Catholic Culture Trusted Commentary
Catholic Culture Trusted Commentary

Stories for August 2013

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Saturday, Aug. 31

 Pope Francis appoints new Secretary of State

Released Friday, Aug. 30

 Zambia's Cardinal Mazombwe dead at 81
 Hagia Sophia to become a mosque again?
 Pope lauds deceased Cardinal Martini's work for peace and justice
 Jerusalem patriarch offers detailed argument against US strike on Syria
 German-speaking prelates comment on possible US military intervention in Syria
 US bishops urge Kerry to work for Syrian ceasefire
 New secretary named to Vatican city-state governorate
 Vatican charities asked to comply with new rules governing transactions, documentation
 New Scottish archbishop expected to cooperate with sex-abuse investigation
 German police seize children from homeschooling family
 Ave Maria University files 2nd lawsuit to block HHS mandate
 US bishops decry economic inequalities in Labor Day statement
 New Vatican Secretary of State to be named August 31?
 Catholic Relief Services ended contract with firm linked to family of American Life League leader
 Pope Francis calls rape victim
 Victory for law firm as court grants injunction against HHS mandate
 USCCB: pray, fast for no religious discrimination in disaster relief
 New Mexico bishops react to issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples
 Nigerian cardinal, Muslim cleric emphasize that religions must work for peace
 Papal praise for Korean ‘month of martyrs’

Released Thursday, Aug. 29

 Dominican Republic recognizes 1st non-Catholic religious wedding
 Dubuque archdiocese reaches $5.2 million settlement with abuse victims
 Syrian monastery continues all-night prayer vigils for peace
 Imitate 'restless soul' of St. Augustine, Pope encourages religious
 Pope, Jordanian king agree: negotiation 'the only option' for Syria
 Philippine cardinal leads huge protest against corruption
 Gang attacks Anglican cathedral in Nigeria
 Gay activists protest outside Russian Orthodox cathedral in San Francisco
 USCCB staff criticizes ‘flawed anthropology of sexual orientation’
 Some churches change bylaws following Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage rulings
 US should do more to protect Coptic, Syrian Christians, says religious freedom commission chair
 Cardinal laments gang rape, India’s moral decline

Released Wednesday, Aug. 28

 Pope tells young Italians: 'go against the tide'
 Vatican studying reported miracle attributed to Father McGivney, founder of Knights of Columbus
 Pope to meet Jordan's King Abdullah for talks on Middle East
 Iraqi prelate foresees 'disaster' if US strikes Syria
 Syrian Patriarch says US strike would be 'criminal'
 Angered by statue, 20,000 protestors march on Indian parish
 Nashville Dominicans expand to Scotland
 Utah parish repeatedly vandalized
 5 years after persecution, Orissa prelate emphasizes: ‘blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians’
 Egypt’s Christians come to defense of Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
 Cardinal Wuerl recalls famed March on Washington
 Pope Francis to visit refugee center in Rome

Released Tuesday, Aug. 27

 Chaldean Patriarch asks help for Christians to stay in Iraq
 Russian Orthodox spokesman rips US approach to Syria, warns Christians will suffer
 Hong Kong cardinal: Pope should take tough line with China
 Bishop warns: Western intervention in Syria could lead to ‘world war’
 Quebec contemplates ban on religious garb, crucifixes for doctors, teachers
 USCCB, CRS send memo to bishops on Egypt
 Myanmar prelate decries attacks on Muslims
 Report: Jesuit kidnapped in Syria was meeting with rebel forces

Released Monday, Aug. 26

 Priest from Argentine slums brings residents' gifts to Pope
 Vatican journalist charges a member of papal reform committee could be tied to Vatileaks
 Pope adds bishop to staff of top Vatican tribunal
 Jesus excludes no one, Pope tells Sunday audience
 Pope pleads for peace in Syria amid threats of Western intervention
 Secretary to Benedict XVI says ‘mystical experience’ story is false
 Hawaii bishop, in impassioned letter, urges prayer, action to prevent same-sex marriage
 USCCB committee urges Kerry to support religious freedom in Egypt
 Church in Tunisia declares day of prayer, fasting for peace
 Monastery attacked in Egypt
 Bolivia’s bishops call for prison reform following violence
 Indonesian president decries attacks on Christians, other religious minorities
 Pontifical academies to examine human trafficking
 Western countries foster Mideast conflicts, says Maronite patriarch

Released Friday, Aug. 23

 American brother in Kenya reburied after thieves desecrate grave
 Washington state attorney general: hospitals must perform abortions
 Disgraced cardinal stalled investigation of abuse in Scotland
 Secular foundation grants $2.3 million to National Catholic Reporter to provide publicity for women religious
 Japanese bishops oppose move to amend anti-war article in constitution
 40 WYD pilgrims seeking asylum in Brazil
 South Korea: Church officials angered by actions of nation’s intelligence agency
 US government criticized for ‘lagging commitment to religious freedom’
 Jesuit in Egypt laments Western support for Muslim Brotherhood
 Court: Christians cannot refuse to photograph same-sex ceremonies
 New York Times highlights US bishops’ immigration-reform campaign
 Church desecrated in Central African Republic
 India: convent destroyed, convert kidnapped, Christian woman beaten

Released Thursday, Aug. 22

 USCCB: pray, fast for women pressured to abort
 Former Ratzinger students will hold annual meeting without Pope-emeritus Benedict
 Papal encyclical is Italian bestseller
 Student’s letter prompts a personal phone call from Pope Francis
 Malaysia: court setback for Christians on use of “Allah”
 Pope wants action against human trafficking: a growing concern in Italy
 Pope Benedict changed phrase in Baptism ceremony
 Jesuit university launches master’s degree in yoga studies
 Courts rule that First Amendment does not bar clerical abuse suits
 Cardinal Wuerl emphasizes: defenders of marriage are not bigots
 Nuncio: Syrians want international political intervention
 Paraguay’s bishops condemn murders, call for calm
 Egyptian bishop whose home was surrounded by militants says situation is improving
 Prominent Coptic-American criticizes media coverage of Egypt

Released Wednesday, Aug. 21

 Pentagon plans special bonus for same-sex marriages
 Future Irish primate says he will not deny Communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians
 Pope will consecrate world to Immaculate Heart of Mary
 Did mystical experience prompt resignation of Benedict XVI?
 Ireland consecrated to Immaculate Heart of Mary
 Archdiocese of Philadelphia to sell nursing homes, may outsource cemetery management
 Kentucky sisters, monks refuse land for natural gas pipeline
 5 years after mass violence, Orissa Christians live in fear
 Chinese Protestant leader abducted, beaten
 Commission: Boko Haram has attacked 50 churches since 2012
 Vatican cardinal laments violence against Egypt’s Christians

Released Tuesday, Aug. 20

 LCWR leaders announce 'honest sharing of views' with Vatican delegate, but no plans for reform
 Papal greetings to Hungary on feast of St. Stephen
 Egyptian bishop confined to his home as Islamic zealots mass outside
 Canonization date for Popes John XXIII, John Paul II to be announced September 30
 Archbishop Myers, in letter to priests, denounces media coverage of abuse settlement
 Group calls for mass protest in Malaysia over Catholic use of ‘Allah’
 Coptic Catholic patriarch, bishops praise Egypt’s army, police in wake of violence
 NJ bans reparative therapy; Gov. Christie’s office emphasizes disagreement with Catholic teaching
 Bishops: India should not take part in arms race
 Korean prelate calls Mary ‘mother of liberation’ from Japan, ‘mother of reconciliation’ today
 Pakistan: Muslim cleric who accused Christian girl of blasphemy is set free

Released Monday, Aug. 19

 Cardinal Bertone sends Pope's greetings to Rimini conference
 New Zealand recognizes same-sex marriages
 Vatican reform will decentralize Church decision-making, predicts Indian cardinal
 Pope says Jesus asks us to choose: to be served or to serve
 Ukrainian Catholics mark 1025th anniversary of baptism of Kievan Rus’
 Austrian artist criticized for image of crucified hen
 US lawmakers call upon Romania to return seized churches
 USCCB blog criticizes income inequality, Austrian School of economics
 CCHD placing increasing emphasis on prison-sentence guidelines
 Survey: only 13% of Catholics think IVF is morally wrong
 Egypt: at least 60 churches attacked in 4 days of violence

Released Friday, Aug. 16

 Jailed Vatican cleric had ties to sect with possible Mafia links
 Reinstated Irish bishop given new assignment
 Vatican representative calls for religious freedom in Vietnam
 LCWR speaker says ‘God is the power of the future’
 Mary offers hope in times of trouble, Pope says
 Pope pleads for peace in Egypt
 California enacts transgender student legislation
 Gay activist group vandalizes Lejeune Foundation office
 US judge rules that pastor may be sued for opposition to homosexuality in Uganda
 USCCB official: ‘immigrants are us’
 Iowa’s bishops call for immigration reform
 Egypt: 2nd day of attacks on churches
 USCCB: pray, fast for struggling marriages

Released Wednesday, Aug. 14

 Man faces charges for anti-Islam graffiti written on palace of Avignon papacy
 Former Italian government minister files suit against member of Vatican reform panel
 Violence escalating against Christian churches in Egypt
 Excommunicated Archbishop Milingo continues to build schismatic movement in Africa
 Rhode Island bishop regrets failure to stop same-sex marriage
 In Milwaukee archdiocese bankruptcy case, creditors charge judge biased by parents' burial in Catholic cemetery
 Pope to visit Castel Gandalfo for feast of the Assumption
 'Muhammad' was 2nd-most popular name for British boys in 2012
 Italy, Vatican say reports of priest's death in Syria remain unconfirmed
 Archbishop Sartain, as Vatican delegate, tells LCWR he comes as a friend
 Filipino bishop says economic policies only benefit the rich
 Nearly 2 million chemical abortions in US via RU-486 since its approval
 Switzerland may change national anthem to avoid references to God
 Vatican releases text of meditation preached before conclave voting began
 3 Catholic colleges appeal rulings on adjunct faculty unionization
 US prelate addresses Latin American, African bishops
 USCCB: statement for 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington

Released Tuesday, Aug. 13

 Peoria diocese pays $1.35 million to settle suit against Archbishop Myers
 Pope meets with Italian, Argentine soccer teams
 Vatican making progress toward financial transparency, says head of oversight agency
 Bishop: Aleppo reduced to abject poverty, becoming ‘much more dangerous’
 Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church begins synod
 Bishop blesses immigration-reform marchers
 Attacks on Christian homes, stores in Egyptian town
 Federal judge: zoning ordinance cannot be used against pro-life mobile pregnancy unit
 Syrian rebels destroy church
 Monastery in Turkey suffers attacks

Released Monday, Aug. 12

 Yearning for Christ is innate, Pope tells Sunday audience
 Philippines: surge in Catholic population
 Priest arrested in China
 Leading Russian Orthodox official calls for ‘economy of self-sufficiency,’ not growth
 Papal envoy, in El Salvador for jubilee year conclusion, prays for Romero canonization
 Smaller churches may drop coverage once health insurance changes take effect
 Nigerian bishops warn against legalization of same-sex marriage
 Syrian Orthodox prelate criticizes congressman’s alleged remarks on kidnapped bishops
 Vatican cardinal, in Nagasaki, preaches on true peace

Released Friday, Aug. 9

 Pope Francis keeps personal staff small, makes decisions himself
 Pope sends message of support, thanks to K of C convention
 Milwaukee archdiocese ordered to release documents on ties with judge in cemetery case
 Pope makes surprise visit to Vatican's 'blue-collar' workers
 14 priests killed in 2013
 Report: Ukrainian police foil plot to desecrate relic
 Nuns’ CD has 3-month run as top classical album
 Action urged on conscience-protection legislation
 President Obama issues statement for end of Ramadan
 Federal probe of Planned Parenthood’s use of taxpayer funds
 Bishops’ spokeswoman: immigration reform a ‘preeminent moral issue’
 US bishops’ official defends safe-environment programs
 USCCB: pray, fast for those facing persecution

Released Thursday, Aug. 8

 Papal condolences for victims of explosion in Argentina
 Maronite bishops urge neutrality for Lebanon
 Pope encourages seminarians to take preparation seriously
 New papal document tightens safeguards against money-laundering
 Sri Lanka: troops kill protestors at church, threaten nun
 Bomb explodes at Catholic school in Indonesia
 Iran: 10-year jail sentence for convert to Christianity
 US State Department creates office ‘to engage with’ world’s religious communities
 Diocese to consider launching Chesterton canonization cause
 In Labor Day statement, US bishops rue growing economic inequality
 Archbishop Chaput: ‘deep immigration reform’ is long overdue
 Nearly half of world’s deacons serve in US

Released Wednesday, Aug. 7

 Catholic hospitals cannot deny privileges to abortionists, Wisconsin justice department says
 Abuse victim drops suit against Holy See; Vatican lawyer says case collapsed
 Honor St. Cajetan by helping others, Pope tells Argentines
 Coptic Patriarch named on 'kill list'
 Catholic hospital cannot comply with new Irish abortion law, says priest on governing board
 Central African Republic in chaos, UN team finds
 Mexican archdiocese investigates alleged Eucharistic miracle
 Cardinal marks Hiroshima A-bomb anniversary
 Mexican prelate welcomes arrival of army, says region has hit ‘rock bottom’
 64 lawsuits pending against HHS mandate
 Christians handcuffed, burned to death in Nigerian church; prelate decries attacks
 Al-Qaeda leader: US government, Coptic Orthodox leader conspired to oust Morsi

Released Tuesday, Aug. 6

 Pope remains loyal member of Argentine soccer club
 Boston priest on leave after arrest for soliciting prostitute
 British bank to close accounts of embassies, nunciature
 Brazil to provide 'morning-after' pill for rape victims
 Pope's Mission Sunday message: faith must be shared
 Nigerian prelate lauds priests, laity for fidelity amid persecution
 More than 1 million venerate relic of St. Andrew’s cross
 28 women to enter Nashville Dominicans
 Report: September 8 to be day of prayer, action for immigration reform
 Nun who opposes HHS mandate among winners of pro-life award
 Cardinal, Jesuits express concern about plight of priests in Syria
 Vatican newspaper op-ed: Pope Francis has made Paul VI’s concerns his own

Released Monday, Aug. 5

 Scottish bishop appalled by abuse reports at boarding school
 Archbishop Pozzo returns to Ecclesia Dei commission: a signal of new moves on SSPX?
 Cardinal Turkson visits Japan for Hiroshima bombing anniversary
 Consumer culture will test WYD participants, Pope tells Sunday audience
 Christian homes, churches attacked in Egypt
 Syrian Orthodox patriarch vows to remain in Damascus
 600th anniversary of baptism of Samogitia
 5 religious orders release files related to abuse in Los Angeles
 Senate confirms Hackett as US ambassador to the Holy See
 Vatican newspaper op-ed rues anti-Semitic gesture at rock music festival
 World Youth Day statistics released
 USCCB: leading Madagascar prelate praises Catholic Relief Services

Released Friday, Aug. 2

 Vatican asks Italian prosecutors to question Msgr. Scarano on money-laundering charges
 Pope Francis sends personal greetings to world's Muslims
 Youth gang burns down Lutheran church in Germany
 USCCB, CRS to offer webcast on effective political advocacy
 Chilean cathedral, vandalized by abortion supporters, reopens
 Nigerian Christian leader sees ‘open season’ on nation’s Christians
 Church spokesman: Muslim Brotherhood militias attacking Egypt’s Christians
 Leading Madagascar prelates strongly criticize Catholic Relief Services
 USCCB: pray, fast for deeper friendship with Christ
 English bishop: same-sex marriage the ‘inevitable outcome’ of artificial contraception

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