Most Popular News Within Last 30 Days
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Norma McCorvey repudiated pro-life conversion before death
Norma McCorvey, the anonymous plaintiff in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, said just before her death in 2017 that she had converted to the pro-life cause only because she was paid. “I took...2
Background: World Communications Day 2020
On May 24, the Church will commemorate the 54th World Communications Day. As is customary, the papal message for the day (“That you may tell your children and grandchildren” (Ex. 10:2):...3
Minnesota bishops to resume public Masses in defiance of governor’s order
While maintaining the suspension of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, the state’s bishops “are united in our conviction that we can safely resume public Masses in accordance with both our religious duties and with accepted public health and safety standards,” they said in a letter to Gov. Tim Walz. “It is now permissible for an unspecified number of people to go to shopping malls and enter stores, so long as no more than 50 percent of the occupancy capacity is reached … An order that sweeps so broadly that it prohibits, for example, a gathering of 11 people in a Cathedral with a seating capacity of several thousand defies reason.”4
Samaritan’s Purse booted from Central Park
Opposition to Samaritan’s Purse Central Park field hospital grew because of the organization’s commitment to marriage as the union of a man and a woman. In contrast, the Vatican’s news agency has praised the Christian organization’s medical efforts in Milan.5
Father Adolfo Nicolas, former Jesuit superior general, dead at 84
Father Adolfo Nicolas, who served as superior general of the Society of Jesus from 2008 to 2016, died on May 20 at the age of 84. His successor, Father Arturo Sosa, recalled him as “a person with a spirit of joyful service to others, smiling in the middle of a job done under pressure.”6
St. Faustina’s feast day inscribed in General Roman Calendar
Canonized in 2000, St. Maria Faustina (Helena) Kowalska, apostle of Divine Mercy, is among the thousands of saints and blesseds inscribed in the Roman Martyrology. By a decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, issued on the centenary of St. John Paul II’s birth, she is now among the saints honored around the world with an optional memorial in the General Roman Calendar.7
As number of priests declines, Pope merges 2 Canadian dioceses
Pope Francis has merged the Archdiocese of Ottawa (Canada’s capital city) and the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall into the new Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall. In 1970, 666 diocesan and religious priests served in the Ottawa archdiocese; in 1965, 75 priests served in Alexandria-Cornwall (then known as the Diocese of Alexandria). 249 priests will serve in the new Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.8
Cardinal, archbishop at odds over protest against CO19 lockdown
Cardinal Robert Sarah and Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano found themselves in conflict after the release of a strongly worded statement decrying the CO19 lockdown as “a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control.” Although Cardinal Sarah was listed as having signed the statement, he said that he “decided not to sign the text.” Archbishop Vigano, who drafted and released the statement, insisted that he had received direct authorization form the cardinal.9
Churches are ‘essential,’ Trump declares
“Today I’m identifying houses of worship—churches, synagogues, and mosques—as essential places that provide essential services,” President Donald Trump said on May 22. He said that churches should be open for worship, and threatened to “override” any orders from state governors keeping them closed.10
