Catholic News
- The Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption points us to true beauty, Pope Leo preaches (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo this morning (video) and preached that the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Assumption points the way to true beauty. - Iconography of the Dormition and Assumption allows us contemplate our destiny, Pope tells pilgrims (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV said today that iconography of the Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary “allows us to contemplate our ultimate destiny.” - Pontiff invokes Virgin Mary's intercession upon Holy Land, Ukraine, Russia, Colombia (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today invoked the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession for the people of the Holy Land, Ukraine, Russia, and Colombia. - Catholic village attacked in Bangladesh (EWTN News)
A predominantly Garo Catholic village in Bangladesh was attacked after the body of a Muslim man was found buried near a canal there. Eleven homes were looted, according to a local parish priest. “I hope that the administration will provide security to the Garo Indigenous of this village and that the villagers will maintain good relations with each other so that peace can prevail in the future,” said Father Simon Hacha, vicar general of the Diocese of Mymensingh. Located in South Asia, Bangladesh (map), a nation of 170 million—the world’s 8th most populous—is 89% Muslim and 9% Hindu. - Cardinal Poola laments persecution of Christians in India (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India)
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) “expressed deep concern over incidents of violence, atrocities, intimidation and mob lynching faced by members of the Christian community in different parts of the country,” according to a CBCI statement issued today for the nation’s independence day. “Every citizen has the right to live, worship and serve without fear,” said Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, as he recalled the contributions of Christians to the nation. The South Asian nation of 1.42 billion (map), the world’s most populous, is 73% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 5% Christian, 3% ethnic religionist, and 2% Sikh. - Czech archdiocese cancels LGBTQ+ pilgrimage amid threats (CWN)
The Archdiocese of Olomouc in the Czech Republic cancelled its second annual LGBTQ+ pilgrimage because of threats, a leading Czech news site reported. - Jewish scholar elected president of Catholic Biblical Association of America (Catholic Biblical Association of America)
The members of the Catholic Biblical Association of America elected a Jewish scholar, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, as the association’s president. Dr. Levine is a professor at the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and professor emerita at Vanderbilt University. In 2019, the self-described “Yankee Jewish feminist” was named to the editorial board of the Vatican newspaper’s monthly women’s magazine. “Within the Catholic Biblical Association, she is recognized and deeply appreciated for her work in Jewish-Christian relations,” said Gregory Sterling, the association’s executive board chairman, and Archie Wright, its executive director. “Known for her keen intellect, sharp wit, and ability to speak candidly about controversial issues with grace, she has delivered nearly 1,000 lectures around the world.” - Archbishop Coakley hails 'forgotten virtue' of patriotism (What We Need Now)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in an address to the recent Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, paid tribute to patriotism, which he described as a forgotten virtue, and distinguished it from nationalism. “Patriotism is not, first and foremost, a political virtue,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City. “It is a religious one. It flows from the Fourth Commandment, honor your father and mother, and it can rightly be understood as a form of familial love extended outward.” Noting that St. Thomas Aquinas “classified patriotism under the virtue of piety, which he treats as a part of justice,” Archbishop Coakley added: Honor your country as you honor your parents: with gratitude, with loyalty, and with honesty that never mistakes flattery for love. Put God first and let your patriotism flow from that priority rather than compete with it. Teach your children that love of country is a debt of gratitude, not a slogan, and gratitude is an attribute of a Christian man. - Papal visit to Pucallpa could prove decisive for Church in Amazon region, Peruvian prelates predict (CWN)
Two Peruvian prelates who minister in Peruvian Amazonia predicted that Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled November visit to the Amazonian city of Pucallpa could prove decisive for the Church in the region. - 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. - Pope draws attention to displaced minors in message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV drew attention to the situation of minors in his message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (background). - 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. - 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.” - More...