Stories for June 2016

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Thursday, Jun. 30

 ACLU sues to block federal funding for agencies that help refugees but do not support abortion
 Pope drops plan to speak at Auschwitz; will offer silent prayer
 Chinese Catholics puzzled by Bishop Ma's reversal, leery of Vatican stand
 Vatican delegate names new leaders for troubled Guam archdiocese
 Coptic priest killed in Egypt; Islamic State suspected
 Prayer intentions of Pope Francis for July 2016
 French Cardinal Barbarin suspends four priests, restricts others, after sex-abuse complaints
 Venezuelan prelate raps government's refusal to acknowledge economic crisis, accept foreign aid
 Sharply reduced suicide risk for women who attend Mass weekly
 Bermuda voters reject same-sex marriage, civil unions
 Action urged on Conscience Protection Act
 Canadian court upholds denial of accreditation to Christian law school
 USCCB president prays for victims of West Virginia floods, Istanbul attacks
 Pope reflects on works of mercy, trip to Armenia
 Pope Francis: welcome the message of Saints Peter and Paul

Released Wednesday, Jun. 29

 Indian archbishop dismisses Hindu leader's complaints against Mother Teresa
 Man pulls gun on priest during confession
 Long-term goal must be repatriation for refugees, Lebanese prelate says
 Irish guidelines: priests should be given presumption of innocence in abuse investigations
 Pope laments Istanbul terrorist attack
 Bishop Fellay: SSPX ‘does not seek primarily a canonical recognition’
 Jesuit elected chairman of US religious freedom commission
 Suicide bombers attack Lebanese Christian village
 Retired religious receive $25M from national collection
 Pope blesses pallia, warns against being closed

Released Tuesday, Jun. 28

 Supreme Court rejects appeal for pharmacists' conscience rights
 Benedict XVI, celebrating anniversary of ordination, thanks Pope Francis for kindness
 Cardinal Nichols fears racism after Brexit vote
 Turkish government rips Pope's reference to 'genocide,' will recall ambassador
 Pope Francis calls on Catholics, Orthodox to abandon ‘rivalry, mistrust, and rancor’
 Prelate: South Sudan is ‘ruled by monkeys’
 Congo’s bishops call for dialogue so that president may leave office
 Canadian bishops: legalization of assisted suicide is ‘appalling landmark’
 Ecumenical Patriarch, in letter to Pope, reflects on solidarity, Europe’s Christian roots
 Vandalism at Bonn basilica

Released Monday, Jun. 27

 Cardinal Marx: Brexit vote 'extremely regrettable'
 Duterte promises to promote contraception in Philippines
 US Supreme Court overturns Texas law regulating abortion clinics
 Vatican disputes report of 'takeover' at Joseph Ratzinger Foundation
 In interview, Pope touches on Armenian genocide, deaconesses, Benedict XVI
 Pope: Church should apologize for mistreating gays
 Pan-Orthodox council concludes with message, encyclical
 ACLU sues HHS over exemption granted to USCCB
 Supreme Court immigration decision is ‘huge disappointment,’ says USCCB committee chair
 In joint statement, Pope Francis, Armenian Catholicos lament persecution of Christians
 Pope visits Armenian Genocide memorial

Released Friday, Jun. 24

 Cardinal Marx: Church should see positive aspects of homosexual relationships
 Ousted from papal commission on abuse, outspoken member refuses to resign
 Syrian archbishop agrees: suffering of Christians is not 'genocide'
 New French ambassador to Holy See presents credentials, ending diplomatic impasse
 Nigerian priest found dead after kidnapping
 Colombia's bishops hail peace accord with FARC rebels
 Pope speaks on Brexit, Colombian peace accord
 Vatican delegate shakes up leadership of Guam archdiocese
 Arriving in Armenia, Pope invokes the term: genocide
 British bishops call for civility after Brexit vote
 Vatican message calls for ‘universal accessibility’ to tourism
 Pope prays at St. Mary Major before trip to Armenia
 Former Custos to administer Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
 Miami prelate laments persecution of Christians, criticizes bishop’s post-Orlando remarks
 Pan-Orthodox council discusses regional bishops’ assemblies
 In election statement, French bishops rue family breakdown, call for greater subsidiarity within EU

Released Thursday, Jun. 23

 Vatican denies involvement in Chinese bishop's reversal on Patriotic Association
 Colombian archbishop cautiously welcomes peace accord with FARC rebels
 Spanish cardinal cleared of 'hate crime' charge
 74% of world's population living with 'high' levels of restriction on religious activities
 Pan-Orthodox council discusses document on mission
 Pope Francis: Armenian Genocide among the worst sufferings in history
 Refugees join Pope as he delivers general audience
 HHS: California is permitted to force insurers to cover abortions
 USCCB awards $4.7M to projects in Eastern Europe
 5th Fortnight for Freedom begins

Released Wednesday, Jun. 22

 Jewish extremists harass Orthodox worshippers in Jerusalem
 Gallup diocese wins court approval for settlement with victims, could end bankruptcy
 Theme announced for 103rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees
 Nigerian bishop says forgiveness will bring peace after massacre
 Vatican hosts conference on inter-religious dialogue
 Papal support for drive to end the death penalty worldwide
 Bishops in Philippines will oppose bid to restore capital punishment
 Pope Francis lauds theology of Benedict XVI
 Melkite synod postponed; Patriarch decries bishops' 'open rebellion'
 Attack on Christians in Egypt
 Pope Francis reflects on Christ’s healing of the leper
 Cardinal Parolin backs Ukraine’s territorial integrity, says migrant crisis is ‘really scary’
 Chaldean patriarch calls on priests to stay close to Iraq’s suffering Christians
 Maronite bishops reject calls to partition Syria
 March for Marriage to protest Obergefell decision
 US bishops’ conference grants $4.1M to assist Church in Latin America, Haiti

Released Tuesday, Jun. 21

 Philippines: bishops decry vigilante justice after president-elect speaks of shooting suspects
 Pakistan: 5 Christians cleared of blasphemy charges; 2 convicted
 Priest in India survives murder attempt
 British physicians' group maintains stand against assisted suicide
 Shimon Peres, former Israeli president, meets with Pope
 Vatican briefing on papal trip to Armenia
 Cardinal Parolin meets with Ukrainian president
 Bishop in Northern Ireland lauds EU
 US House holds hearing on international religious freedom
 Oklahoma prelate: gender ideology is battle between light and darkness
 USCCB committee chair: remember plight of refugees
 Pan-Orthodox council opens with call to unity

Released Monday, Jun. 20

 Four cardinals raised to rank of cardinal-priest
 Five approved for canonization
 Notre Dame to open new institute in Dublin
 Syrian Orthodox Patriarch survives suicide-bombing attack
 Foundress of Redemptoristine nuns beatified
 Pope prays for pan-Orthodox council, recalls plight of refugees
 Pope Francis: ‘the world needs Christ more than ever’
 Pope visits infirm priests as part of ‘mercy Friday’ initiative
 Pope warns against ‘rigidity,’ says 'genocide' is inappropriate description of Christian suffering
 Repentance, forgiveness are at heart of Gospel, Pope tells jubilee pilgrims

Released Friday, Jun. 17

 Pope offers support for Aid to the Church in Need
 Syria's Assad meets bishops, promises new secular constitution
 Lay Catholics should 'take the initiative without fear,' Pope says
 Christians and Muslims alike seek God's mercy, Vatican says in Ramadan message
 Chinese Catholics shocked after imprisoned bishop recants
 Vatican accepts nine more Syrian refugees
 Russian Patriarch sends greetings to council in Crete, calls for unity
 Bishop sees springtime for the Church in Kosovo
 Ecumenical pilgrimage to Wittenberg
 Scottish bishop: have compassion on persecuted Christians
 Papal blessing for English pro-life day
 Kenyan religious leaders warn against political speech that incites violence
 US, EU bishops weigh in on TTIP trade agreement

Released Thursday, Jun. 16

 Kenyan firm sues government, says vaccine test results were ignored
 Iraqi prelate rebukes 'Christian' paramilitary groups for attacks on civilians
 Avoid 'rigorism' on divorce and remarriage, Pope advises family conference
 Pope welcomes traveling entertainers to Vatican
 Renovations giving new life to Nativity basilica in Bethlehem
 Pope calls India’s Latin-rite, Eastern Catholics to greater ‘communion in witness’
 Vatican document on mercy and non-Christian religions
 EU bishops offer recommendations on foreign policy, security
 Attacks on Christians in Pakistan
 Syriac patriarchs: international community must act to liberate Mosul
 San Diego bishop: combat ‘anti-gay prejudice’ in Catholic community
 Kuwaiti banks sued for funding genocide of Christians
 Armenia’s Catholics look forward to papal visit

Released Wednesday, Jun. 15

 As Vatileaks trial nears conclusion, defendant gives birth
 Vatican administrator acknowledges new abuse charges against archbishop in Guam
 Archbishop Sheen's family seeks to move his remains, re-start beatification process
 Pope refuses donation from Argentine president, cites number '666'
 Ecumenical Patriarch arrives in Crete, pleads for participation in Council
 Loyal Chinese bishop reverses stand, endorses Patriotic Association
 Dutch leader meets with Pope
 Pope Francis reflects on healing of blind man
 French bishops issue message for soccer championship
 Patriarchate asks Iraq’s Catholics to join Muslims in fasting
 Severed head found outside cathedral after militants kill hostage

Released Tuesday, Jun. 14

 Last priest to survive Dachau dead at 102
 Brussels archdiocese eyes over 100 parishes for mergers, closing
 Korean Church opens institute for peace at North-South border
 Vatican seeks 'dialogue' with American women's religious congregations
 Benedict XVI to celebrate 65th anniversary of ordination
 Cardinal Müller says study of female deacons will be mostly historical
 8 20th-century beatification causes advance
 CDF issues letter on relation between hierarchical, charismatic gifts
 Vatican newspaper highlights 2 US books on persecution
 ‘Life is for journeying,’ Pope tells pilgrims
 UK report calls for greater fairness in assessing refugees’ religious persecution claims
 USCCB committee chair welcomes discussion of House GOP anti-poverty initiative

Released Monday, Jun. 13

 Catholic human-rights worker kidnapped in Kabul
 Abstinence, fidelity remain best safeguards against HIV, archbishop reminds UN
 US bishops mourn Orlando shooting victims
 Brazilian cardinal nearly caught in gun battle between police and criminals
 Police in Northern Ireland found guilty of collusion in 1994 killings by Protestant extremists
 Dominican Republic: bishop protests 'ideological colonization' by OAS
 Russian Orthodox Church pulls out of Crete council
 ‘Debureaucratize’ the response to the hunger, Pope tells World Food Programme
 Pope reacts to Orlando shooting with horror, condemnation
 Pope laments child slavery
 Italian priest, nun beatified
 The world is not only for the ‘perfect,’ Pope tells sick and disabled
 Pope Francis: include the disabled in the sacraments, evangelization
 Research should be ‘source of deep joy,’ Pope tells astronomers
 Georgian Orthodox Church withdraws from council

Released Friday, Jun. 10

 African prelate warns Anglican communion against apostasy
 Ecumenism breeds evangelization and charitable witness, Pope tells Protestant group
 Top Vatican ecumenical officials to attend Orthodox Council
 Vatican cancels external audit
 El Salvador prelate: minimum wage increase is insufficient
 St. Mary Magdalene’s memorial raised to dignity of a feast
 Canadian prelate calls for conscience protection for doctors
 Vatican conference on leprosy
 Albanian, Cypriot Orthodox leaders defend pan-Orthodox council
 Jerusalem patriarchate sends Ramadan greetings

Released Thursday, Jun. 9

 Vatican administrator seeks to restore unity to Church in Guam
 Compassion is key to good medicine, Pope tells doctors
 Bill to extend sex-abuse suits is 'clear attack on the Church,' Archbishop Chaput charges
 Spanish cardinal faces 'hate crime' charge for denouncing gender theory
 Jubilee pilgrims to Rome top 9-million mark
 Vatican envoy urges OSCE: recognize migrants' dignity, fight intolerance-- including anti-Christian bias
 Pope forms committee to distribute relief aid in Ukraine
 'Rigid' approach to faith is heretical, Pope Francis says in homily
 Muslim leaders in Bangladesh join in condemnation of Islamic State
 Serbian Orthodox Church joins in plea to postpone Crete Council
 Pope Francis to visit Kraków, Auschwitz, Czestochowa during trip to Poland
 Say no to torture, USCCB committee chair urges
 Syria’s Christian children pray for peace
 Vatican official: Amoris Laetitia calls for new style of ministry, but no new doctrine
 Protect the oceans, Ecumenical Patriarch urges

Released Wednesday, Jun. 8

 Bishops of Northern Ireland cite dangers of 'Brexit'
 Italian expert: Pope is terrorist target, but security is good
 Guam archbishop welcomes abuse probe, insists his innocence
 Jean Vanier, Templeton Prize winner, confirms support for legalization of assisted suicide
 French police question Cardinal Barbarin about handling of abuse complaints
 Moscow Patriarchate calls emergency session, weighs withdrawal from Pan-Orthodox Council
 Council of Cardinals recommends another new Vatican office
 Ecumenical Patriarchate affirms: pan-Orthodox council will proceed
 Pope Francis reflects on wedding at Cana
 Report: gunmen abduct diocesan employees in Venezuela
 Report: 37 nations need food assistance
 Caritas calls on EU to alter migration policy
 Study: England, Wales are 20% Anglican, 8% Catholic, 49% ‘no religion’

Released Tuesday, Jun. 7

 Cardinal Pell will turn 75, submit resignation, on June 8
 Chaldean Patriarch asks Iraqi Muslims to pray for peace during Ramadan
 New York lawmaker charges Brooklyn bishop sought to bribe her
 Vatican encourages one-minute prayer for peace on June 8
 Italian diocese finds sect schismatic
 Patriarchate of Antioch opts out of Pan-Orthodox Council
 ISIS claims responsibility for brutal murder of Catholic in Bangladesh
 Leading Philippine prelate defends silence in wake of president-elect’s attacks
 Vatican summit: human trafficking a ‘crime against humanity’
 President Obama issues Ramadan statement
 US Catholic, Orthodox bishops discuss Mideast persecution, pan-Orthodox council
 CDF to issue letter on Church’s hierarchical, charismatic gifts

Released Monday, Jun. 6

 Vatican says 'no evidence' of video showing kidnapped priest alive
 Planned-Parenthood partner reportedly takes 400-600% profit for fetal organs
 Relic of St. John Paul II stolen from Cologne cathedral
 Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople invites Vatican cardinal to join in Divine Liturgy
 15th meeting of Council of Cardinals this week
 Chinese officials bar reparation service after desecration of the Eucharist
 Argentine bishop finds Marian apparitions authentic
 World's Orthodox prelates urge agreement as disagreements threaten historic council
 Pope sets new policy for removal of negligent bishops
 Pope canonizes Swedish nun, Polish priest
 Young dioceses’ witness can invigorate older dioceses, Pope tells missionaries
 Vatican official named Guam administrator following abuse allegations against archbishop
 Meeting between Pope, member of Qatar’s royal family
 Pope tells deacons: in serving others, imitate God’s love
 Pope establishes new Vatican Congregation for laity, family, and life
 Work to eradicate human trafficking, Pope tells judges and prosecutors

Released Friday, Jun. 3

 Statement from Patriarchate of Antioch raises new concerns about Pan-Orthodox Council
 Islamic informant claims evidence that priest kidnapped in Syria is still alive
 English bishop fears 'Brexit' would endanger funds for Catholic charities
 Imitate courage of St. Thomas a Becket, Cardinal Nichols encourages priests
 Pope Francis preaches on the Sacred Heart and priests’ hearts
 Vatican summit on human trafficking
 At international conference, lawmakers, religious leaders condemn terrorism
 Europe’s episcopal conferences highlight religious freedom in prisons
 Ecumenical Patriarchate releases pan-Orthodox council’s draft documents
 Details announced for papal trip to Sweden
 French primate consecrates diocese to the Sacred Heart

Released Thursday, Jun. 2

 Suspended Irish priest rips 'ridiculous' argument against women's ordination
 Vatican envoy speaks at UN meeting on youth unemployment, climate change
 Vatican was slow to move on abuse charges against Peruvian leader of lay movement
 'God's name is mercy,' Pope says in meditations for Jubilee for Priests
 Irish bishops see Church facing hostile environment
 Coptic bishop: local officials thwart efforts to protect Christians in Egypt
 USCCB president calls for civility in politics
 Cardinal Wuerl decries ‘aggressive gender ideology’
 ISIS attacks have helped forge bonds of unity with Catholics, says Orthodox bishop
 Archbishop Chaput to lead US bishops’ working group on Amoris Laetitia
 Amid migration surge, Texas diocese assists nearly 4,000 Cubans
 Number of enslaved persons rises to 45.8 million
 Bishops gather to discuss nuclear disarmament

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