Albany’s Catholic bishop has called on New York Governer Andrew Cuomo to stop the ‘Death Star’ as he called a bill in the state legislature to expand current state law on abortion that has the full backing of Cuomo, a Catholic. “Although in your recent State of the State address you cited your Catholic faith…
Category: World Report
Cardinal not truthful on abuse allegation, former priest claims
The man who made a 2004 accusation of misconduct against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick has said he is in disbelief after Cardinal Donald Wuerl told him he forgot about the allegation sometime after becoming Washington’s archbishop in 2006. Wuerl wrote to Washington, DC priests that “when I was asked if I had any previous knowledge of…
President open to talks after inciting bishops’ murder
A government spokesman said Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is open to dialogue with the country’s bishops, after the president recently suggested that citizens of the country kill the Church leaders. Tensions have increased between Duterte and the bishops as Church leaders have continued to condemn the president’s brutal war on drugs. Since Duterte’s rise to…
Restrain from violence and force, Church leader pleads
After reports of multiple deaths in violent protests over steep fuel price hikes in Zimbabwe, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare has called for restraint by the security forces and protesters. “Mature political leadership and a recognition of the need to work together for the common good” are essential, he said. Three people, including a police…
Vatican Roundup
February summit to help nations slow to move on abuse policies Only about half of the national bishops’ conferences in the world have adopted complete, Vatican-approved guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse and promoting child protection, said the Jesuit named to moderate the Vatican’s February summit on abuse. Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi said about one-quarter of the bishops’ conferences have received feedback on…
Cardinal Wuerl forwarded abuse claim against predecessor in 2004
Church officials have confirmed that Cardinal Donald Wuerl, retired archbishop of Washington, had forwarded an allegation of sexual misconduct against his predecessor, former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, to the papal nuncio in Washington in 2004. In a January 10 statement, the Archdiocese of Washington said Cardinal Wuerl, who at the time was bishop of Pittsburgh, “received…
Vietnamese authorities destroy homes in Catholic area demolition
More than 100 homes – including a church-run home for disabled war veterans – were forcibly demolished earlier this month by state officials in southern Vietnam. People living in the dwellings, most of whom are Catholic, said they were given little or no warning about the demolitions in Loc Hu’ng near Ho Chi Minh City.…
Bishops pray for ‘healing’ of Church and world at retreat
Although the week-long retreat for US Catholic bishops emphasised quiet reflection, several bishops spoke out on social media during the retreat and after it wrapped up last week with positive reactions and to give shoutouts to the retreat leader, Capuchin Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, who has preached to Popes and top officials of the Roman Curia…
Oxford supports academic accused of ‘transphobia’
Oxford University is standing by an emeritus law professor after more than 400 people have signed a petition last week calling for his removal from the university. Petition organisers say the professor holds discriminatory views about homosexuality and transgenderism. “John Finnis, Professor at Oxford’s Law Faculty, has a long record of extremely discriminatory views against…
Maduro’s presidential term is illegitimate – Venezuelan bishops
The bishops of Venezuela have said that Nicolas Maduro’s swearing in for a second term as president is illegitimate. “The claim to be initiating a new presidential term of office on January 10, 2019 is illegitimate in its origin and opens the door to the nonrecognition of the government, since it lacks democratic support in…