Stories for week of February 04, 2018

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Feb. 9

 Hacker’s joke message exposes security flaw in Vatican web site
 Estonian prime minister meets with Pontiff
 Over 9 million pilgrims visited Fatima during centennial year
 English bishop: saving marriage more important than Brexit
 Islamic State moving into Somalia, prelate warns
 Former secretary relates how Benedict XVI pledged obedience to Pope Francis
 Cardinal Pell’s lawyers ask for accusers’ medical records
 Bermuda repeals same-sex marriage
 Roman Coliseum light display to call attention to persecution of Christians
 Background: World Day of the Sick
 Vatican communications reboot continues, despite some internal friction
 Fire at ‘Name of the Rose’ abbey
 Missionary sees synod as important moment for young Africans
 Vatican’s UN envoy encourages continued progress toward global migration compact
 Belarus archbishop denounces violations of Church’s rights
 Myanmar: Fresh evidence of ongoing ethnic cleansing as military starves, abducts and robs Rohingya
 Patriarchate: Russian religious communities carry out humanitarian action in Syria unprecedented in scale
 Italian nun discusses her efforts against human trafficking
 Marie Collins: Pope’s reputation on sex abuse ‘has gone from bad to worse’
 Cardinal Nichols: step up efforts to combat human trafficking
 Trump defends religious liberty at home and abroad at National Prayer Breakfast
 Pope, at weekday Mass, preaches on King Solomon’s corrupted heart
 State Department finds overwhelming acceptance of US abortion funding restrictions
 New data reveal 197 land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017
 Kim Jong Un watches parade of North Korean tanks, missiles, and 13,000 troops
 Vatican newspaper deplores modern-day slavery
 US-backed coalition in Syria strikes pro-Assad forces

Released Thursday, Feb. 8

 New York Court continues legal battle over burial place for Archbishop Sheen
 Cardinal Marx did not endorse ceremonies for same-sex couples: German bishops’ conference
 Kenya bishops denounce media blackout as unconstitutional
 EU bishops’ commission calls for democratic transition in DR Congo
 Iceland: bishop speaks out against proposed anti-circumcision law
 European bishops discuss relations with Muslims
 Cardinal Erdo: Democracy’s foundations are ‘shaking’
 ‘Be fully Indian, fully Christian’ – Cardinal Oswald Gracias
 Head of women’s office in new Vatican dicastery discusses her responsibilities, women’s role in Church
 Mexico City welcomes new archbishop
 Catholic college strips honorary degree from disgraced Long Wharf director
 New tax law seen as strong benefit to Catholic schools, parents
 Pope appeals for concerted efforts against human trafficking
 Report on human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK
 Resignations and appointments (2/7)
 Vatican newspaper laments continued rise of sex tourism involving minors
 Syriac Christians hold 1st liturgy in years in ravaged Deir ez-Zor church
 Bombs land near Syriac Orthodox cathedral in Damascus; 2 dead
 Strong earthquake strikes Taiwan

Released Wednesday, Feb. 7

 Vatican court finds two former Vatican bank officials guilty of mismanagement
 Benedict XVI says he is now making a ‘pilgrimage home’
 Pope voices hope that Olympics will bring peace to Korea
 Papal sympathy for Taiwan earthquake victims
 Limit homilies to 10 minutes, Pope urges priests
 Archbishop Chaput opposes German calls for blessing homosexual unions
 German cardinal opposes Cardinal Marx on blessing same-sex unions
 Anti-Christian crime causes increasing concern in Germany
 Report: 75 killed in renewed Fulani attacks on Christian community in Nigeria
 Mosul, Iraq: ‘I cannot believe my eyes when I see what ISIS has done to my church’
 European Court of Human Rights: Lithuania not permitted to impose fine for blasphemous ads
 International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking to be observed February 8
 Bishops’ conference official laments inferior status of women in India
 In the sky this week
 Cardinal Collins criticizes religious-liberty infringement in Canada Summer Jobs program
 2 priests brutally murdered in Mexico
 Cardinal Marx expresses deep concern about criminalization of circumcision
 As Winter Olympics draw near, South Korean bishop maintains hope for peace with North Korea
 South Africa’s bishops call for calm amid political uncertainties
 Pope invites members of other religions to join in day of prayer and fasting for peace
 Resignations and appointments (2/6)
 Post editorial writer asks: How many botched cases would it take to end euthanasia of the vulnerable?
 Interview: Jim Caviezel goes back to the Bible in ‘Paul, Apostle of Christ’
 Planets in galaxies beyond Milky Way spotted for first time
 More Catholic schools are looking to minimize screen time
 More than 200 million girls and women have undergone genital mutilation
 Science is giving the pro-life movement a boost
 UN says Rohingya crisis could spark regional conflict

Released Tuesday, Feb. 6

 Vatican official: China is best example of social justice
 Cardinal Zen renews criticism of Vatican negotiators on proposed China pact
 New member of leadership team for Neocatechumenal Way
 Miracle approved, canonization looms for Pope Paul VI
 Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley pays off Super Bowl wager to Philadelphia’s Archbishop Chaput
 Chinese Communist Party paper: ties with Vatican coming soon
 Pope’s message for Lent: beware false prophets, cold hearts
 ‘Smiles and speeches’: Malta’s bishops slam politicians’ failure to end migrant drownings
 A record-breaking January for pilgrimages in the Holy Land
 India’s bishops focus on nationalism, poverty and Dalits as nation’s greatest challenges
 In Bangladesh, many tribal people wish to be baptized, says Polish missionary
 Pope declines renewed invitation to visit Argentina
 Clergy gather to bless one of the only US clinics performing late-term abortions
 Anglican synod to consider communion with Methodists
 Portugal’s Catholic doctors speak out against euthanasia bill
 UK government minister, at Vatican, calls for dialogue and respect to combat religious intolerance
 Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network continues process of ‘re-creation’
 2017 Ash Wednesday collection provided $9.1M in funding to Church in former Communist nations
 Archbishop Chaput: Memory, sex, and the making of “the new man”
 +Germain Grisez, 88
 Pope, at weekday Mass, preaches on importance of adoration
 Chaldean Catholic patriarch speaks out against violence committed in the name of religion
 We must make good use of beauty as way to access faith, says prelate
 Resignations and appointments (2/5)
 Papal audiences (2/5)
 Parishes should welcome women who feel unheard, Catholic leaders say in response to survey
 North Korea to send nominal head of state to South during Olympics
 Syria airstrikes hit hospitals in rebel territory

Released Monday, Feb. 5

 Dublin’s Archbishop Martin: not consulted on Vatican decision to bar former Irish president
 Priests in India face charges after clash with Hindu militants
 Turkey’s President Erdogan meets Pope, encounters protests in Rome
 Pope was informed of Chilean abuse victims’ complaints, AP reveals
 Cardinal Marx: Church should offer blessings for same-sex couples
 Journalist lists Chinese Catholic bishops, with Vatican and/or government recognition
 Italy: gunman targets black foreigners in drive-by shooting
 Pentagon announces plan to expand nuclear arsenal in face of Russian threat
 Trump calls leaders of Japan, South Korea about North Korea
 Italian soldier who opposed fascism beatified
 Italy’s Pro-Life Day: Pope thanks participants
 Pope reflects on Jesus’ manner of preaching
 Pope declares Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace on February 23
 Massachusetts Catholic college will keep the name “Crusaders” despite concerns that it was offensive
 Pope Francis decries usury and its effects

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