Catholic News
- DDF: SSPX bishops, priests excommunicated; SSPX priests' confessions henceforth invalid (CWN)
In a decree issued this morning, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that the Society of Saint Pius X’s four new bishops, along with the prelates who consecrated them, incurred the penalty of automatic excommunication under the Code of Canon Law. - Cardinal preaches at 50th anniversary Mass of same-sex couple; bishops concelebrate (New Ways Ministry)
Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., preached the homily at a recent “Mass of Thanksgiving for 50 Years of Friendship, Partnership, and Commitment in the Pursuit of Justice” of two men, Julian Filochowski and Martin Pendergast, according to New Ways Ministry. “I believe, Julian and Martin, that your faithful friendship is grounded in a shared passion for peace and for the triumph of justice,” Cardinal Radcliffe preached. “Friendship is a way in which God works creatively in each of us, forming us for love.” Two retired bishops—Bishops John Crowley and John Rawsthorne—were among the concelebrants at the June 13 Mass, which took place at Holy Apostles Church in London. A similar 25th anniversary Mass for Filochowski and Pendergast sparked controversy in 2001, as CWN reported at the time. - A Sad Day in Econe [News Analysis] (CWN)
An ordination, like a wedding, should be a happy occasion. But the July 1 consecration of four new bishops for the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) marks a sad day in the history of the Catholic Church: an unnecessary and avoidable breach between an energetic group of Catholics who cherish their faith and a Vatican leadership striving to maintain unity in the Church. - Cardinal presides over 1st beatification in Vietnam (AFP)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presided today at the beatification of Father Trương Bửu Diệp (1897-1946), a priest martyred by Japanese soldiers. An estimated 70,000 people attended the Mass, which took place in Cà Mau. - Prelates urge Poland, Ukraine to reject divisive rhetoric (OSV News)
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, joined Ukrainian and Polish cardinals in lamenting mounting tensions between Poland and Ukraine. Calling for a “disarmament of language on both sides,” the prelates said that “it is even more painful that this is happening at a time when Ukraine continues to experience the horrors of war, and Poland has shown great solidarity with millions of Ukrainian brothers and sisters in recent years.” - Venezuelan cardinals meet with Pontiff, discuss humanitarian needs following earthquakes (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received two Venezuelan cardinals on July 1, a week after earthquakes caused massive destruction there. - Dubai's Catholic churches fully reopen after 3 months of restrictions (Khaleej Times)
Civil officials in Dubai permitted the full reopening of parishes, three months after the imposition of restrictions amid the U.S.-Iran war. “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the authorities, who have carefully watched over our safety during a particularly delicate time and have now deemed that the moment has come for the full resumption of Christian life in our parish communities,” said Bishop Paolo Martinelli, vicar apostolic of Southern Arabia. - 5 cardinals, including Cardinals Burke and Müller, reflect on extraordinary consistory (National Catholic Register)
Five cardinals, including Cardinals Raymond Burke and Gerhard Müller, offered their reflections on the recent extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Burke said that the cardinals were “certainly grateful” for the consistory: “we’re getting to know each other more, and that’s very great fruit.” He cautioned, however, that the cardinals “didn’t get to the heart of matters in depth,” and the reports of the discussion tables to the Holy Father included only statements to which the cardinals at the table unanimously agreed. - Rohingya crisis growing more severe, prelate warns (Fides)
A bishop in Bangladesh warned that the Rohingya refugee crisis is becoming more severe as international aid declines. “Local communities are themselves living in poverty,” said Auxiliary Bishop Subroto Gomes of Dhaka. “They work hard to support their families and are witnessing increasing pressure on already scarce resources. Managing the Rohingya presence is becoming an ever more difficult challenge for Bangladesh.” In May, the Vatican newspaper warned of the deepening humanitarian crisis experienced by the more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar for neighboring Bangladesh. The newspaper recalled that the refugees fled in 2017 amid “systematic atrocities: massacres of civilians, summary executions, mass rape, torture, the deliberate burning of entire villages, and the widespread destruction of homes, schools, and places of worship.” - Texas bishop deplores ICE detention of nun (USA Today)
Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, decried the detention of a Nigerian religious sister as she walked to Sunday Mass. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained and released Sister Leticia Ugboaja on June 28. “It is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed,” said Bishop Flores. - Swiss parish desecrated (OIDAC Europe)
The tabernacle at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Geneva, Switzerland, was stolen and destroyed on June 29. “The tabernacle contained consecrated hosts and liturgical vessels, the former of which were later found discarded in a nearby construction dumpster,” according to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe. “The incident prompted the celebration of a Mass of reparation.” - Iraqi archbishop speaks of dangers of conversion from Islam (Aid to the Church in Need)
The Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, spoke of the dangers of conversion from Islam. “The only thing we can do for inquirers is to inform them,” said Archbishop Bashar Warda, who explained: When you visit our churches in Iraq, you see Muslims praying to Our Lady. Sometimes a whole family comes to inquire, and people will say, “I’ve seen Jesus in my dreams; I’ve seen our Lady in my dreams. Please explain what this means, what that means.” Whenever we tell them, “This will put you in danger; we cannot really continue,” they challenge me, “Who are you to prevent me from [believing in] Christ?” At the end of the day, I would say, “I did not go and preach to them. They came, and it’s my responsibility to share with them the concern and faith that they have.” - After 150 years, Norway's largest Catholic church is finally consecrated (EWTN News)
Bishop Fredrik Hansen of Oslo, Norway, consecrated the nation’s largest Catholic church on June 28. Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in Bergen opened in the 1870s. The church was not consecrated at the time “because the ceremony required a bishop assisted by 14 priests—more clergy than Bergenʼs fledgling Catholic community could provide,” according to Father Alois Brodersen, the parish priest. - SSPX defies Pope, consecrates 4 new bishops (CWN)
Defying a plea from Pope Leo XIV, the Society of Saint Pius X proceeded today with its planned consecration of four bishops without a pontifical mandate. - Bishop Barron alarmed by success of socialist, Communist politicians in US (@BishopBarron)
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said he was “alarmed by the success of certain politicians in our country who identify as extreme socialists or communists.” “This is not a matter of classical liberals triumphing over standard-issue conservatives; this is the victory of people who stand athwart the fundamental principles that undergird our country,” he continued. Citing the “recent histories of China, Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Venezuela,” he added, “Might I encourage my fellow believers in God not to be complacent in the face of this very troubling development in the American body politic?” - Pope Leo revises Pope Francis's apostolic constitution for Diocese of Rome (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV issued a motu proprio revising Pope Francis’s 2023 apostolic constitution on the Vicariate of Rome. Pope Leo’s apostolic letter, Confirma Fratres Tuos, “simplifies and streamlines the distribution of responsibilities among the various bodies,” Vatican News reported. “The role of the Cardinal Vicar as head of the Vicariate and ordinary judge of the diocese is confirmed, while coordination of the Offices and the administrative structure is entrusted to the Moderator curiae [moderator of the curia], appointed by the Holy Father for a five-year term.” The new document, dated June 24, was released on June 30. - Christians are 'called to be a credible sign of peace,' Pope tells Orthodox delegation (CWN)
In an audience with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Pope Leo XIV said that Christians are “called to be a credible sign of peace.” - Supreme Court, in 6-3 decision, upholds state legislation excluding boys from girls' sports teams (CWN)
In a defeat for the transgender movement, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that states are permitted to “determine eligibility for female sports based on biological sex.” - Priest killed in Central African Republic (Fides)
A priest who led mediation efforts to reconcile belligerents in his area of the Central African Republic was killed outside his parish residence in Zemio on June 29. Father Crépin Martial Monga, who ministered in the Diocese of Bangassou, coordinated the Local Committee for Peace and Reconciliation. The Central African Republic Civil War began in 2012. - Pope approves new statutes for Vatican's Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV issued a chirograph that promulgates new statutes for the Vatican’s Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (Autorità di Supervisione e Informazione Finanziaria, or ASIF). Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, reported that evolving international financial regulations led to the new statutes. Pope Benedict XVI established the Financial Information Authority in 2010; Pope Francis issued new statutes in 2013 and 2020, when he gave the body its current name. Pope Leo’s chirograph, dated June 25, was released on June 30. - More...