Stories for week of January 10, 2021

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Jan. 15

 Worshippers, protesters fined $1,800 in British Columbia
 More worshippers allowed at Oregon Masses
 Federal court rules lesbian employee may not sue Catholic college for ‘hostile work environment’
 Attacks on Christians continue in Niger
 2 Pakistani Christians murdered after refusing to renounce faith
 Papal trip to Argentina, Uruguay still on the table, Pope tells ambassador
 El Paso bishop decries America’s ‘hardening of the heart’
 Canadian Supreme Court: Archdiocese liable for abuse payments following order’s bankruptcy
 Catholic advocates welcome treaty banning nuclear weapons coming into force
 Cardinal Gregory: ‘We need the Lord to cast out demon of division in our nation’
 Blocking undocumented workers from Covid vaccines will be a disaster, say officials of USCCB, Catholic organizations
 Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus receive 1st dose of Covid vaccine
 New Zealand bishops: Everyone has a moral responsibility to receive Covid vaccine
 Archbishop Gänswein: Pope Emeritus Benedict is ‘very frail’
 Online initiatives to mark Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
 February 1 reopening planned for Vatican Museums
 Zambian bishop, once Vatican Radio director, dies of Covid

Released Thursday, Jan. 14

 Brazilian Cardinal Eusebio Scheid dead at 88
 Filipino priest charged with sedition after criticizing Duterte
 Covid fears fuel rise is in persecution against Christians
 Spectacular ‘coding error’ leaves questions remaining about Vatican-Australia transfers
 Roman university backs off plan to honor Father Pavone
 Trove of Buffalo diocese abuse records turned over to victims in bankruptcy court
 Italian priest, accused of abetting alleged abuse ring, is hired by diocesan charity
 Irish PM denounces ‘perverse religious morality’ in nation’s past
 Belgian Catholics protest 15-person limit in churches
 English bishop protests withdrawal of food and water from Catholic patient
 HHS adopts amended LGBT rules
 Future of Catholic schools in Spain is in question under new law
 Nicaraguan bishop renews criticism of Ortega regime
 Avoid ‘reckless behaviors’ and listen to health experts, Bolivia’s bishops advise in Covid statement
 Facebook censors retired Mexican cardinal
 Cardinal Müller: False narrative of division between Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict is ‘harmful’
 Catholic refugee resettlement groups look to rebuild after President Trump leaves office
 Mauritius is experiencing ‘one of the most difficult times in its history,’ cardinal says
 ‘I unreservedly apologize’: Primate reacts to Irish government report on homes for unwed mothers
 North Korea ranked most dangerous place to be a Christian
 Vatican begins vaccinations
 Women religious superiors welcome Pope’s decision to open ministries of lector, acolyte to women

Released Wednesday, Jan. 13

 North Dakota legislation would compromise confessional seal
 Australian investigators: Vatican finance transfers ‘massively overestimated’
 Roman court rules Vatican must return seized cash
 Belarus: top Orthodox prelate dies
 Scottish Archbishop Tartaglia dies suddenly
 Pope Francis reflects on the prayer of praise
 Toronto Catholic school board pulls LGBTQ group’s website from its resource list
 Cardinal Dolan asks: When will the unborn be safe from violent invasion in the womb?
 Supreme Court reinstates FDA’s in-person abortion pill requirements
 Leading Nigerian bishop urges president to address rampant insecurity
 Texas diocese asks court to toss libel suit over list of accused abusers
 Catholic leaders speak out on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
 Bishops denounce proposal to decriminalize abortion in Dominican Republic
 Abducted Haitian nun released
 Pope accepts resignation of French archbishop amid diocesan financial challenges
 Irish government report ‘lifts lid on harsh and unforgiving attitudes towards unmarried mothers’
 Chicago archdiocese launches Covid vaccination awareness campaign
 US bishops’ initiative offers immigration policy recommendations to Biden team, Congress
 Bishop expresses ‘profound disagreement’ with State Dept. over designation of Cuba as terrorism sponsor
 German bishops’ spokesman reiterates opposition to assisted suicide
 Leading Vatican diplomat sees health, climate, and work as competing goods

Released Tuesday, Jan. 12

 Venezuelan bishops call for change in regime
 Pakistani Christian women killed after rejecting Islam
 AP airs criticism of Vatican legal system
 Former Pope to receive Covid vaccine
 Supreme Court asks Nevada governor to explain restrictions on churches
 Cardinal Parolin pressed Vatican bank to fund London investment
 Vatican alters Ash Wednesday rite over Covid concerns
 Avoid hypocrisy, inequality: Pope’s message for World Day of the Sick
 Internet abuzz with false claims of a ‘Vatican blackout’
 Nigerian archbishop denounces ‘nefarious’ kidnappings
 New Jersey bishops call for day of prayer and fasting Jan. 22
 Australian prelate calls for new tactics of political engagement
 Federal court upholds Massachusetts Covid requirements for church services
 Chilean bishop laments regional violence
 Ugandan bishops’ election statement: ‘No to police violence, yes to dialogue and national reconciliation’
 Sweden’s changed pandemic response is a ‘time of conversion,’ cardinal says
 Pope’s doctor dies from Covid complications
 2 Catholic members of Congress reflect on assault on US Capitol
 Catholic Health Association outlines healthcare priorities for President-elect Biden’s transition team
 Pontifical university in Rome to honor controversial priest’s pro-life work
 US bishop chairmen call for end to executions, ask Congress to abolish federal death penalty

Released Monday, Jan. 11

 Incoming Dublin archbishop open to female deacons, blessings for same-sex couples
 Papal trip to Iraq in jeopardy?
 Pope opens roles of acolyte, lector to women
 Pope says all should take Covid vaccine
 Key leader in German bishops’ ‘synodal path’ steps down
 London churches remain open despite mayor’s request
 Bishops urge UK to renounce nuclear weapons
 Zambian bishops deplore killing of anti-government protesters
 Nun kidnapped in Haiti
 Moscow Patriarch: Hagia Sophia’s conversion to mosque is ‘divine retribution’ against Ecumenical Patriarch
 ‘Stop telling people with disabilities they might be better off dead,’ Canadian writer pleads in op-ed
 50 pro-democracy figures arrested in Hong Kong clampdown
 Some Canadian provinces close churches to contain pandemic
 Danish proposals on sermons, disclosure of donors receive pushback from bishops
 Jesuit Father Leo O’Donovan to deliver invocation at Biden inauguration
 Baltimore archbishop calls for day of prayer to build nation of peace and justice
 ‘Catholics want slave-free seafood’: USCCB initiative targets Sysco
 Caritas launches emergency appeal for Croatia
 Nuncio: ‘Weapon of charity’ is needed to heal Syria’s wounds
 Pope Francis on the storming of the US Capitol: ‘Nothing is earned with violence, and so much is lost’
 On Feast of Baptism of the Lord, Pope reflects on Jesus’ hidden life, merciful closeness to sinners

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Wed17 September
Ordinary Time

Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Opt Mem of St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop & Doctor; Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin & Doctor; Ember Wednesday

Image for Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time; Opt Mem of St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop & Doctor; Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin & Doctor; Ember Wednesday

Today the Church celebrates two Optional Memorials: St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor (1542-1621) was born in Montepulciano, Italy, and died in Rome. The son of noble parents, he entered the Society of Jesus, finishing his theological studies at Louvain, Belgium. His services to the Church…

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