Stories for September 2018

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Saturday, Sep. 22

 Holy See, China reach accord on appointment of bishops

Released Friday, Sep. 21

 Archbishop Chaput publishes critique of Synod working document
 Cardinal Tobin: will not attend October Synod
 Chinese Catholics have no say in Vatican negotiations, priest reports
 Cardinal Parolin defends deal with China
 Cardinal Zen says Secretary of State should resign for ‘betrayal’ of Church in China
 Former judge appointed to investigate New York archdiocese on abuse issues
 Background on Rome hospital as center of Papal Foundation dispute
 Wisconsin bishop retires from ministry, admits failure to report abuse
 Pope accepts resignations of 2 more Chilean bishops
 Vatican conference participants issue message against racism, xenophobia
 EU court orders pro-life activist to stop comparing abortion to Holocaust
 Belarus: Orthodox body seeks autocephalous status
 Pope appoints administrator for Indian diocese following rape charge against bishop
 Costa Rica’s bishops rue civil strife
 Pakistan’s religious minorities urge government to return to nation’s more tolerant founding vision
 South Sudan’s bishops welcome peace agreement
 Pope visits Santa Maria Maggiore as pastoral visit to Baltic nations approaches
 Work should not be equated with productivity, Pope tells injured workers
 Create good soil where God’s call can take root, Pope tells Italian religious community
 In weekday Mass homily, Pope links ‘doctors of the law,’ scandal, persecution
 Pope Francis sends video greetings ahead of visit to Baltic nations
 Pope laments rising racism, fear of foreigners
 Hundreds of Chinese Christian leaders sign join statement on religious freedom
 Nepal’s anti-conversion law has fostered anti-Christian violence, group charges
 10 years after Kandhamal riots: ‘7 innocents have been convicted’

Released Thursday, Sep. 20

 Pope-emeritus Benedict defends his decision to resign
 Pope fears spread of racism
 South Sudan peace accord welcomed by bishops
 Vatican newspaper highlights: Syria, general audience, carbon dioxide emissions, Kenyan hospital
 Brooklyn diocese reaches record $27.5M settlement with 4 victims of abuse
 Missouri: diocesan school superintendent retires following allegations
 Bishops join Japan-Korea pilgrimage against nuclear energy
 ‘The Chinese government wants absolute control over the Church,’ missionary warns
 Korean cardinal lauds summit results, welcomes denuclearlization of peninsula
 Nigerian bishops: ‘These are indeed very trying times in the life of the Church’
 Foster solidarity, not fear, Vatican cardinal says at conference
 Bono meets with Pope, offers support for papal educational initiative
 Pope reflects on ‘Honor your father and mother’
 Man confesses to arson of medieval German church
 New Jersey town accused of ‘hatred, bigotry’ against Orthodox Jews settles lawsuit with state
 Hijab must be allowed in courtroom, European Court of Human Rights rules

Released Wednesday, Sep. 19

 US bishops unveil new plans on abuse—without Vatican OK for apostolic visitation
 Abortion ban officially ends in Ireland
 New Jersey dioceses release abuse victims from confidentiality agreements
 Dutch bishop to skip Synod: ‘not the right time’
 Blood of St. Januarius liquefies in annual miracle
 Austrian bishop hopes Pope will speak on Viganò report
 Prelate laments Trump administration’s refugee limit
 Extremism advances in the largest Muslim country
 Catholic, Muslim leaders decry bomb attacks in Mindanao
 Indian court postpones bishop’s bail plea in rape case
 Pro-China rebels threaten Christians in Myanmar’s Shan State
 Chaldean patriarch: ‘care seriously and integrally about the continuity of Church teaching’
 Turkish court rejects plea to open Hagia Sophia for Islamic prayer
 Peruvian cardinal offers strong support for president’s anti-corruption efforts
 Pittsburgh bishop announces Year of Repentance
 Vatican confirms ongoing inquiry into Sistine Chapel Choir finances
 Indian archdiocese gathering evidence on martyrs of Kandhamal
 Jesus is the icon of the meek and compassionate pastor, Pope preaches at weekday Mass
 Pope sends greetings to the Jewish community of Rome
 Al-Shabaab terrorists ambush bus in Kenya, murder 2 non-Muslims
 President Trump: Yom Kippur message

Released Tuesday, Sep. 18

 In Buenos Aires, future Pope Francis backed work defending accused priest-abuser
 Vatican-China agreement near completion, Beijing reports
 Priest kidnapped in Niger, believed held by Islamic militants in Burkina Faso
 Precedents found for secret sanctions on McCarrick
 Pope’s poll ratings drop in US
 New papal document expands powers of Synod of Bishops
 Little Rock Diocese makes list of credible abuse allegations public
 Cardinal Müller responds to allegations of leniency in cover-up abuse cases
 Stanford University to remove St. Junipero Serra’s name from buildings
 Class-action lawsuit filed against Pennsylvania’s dioceses
 3 Pentecostal pastors investigated for ‘forced conversions’ in Uttar Pradesh
 Monks of Tibhirine, other martyrs to be beatified in Algeria in December
 Suspected killers of Nigerian priest arrested
 Guatemala’s bishops call for peace in wake of protests
 Don’t drag Pope’s name into party politics, Malawi’s bishops tell government, opposition
 Pope Francis recalls visit to Sicily
 Pope pays tribute to work of Armenian Catholic monks
 Diplomat reaffirms Holy See’s support for nuclear-test ban, nuclear disarmament
 Proclaim truth of marriage and family in its integrity, Cardinal Parolin tells conference
 Central African Republic: dozens of Christians feared dead after massacre

Released Monday, Sep. 17

 Pope appoints allies to Synod on youth
 Most Dutch bishops covered up abuse, report says
 Noted Chilean priest, human-rights activist, laicized on abuse charge
 New rules on Synod of Bishops to be released Tuesday
 British government minister questions 4000% increase in children’s sex-change requests
 Indian bishop, accused of rape, steps aside
 Moscow Orthodox patriarchate breaks ties with Constantinople
 Pope encourages faithful to contemplate the cross
 Be merciful to others, rather than ‘entering into the logic’ of Satan the accuser, Pope preaches at weekday Mass
 Pope Francis gives crucifix to pilgrims at Angelus
 Profession of faith must bear fruit in love of neighbor, Pope tells pilgrims
 Pope visits Sicily, recalls priest’s heroism against Mafia
 Leading Hungarian bishop defends Orbán’s policies against EU criticism
 European bishops thank millions of Christian volunteers
 Live humbly, be close to the poor, Pope tells Capuchin Franciscans
 Help Christian refugees return home to Syria and Iraq, Pope asks international community
 Mozambique’s president meets with Pope
 Venezuelan bishop resigns following strokes
 Ecuador: archbishop resigns to enter Trappist monastery
 Vatican publishes statistics for Church in Baltic states
 Report examines violent Islamist extremism
 Algeria: 2 Christian cemeteries vandalized
 Christian women’s shelter challenges Anchorage’s non-discrimination law
 Federal court refuses to dismiss challenge to Michigan’s protection of Catholic adoption agencies

Released Friday, Sep. 14

 Historic agreement between China and Vatican imminent, Taiwan foreign ministry says
 Cardinal Dolan says we need to ‘take Archbishop Viganò’s allegations seriously,’ hopes Cardinal Wuerl doesn’t resign
 Number of Christian refugees entering US falls 40%
 West Virginia attorney general pledges ‘close review’ of allegations against Bishop Bransfield
 Former priest recounts abuse by Archbishop McCarrick
 Woman sues Pennsylvania diocese over effort to ‘smear’ her over sexual abuse claims
 West Papua Catholics demand their bishop’s removal
 15,000 attend dedication of new Indonesian cathedral
 Pope encourages Europe’s bishops to show solidarity
 Central, Eastern European bishops discuss migration, gender ideology
 Pope links sexual abuse in Chile, Ireland, United States to ‘elitist,’ ‘clericalist’ Church
 Human resources official to serve as USCCB’s chief operating officer
 Pope Francis reflects on ‘theology of tenderness’
 Vatican newspaper highlights: Venezuela, Myanmar, papal remarks to bishops

Released Thursday, Sep. 13

 West Virginia bishop resigns, investigation launched into abuse charges
 Kerala police summon accused bishop for further questioning
 Indiana bishop cleared after prosecutor’s investigation
 Pope urges new bishops to persevere in trials
 US bishops report ‘fruitful’ meeting with Pontiff; no word on apostolic visitation
 Archdiocese of Boston removes priest from ministry following allegation
 United Arab Emirates seen as ‘oasis of freedom’ for foreign Christians
 Federal court: light and sound ordinance does not infringe on Catholic high school’s religious freedom
 Indiana university settles lawsuit by pro-life group
 Church not part of any plot to oust Duterte, bishops’ conference official says
 Archbishop Gänswein reflects on abuse scandal as the Church’s 9/11
 Vatican recognizes Korean martyrs’ shrine as official international pilgrimage site
 Bannon: Pope should not resign, but Church abuse tribunal needed
 Concerns grow that religious freedom in Malaysia is losing ground
 French bishops ‘saddened and chastened’ by abuse scandal
 2 people accuse Cardinal DiNardo of ignoring abuse by priest
 Cardinal pays tribute to Pakistani Christian soldiers
 Pope reflects on importance of the Holy Name of Mary
 Vatican newspaper highlights: Libya, abuse, Syria, and ‘end of male domination’

Released Wednesday, Sep. 12

 Cardinal Wuerl to meet with Pope, discuss resignation
 Council of Cardinals polishes draft for new apostolic constitution
 Venezuelan bishops meet with Pope, discuss economic crisis
 Vatican officials discuss Dreher’s ‘Benedict Option’
 Pope to visit Japan in 2019
 Another Nigerian priest killed
 German sex-abuse investigation uncovers over 3,600 cases
 Brazilian bishop resigns; charged with diverting diocesan funds
 Pope summons world’s bishops to Rome for February discussion of abuse crisis
 Protests in Florence against impending closure of historic Dominican friary
 Pope reflects on ‘the day of rest, prophecy of freedom’
 Pentecostal pastor arrested on charges of ‘forced conversions’ in Madhya Pradesh
 Vatican cardinal visits Vietnam
 Hong Kong Catholics remember 2 priests killed by the Communist Party
 Iraq: Basra archbishop laments ‘social catastrophe’
 Islamic extremism remains a problem in Indonesia, says Jakarta cathedral priest
 Coptic Orthodox bishop rejects ‘reconciliation session’ following anti-Christian violence
 Pope sends message to Nicaragua’s Ortega, prays for peace
 Dutch bishops express pain, shame over abuse
 Russia’s Catholic bishops offer support for Pope, criticize attacks
 Vatican’s foreign minister calls for renewed emphasis on universality of human rights
 India: 2 years after Supreme Court order, no investigation into Kandhamal acquittals
 Syrian rebels attack Christian city
 Cardinal concerned about Christians in new Philippine Muslim region
 Vatican newspaper highlights: migrants, human trafficking, climate, Korea, Council of Cardinals

Released Tuesday, Sep. 11

 Pope Benedict may have issued authoritative ‘precept’ in McCarrick case
 Coptic bishop rejects ‘reconciliation session,’ cites dangers to Christian minority in Egypt
 Beijing imposes new restrictions for religious activities online
 Pope Benedict ordered McCarrick to withdraw in 2007
 India: religious order rejects rape charges by its member
 Indian court investigates handling of rape charge against Catholic bishop
 Moscow patriarchate threatens ‘retaliatory measures’ against Constantinople
 Pope to meet with leaders of US bishops’ conference on September 13
 China’s rapid aging challenges government retirement system
 British bishop sees ‘3-level crisis’ of abuse, ‘homosexual circles,’ and cover-ups
 Prelates in Austria, Germany defend Pope Francis
 The bishop is a man of prayer, proclamation, and communion, Pope tells new missionary bishops
 Group: government officials are destroying crosses, burning Bibles in China
 Pope Francis: ‘the great accuser’ raises up ‘accusers of today to catch us in contradiction’
 EU court sees discrimination in Catholic hospital’s firing of divorced and remarried doctor
 No comment from Cardinal Re on Archbishop Viganò’s allegations
 Kentucky attorney general calls for grand jury to investigate state’s dioceses
 Cardinal Bo: words like ‘genocide,’ ‘ethnic cleansing’ are not ‘helpful’ in moving Myanmar forward
 Turkey replaces prosecutor who indicted US pastor Brunson
 Latin American religious meet in Medellín as Church grapples with abuse

Released Monday, Sep. 10

 Council of Cardinals backs Pope, suggests replacing some members
 10,000 join Eucharistic procession in Liverpool
 New Australian premier pledges support for religious freedom
 English bishop establishes first traditionalist parish
 Indian nuns call for action against bishop on rape charges
 Iraqi archbishop reports anti-government violence flaring in Basra
 Congo court acquits priest’s accused killers
 Chilean prosecutors to quiz three bishops
 Cardinal Cupich advises seminarians not to be ‘distracted’ by scandal
 Papal abuse commission: role is prevention, not investigation
 Cardinal O’Malley defends handling of letter on McCarrick
 Council of Cardinals meeting this week
 Argentina: raid at school for deaf in clerical abuse probe
 Cardinal Wuerl’s master of ceremonies calls on him to resign
 Nun beatified in Strasbourg
 New Italian government plans to curb Sunday shopping: Di Maio
 Scandinavian bishops urge faithful to pray and fast for the Pope
 Open your hearts to the needs of the suffering, Pope tells faithful
 Nebraska bishop joins calls for investigation of Archbishop Viganò’s allegations
 Letter from Cardinal Sandri confirms Archbishop Viganò’s claim that Vatican knew of McCarrick allegations in 2000
 Catholic donor denies he consulted on Viganò allegations against Pope Francis
 Pope thanks Benedictines for their witness
 Vatican Observatory hosts conference on meteorite curation
 Pope encourages cooperation between parents, teachers
 At least 20 killed in latest Plateau massacre in Nigeria
 President Trump calls Jewish faith leaders, rabbis
 Ecumenical Patriarch urges Orthodox Christians to live out faith’s ecological implications

Released Friday, Sep. 7

 Moscow denounces plan for Ukrainian Orthodox autonomy
 Constantinople moves toward autonomy for Ukrainian Orthodox Church
 South Carolina bishop joins in call for Vatican investigation
 Priest who warned of McCarrick suggests laicization, investigation
 Connecticut bishop encourages troubled priests to seek help or voluntary laicization
 Cardinal Wuerl announces 6-week ‘season of healing’
 Buffalo bishop refuses to resign despite questions over handling of allegations
 Metuchen diocese suspends priest with close connection to retired bishop
 Millions of Filipinos honor Mary in 300-year old tradition
 Holy See has shown ‘unfading support’ for Baltic states’ independence, leading Lithuanian prelate says
 National Eucharistic congress begins in Liverpool
 Malaysian bishop warns against corruption, calls for attentiveness to poor
 Prelate warns against corruption, authoritarianism in Bolivia
 Papal adviser characterizes Archbishop Viganò’s allegations as ‘diabolical head-on attack’
 Nebraska attorney general seeks 40 years of abuse records from state’s dioceses
 New Mexico attorney general launches investigation, says state was ‘dumping ground’ for abusive priests
 New York, New Jersey launch state investigations into how dioceses handled abuse allegations
 Abducted Nigerian priest is released
 The human person should be at the center of the economy, Pope emphasizes in interview
 New video profiles rebuilding of Iraqi Christian city
 EU lawmakers issue report on religious freedom
 India’s high court strikes down law against homosexual acts

Released Thursday, Sep. 6

 Papal encouragement for consecrated widows
 Accuse yourself, not others, Pope counsels Christians
 Legatus to put annual donation to Holy See in escrow
 Bishops see papal visit as ‘very important’ for Lithuanian democracy
 Pope sends ice cream to Italian migrant center
 Scranton bishop bars predecessor from public ministry
 Deceased Pennsylvania bishop accused of abuse
 Church in Colombia plays key role in maintaining peace
 Cardinal Bo slams Myanmar military for brutality against Kachin Christians
 Archbishop Coleridge: US needs to become ‘humbler Church’ in response to abuse crisis
 Church in Peru welcomes Venezuelans fleeing hardship
 Vatican Observatory hosts conference on pioneer Jesuit astronomer
 Pope sends message to ecumenical conference on Orthodox spirituality
 Retired New Jersey bishop says he reported allegations against McCarrick to nuncio, police in 2005
 Commonweal calls on Pope to address Archbishop Viganò’s allegations
 Repression of religion on the rise in Kazakhstan
 Report: Chinese churches experiencing ‘severest persecution in 40 years’
 House, Senate pass bills protecting religiously affiliated community centers
 Spanish actor faces arrest after ignoring court summons over religious offense claim

Released Wednesday, Sep. 5

 Syrian prelate denounces ‘plan to oust Christians from the region’
 Orthodox Patriarch explains bid for Ukrainian autonomy
 Vigano testimony violates ‘pontifical secret’
 Orthodox Patriarchate to allow priests to remarry?
 Nigerian priest kidnapped
 Pope Francis lauds motorcyclists’ passion for life
 Leading Venezuelan bishop decries government repression
 Pope’s September prayer intention: for young people in Africa
 Cardinal Dolan discusses abuse scandals
 7 facts about American Catholics
 Pope devotes general audience to the day of rest
 2 Chicago priests arrested for lewd conduct
 Pope Francis hosted embattled Cardinal Wuerl in Rome, told him: talk with your priests
 North America’s youngest bishop seeks to save souls; ‘I am not important’
 Washington Post columnist criticizes Cardinal Wuerl as ‘con man’
 Swedish cardinal laments abuse by priests, cover-up attempts
 Pope’s silence on Archbishop Viganò’s allegations ‘is a classic non-denial,’ Swiss bishop says
 Archbishop Naumann: current crisis is result of ‘failures of the accountability of bishops’
 Chinese priest remains missing, 8 months after ‘brief chat’ with government officials
 Catechist, cousin killed in bomb blast in southern Philippines

Released Tuesday, Sep. 4

 Singapore archbishop sees sex-abuse scandal as ‘wake-up call’
 Speaking at mosque, Indian priest thanks Muslims for help with flood relief
 Schedule set for papal visit to Baltic countries later this month
 Original National Review Board members ask for mandate to investigate bishops
 Pope urges daily examination of conscience
 Church in Bangladesh sets priorities for the next decade
 As Idlib offensive approaches, the Church in Syria is worried about civilians
 Family ties a thorny issue for Nepal’s Catholics
 Pope receives bishops who completed spiritual exercises
 20% of Poland’s diocesan priests were murdered during World War II
 German, Eastern European bishops meet at former Communist labor camp in Albania
 Recently appointed missionary bishops gather at Vatican for study, discussion
 Prominent Asian prelates gather in Korea to discuss peacemaking efforts
 Brazil: diocesan representatives gather to discuss forced migration, human trafficking
 Israeli Christian seeks to create Aramean Christian town
 Large Dublin parish church to be demolished
 Protester at church yells, ‘Shame on you!’ as Cardinal Wuerl addresses sex abuse scandal
 Estonian Catholics pray and fast for Pope’s upcoming visit
 Indian cardinal pledges Mumbai will become ‘green diocese’
 Archbishop Viganò’s allegations demand ‘urgent answers,’ says leading Philippine prelate
 New Philippine ambassador to Holy See begins her mission
 Pope Francis receives Vespa scooter from enthusiasts
 Egypt: Copts’ homes attacked despite advance notice to police of threats
 UN concerned by mass detentions of Uyghurs in China
 Scottish appeals court rules that UK did not adequately consider refugees’ claim of conversion to Christianity

Released Monday, Sep. 3

 Former archdiocesan officials rally to support French cardinal on abuse issue
 Buffalo diocese seeks source of leaks about abuse charges
 Papal spokesman: Vigano did not fully brief Pope on meeting with Kim Davis
 Cardinal Cupich orders Chicago priests to read defensive statement
 Indian cardinal: Church in Asia is ‘100%’ behind Pope
 ‘Vatileaks’ journalist affirms Vigano’s credibility
 Orthodox prelate hints at recognition for independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church
 Pope points to Christ’s silence in face of accusations
 Trump administration shortens funding period for grants to Planned Parenthood, other groups
 Lincoln diocese rocked by old abuse allegations
 Catholic adoption and foster services end in Buffalo
 Archbishop Viganò: reported papal account of Kim Davis meeting is false
 Cardinal Tobin: ‘shame on me’ for failing to investigate McCarrick rumors
 Minnesota bishop says Nienstedt investigation was ‘doomed to fail’
 Archbishop Viganò responds to videos of papal meeting, speech
 ‘No comment’ from more than a dozen prelates on Archbishop Viganò’s allegations
 For an unofficial church in Beijing, CCTV cameras and eviction
 Coptic church attacked in Egyptian village
 Protestant Navy chaplains lose federal discrimination lawsuit
 Supreme Court hands loss to Catholic foster care agency in dispute with city of Philadelphia
 Founder of Catholic Online sentenced to prison for tax evasion
 Sexual harassment claim at Philadelphia seminary under investigation
 Papal appeal for Syria
 Young woman martyred by Soviet soldier for resisting rape attempt beatified in Slovakia
 Pope warns against hypocrisy of ‘giving more importance to form than to substance’
 Pope emphasizes importance of water in message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
 Love and imitate St. Joseph, Pope tells Oblates of St. Joseph

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