Most Popular News Within Last 30 Days
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Pope drops traditional titles, including ‘Vicar of Christ’
In the latest Vatican yearbook, the Annuario Pontificio, the title “Vicar of Christ” does not appear on the listing for Pope Francis. Int he 2020 edition of the Annuario, the page...2
Medjugorje ‘seer’ says apparitions suspended
One of the witnesses who has testified to seeing the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje says that the apparitions have ended. Mirjana Dragicevic Soldo, who says that the Virgin has appeared to her on the 2nd day of every month since 1987, said that apparitions have ended. Her announcement comes at a time when pilgrimages to Medjugorje have slackened because of fears of the coronavirus. The Vatican has not yet released a judgment on the authenticity of the reported apparitions.3
Texas bishop dissents from colleagues’ statement on health-care resources
In a rare public disagreement, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas has dissented from a statement signed by all other Catholic bishops in Texas, supporting Governor Greg Abbott’s plan for...4
Australian high court defers decision on Pell appeal
After a two-day hearing on an appeal of the conviction of Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s supreme court has indicated that it will decide at a later date whether or not to allow the...5
Vatican approves new options for Extraordinary Form
In two decrees released on March 25, the Vatican has given approval for seven new Prefaces to be used in the Extraordinary Form (EF) of the Mass, and given instructions for the observance of new...6
Churches exempt from Ohio’s stay-at-home order
Ohio’s March 22 stay-at-home order, in effect from March 23 to April 6, lists “religious entities” among the exempt essential businesses and operations: “religious facilities, entities and groups and religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals” (p. 5). Earlier, on March 16, the bishops of Ohio had decided “to suspend temporarily all publicly celebrated Masses/liturgies, at least through the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.”7
Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes announces Rosary novena in time of coronavirus
“In these troubled times when, because of the Wuhan coronavirus, many of our contemporaries are concerned for the future, let us ask the Lord that through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, he may grant us renewed confidence, hope and peace in our hearts,” the famed French shrine stated in its invitation to the faithful around the world to register via email for the March 17-25 novena. “Mary, because you are the smile of God, the reflection of the light of Christ, the home of the Holy Spirit, because you chose Bernadette in her poverty, because you are the morning star, the door to heaven … we pray to you and entrust our lives to you at a time when so many men and women fear for their health.”8
Texas bishop calls on priests to lead Eucharistic processions around parishes
“I call on every Catholic priest to lead a simple Eucharistic Procession around your Church sometime before the Feast of St Joseph, March 19, for repentance, Christ’s healing hand on the Coronavirus & that all men may be Godly, manly sons & disciples of His Son Jesus Christ,” Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler (Texas) tweeted.9
Vatican retracts announcement: central personnel office ‘only a proposal’
The Vatican press office has conceded that “a step of great importance in the path of reform initiated by Pope Francis,” announced late last week, has actually not been taken. After...10
