on the possibility that a new offensive will drive the Islamic State out of the region around Mosul...
Hong Kong cardinal says Rome-Beijing close to accord
Cardinal John Tong of Hong Kong has said that the Vatican is close to an agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops for mainland China. The cardinal's statement comes at a...
Bishop fears South Sudanese refugee crisis
A South Sudanese bishop has warned of a looming refugee crisis unless the international community takes action to help end the conflict there. “This conflict has attracted little attention...
Peruvian bishops: faith is ‘most powerful force’ for changing society
In a message for the nation’s independence day, the president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference lamented the “great evils” that loom over the nation: “insecurity, poverty,...
Protests threatened at Catholic churches in Mangalore
Sixteen members of Sri Ram Sena, a right-wing Hindu group, have been arrested for trespassing at a Catholic school in Mangalore, a city of 500,000 in southwestern India. The Hindu activists...
Philippine bishops speak out against divorce bill
Bishops in the Philippines are speaking out against a bill that would legalize divorce. “Our laws should strengthen families rather than weaken them,” said Auxiliary Bishop Broderick...
Hungarian prelate warns against Muslim immigration
A Hungarian prelate said in an interview that a desire to conquer Europe is a factor in mass Muslim migration to the continent. “Jihad is a principle for Muslims that means they must...
