Catholic News
- Pope Francis: 'I think of Hagia Sophia, and I am very saddened' (Vatican News)
Dedicated in 537, Hagia Sophia has been the cathedral of the Patriarch of Constantinople (until 1453), a mosque (until 1931), and a museum; it became a mosque again in July 2020. - After a devastating fire, Mission San Gabriel community vows to rebuild (Angelus News)
St. Junípero Serra founded Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in 1771. - Prelate defends Church's acceptance of federal CO19 loans (USCCB)
The Associated Press reported that dioceses and other Catholic entities received at least $1.4 billion in federal CO19 loans; reporter Michael Rezendes discussed his findings in an NPR interview. - Gunmen attack Catholic priest, mourners in Kaduna (The Guardian)
Kaduna State (map) is located in north-central Nigeria. - South African bishops issue call to overcome racism (SACBC)
“We need to have a candid conversation on racism and its manifestations in order to adequately and seriously address racism and racial divisions in our country,” the bishops said in their statement. “We need to address the issues of our social trauma as a country which result from the violence of centuries of colonialism and the violent decades of apartheid.” - Fire engulfs historic Franciscan mission in Philippines (UCANews)
Founded in 1732, Sto. Niño de Pandacan Parish (Facebook page) housed a 400-year-old miraculous image of the Infant Jesus. - Leading Italian prelate warns against proposed homophobia law (Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italian))
The vice president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Bishop Antonino Raspanti of Acireale, spoke out against the proposed law and warned of the prospect of legal action against persons who say that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. The bishops’ conference has also issued a statement. - Beatification causes of Father Kino, 4 others advance (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtues of Father Eusebio Kino (1645-1711), a Jesuit missionary who founded San Xavier del Bac and other missions in Arizona and Mexico (Encyclopaedia Britannica article). The Pope also declared three others venerable—Father Mariano José de Ibargüengoitia y Zuloaga, Mother Maria Félix Torres, and Angiolino Bonetta—and recognized a miracle that paves the way for the beatification of Ven. Mariantonia Samà. - Catholic Charities: 'Deep disappointment' after removal of payday lending protections (Catholic Charities USA)
“We are deeply disappointed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s action to remove crucial consumer protections from its rule on payday and car title lending,” Catholic Charities USA said after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau revoked lending restrictions. “Scripture condemns usury and teaches us to respect the God-given dignity of each person and to love our neighbors rather than exploiting their financial vulnerability.” - 'I was born into a new life': How a Canadian street priest became a Catholic cardinal overnight (The Globe and Mail)
Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, is Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. - Arrest made in fire at Florida Catholic parish (Ocala Star-Banner)
Steven Shields, 23, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, arson, and burglary after he drove his van through the doors of Queen of Peace Catholic Church. A police report described him as a schizophrenic who cited Scripture. - Head of French bishops foresees women cardinals in future (La Croix)
“In a complete synodal form, the voice of women should especially be heard more, given that the apostolic succession is reserved to men,” said Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort of Rheims, president of the French Bishops’ Conference. - Police ordered to protect dismissed Indian nun (UCANews)
The Vatican upheld the dismissal of Sister Lucy Kalapura, who protested against a bishop accused of rape. - Ex-president of European Central Bank named to pontifical academy (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis has appointed Mario Draghi (president of the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019), Pedro Morandé Court (a Chilean sociologist), and Kokunre Agbontaen-Eghafona (a Nigerian sociologist known for her work against human trafficking) to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, an advisory panel. - Archbishop dies of CO19 (AsiaNews)
Archbishop Moses Costa of Chittagong, 69, was secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh. - Catholic dioceses, other organizations received at least $1.4 billion in federal CO19 loans (AP)
“By aggressively promoting the payroll program and marshaling resources to help affiliates navigate its shifting rules, Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools and other ministries have so far received approval for at least 3,500 forgivable loans,” according to the report. - Hagia Sophia becomes a mosque again (CNA)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decreed that the Hagia Sophia is to be used as a mosque. The Turkish leader took that step immediately after a court ruled that the conversion of the building into a museum, as part of the drive to secularize Turkey in the 1930s, was illegal. The renowned building, originally constructed by Christians for the Patriarchate of Constantinople, became a mosque in the 15th century when Muslims conquered the city. - Biden says he would rescind exemption for Little Sisters of the Poor (National Review)
The candidate’s reaction to the Little Sisters’ Supreme Court victory prompted a Wall Street Journal editorial: Joe Biden vs. the Nuns. - Bishops offer action steps to address issues of racism (Chicago Catholic)
The US bishops’ Subcommittee of African American Affairs has published “nine action steps to help diocesan bishops and parish communities look at the issue of racism and to encourage change.” - Survey finds 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving the Church (CNA)
A record 272,771 people left the Church in Germany in 2019. - More...