Catholic News
- Pope arrives in Congo to begin African visit (Vatican News)
Pope Francis arrived in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the afternoon of January 31, beginning a five-day African voyage that will also take him to South Sudan. After a welcoming ceremony at the airport, the Pope met on Tuesday afternoon with President Felix Tshisekedi. Later he was scheduled to address a meeting of the nation’s political leaders. - Pope clarifies homosexuality and sin comments in note (AP)
In a recent AP interview (CWN analysis), Pope Francis made comments on homosexuality. Outreach, a Jesuit LGBTQ Catholic resource edited by Father James Martin, SJ, sought clarification from the Pope, who replied in a handwritten letter. “When I said it is a sin, I was simply referring to Catholic moral teaching, which says that every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin,” the Pope wrote in his reply to Father Martin. “Of course, one must also consider the circumstances, which may decrease or eliminate fault. As you can see, I was repeating something in general.” “I should have said ‘It is a sin, as is any sexual act outside of marriage,’” the Pope continued. “This is to speak of ‘the matter’ of sin, but we know well that Catholic morality not only takes into consideration the matter, but also evaluates freedom and intention; and this, for every kind of sin.” - German bishops' president rebukes Pope Francis for criticism of Synodal Way (CNA)
- In flight over Sahara, Pope leads prayers for migrants (Vatican Press Office)
As he flew over the Sahara desert on his January 31 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pope Francis asked journalists to join him in prayer for the migrants who brave the desert. The Pontiff said: Let us spare a little thought, in silence, a prayer for all the people who in search of a little comfort, a little freedom, have crossed it and have not made it. So many suffering people who arrive at the Mediterranean and after crossing the desert are caught in the lagers and suffer there. Let us pray for all those people. - Chinese 'underground' bishop detained again (AsiaNews)
Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou has been detained by Chinese authorities, along with Father Jiang Sunian, the chancellor of his diocese. Bishop Shao, who is not recognized by the Beijing regime, has been taken into custody numerous times in the past several years, with authorities saying that he is engaged in tourism, and Catholics of the ‘underground’ Church reporting that he is subjected to “re-education” sessions. Usually he is held for 10-15 days and then released, although in 2017 he was in custody for seven months. - Synod leaders seek bishops' support for preparatory process [News analysis] (CWN)
The top organizers of the Synod on Synodality have written to the world's bishops, assuring them that the Synod has no hidden agenda, and asking their support for the preparatory process. - Accused Indian cardinal gets bail in land sale case (UCANews)
Cardinal George Alencherry, 77, has led the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church since 2011; he is accused of selling land illegally. - New Biden plan would skirt employers' moral objection to contraception coverage (CNA)
The Biden administration has announced a new plan to provide contraceptive coverage in employees’ health-care programs, despite any employers’ moral objections. In a 2020 case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor, the US Supreme Court ruled that religious employers could not be required to provide contraceptive coverage against their religious beliefs. But the new Biden policy would address the status of non-religious employers who cite moral objections. Under the proposal, contraceptive coverage would be provided by the insurance company, “without any involvement on the part of an objecting entity,” with the costs covered by government exchanges. - New document from the theological dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox churches (Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity)
The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches has published The Sacraments in the Life of the Church. The Oriental Orthodox churches ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451). The joint commission previously published documents in 2009 and 2015. - A surging ISIS threat endangers Africa's Christians (Religion Unplugged)
- US bishops' pro-life chairman expresses support for No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (USCCB)
Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington (VA), chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has lent his support to the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS). - Serve, receive, pass: papal remarks to Italian Volleyball Federation (Vatican Press Office)
On January 30, Pope Francis received members of the Italian Volleyball Federation and reflected on “the fundamental actions of your sport”: serve, receiving, pass, attacking, and wall, which “makes us think of the walls present in various parts of the world, a sign of division and closure, of people’s incapacity to engage in dialogue, of the presumption of those who think they can save themselves alone.” “Instead, in volleyball, when you form a wall, you jump high to face the dunk of the adversary: this gesture helps us to think of the word in a positive light,” he added. - Oklahoma dioceses file application to found Catholic virtual charter school (National Catholic Register)
- $5.4 million altar for World Youth Day generates controversy in Portugal (Crux)
World Youth Day is scheduled to take place in Lisbon from August 1-6. - Colorado baker loses appeal over transgender birthday cake (AP)
A Colorado court has ruled that Masterpiece Cakeshop and co-owner Jack Phillips violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act when he declined to bake a cake celebrating a “gender transition.” “We conclude that creating a pink cake with blue frosting is not inherently expressive and any message or symbolism it provides to an observer would not be attributed to the baker,” the court ruled. In 2018, the US Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, ruled in Phillips’s favor after he declined to bake a cake celebrating a same-sex ceremony. - UN refugee commissioner meets with Pontiff (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis received Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on January 30. “Drawing inspiration and strength from Pope Francis on the eve of his departure to DR Congo and South Sudan,” Grandi tweeted. “We spoke of cruel wars and the difficulty of peace, of solidarity and cooperation, of the 100 million refugees—and of not giving up. He surely does not.” - Concerns over prayer breakfast lead Congress to take it over (AP)
Congress is taking over the National Prayer Breakfast, founded in 1953; it is distinct from the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, founded in 2004. - Insomnia cause for resignation of Benedict XVI? (AFP)
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI may have been prompted by severe insomnia that left the Pope unable to work, according to a letter made public recently. In an October 2022 letter to Peter Seewald, with whom he had collaborated on several book-length interviews, the retired Pontiff explained that doctors had prescribed sleeping pills for him, but the medications had “reached their limits,” and doctors said they would help only “for a short time.” The former Pope revealed that his condition was responsible for a fall that he suffered during his return trip to Rome after a visit to Mexico and Cuba in March 2012. Doctors then insisted that he cut back on his work schedule. Pope-emeritus Benedict wrote to Seewald that the medication was necessary to combat “constant” insomnia that he suffered during his pontificate. The letter from the retired Pope was made public by Focus, a German news magazine. - Prosecution of pro-lifer sent a political message, columnist says (Wall Street Journal)
William McGurn of the Wall Street Journal reflects on the federal prosecution of Mark Houck, the pro-life activist who was acquitted yesterday. The Biden administration stepped into the case after local prosecutors saw no reason to pursue charges, and sent armed FBI agents to arrest Houck at his home rather than allowing him to surrender. McGurn concludes: “On the evidence, the raid appeared calculated to send a political message. It was less than two months before the midterm elections.” - Pope names new head for Dicastery for Bishops (CNA)
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Marc Ouellet as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and named an American-born prelate, Bishop Robert Prevost, to replace him. Cardinal Ouellet has served since 2010 as head of the powerful dicastery, formerly known as the Congregation for Bishops, which organizes the appointments of new bishops throughout the world. In the formal announcement of his resignation, the Vatican press office noted that the Canadian cardinal had reached retirement age; in fact, at 78, he had reached that age three years ago. Bishop Prevost, an Augustinian priest, has been serving since 2015 as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru; he had previously served as a missionary in that country. From 2001 to 2013 he was superior general of the Augustinian order. Bishop Prevost will take up his new responsibilities in April, and will assume the title of archbishop. He will also succeed Cardinal Ouellet as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Last year a Canadian woman charged Cardinal Ouellet with sexual assault. The cardinal vigorously denied the charge, and has filed a lawsuit in Quebec, charging his accuser with defamation. Pope Francis last year determined that determined “there are insufficient elements to open a canonical investigation” of the charges agains the cardinal. - More...