The president of the European bishops’ commission has promised persecuted Christians in Nigeria that he will advocate for increased support from the EU. Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, who leads the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), wrote a letter to the Nigerian bishops stating that the commission will advocate for EU assistance…
Utilising personal stories from his interactions with the New York Police Department, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said in a newspaper column that the city’s police officers deserve better treatment and broad support on the job. Writing in the New York Post, Cardinal Dolan said police officers deserve to be recognised for the heroic work they carry…
A cardinal in northern Italy has said that the Covid-19 health crisis has created “immense” poverty in the area, and now is the time to rebuild, to take responsibility, and to share resources. Indications from local charities and soup kitchens show that poverty in Bologna right now is “immense,” Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the city’s archbishop,…
Pope Francis has sent retired Pope Benedict XVI his prayers and condolences for the death of his brother, Msgr Georg Ratzinger. The monsignor, a musician and the retired Pope’s elder brother, died in Regensburg, Germany, July 1 at the age of 96. In a letter dated July 2, Pope Francis told his predecessor he was…
As Congo celebrated 60 years of independence from Belgium, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa said the “great dreams” of the people had been shuttered by successive regimes. “We have known successive autocratic regimes that have come to power like the colonialist without any concern for the will of the people, and this continues today: by…
Archives reveal Schonstatt movement founder accused of abuse Documents uncovered from the recently opened archives of the pontificate of Pope Pius XII revealed allegations of sexual abuse and abuse of power against the founder of the Schonstatt movement, Fr Joseph Kentenich. Reports of the apostolic visitation made in the early 1950s written by Dutch Jesuit Father Sebastiaan…
Glenmary Challenge editor wins St Francis de Sales Award John Feister, assistant editor of Glenmary Challenge, is the recipient of the 2020 St Francis de Sales Award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. The award – named for the patron saint of writers and journalists – recognises “outstanding contributions to…
The US should appoint a special envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region to “focus like a laser beam” on the attacks by Boko Haram and other Islamic militants, according to one of the main architects of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Former Congressman Frank Wolf said such a move was necessary…
The US Diocese of Springfield has released a report submitted by retired Superior Court Judge Peter Velis documenting his investigation into a claim of sexual abuse by the late Bishop Christopher Weldon and his finding the claim “to be unequivocally credible”. The report also covers how the diocese handled this complaint and opportunities for improvement…
Although he said “I would never go to war” over the proper age to administer the sacrament of Confirmation, Archbishop Rino Fisichella has said too often it seems that the Sacrament is delayed to “blackmail” young people into continuing to come to church. The archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, made…