Stories for week of February 21, 2021

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Feb. 26

 Papal preacher delivers first Lenten Sermon
 Vatican cardinal, charged with ignoring abuse, could test Vatican justice system
 German bishops’ leader: offer Communion to any Protestant who approaches
 Vietnam calls on religious leaders to halt in-person services
 Removed from school, a Hindu teacher accuses the sister-principal of breaking anti-conversion law
 Papal visit will lead to increased respect for Christians, Iraqi archbishop believes
 Bishops defend property after Spain claims irregularities in registration
 New Covid relief bill may permit taxpayer funding of abortion
 House passes Equality Act in 224-206 vote
 Canadian bishops’ agency to end 24 partnerships over moral concerns
 Mentally disabled person killed under Canada’s ‘assistance in dying’ law
 Boston College investigates prominent theologian after sexual assault allegation
 Australian bishops publish working document for upcoming plenary council
 Leading German bishop: Cologne cardinal’s handling of abuse scandal is a ‘disaster’
 EU bishops’ commission ‘alarmed’ by European Parliament’s resolution on abortion in Poland

Released Thursday, Feb. 25

 Damascus archbishop sees Syria as sinking ship
 Senators denounce Amazon’s removal of transgender-critical book
 In Zambia, thieves steal tabernacle with Holy Eucharist
 Biden administration withdraws from transgender athlete case
 China’s new measures on clergy ignore Vatican agreement
 Reporter: Persecution of Laotian Christians is largely ignored
 In Pakistan, 2 Christian evangelists charged with committing blasphemy
 ‘We’re generals without armies, and the civil authorities know it’: 28 bishops speak confidentially about challenges
 US bishops, debt-relief advocacy network ask President Biden to back global Covid aid
 Bishops urge Sri Lankan government to release report on 2019 Easter bombings
 Man shoots at woman at Seattle Catholic services headquarters, takes own life
 Vancouver archbishop asks health officials to reconsider public worship ban
 Holy See reiterates, broadens calls for disarmament
 Religious sisters join pro-democracy protests in Myanmar
 Brazilian priest who ‘concelebrated’ Mass with Protestant minister removed as pastor
 Cardinal prays on CNN program marking 500,000 Covid deaths in US

Released Wednesday, Feb. 24

 Vaccination required for reporters on papal trip to Iraq
 Turkish authorities make arrest in real-estate scam involving Catholic basilica
 Pope chooses new personal physician
 Persecuted Christians are among the victims of xenophobia, Vatican diplomat says at UN
 New lawsuit accuses Brooklyn bishop of abuse in Jersey City decades ago
 Support grows for Patriarch’s call for international conference on Lebanon
 Anti-conversion laws push people to seek out more about Christianity, Bhopal bishop says
 Frito-Lay settles EEOC religious discrimination lawsuit
 Vatican supports waiving some patent protections for Covid vaccine
 Twitter restores Irish bishop’s post on assisted suicide
 Cardinal Cupich reflects on 500,000 US Covid deaths
 Malaysian bishops oppose deportation of Myanmar refugees
 Embattled German bishops pick woman theologian as top administrator
 Catholic development agencies urge G20 to cancel debts, offer assistance to poor nations
 Equality Act will discriminate against people of faith, US bishops warn
 Papal telegram following murder of Italy’s ambassador in Congo

Released Tuesday, Feb. 23

 Archbishop content as church vandals arraigned
 Pope asks new Swiss bishop to serve until 2026
 Human rights must have objective basis, Vatican official tells UN
 Vatican diplomat calls for renewed commitment to multilateralism
 Religious superior failed to tell other dioceses that priest had been banned from ministry
 Irish archbishops appeal to prime minister to allow some return to worship
 Sole African-American Jesuit in formation reflects on racism
 EU bishops’ commission calls for universal vaccine access
 Norwegian bishop celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass in the snow
 Court prohibits enforcement of South Carolina’s new fetal heartbeat law
 Leading Argentine prelate deplores vaccination scandal
 In Lenten message, Chilean bishops apologize for abuse
 South Sudan’s Christian leaders call for peace, security, and stability
 Cardinal: New nuclear ban treaty will give non-nuclear states leverage in international law

Released Monday, Feb. 22

 Planned Parenthood abortion business increased despite Covid shutdown
 Pro-lifers oppose Biden choice for Cabinet seat
 Myanmar: bishops join in urgent plea for peace
 Papal tribute to 90th anniversary of Divine Mercy apparition
 US bishops’ president urges prayer, support for those suffering from storms
 Bandits raze Catholic church, homes in Kaduna
 Belgian Catholics contest 15-person limit in one of world’s biggest churches
 Papal visit to writer, Holocaust survivor in Rome
 Members of Curia begin private Lenten retreat
 ‘Let us think of the desert’: Pope Francis reflects on Christ’s temptation
 Assisi cardinal named Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica
 Pope accepts Cardinal Sarah’s resignation
 8 beatification causes advance
 Sports are a path to holiness, Pope says to Italian soccer team
 Bangladeshi Christians concerned by government inaction after church attack
 New Asia-Oceania Church network pursues sustainable common home
 During pandemic, be like the Good Samaritan, Pope tells Los Angeles religious ed congress

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Wed24 December
Advent

December 24, Christmas Eve

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Christmas Eve marks the end of Advent. The liturgical texts express wholehearted confidence in the imminent coming of the Redeemer. There is much joyous expectation. Most families…

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