Catholic News
- Lourdes bishop says all Rupnik mosaics will be covered up before papal visit (EWTN News)
Bishop Jean-Marc Micas, P.S.S., of Tarbes and Lourdes, France, told a French newspaper that Father Marko Rupnik’s mosaics at the famed Marian shrine will be covered up before the papal visit there next month. “My role is to ensure that the shrine welcomes everyone, especially those who are suffering,” said Bishop Micas. “Among them are victims of sexual abuse and assault, both children and adults.” Last month, the Vatican denied rumors that the Slovenian priest’s canonical trial on charges of abusing women religious ended in acquittal. - FBI: 84 victims of anti-Catholic hate crimes in 2025 (CWN)
There were 84 victims of anti-Catholic hate crimes in the United States in 2025, according to data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. - Nigerian bishop laments political manipulation of religion (CWN)
A Nigerian bishop said that insecurity, lack of justice, and the political manipulation of religion are greater challenges than religious differences themselves. - Maine diocese reaches '7-figure' abuse settlement with more than 100 people (CWN)
Maine’s sole diocese reached a settlement with over 100 people who allege they were sexually abused by clergy. - Ohio basilica, national shrine rector relieved of duties following indecency charge (CWN)
A Maronite bishop relieved the rector of an Ohio basilica and national shrine of his duties after the rector was charged with procuring and with public indecency. - German police protect pro-life gathering from protestors; 12 injured (CWN)
Twelve police officers in Göttingen, Germany, suffered injuries from their own pepper spray as they protected participants in a peaceful pro-life prayer gathering from 200 protestors, according to media reports. - NY diocese announces laicization of priest (CWN)
The Diocese of Syracuse, New York, announced that the Dicastery for the Doctrine for the Faith has laicized Nathan Brooks. - Abuse survivors launch ProtestantAccountability.org database (Relevant)
A group of abuse survivors this week launched ProtestantAccountability.org, a national database of news coverage modeled on BishopAccountability.org. “We started this group to protect the vulnerable, expose the wrongdoers, deter coverups and heal the wounded,” said Charlie Taylor, who helped found the site. - Pope sees Mediterranean Games as opportunity to build bridges (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in Pope Leo’s name for the Mediterranean Games, which begin today in Taranto, Italy. Pope Leo sees the Games as an opportunity to “build bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting hospitality, solidarity, and peace,” Cardinal Parolin wrote. During his August 16 Angelus, the Pontiff also expressed hope that the event “will be a sign of peace and friendship among the peoples of this region and the entire world.” - Lebanon's president calls on Pope Leo to press for Israeli withdrawal (CWN)
President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon called on Pope Leo XIV to press Israel to abide by a June agreement to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. The Vatican responded by stating that the Holy See has “serious concerns about the difficulties that are being encountered in implementing” the agreement and that it “assured the President of its support for efforts in this regard.” - Pope offers guidance to Catholic lawmakers as they address AI (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV told Catholic lawmakers today that the world needs “human intelligence enlightened by wisdom, political authority guided by conscience, and technological innovation directed by charity.” - SSPX Masses, sacraments barred at Lourdes shrine (EWTN News)
Bishop Jean-Marc Micas, P.S.S., of Tarbes and Lourdes, France, withdrew the authorization that had previously allowed priests of the Society of Saint Pius X to celebrate the sacraments at the Marian shrine of Lourdes. “Following the decree of schism and excommunication published by the Holy See, I cannot authorize the celebration of the Mass or the other sacraments, not even the public prayers of the Society of St. Pius X within the shrine,” Bishop Micas said in an August 13 statement. “On the other hand, it is obviously possible that whoever so desires can freely come to the grotto or other places at the shrine to pray privately,” he added. “We are deeply pained by the tearing of Christ’s tunic caused by our divisions.” - Apostolic nuncio to Ukraine calls for prayer for the conversion of Russia (OSV News)
The apostolic nuncio to Ukraine stressed the importance of prayer amid Russian attacks on the nation. Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas said in an interview that “when we have this huge, terrible aggression from the Russian side, as Jesus stresses, this aggression is unable to kill our spiritual life, our eternal life. But there is always a challenge that this military aggression could provoke a reaction in our hearts: disbelief, lost hope, anger towards God and our brothers and sisters.” Archbishop Kulbokas added: And what do we pray for? We pray for peace. We pray also for the conversion of Russia. At Fatima, Our Lady insisted on that. The conversion of Russia would be a gift from God—conversion to God, to peace, to respecting human beings. - Paris archbishop says assisted suicide law is 'not the end of the fight' (Catholic Herald)
The archbishop of Paris said that the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide is “not the end of the fight” and that “nothing should force us to make them as realities in our lives.” “Today, tomorrow, in the time to come, we will undoubtedly have to make courageous choices, perhaps against the tide, starting with those we will make for ourselves,” said Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. “It is thus up to us, first of all, to choose not to ask to benefit from this new ‘right.’” - Kenyan man arrested for pretending to be a priest (Radio 47 (Nairobi))
A Kenyan husband and father was arrested after reportedly pretending to act as a priest in the Diocese of Lodwar. The man reportedly used forged documents and simulated the celebration of Mass in three churches, including the cathedral, before he was apprehended. - Court prevents Massachusetts city from installing statues of Saints Michael and Florian (CBS Boston)
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court halted the planned installation of the statues of St. Michael and St. Florian outside the city of Quincy’s new public safety building. The court ruled that the saints are “closely affiliated with a particular religion” and that the statues “may convey to observing members of the public implicit government support for that religion and, as a result, subordination of other religions.” “Quincy’s firefighters and police put their lives on the line for this city every day, and these statues were chosen to honor their bravery, service, and sacrifice,” said Tom Koch, the mayor of the city of 100,000. “This decision is disappointing, but it is preliminary, and we will continue to fight for the ability to commemorate our first responders as the law permits.” - Imam's daughter becomes nun (ACI Africa)
The daughter of an imam in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau made her first profession of vows as a Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Spirit, during a Mass celebrated on August 15 by a bishop emeritus. Sister Aicha Settimia Canté’s profession of temporary vows “attracted offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech on social media, particularly because of her father’s identity as an imam and her decision to embrace Catholic Religious life,” ACI Africa reported. The National Confederation of Islamic Youth came to Sister Canté’s defense: the organization stated that there is “no compulsion in religion” and expressed “deep concern over the wave of offensive comments, personal attacks and hate speech.” Guinea-Bissau, a nation of 2.2 million (map), is 46% Muslim, 40% ethnic religionist, and 13% Christian (9% Catholic). - Pope encourages faithful to cultivate a commitment to peace (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful to cultivate a commitment to peace. - USCCB publishes liturgical resource for National Mental Health Sunday (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops this week published a liturgical resource for National Mental Health Sunday, which takes place this year on October 11. The resource includes the regular Sunday Scripture readings, suggested petitions for the prayer of the faithful, a prayer of blessing for those struggling with mental health issues, and a prayer of blessing for caretakers and mental health ministers. - Pope Leo recalls victims of Stalinism, Nazism; pays tribute to Blessed Władysław Findysz (CWN)
At the conclusion of his August 19 general audience, Pope Leo XIV recalled the victims of Stalinism and Nazism, paid tribute to Blessed Władysław Findysz (1907-1964), and spoke about the importance of forgiveness and overcoming evil with good. - More...