Catholic Culture Overview
Catholic Culture Overview

Stories for October 2016

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Monday, Oct. 31

 In city liberated from Islamic State, Iraqi bishop celebrates first Mass in over two years
 Vatican Radio role to diminish in Holy See’s new communications strategy?
 At 2nd ecumenical event in Sweden, Pope thanks God for commemoration of Reformation
 Roman basilicas checked for structural damage after earthquake
 Boston archdiocese makes large contribution to fight against legal marijuana use
 Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for November
 In Crimea, Catholics excluded from religious council
 French bishop: think again about refugees after destruction of camp in Calais
 Pope, Lutheran leader pledge to work for restored communion
 American successor named for accused archbishop in Guam
 Colombian bishops urge government to accept proposed changes in peace accord with FARC
 Counsel urges Australian royal commission to reject Cardinal Pell’s claims of innocence
 Cardinal Koch: papal visit to Sweden could open path to full communion
 China, Vatican reportedly near deal on recognition of bishops
 World Council of Churches leader reflects on Reformation anniversary
 Louisiana high court upholds seal of confession
 Earthquake destroys Basilica of St. Benedict in Norcia
 4 Spanish Civil War martyrs beatified
 God overcomes sin with love, Pope says in reflection on Zacchaeus

Released Friday, Oct. 28

 Catholics should learn from Luther, Pope says in new interview
 Poverty, strength of EU are focus for European bishops’ group
 Britain contributes €14 million to drive against human trafficking
 Contemplative religious are ‘sentinels of the morning,’ Pope says
 Vatican to host Third World Meeting of Popular Movements
 Catholic politician chosen to lead opposition in Bangladesh
 Pope makes complete overhaul of Vatican liturgical congregation
 Prominent Swedish convert offers background for papal visit
 British, Irish bishops discuss Brexit
 El Salvador prelate warns against default
 Cardinal Parolin highlights papal support for cooperatives
 Caritas, Lutheran World Services to strengthen collaboration
 English cathedrals to be lit in red in November

Released Thursday, Oct. 27

 US births up, out-of-wedlock births stop rising; immigrant mothers account for difference
 ‘There will always be Christians in Iraq,’ prelate vows
 Vatican previews Pope’s visit to Sweden for Reformation anniversary
 Christian view of family is key to understanding the world, Pope says in address to John Paul II Institute
 Human trafficking a growing disgrace, Pope says
 At meeting with Pontiff, Christian leaders of South Sudan renew commitment to peace
 John Paul II Institute in Australia to be closed
 Archbishop Sample reports on earthquake experience in Norcia
 Pope emphasizes importance of the Rosary
 Archbishop Cupich: Amoris Laetitia is helping renew Chicago archdiocese
 Holy See, Vietnam continue negotiations
 Church of Transfiguration desecrated
 Alcohol ban moves Iraq toward Islamic theocracy, says lawmaker
 EU, Christian leaders hold dialogue on migration
 ACLU complaint targets nation’s largest Catholic hospital system over sterilization

Released Wednesday, Oct. 26

 Pakistani judge who forced postponement of Asia Bibi’s appeal resigns from court
 Australian police interview Cardinal Pell about abuse charges
 Pope writes preface to book on Argentine priest
 Pope Francis: “the ‘stranger’ is often the immigrant in our midst”
 Vatican newspaper lauds new history of Vatican II
 Vatican meeting on human trafficking
 Prelate: US bears ‘moral responsibility’ toward Iraq
 Irish faithful invited to pray for Syrian peace

Released Tuesday, Oct. 25

 Islamic militants kill 12 in Kenya
 Catholic University of Peru reaches agreement with Vatican to recover pontifical status
 Cardinal Kasper sees ‘paradigm shift’ in Church teaching on marriage/divorce/Communion
 CRS denies promoting contraception in Africa
 Italian bishops decry ‘throwaway culture’ in message for pro-life day
 Vatican, Argentine bishops prepare to open archives from ‘dirty war’ era
 Vatican to mediate in Venezuelan crisis talks
 Official: French towns may allow Nativity scenes
 CDF issues instruction on cremation, affirms Church’s strong preference for burial
 Vatican message to Hindus emphasizes hope in family life
 Bishop: treat Calais migrants with dignity
 Candidates announced for next USCCB president, vice president

Released Monday, Oct. 24

 Venezuela’s President Maduro meets with Pope about national crisis
 South African bishops’ conference raps government withdrawal from International Criminal Court
 Priest shot, killed in Democratic Republic of Congo
 China allows ordination of Vatican-approved bishop
 One church opens for faithful Catholic remnant in Somalia
 Avoid liturgical disputes, Vatican master of ceremonies advises
 Papal nuncio to US celebrates Mass at Mexican border
 ‘Rigid’ people are ill, hypocrites, or worse, Pope says
 Syrian Catholics fear Islamic takeover, plead for West to stop arming rebels
 Jesuits’ first mission is helping other souls, Pope tells general congregation
 Pope Francis: now is the time for courageous evangelization
 Pope laments cruel violence in Iraq
 Holy See, Benin sign agreement
 Dialogue is a reflection of mercy, Pope says at jubilee audience

Released Friday, Oct. 21

 Pope’s summer residence opened to public
 Pope sees Sts. Faustina, John Paul II as ‘apostles of Divine Mercy’
 Vatican representative prods OSCE to act against human trafficking
 Encourage vocations by broadening horizons, Pope urges Church leaders
 Bid to ban abortion of disabled babies advances in British Parliament
 Cardinal-designate urges talks to resolve Venezuela’s political crisis
 Vatican set to resume formal talks with Al Azhar
 China, Vatican near agreement on appointment of bishops?
 Caritas India open to recruiting transgendered persons
 European bishops discuss pastoral care of Eastern Catholic migrants
 Clinton, Trump trade barbs at Al Smith dinner
 Chaldean patriarchate assures Iraqi army of prayers
 Allow yourselves to be commanded by God, Pope tells Augustinian Recollects

Released Thursday, Oct. 20

 Burkina Faso’s leader meets with Pontiff
 Bishops call for release of political prisoners in Republic of Congo
 Advanced technology calls for tighter controls on space-based weapons, Vatican envoy tells UN
 Prayer requires humility, silence, recognition of sin, Pope says
 Vatican UN envoy regrets movement away from two-state solution for Israel-Palestine conflict
 Judge blocks enforcement of Obama transgender-bathroom policy
 Pope backs initiative against child labor
 Orthodox theologian argues against historic Church-state alignment
 Russia poised to ban ‘baby boxes’
 Iraqi Christians rejoice at town’s liberation from ISIS
 Catholic college bars ‘unborn lives matter’ poster
 Thieves target Liverpool churches, including cathedral

Released Wednesday, Oct. 19

 At audience, Pope recalls Solidarity martyr, Father Jerzy Popieluszko
 Massive crowds in Paris for pro-marriage demonstration
 Islamic State executing opponents in Mosul as battle begins
 Russian patriarch concerned about Anglican developments
 Pope reflects on 1st corporal work of mercy
 Syria: monk emphasizes ISIS-Saudi link
 Vatican newspaper turns attention to next synod
 Patriarch addresses task force on Iraq’s future
 France’s Le Pen: ban religious symbols in public

Released Tuesday, Oct. 18

 Palestinian leader makes donation to restore basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
 New Jesuit leader sees dialogue, work with migrants as priorities
 Mexico: suspect arrested for September killing of two priests
 Myanmar: cardinal sees religious intolerance as ‘poision’
 World leaders need will to bring peace to Iraq, says papal nuncio
 Church must inform consciences on marriage, to counter poor preparation: Archbishop Sample
 VP candidate Kaine is ‘cafeteria Catholic,’ archbishop says
 Federal court allows church’s challenge to state law barring discrimination for gender identity
 2016 Ratzinger Prize winners named
 Patriarch appeals for Iraqi unity as army advances on Mosul
 Slovenia’s president meets with Pope
 2 Catholic radio networks announce merger
 Federal court upholds law compelling pregnancy centers to post abortion notice
 Agenda announced for fall US bishops’ meeting

Released Monday, Oct. 17

 Pope to visit Genoa in 2017
 US bishops’ relief agency involved in African contraception drive, critics charge
 New curriculum standards proposed for Catholic schools
 Filipino missionary warns: violence against drug dealers can lead to other addictions
 Christian-Taoist dialogue takes place in Taiwan
 Pope calls for policies in support of families, employment
 Pope Francis canonizes 7 saints
 Legates named for closing of holy doors in Roman basilicas
 Pope pays tribute to the elderly
 Financial information agreement between Italy, Holy See goes into effect
 Papal condolences following death of Thai king

Released Friday, Oct. 14

 Cardinals resent plan for McDonald’s near St. Peter’s Square
 Australian court rejects bid to dismiss charges against archbishop for concealing abuse
 Clinton campaign email author complains he is ‘falsely accused as an anti-Catholic bigot’
 Florence archdiocese: no change in policy on Communion for divorced/remarried
 Israeli leaders blast UNESCO resolution on access to Al Aqsa mosque
 Pope visits Rome residential center for troubled children
 Venezuelan priest elected to lead world’s Jesuit order
 Pope Francis questions genetically-modified crops, urges action to combat climate change
 Van Eyck altarpiece partly restored
 Cor Unum assists hurricane victims in Haiti
 Holy See’s UN envoy calls for renewed arms-control efforts
 Leading Nigerian bishop condemns arrest of judges
 USCCB president issues statement following leaked Clinton campaign emails

Released Thursday, Oct. 13

 Bahrain: king gives land for Christian church
 India: Islamic State threats against Christian churches
 Archbishop Chaput rips Clinton campaign efforts to change Church teaching
 In Middle East, where civil divorce is impossible, a high demand for efficient marriage tribunals
 Shelling hits Aleppo’s Christian quarter; children killed
 Belgian cardinal-designate faces questions about appointing priest convicted of abuse
 L’Osservatore Romano questions Nobel Prize for Bob Dylan
 Regensburg diocese to compensate abuse victims in children’s choir
 California prosecutor bringing criminal charges in fetal-parts scandal
 Pope rips ‘hypocrisy’ of Christians who reject refugees, says proselytism is ‘venom’
 Pakistani court again postpones hearing from Asia Bibi
 Papal message draws attention to plight of child migrants
 NATO leader meets with Pope
 Cardinal Parolin calls on Europe to return to Christian roots
 Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict contribute to book on Ecumenical Patriarch
 Pope Francis: care for the environment to help prevent natural disasters
 Religious leaders: repudiate civil rights commission’s attack on religious liberty

Released Wednesday, Oct. 12

 Massachusetts official urged to resign after grilling judicial nominee about Catholic faith
 Clinton campaign sought to stimulate ‘revolution’ within Catholic Church, leaked emails show
 Colombian bishops will take part in peace talks with 2nd rebel group
 Portrait of Belgian Cardinal-elect Jozef de Kesel
 Detroit archdiocese asks forgiveness in Mass of Pardon
 No reply from Pope to ‘Vatileaks’ convict’s appeal for pardon
 Council of Europe rejects surrogate parenthood
 Aid to the Church in Need receives 2016 Poverello Award
 Filipino president rips bishops for criticizing vigilante justice
 Christians united under persecution by ‘ecumenism of blood,’ Pope says
 Zimbabwe: Protestant cleric petitions for excommunication of Mugabe
 Common Core standards seen at odds with Catholic education
 Pope pleads for immediate ceasefire in Syria
 Practice the works of mercy daily, Pope says at general audience
 Texas bishops: death penalty does ‘great harm’ to the common good
 Denver archbishop: ‘Voting as a Catholic in 2016’
 Singapore prelate concerned about online gambling
 Nun: Western journalists biased in their coverage of Syria
 US government report discusses China’s repression of Church

Released Tuesday, Oct. 11

 Massachusetts churches challenge new state policy requiring transgender accommodations
 Seven saints to be canonized; four others move closer to beatification
 Swiss court requires nursing home to allow assisted suicide
 Benedict XVI questions German ‘church tax’
 Vatican envoy seeks UN attention to domestic violence
 Profiles of new cardinals
 Polish bishops will continue push for tighter abortion restrictions
 Jesuit priest shot with rubber bullets during rioting at South African university
 Chinese ‘underground’ bishop released, but still under police control
 Nuns in Italy form same-sex union
 Austrian bishops oppose government asylum limits
 Accept child refugees, UK religious leaders urge May
 Colombian bishops welcome Nobel Peace Prize for Santos
 Bishops’ commission welcomes EU ratification of climate-change treaty
 Catholic, Orthodox officials present Syrian children’s appeal for peace
 Caritas appeal for Haiti

Released Monday, Oct. 10

 Archbishop Sample: Amoris Laetitia does not change Church teaching
 Chinese priest ordained as ‘underground’ bishop without Vatican approval
 Illinois bishop: voters may choose not to support any presidential candidate
 Papal encouragement for Pallottine Fathers
 Pakistan shuts down Christian TV stations
 Jacob Neusner, rabbi who influenced Pope Benedict XVI, dead at 84
 Cardinal Bagnasco named president of European bishops’ conference
 English bishop urges Catholic editors to resist gender theory
 CatholicVote calls for Trump withdrawal
 Pope names 17 new cardinals
 Pray for hurricane victims, Pope asks in Angelus address
 Mary is a model of gratitude, Pope says at jubilee Mass
 Pope Francis: in the Rosary, we contemplate Mary as her Son’s first disciple
 Pope distinguishes mercy from pity, philanthropy
 Sistine Chapel Choir’s 2nd CD released
 Federal court victory for Baltimore crisis pregnancy centers

Released Friday, Oct. 7

 Belgian bishop suggests ritual to bless non-marital unions
 Portrait of papal almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski
 New Mexico archbishop denounces bid to restore capital punishment
 Vatican’s UN envoy recommends family-based approach to fighting drug use
 Argentine priest murdered after speaking out against drug traffic
 Polish lawmakers reject total abortion ban
 Haiti hurricane victims receive message of sympathy, support from Pope Francis
 Asia Bibi’s appeal to be heard by Pakistani supreme court next week
 Papal encouragement for Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
 Pope receives Vineyard church leaders
 Socialist who opposed abortion named UN secretary-general
 Dublin archbishop meets with leading Russian Orthodox official
 Jesuit Refugee Service assists 724,000 in 45 nations
 Anglican leader thanks Pope Francis for his example and teaching

Released Thursday, Oct. 6

 Meeting Anglican primates, Pope bids more prayers for unity
 Aleppo is a divided city, like Cold War Berlin, archbishop reports
 Church leaders in India call for prayer as fighting spreads in Kashmir
 Pope to open academic year for John Paul II Institute, replacing Cardinal Sarah
 Synod council reportedly chose against Pope’s preferred topic
 New York archdiocese sets up compensation fund for abuse victims
 Pope pays tribute to sports, warns against corruption
 2018 synod theme announced
 Pope greets Auschwitz survivors, recalls St. Faustina
 Haitian priest: hurricane had ‘catastrophic’ effect
 Report: Kurdish fighters occupy Christian villages in Syria
 4 catechists tortured, murdered in Mexico

Released Wednesday, Oct. 5

 Jordan’s huge refugee population creates unstability
 Vatican envoy calls for UN action against terrorism
 Europe should require nations to accept immigrants, says secretary-general of Italian bishops’ conference
 Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury sign joint pledge to work for unity
 Crucifix showing a female Christ figure on display at Episcopal cathedral
 Nicaraguan bishops call for fasting, prayer before elections
 Top Massachusetts court rules woman’s former lesbian partner has equal parental rights
 Pope recalls apostolic journey to Caucasus, speaks of unity of martyrs’ blood
 Pope receives Vodafone Foundation board, calls for digital access to sacred texts in Africa
 CAFOD: uphold women’s rights, education in Afghanistan
 Franciscans plead for peace in Syria
 Austria: brochure explains Christian culture to migrants
 Nebraska priest to head US bishops’ worship office

Released Tuesday, Oct. 4

 Build bridges, not walls: European justice-and-peace commissions
 German cabinet minister encourages Muslims to adapt, suggests ‘German Islam’
 Nigerian bishop: rosary crusade is defeating Boko Haram
 Pray for Holy Spirit’s guidance, archbishop urges judges at Red Mass in Washington
 Vicar for Rome issues strict guidelines for implementing Amoris Laetitia
 Report details work of pregnancy-resource centers
 Papal visit to India likely for 2017; Colombia trip doubtful
 Pope visits Italian earthquake region
 Burma: dozens of mosques, madrasas slated for demolition
 Venezuelan bishops deplore prison conditions
 Cardinal Sarah emphasizes importance of silence, ad orientem celebration
 Colombian bishops: rejection of peace agreement is cause for reflection, dialogue
 Vatican newspaper: gender ideology akin to Communism, eugenics

Released Monday, Oct. 3

 New cardinals will be named soon, Pope reveals
 Fast-track beatification process begun for Father Hamel
 Orthodox and Catholics must stand together: Russian Orthodox official
 Connecticut archbishop forms foundation for civil improvements
 Colombia’s voters reject peace accord with FARC rebels
 Portuguese bishop reports Pope confirmed visit to Fatima in May
 Jesuits encouraged to be bold in choosing new leader
 Irish archbishop: fetal defects never justifies abortion
 Canadian cardinal will not deny anointing, funeral in assisted-suicide cases
 Ecumenical setback as Orthodox boycott papal Mass in Georgia
 Vandal targets statues in Roman basilicas
 Did timing of World Cup influence Pope Benedict’s resignation
 Christian life is woven with faith and service, Pope tells Catholics of Azerbaijan
 Papal greeting to Rome’s Jewish community
 In Georgia, Pope speaks of ‘world war’ against marriage, decries gender theory; ‘never proselytize the Orthodox!’
 In press conference, Pope discusses US presidential election, ministry to transgendered persons

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