Stories for February 2023

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Tuesday, Feb. 28

 Pope slashes Vatican employees’ pay
 Protestant health-care group orders end to abortions in Rwanda
 Pro-Life Doctors’ Association Banned from Medical Conference
 Russian Catholic leader sees ‘no foreseeable solution’ to Ukraine conflict
 Bishop Paprocki sees heresy in Cardinal McElroy’s views
 Cardinal Cupich: Critics of Pope Francis’ Latin Mass restrictions should listen to JPII
 Albany diocese bans parish Latin Masses following new guidance from the Vatican
 Sacramento bishop hints that diocese will declare bankruptcy
 Interview: Vatican foreign minister on a year of war in Ukraine, the growing nuclear threat and relations with Putin
 German bishops’ leader wants ‘common line’ on same-sex blessings ahead of synodal way vote
 More than a thousand Telugu Christians evicted and abandoned in Dhaka
 Prosecutors close case against Cardinal Ricard; Vatican probe continues
 USCCB warns against implications of Equal Rights Amendment
 Indiana priest to lead bishops’ new Institute on the Catechism
 The current state of ecclesiastical universities in Rome: numbers, history

Released Monday, Feb. 27

 Soldiers invade archbishop’s residence in Democratic Republic of Congo
 McCarrick lawyers say former cardinal incompetent to stand trial
 Nicaragua’s Ortega steps up attacks on Church
 Pope to visit Hungary in April
 Pope: beware of devil’s influence
 Bishop Paprocki questions rescript, allows traditional liturgy
 After 2 years, Catholics on Prince Edward Island still waiting for a new bishop
 Spiritual exercises for Roman Curia begin
 As synodality summit looms, navigating a papacy’s imperial phase
 What have the Jesuits done about Father Rupnik? A timeline
 ‘Sing as a choir,’ Pope tells Rome’s pontifical universities
 Journalists publish new book, a result of several interviews with Pope Francis
 Pope calls on Vatican City State Tribunal to ‘find the necessary balance between justice and mercy’
 US bishops’ migration chairman denounces Biden administration’s proposed limits on asylum access
 India tries to police religious conversions
 At Ukraine documentary viewing, Pope prays for peace

Released Friday, Feb. 24

 Cardinal Müller laments ‘brutal intolerance’ of traditionalist liturgy
 Pope thanks donors to papal charity
 Eight more pro-life activists face federal charges
 What lies ahead for the Church in Germany?
 ‘Millenials’ slow to marry, survey shows
 Lawsuit accuses Cardinal McElroy of fraudulently transferring assets to foil sex abuse liability
 Guam court dismisses Vatican from lawsuit filed by Archbishop Apuron’s victims
 US Dept. of Education proposes end of rules shielding student religious groups at public colleges
 German diocese promoted Valentine’s Day blessings with photo of homosexual couple kissing
 Suspect in shooting death of LA Bishop O’Connell charged with murder
 Secretariat of State publishes full ‘Jews series’ of historical archive online
 Vatican spokesman: ‘Stop this war!’
 Pope nationalizes Vatican assets, property in new reform
 Ukrainian Orthodox churches deplore invasion, blast Russian Orthodox Church
 US bishops’ committee chairman marks 1-year anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Released Thursday, Feb. 23

 Dublin archbishop denies city’s bid to tax ‘vacant’ church properties
 Vatican advances six causes for beatification
 Pontifical Academy reflects on ‘post-humanism’
 Ailing Pope curtails schedule
 Pope lauds pure science, cautions on ‘improper influences’
 Pope speaks with Orthodox clerics on ecumenism, calls for end to sanctions on Syria
 Vatican, Oman establish diplomatic relations
 Vatican: Putin suspending nuclear treaty is ‘move in the wrong direction’
 ‘Detransitioners’ are being abandoned by medical professionals who devastated their bodies and minds
 Abortion attitudes in a post-Roe world: findings from the 50-state 2022 American Values Atlas
 Concretely combat ‘scourge’ of hunger, Pope urges faithful of Brazil
 New archive of Santa Fe clergy abuse documents hailed as unprecedented
 Pope at Ash Wednesday Mass: Return to the truth about ourselves; return to God and neighbor
 Plunging birthrate leads to 8.5 million abandoned homes in Japan
 Former FBI leaders: Leaked memo was wrong to label ‘radical traditionalist Catholics’ as possible domestic threats
 UGCC declares a solemn day of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving
 Vatican ‘foreign minister’ celebrates Mass for Ukraine
 ‘The Exorcist Files’ podcast tops the charts

Released Wednesday, Feb. 22

 Four female delegates withdraw from German ‘Synodal Path’
 New papal appeal for peace in Ukraine
 Follow the Holy Spirit, not internal debates, Pope tells audience
 Journalist’s testimony backs former Vatican financial watchdog
 Pope encourages filmmakers to ‘reawaken wonder’
 Nigerian Christians brace for election as Islamic clerics call all-Muslim ticket ‘a jihad’
 States have the duty to ‘reduce the drivers of climate change,’ Vatican diplomat says
 Papal appeals for Syria and Turkey, Ukraine, New Zealand
 Cardinal Ouellet: Priesthood depends on closeness to God
 Newly-discovered asteroids named after Jesuits — and a pope
 Pontifical Academy for Life discusses emerging technologies
 Vatican Bank president testifies he was offered ‘protection’ to approve London deal
 Pope would like to visit eastern Russia, religious leader says
 Bail set at $2M for Bishop O’Connell’s suspected killer
 North American Synod team concludes week-long writing retreat
 USCCB president responds to persecution of Church in Nicaragua

Released Tuesday, Feb. 21

 Nicaraguan government strips bishop, priest of citizenship
 Vatican volumes record Jewish pleas for help during World War II
 Priest wounded in land-mine blast facing more surgery
 Suspect in bishop’s killing is husband of housekeeper
 New Vatican document tightens controls on traditional Latin Mass
 Pope reflects on relation between canon law, evangelization
 Texas bishop reflects on experience of leading Synod process in US
 Bishop Stika asks judge to seal ‘Vos estis’ records
 Kentucky Supreme Court ruling allows state’s near-total abortion bans to remain in place for now
 Jesuits say new abuse accusations against Father Rupnik highly credible; restrictions tightened
 Philly pastor: Pipe bomb not directed at Catholic church, but endangered freight line
 Public dispute between Indiana diocese, powerful state senator over Catholic school
 ‘A better way forward’: Bishop Paprocki responds to Cardinal Robert McElroy
 Ukraine’s Catholic leader says Biden visit generated new hope
 One-fourth of Anglican primates reject leadership of Archbishop of Canterbury over same-sex blessings

Released Monday, Feb. 20

 Suspect arrested in LA bishop’s shooting death
 Investigating bishop has ‘no information’ on Vatican decision not to prosecute Rupnik
 Local Catholic pastor lauds ‘Asbury revival’
 Make technology serve humanity, Pope urges
 Pope encourages ‘tenderness’ in work with the poor
 Canadian activists seek ‘hate speech’ designation for questions on residential schools
 Chinese regime praises Catholic community in Tibet
 Report documents rampant Christian persecution in China
 Military will provide travel allowances for service members’ abortions
 Canadian bishops outline plans for reconciliation with indigenous peoples
 Franciscan friar expelled from Nicaragua, arrested on return to Italy
 Nigeria’s newest cardinal shares secret behind the highest Mass attendance in the world
 Parish business manager sentenced for embezzling nearly $574K
 Cardinal O’Malley thanks Portuguese abuse survivors for speaking out
 Christ ‘encourages us to live the unbalance of love,’ Pope tells pilgrims
 Philadelphia police find 18-inch pipe bomb behind Catholic church
 Murder investigation underway into Los Angeles auxiliary bishop’s death

Released Friday, Feb. 17

 Pope encourages Marian Fathers to deepen their spirituality
 Build up spiritual capital, Pope tells Mexican entrepreneurs
 Counteract ‘post-truth’ world, Archbishop Fisher urges
 Pope issues Lenten Message
 Why was a Canadian student expelled from Catholic school for opposing transgender bathroom policy?
 All 5 Colorado Democrats in Congress urge hospital to violate Catholic teaching, sterilize patients
 Kosovo’s ‘closet’ Catholics open up about long hidden faith
 $50M shrine honors Blessed Stanley Rother
 Nigeria’s bishops encourage votes for moral candidates
 Former Homiletic & Pastoral Review editor leaves priesthood after abuse allegation
 ‘I am close to you and I pray’: papal support for earthquake victims
 Pope tells Jesuits in Africa he twice refused to become a bishop
 US bishops’ religious liberty chairman comments on leaked FBI memorandum

Released Thursday, Feb. 16

 National Archives settles lawsuit brought by pro-life students
 Maine judge sees ‘close’ argument on statute of limitations in abuse cases
 English pro-lifers ‘not guilty’ for prayer outside abortion clinics
 Resignation ‘has not crossed my mind,’ Pope says
 Papal welcome for United Bible Societies
 Bolivian archbishop sees government bid to intimidate Church leaders
 Dutch cardinal moves to curtail ‘priestless Sunday’ celebrations
 ‘The world of work is undergoing a serious crisis,’ Vatican diplomat warns
 Nigerian think tank builds ‘atrocities database’ documenting persecution of Christians
 Cameroon bishop denounces killings of workers amid separatist push
 Registration open for first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years
 Miami archbishop offers to house exiled Nicaraguan priests, seminarians
 Synod on Synodality: North American delegates embark on writing retreat
 Wall Street Journal editorial slams FBI memo linking Latin Mass to hate groups
 In Australia, Catholic police officer fired for online comments about homosexuality
 Freed Nicaraguan political prisoner tells how faith sustained him in prison
 Pennsylvania diocese completes bankruptcy reorganization process
 Partners in mission: Vatican dicastery promotes ‘co-responsibility’ of clergy, laity

Released Wednesday, Feb. 15

 Pope appoints lay commissioners to oversee Rome diocese
 Beatification set for entire family killed by Nazis
 Two Dominican priests laicized in Congo
 Pope describes three languages of evangelization
 20 state AGs call for investigation into FBI’s anti-Catholic memo
 11 US dioceses in midst of bankruptcy proceedings; 15 more have completed process
 Atlanta airport gets a 24/7 Eucharistic chapel
 Dublin archdiocese seeks to delist dozens of churches, parish centers from new tax
 Indian Catholics resist plan by BJP-led municipality to destroy historic chapel
 After synodal assembly, Europe’s bishops pledge to ‘work tirelessly’ to enlarge Catholic tent
 US State Dept. condemns Nicaragua’s imprisonment of outspoken bishop
 Lay Salvatorians recognized as an international association of the faithful
 Catholic community expresses sorrow, prayers after ‘horrific’ Michigan State shooting
 Vatican releases ‘Our common home: A guide to caring for our living planet’
 Commission head: More than 100 priests suspected of abuse remain active in Portugal
 Middle East continental phase of Synod opens in Beirut
 Bishop of Aleppo welcomes easing of sanctions against Syria

Released Tuesday, Feb. 14

 Boston archdiocese drafting gender-identity guidelines
 Indian bishop, acquitted in rape trial, meets with Pope
 In-depth look at Vatican takeover of Poor Clare monastery
 Pope: Sport can instill discipline and perseverance for spiritual life
 Bishop Cui Tai: 16 years of arrests and releases; faithful call for an end to illegal detention
 Richmond bishop condemns FBI memo that sought to link Latin Mass to violent extremism
 Thousands of Myanmar Catholics gather at Marian shrine to plead for peace
 NY archdiocesan official analyzes abortion and state constitutions
 Bishops around the world condemn unjust persecution of the Church in Nicaragua
 Pope Francis: Health services should not discriminate against those with rare diseases
 Philadelphia Catholic school expels students who took part in racist video
 Portuguese commission: 4,815 possible victims of abuse in Catholic institutions since 1950
 Christianity is a force for peace in Sudan, Vatican diplomat emphasizes
 USCCB files brief in Supreme Court immigration case
 ‘Let us not forget’: papal appeal for earthquake victims, Ukraine

Released Monday, Feb. 13

 Priest injured by land mine in Central African Republic
 Pope welcomes bond between shrines to Our Lady of Guadalupe
 Chinese Catholics seek news of detained bishop
 Animal-rights advocates rap papal almoner’s trip to the circus
 Education brings light to culture, Pope tells Georgian academics
 National Archives sued for requiring visitors to remove pro-life apparel
 At synod assembly, Irish delegates speak of ‘hurt’ caused by Catholic teaching on women’s ordination, homosexuality
 New bishop for troubled Argentine diocese
 ‘Don’t kick us out for being poor’: feedback from the faithful on St. Louis’ parish reorganization
 Cardinal McElroy commits ‘a most serious and dangerous error,’ Kansas City archbishop warns
 Russian clergy who speak out against war face continued pressure
 Pope names new Archbishop of Toronto
 Oregon archbishop publishes Catholic response to gender identity theory
 ‘Jesus invites us to aspire to the maximum possible,’ not the bare minimum, Pope tells pilgrims
 Parishioners ‘shocked’ at possible bankruptcy for Diocese of San Diego
 Pope Francis asks Virgin Mary to intercede for Nicaragua after bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison

Released Saturday, Feb. 11

 Nicaraguan bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison
 Background: World Day of the Sick

Released Friday, Feb. 10

 Pittsburgh diocese to restrict ad orientem liturgy
 Satanic group plans abortion clinic in New Mexico
 Change lifestyles to protect Mother Earth, Pope urges
 ‘Training, discipline, and motivation’: papal address to athletes
 French religious orders demand change over L’Arche abuses
 English priest arrested for free speech protest outside abortion clinic
 Vatican touts new memoir by Benedict XVI’s 2nd secretary
 Oxford man fined for threatening priest
 Papal vicar names safeguarding point person for Vatican City, Roman Curia
 European Catholics debate final outcome of Synod on Synodality assembly in Prague
 Donations to Catholic parishes up post-pandemic, but with fewer donors
 Catholic activists want Nigerians to vote for candidates opposed to Christian persecution
 Gun violence is a pro-life issue, prelate says at social ministry gathering
 FBI retracts leaked document orchestrating investigation of Catholics

Released Thursday, Feb. 9

 No clarity in Cardinal Grech’s view of the Synod [news analysis]
 Nicaragua releases political prisoners, flies them to US
 Syrian Church leaders: drop economic sanctions after earthquake
 Cardinal sees hope for amnesty for Cuban political prisoners
 Pope tells doctors not to be discouraged by disease
 Church of England approves same-sex unions
 Pope holds private audience with accused Cardinal Becciu
 Brazilian bishop authorizes private prayer for Benedict XVI’s intercession
 Protest at Philadelphia Catholic school over racially charged video
 Moscow’s Catholic archbishop weighs in on war, synod
 St. Louis archdiocese proposes 88 pastorates as part of downsizing plan
 Fiji prelate lauds prime minister’s leadership, despite past coups
 Priest kidnapped in Haiti; captors demand ransom
 As Pavone misconduct allegations mount, Diocese of Amarillo maintains silence
 35% of Catholic parents say it’s ‘extremely or very important’ for children to share their beliefs
 FBI internal memo warns against ‘radical traditionalist Catholic ideology’
 Catholic economist evaluates new Vatican guidelines for investing
 Fulani herdsmen kill Christian, leaving wife shattered
 USCCB committee chairman calls for prayer, assistance for earthquake victims

Released Wednesday, Feb. 8

 New Vatican investigation of French diocese
 European bishops call for release of priests jailed in Nicaragua
 Papal condemnation of human trafficking
 Pope leads prayers for earthquake victims in Turkey, Syria
 At audience, Pope reviews trip to Africa
 Women who abort feel pressured, study shows
 Lift sanctions against Syria to allow for earthquake aid, Middle East’s Christian leaders urge
 Church to help ensure peaceful Timor-Leste polls
 ‘The Meaning of Communion’: excerpt from Pope Benedict’s posthumously published work
 Africa is ‘rapidly becoming the center of gravity of global Catholicism’
 Pakistani Christians brace for more persecution under revised blasphemy law
 German leaders make pitch for ‘synodal way’ at Europe’s synod meeting
 Sweeping laws on abortion, euthanasia, gender enacted under Spain’s Socialist government
 Africa had the highest number of martyrs in 2022
 OSV editor critiques Cardinal McElroy’s call for ‘radical inclusion’
 Leading Sicilian prelate: No godparents for 3 years
 Holy See ‘particularly alarmed’ by rise of anti-Semitic violence, diplomat says
 USCCB publishes ‘stop taxpayer abortion’ flyer

Released Tuesday, Feb. 7

 Mongolia next? But why won’t Pope Francis visit Argentina? [news analysis]
 Vatican dismisses Italian nuns from religious life after real-estate dispute
 Pope to visit Mongolia?
 Church and state spar over taxes for noted guest facility in Jerusalem
 Federal judge explores new route to secure abortion rights
 Polish Synod delegate warns against ‘temptation to build some other church’
 Over 1,000 Indian Catholics rally in support of accused bishop
 For Congolese Catholics, Pope Francis’ words had real power
 ‘Africa is happy, grateful,’ bishops say of papal visit
 4 priests, 2 seminarians in Nicaragua sentenced to decade in prison
 Vandals cause ‘extensive damage’ at Australian Catholic school
 Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church moves away from Russian-affiliated Julian calendar
 AGs from 20 states warn CVS, Walgreens against mailing abortion pills
 Peru’s bishops call for ‘transparent and fair elections’
 In Turkey, cathedral collapses in earthquake; in Syria, archbishop pulled from rubble
 US Senate passes resolution honoring Catholic schools
 USCCB announces ‘virtual pilgrimage’ for day of prayer against human trafficking
 ‘Parishes are not a club for the few,’ Pope says in video
 Report: More than 360M Christians suffer high levels of persecution, discrimination

Released Monday, Feb. 6

 Archbishop of Canterbury: division among Christians is ‘abnormal’
 Papal condolences to Turkey, Syria after devastating earthquake
 Pope still hopes to visit Ukraine, Russia
 AP editorial policy: pregnancy-help centers now called ‘anti-abortion’ centers
 Knoxville diocese asks court to protect files on abuse complaints
 Largest Catholic parish church in North America opens in California
 Catholicism must reckon with the risks of a ‘Saffron Taliban’ in India
 Vatican foreign minister: Pope wants to meet with Patriarch Kirill, but in peaceful conditions
 Cardinal Zen and Jimmy Lai among Hong Kongers nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
 Teacher says Denver Catholic school fired her because of her same-sex relationship
 ‘Your humility to us was not in vain,’ South Sudan’s president tells Pope
 President of Malawi lauds Church’s ‘enormous socioeconomic impact’
 Europe’s synodal continental assembly begins in Prague
 Religious freedom summit brings together politicians from both sides of aisle for global event
 Pope Francis criticizes those who have ‘exploited’ Pope Benedict’s death
 Praying with South Sudan’s Christians, Pope, other Christian leaders urge new steps toward unity
 New convent beckons Christians to return to Iraq

Released Friday, Feb. 3

 Testing agency that serves Catholic schools also promotes gender ideology
 Pope arrives in South Sudan, beginning 2nd leg of African voyage
 Be prophets of hope, Pope asks Congo’s bishops
 Catholic priests in police custody in Russian-occupied Ukraine
 Orthodox Church of Ukraine backs government’s restrictions on Moscow-allied group
 Top Vatican diplomat: reform UN to improve peacemaking power
 Retired Italian bishop: Abortion is not murder before the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy
 Cardinal George Pell’s funeral, in 6 magnificent dimensions
 American tourist desecrates statue of Christ in Catholic church in Jerusalem
 Religious have ‘special role’ in the Church: Pope’s message for World Day of Consecrated Life
 Tweet on the middle finger posted, deleted from Pope’s Twitter account
 Catholic leaders applaud Pope’s call for ‘hands off’ Africa
 ‘Mending the nets’ —USCCB education chair Daly on Catholic schools
 President Biden urges unity at National Prayer Breakfast
 European Court: Russia violates human rights by not permitting same-sex marriage
 Over Catholic protests, Minnesota lawmakers enact extreme abortion law
 Courage leader challenges Father Martin’s tweets on same-sex marriage
 +Metropolitan John Zizioulas, 92
 USCCB president announces legislative priorities

Released Thursday, Feb. 2

 Synod preparations reveal plans for radical change
 Pope urges youth in Congo toward prayer, peace
 Background: World Day for Consecrated Life
 Indian Catholics demand strict action in Bible burning incident
 Catholic school students kicked out of Smithsonian museum in DC over pro-life beanies
 Stop blaming apartheid regime for South Africa’s failures, bishops say
 Cardinal George Pell: Mourners and protesters clash at Sydney funeral
 Church of England sheds light on ‘shameful’ slave trade ties
 In Congo, activists look to Pope to boost forest protections
 Archbishop Aquila responds to Cardinal McElroy’s article on ‘radical inclusion’
 ‘Listening to the West’: Vatican hosts conference on synodality
 Victims of violence in Congo share their grief with Pope
 USCCB president: bishops are united against evil of abortion
 US bishops’ religious liberty chairman on proposed rule for ‘contraceptive mandate’

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Wed30 April
Easter

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter; Opt. Mem. of St. Pius V, Pope and Religious

Image for Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter; Opt. Mem. of St. Pius V, Pope and Religious

Today is the Optional Memorial of St. Pius V (1504-1572). He joined the Dominicans at the age of fourteen; he was sixty-two when he was elected Pope. His reign, though short, was one of the most fruitful of the sixteenth century. To Protestantism, which had proclaimed the Reformation, St. Pius replied by…

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