Catholic News
- Vatican spokesman denounces new Massachusetts abortion law (Vatican News)
In a rare reaction to a law enacted by a state, province, or similar unit, a Vatican spokesman denounced the new Massachusetts law that removes restrictions on abortion after the 24th week of pregnancy. Massimiliano Menichetti, deputy director of the Editorial Directorate of the Dicastery for Communication, and head of Vatican Radio – Vatican News, contrasted the law with actions taken in Colombia in the wake of the earthquake there. “There are images and stories that go viral, that underscore truth, beauty, communion, that give hope, such as the sequence filmed in Colombia, showing a mother under the rubble protecting her newborn son with her own body after the collapse, due to the 7.4-magnitude earthquake, of a five-story building,” Menichetti wrote in an August 13 editorial. “The image captures, in all its drama, an entire fraternal, supportive society, intent on saving, taking care of, taking responsibility for the other.” “About 4,300 kilometers away, in Massachusetts in the United States, the scene is completely different: it is that of the signing of an act,” he continued. “And the life of a child, in this case in the mother’s womb, is no longer seen in the same way; something else prevails.” Menichetti added: Around the world, step by step, in the silence of political correctness or in the din of ideological confrontation and opposition, winds of death against man are spreading ... Abortion, then, becomes confirmation or distortion of what is right and what is wrong, of what is against life and what is in favor of it. The distortion lies in wanting to hide suffering, difficulty, and pain, instead of wanting to embrace those who find themselves in extreme situations and cannot find a way out. It is here that humanity is measured: a humanity that does not kill, but loves and takes responsibility; that is willing to move through the rubble in order to save a life and to rejoice fully when this happens. - Pope Leo calls for liturgical formation, fidelity to rubrics of the Mass (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV called for a greater emphasis on liturgical formation during Sunday Mass, as well as fidelity to the rubrics of the Roman Missal. - Bishops of the Pacific urge caution over deep-sea mining (Vatican News)
The Episcopal Conference of the Pacific called for “great caution” amid the Trump administration’s support for deep-sea mining there. “Until there is convincing evidence that such activity can be undertaken without causing serious or irreversible harm, prudence calls us to exercise great caution,” the bishops said in an August 10 statement. “When there exists a genuine possibility of serious or irreversible harm, the absence of complete scientific certainty should never become an excuse for proceeding without due care.” “The Church does not oppose scientific research or responsible economic development, but rather calls us to ensure that technological advancement always respects the dignity of the human person, protects the integrity of creation, and serves the common good,” the bishops added. - English bishop charged with rape is released on bail (Northamptonshire Telegraph)
An English bishop who was charged with rape in June made his first court appearance via video and was released on bail. Bishop David Oakley of Northampton was charged with two counts of rape of a girl under 16; the rapes allegedly took place in the early 2000s, when the prelate was a parish priest. Bishop Oakley was released on bail on condition that he does not contact the alleged victim or her family. - Australian bishop reacts to predecessor's sexual assault conviction (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)
Bishop Timothy Norton, S.V.D., of Broome, Australia, issued a pastoral letter in response to the conviction of his predecessor on sexual penetration and assault charges against two young males. After expressing gratitude to police and prosecutors, Bishop Norton said on August 13—the day of the conviction—that “most importantly, our diocese acknowledges the courage of victims, survivors and other witnesses who came forward to express their truth. They showed extraordinary resilience and commitment through a long and difficult process.” “Trust has been broken and wounds of betrayal and division have been exposed across the diocese,” he added. “The hurt extends to those who have placed their trust in our leadership and our Church.” Bishop Norton pledged to visit “many parts of our diocese” in the coming months. He concluded: If you require support following the verdict and the stories emanating from the trial, we encourage you to seek assistance. Our diocesan and parish staff can help to connect people with independent support services. We ask Our Lady Queen of Peace, the patroness of our diocese, to intercede for us and to accompany us on this journey of reconciliation, healing and hope. - Colombian bishops announce day of prayer, fundraising campaign (Conferencia Episcopal de Colombia)
The Episcopal Conference of Colombia declared Sunday, August 16, as a national day of prayer for victims of the severe earthquake there. The bishops also launched a national fundraising campaign to “make solidarity and Christian charity visible, accompany those who suffer,” and “sustain hope together, especially in the communities that face the greatest impacts.” In its August 12 statement, the bishops’ conference also discussed damage to churches in eleven dioceses. - In Haiti, bishop sees Church as 'last remaining retaining wall' against gangs (Aid to the Church in Need)
A Haitian bishop described the Church as “last remaining retaining wall”—“moral, ethical, spiritual, and prophetic”—against gangs. “That is why they want to eliminate us,” Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste, S.J., of Jérémie told Aid to the Church in Need. The charity reported that amid the Haitian conflict, some 65 parishes have had to close, 40 of them in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The 200 seminarians who study at the interdiocesan seminary there “sometimes have to throw themselves to the ground and take shelter under the bed to avoid being hit by a stray bullet.” “The children of the Virgin Mary never lose a battle,” said Bishop Décoste. “That is why we keep going.” - Vatican newspaper examines Afghanistan's plight, 5 years after fall of Kabul (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper marked the fifth anniversary of fall of Kabul to the Taliban with the publication of three articles in its August 13 edition. - Arson attack on Polish church averted (OIDAC Europe)
A person attempted to set fire to a parish in Kielce, a city of 190,000 in south-central Poland. On the night of August 3-4, the person placed a burning package beneath the side door of St. Joseph the Worker Church. A nearby resident noticed the fire, and the flames were extinguished before damaging the interior of the church. - Australian bishop found guilty of sexually abusing young men (CWN)
A retired Australian bishop was convicted today of sexually abusing two young men. - Pope encourages Czech youth to witness to Christ's love (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a message in Pope Leo’s name to the president of the Czech Bishops’ Conference as more than 3,000 young people took part in a national meeting in Ostrava. In the message to Archbishop Josef Nuzík of Olomouc, the Pontiff encouraged the young people to “welcome with fervor the living presence of Christ and the light of his word, so that you may bear witness to his love in your families, in society, and in the various settings of life, work, and study.” - Pope prays for Colombian earthquake victims, sends alms (CWN)
At his August 12 general audience, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims of the severe earthquake there. - Pope Leo attributes Poland's 1920 victory over Soviet Union to Virgin Mary's intercession (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV recalled the Battle of Warsaw (1920), also known as the Miracle on the Vistula, and attributed Poland’s victory over the Soviet Union there to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. - Program announced for Pope's visit to San Marino, Rimini (CWN)
The Holy See Press Office released a detailed program of Pope Leo XIV’s August 22 pastoral visit to the nation of San Marino and to the Italian city of Rimini. - USCCB publishes revised Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new edition of its Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People that incorporates revisions approved at the bishops’ June meeting. The charter, first approved by the U.S. bishops at their 2002 meeting in Dallas, was subsequently revised in 2011, in 2018, and in June. On August 11, the bishops’ conference posted the latest edition online. - Earthquake caused serious damage to half of area churches, Colombian archbishop reports (Vatican News)
A Colombian archbishop said in an interview that the earthquake there caused serious damage to half of the churches in the area of Manizales, a city of 430,000. Archbishop José Miguel Gómez Rodríguez of Manizales told Vatican News that “in particular, the emblematic image of all this was Manizales Cathedral, a very important symbol of this region of the country.” “It is a Neo-Gothic building that suffered severe damage,” he explained. “One of its secondary towers collapsed and came to rest against the main structure of the church. We are waiting for an assessment by professionals because, for now, that area is closed to the public and even to priests.” Archbishop José Miguel Gómez Rodríguez of Manizales, Colombia, said in an interveiw - South Sudanese prelate sees cultural dance as 'powerful instrument' for peace (ACI Africa)
A South Sudanese prelate described cultural dance as “a powerful instrument for unity, peace, reconciliation, youth empowerment, and nation-building.” “When we dance together, we teach our young people to appreciate who they are, respect one another, and value the beauty of our diversity,” said Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio. “Let us preserve our cultures, learn from one another, and celebrate our diversity, not as a reason to divide us, but as a gift that makes South Sudan stronger and more beautiful.” - Texas parish mural vandalized (KIII-TV)
A Texas parish’s mural—described as historic in a local news report—was vandalized yesterday. A repentant gang member had painted a mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Corpus Christi. “We have a lot of hope that the person who did this [vandalism] will repent, and we will continue to pray for them,” said Father Carlos Delarosa. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has documented over 400 acts of vandalism, arson, and other destruction at parishes and other Catholic sites in the United States since 2020. A tracker at CatholicVote.org lists additional attacks. - American named to Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV today named Francesco Cesareo, the retired president of Assumption University in Massachusetts, as a member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. The Pontiff also named Umberto Longo, an Italian scholar, and Anna Barańska, a Polish scholar, to the committee. Venerable Pius XII established the committee in 1954. Since 2023, Father Marek Inglot, S.J., has served as the committee’s president. - Pope Leo confirms Cardinal Marx as coordinator of Council for the Economy, appoints new members (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV confirmed Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, in his position as coordinator of the Council for the Economy. Cardinal Marx has been the Council’s coordinator since its inception in 2014. - More...