Catholic Culture News
Catholic Culture News

Stories for November 2023

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Thursday, Nov. 30

 Pope urged Israeli leader not to ‘respond to terror with terror’
 Cardinal Parolin will lead Vatican delegation to Dubai in Pope’s absence
 Pope says he is recovering from acute bronchitis
 International Theological Commission needs more female theologians, Pope says
 Syro-Malabar deacons required to take liturgical pledge before priestly ordination
 Pope sends fraternal message to Ecumenical Patriarch for Feast of St. Andrew
 Vatican aims to have a net-zero-emissions vehicle fleet by 2030
 Sagrada Familía basilica in Barcelona inaugurates the towers of the Evangelists
 Belgium: Mass attendance rises, but down 40% from 2017
 Catholics at COP28 vow to carry ill Pope’s call for action on climate change
 EU court rules public employees may be barred from wearing religious garb, symbols
 USCCB reminds organizations: campaigning for or against candidates may jeopardize tax exemption
 Conference puts Pope’s call for ‘outgoing theology’ into action
 Papal letter marks 800th anniversary of approval of Rule of St. Francis

Released Wednesday, Nov. 29

 Massachusetts priest reaches plea-bargain agreement in larceny case
 Winning is not most important, Pope tells soccer team
 Vatican official backs Pope’s right to remove bishops
 Justice Department sides with Oregon church against restraints on meals program
 Pope prays for extension of Gaza ceasefire
 Today is a favorable time for evangelization, Pope says at general audience
 Nicaragua says jailed bishop treated well in prison
 Citing ‘quality of life,’ USCCB expresses concern about NIH’s proposed mission statement
 Vatican appoints replacement at Swiss abbey tainted by abuse allegations
 Pope meets with Spain’s bishops, summoned to Rome to discuss seminaries
 Papal message stresses importance of rule of law, discusses climate justice

Released Tuesday, Nov. 28

 Pope planning to strip Cardinal Burke of apartment, salary?
 Indiana bishop raps Catholic college plan to admit ‘transgender women’
 Cardinal Becciu proclaims innocence as trial nears a close
 Papal trip to Dubai cancelled because of illness [updated]
 Myanmar army attacks Catholic pastoral center
 Jerusalem cardinal thanks Jordan’s king for support of Gaza parish
 Spain’s dioceses to compensate abuse victims even if priest has died
 Russian drone damages Kyiv Catholic cathedral
 USCCB welcomes Biden administration’s proposed changes to temporary worker visa programs
 Papal message: Christ’s ‘communication is true because it is inspired by love’
 Appreciate differences, accompany with care, and act courageously, Pope tells university chaplains
 Pope: Reconstruction of earthquake-hit central Italy must be sustainable
 Papal message marks 10th anniversary of Evangelii Gaudium

Released Monday, Nov. 27

 Paraguay’s president meets with Pontiff
 German priest released, one year after kidnapping
 Bishop Barron in ‘frank disagreement’ with Synod statement on moral teaching
 German bishops’ leader raps ‘unbrotherly’ Polish criticism
 Pope recovering from ‘pulmonary inflammation’ [Updated]
 Calling for ‘drastic’ and ‘intense’ action, papal message links social, environmental crises
 11 new members appointed to Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
 Updated schedule released for papal journey to Dubai, as Pontiff warns of risk to life on earth
 ‘Rejoicing in hope’: dioceses celebrate World Youth Day
 Pope welcomes Mideast truce, hostage releases
 Marking Holodomor Remembrance Day, Pope Francis reflects on ‘tormented’ Ukraine
 Respond to poverty with love, and be close to those in need: papal reflection for Feast of Christ the King
 Pope Francis has ‘mild flu,’ goes to hospital for precautionary testing

Released Friday, Nov. 24

 Christmas tree arrives in St. Peter’s Square
 President of Cyprus meets with Pope
 Vatican prosecution case built on ‘fantasy,’ defense lawyers argue
 Pray for peace in the Holy Land, Pope says in video appeal
 Pope reportedly refers to Israeli actions in Gaza as ‘genocide,’ setting off firestorm
 Papal message marks 100th anniversary of pontifical historical preservation commission
 Welcome, care, and fraternity: Pope encourages work of the Fraternity of Romena
 Travel the paths of formation, protection, and witness, Pope tells media professionals

Released Wednesday, Nov. 22

 US archbishop suggests moving Vatican out of Rome
 Pope congratulates Argentine president-elect
 Small US dioceses outpace large ones in attracting needed priestly vocations
 Christian homes and a Catholic school among buildings destroyed in Gaza
 US bishops’ doctrine chairman discusses support for naming Newman a doctor of the Church
 Disgraced Alabama priest marries teen
 Support for abortion ‘for any reason’ is near record high, poll finds
 Church Militant founder resigns; group cites morality clause
 IRS confirms that organizations listed in Official Catholic Directory are tax-exempt
 Pope welcomes migrant he’s been praying for since July
 We have a duty to share the Gospel with all, Pope says at general audience

Released Tuesday, Nov. 21

 Coadjutor bishop appointed for troubled French diocese
 Another controversy erupts over remark attributed to Pope
 Mother Teresa’s nuns ‘under siege’ in Gaza
 Pope says German Synodal Path threatens Church unity
 New book by Pope celebrates the Christmas creche
 Argentine elections seen as rejection of Pope Francis?
 French bishop charged with attempted rape of adult man
 Bishop Flores to US bishops: The Synod offers us ‘Catholic way’ to grapple with real-world problems
 Pope rues plight of children in war
 China’s top patriotic bishop stresses unity, sinicization to guide evangelization
 Using abortion protest law, Catholic hospital system sues patients who refuse to be discharged
 East Texans gather in support of ousted Bishop Strickland
 Australian archbishop assesses strengths, weaknesses of ‘theologically thin’ Synod
 12,000 Catholic teens take part in conference
 Bishops meet with White House officials about environmental concerns
 USCCB marks anniversary of ‘landmark statement’ on parish social ministry

Released Monday, Nov. 20

 English court orders Vatican to turn over internal messages on London deal
 Church of England approves blessings for same-sex couples
 Pope meets with leaders of Roman Curia
 Argentina’s president-elect is critic of Pope Francis
 Mexican archbishop defends show of LGBT flags at church funeral
 ‘Trans women’ welcomed as papal guests
 Ohio priest sentenced to life in prison for sex-trafficking convictions
 Iraq’s president meets with Pontiff
 Protect, listen, and heal: papal encouragement for Italian bishops’ efforts to address sexual abuse
 Treat patients with closeness, compassion, and tenderness, Pope tells physicians
 ‘Showered with gifts, we are called in turn to make ourselves a gift,’ Pope preaches on World Day of the Poor
 Renewed papal appeal for peace in Myanmar, Ukraine, Israel and Palestine
 20 Spanish Civil War martyrs beatified in Seville
 Do not choose fear, but trust in the Lord, Pope tells pilgrims

Released Sunday, Nov. 19

 Background: World Day of the Poor

Released Friday, Nov. 17

 Bishop Strickland discusses removal in TV interview
 Syrian prelate denounces violence in Gaza, urges two-state solution
 Pakistani government returns college to Presbyterian ownership
 Pro-lifer found guilty under FACE act; prison sentence looms
 Papal encouragement for Filipino pilgrims
 Catholic Relief Services calls for ‘immediate cessation of violence’ in Gaza to allow aid
 Colleges that emphasize fidelity to Catholic teaching see ‘unprecedented’ enrollment numbers
 National Eucharistic Congress releases schedule, offers scholarships
 Conference looks at role of Eastern Catholics in ecumenism
 Angolan bishop denounces political corruption
 Recap of US bishops’ fall meeting in Baltimore
 Vatican dicastery issues statement following Buddhist-Christian dialogue on compassion, love
 Pope Francis pays tribute to Venerable Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, author of The Mystical City of God

Released Thursday, Nov. 16

 Vatican plans shift to electric cars
 Holiness enriches families, communities, Pope says
 Prayer more important than programs, Pope tells US priests
 Bishop Strickland appears near, but not at, bishops’ meeting
 Transparency needs to be balanced by ‘effectiveness,’ Vatican finance leader tells Pope
 English bishops welcome UK Supreme Court decision blocking deportation of asylum-seekers
 New Ways Ministry criticizes letter on gender ideology by San Francisco, Oakland bishops
 Pope Francis, local bishop lament slaughter in Cameroon village
 USCCB moves forward with Institute on the Catechism
 US bishops approve supplements to ‘Faithful Citizenship,’ affirm abortion ‘preeminent’ among issues
 Swiss bishops speak to Pope about sexual abuse scandal

Released Wednesday, Nov. 15

 AMA retains opposition to assisted suicide
 Ghana Church leader raps ‘uncontrolled corruption’
 Legalized marijuana ‘disastrous to our society,’ says Denver archbishop
 Papal call for daily prayer for peace
 Share the joy of the Gospel with others, Pope says at general audience
 US bishops vote for committee chairmen, voice support for Hecker beatification cause
 Archbishop Broglio, Cardinal Pierre spar on synodality in the US Church
 189 public works planned in Rome for 2025 Jubilee
 Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith confirms that the Catholic faith and Freemasonry are irreconcilable

Released Tuesday, Nov. 14

 Survey shows ‘Gen Z’ ambivalent on sexual identity
 German bishops empower lay voters in policy-making body
 Peru legislators recognize right to life for unborn
 Shanghai bishop pushes for ‘sinicization’ of Catholic Church
 Polish archbishop voices serious questions about Synod on Synodality
 Keep up hope in dark times, Pope writes in World Youth Day message
 Brooklyn bishop reports 40% drop in Mass attendance in five years
 Pope Francis praises Sicilian bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse
 Brazil pro-LGBTQ network reports welcome in Church, pushback in society
 Synod at halftime: Bishop Rhoades on synodality and evangelization
 US bishops begin fall meeting with prayers, Mass for peace
 French bishops discuss abortion; adult baptisms on the rise
 Pope thanks School Sisters of Notre Dame for ‘making Christ visible’
 Leading Lithuanian lawmaker discusses Ukraine with Pontiff
 Pope receives Sikhs from United Arab Emirates, praises selfless service

Released Monday, Nov. 13

 Franciscan leader in Holy Land calls for end to Gaza bombing
 Vatican commission weighs cases for 550 new martyrs
 Indi Gregory dies; father feels ‘pull of hell’
 Benedictine nuns to take over Pope Benedict’s retirement home at Vatican
 Beijing bishop strengthens ties with Hong Kong
 Compromise proposals fail; Syro-Malabar crisis continues
 Church leaders urge quiet Christmas celebrations in Holy Land
 Pope reaffirms right of parents to educate their children in freedom
 Shrines are places of prayer, consolation, and hope, Pope tells shrine rectors, personnel
 International Buddhist-Christian dialogue examines compassion, love
 Ukrainian Church recalls 400th anniversary of martyrdom of St. Josaphat
 Papal prayer for COP28, gratitude for Laudato Si’ Action Platform
 ‘Enough’ conflict, says Pope Francis, as he calls for more aid to Gaza
 Papal appeal for humanitarian aid in war-torn Sudan
 Nurture the inner life daily, Pope tells pilgrims

Released Saturday, Nov. 11

 Pope Francis removes Bishop Strickland from office

Released Friday, Nov. 10

 Hong Kong rejects bishops’ petition to free Jimmy Lai
 Italian senate authorizes new inquiry in Orlandi case
 China tightens restrictions on religious education
 Catholics resist bid to require abortion education in schools in Northern Ireland
 HHS ‘transgender pronoun mandate’ seen as threat to religious freedom
 Congo prelate: push for ‘clean energy’ damages Africa, spurs conflict
 ‘The situation in North Gaza is unraveling,’ CRS spokeswoman warns
 GOP presidential candidates debate abortion in wake of Ohio referendum
 Papal message calls for pursuit of disarmament, but reaffirms ‘inalienable right to self-defense’
 Prelate offers 10 recommendations to Congress for protecting unaccompanied migrant children
 US population projected to begin declining in second half of century
 US bishops’ pro-life chairman praises pregnancy-help centers
 Ukrainian Catholic leader welcomes step toward EU membership, warns of looming humanitarian catastrophe
 Vatican hosts international conference for shrine leaders, personnel

Released Thursday, Nov. 9

 Polish bishops voice concerns about Church unity after Synod meeting
 Pro-life leader sues Biden administration for ‘malicious’ arrest and prosecution
 Papal thanks for Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums
 Pope condemns ‘poisonous weed’ of violence against women
 Pope decries ‘tragedy unfolding’ in land where Jesus lived
 Schedule set for Pope’s trip to Dubai for COP 28 conference
 British court orders removal of baby’s life support
 Sisters of Life win exemption from state probe of pro-life centers
 Swiss president meets with Pontiff
 New organization examines slavery and Church in the US
 Ohio’s bishops lament enshrinement of abortion in state constitution
 Vatican foreign minister calls religious freedom ‘indispensable’ to conflict resolution
 Cardinal Dolan defends ‘culture warriors’
 By the numbers: Did Aparecida work?
 USCCB notes link between Supreme Court opioid case, diocesan bankruptcies
 Pope baptizes Ukrainian baby

Released Wednesday, Nov. 8

 Cardinal Ghirlanda meets with Pope amid rumors
 Vatican approves miracle attributed to late Argentine Cardinal Pironio
 Catholic religious murdered in Cameroon
 Pope again pleads for peace in Ukraine, Holy Land
 Papal autobiography due for publication in spring 2024
 Vatican hospital offers treatment for baby after British court ends life support
 Vatican OK’s transexuals for baptism, as godparents, marriage witnesses
 Christian faith growing in countries that persecute
 Major survey finds ‘conservative’ and ‘orthodox’ priests on the rise in the US
 Pope, at general audience, pays tribute to Venerable Madeleine Delbrêl
 Ohio voters enshrine abortion in state constitution
 Man posing as priest steals from Texas parishes
 Scholar analyzes religious composition of political parties over last 50 years
 Former USCCB official: The Vatican does not understand the Church in the United States
 Bishops back SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
 Theme of annual Vatican message to Hindus: ‘Building peace in truth, justice, love and freedom’

Released Tuesday, Nov. 7

 Church leaders call for release of Jimmy Lai
 Baltimore archdiocese closing religious service at church after pastor’s suspension
 Cardinal Parolin reflects on climate-change commitment
 US religious orders face crisis in support for elderly members
 Vatican delegate to UN calls for protection of Gaza civilians
 Jordan’s Christians to forego Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gaza
 DA closes investigation into Mobile priest who left for Italy with 18-year-old
 Oldest black Catholic parish in New York City to become non-Catholic house of worship
 Ban on school, parish lawsuits remains as attorneys for victims, Baltimore archdiocese continue bankruptcy talks
 Thousands attend weekday Mass in Muslim Dubai
 California cathedral vandalized with paint; police investigating as possible hate crime
 Archbishop Cordileone reflects on gender ideology, ‘secular fundamentalism’
 California mother wins award from US bishops for poverty work
 Catalonian leader meets with Pontiff
 Papal praise for compassion of ‘Little House of Mercy’ in Sicily
 Pope invites children to teach world through their joy and purity

Released Monday, Nov. 6

 Missing elements in US bishops’ Eucharistic Revival program
 Brooklyn bishop removes pastor over controversial video
 German bishop instructs priests to bless same-sex unions
 Muslim leader praises Pope’s commitment to climate-change summit
 Ailing Pope does not deliver talk; Vatican reports ‘a bit of a cold’
 Pope calls Spanish bishops to Rome for sex-abuse discussion
 Cardinal denies drafting changes for papal conclave
 Report: Pope Francis looks at ‘synodal reforms’ to papal election process
 Iranian president, Pontiff discuss Israel-Hamas war: renewed papal call for cease-fire
 USCCB committee chairman lends support to national 15-week abortion ban
 Head of Church of Scotland meets with Pontiff
 Make ‘Life in the Spirit seminars’ widely available, Pope tells leaders of Catholic charismatic renewal
 Papal prayer for victims of quake in Nepal, floods in Europe
 Pope urges ‘stop in the name of God,’ calls for Gaza humanitarian aid
 Pope warns against duplicity

Released Friday, Nov. 3

 Hong Kong cardinal invites Beijing bishop; Cardinal Zen threatens boycott
 Palestinian leader urges Pope to support Gaza ceasefire
 Pope presides at Mass for deceased prelates
 Vatican confirms plan for papal trip to Dubai
 Pope Francis discusses Synod and homosexuality in new interview
 Catholic peace activists hold ‘pray-in’ protest outside White House
 Wall Street Journal op-ed raps Synod
 Australian Catholic girls’ school will permit same-sex dates at formal dance
 ‘Fear and chaos’ in Gaza’s sole Catholic church following reported nearby Israeli missile strike
 Brooklyn bishop ‘appalled’ over music video shot in parish, will investigate
 AP profile: Socialist priest in South Dakota pioneered ballot initiatives
 ‘Being Pope is also a process,’ Pope says in video: ‘more charitable, more merciful’
 US bishops’ religious liberty chairman speaks out against religious hatred

Released Thursday, Nov. 2

 Swiss Catholic population dropping as exodus continues
 Pope concelebrates Mass at Roman military cemetery
 Pope confirms plan to attend UN climate summit
 Jesuits warned Slovenian diocese on Rupnik
 Ohio archdiocese reports vandalism ahead of key vote
 Iraqi Patriarch sees perilous future for Christian minority
 Papal encouragement for women who have turned away from the Mafia
 Catholic Church in Ukraine faces extermination, bishops say
 Virginia governor issues directive to combat anti-religious threats of violence
 Pope Francis calls for ‘paradigm shift’ in theology for world of today
 USCCB committee chairman issues statement on Israel-Hamas war
 Brazilian bishop resigns at 62; accused of sexually harassing priests, seminarians
 Holiness is a gift and a journey, Pope says on All Saints Day

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