Catholic News
- Nicaragua cathedral attacked with firebomb (CNA)
Pope Francis said that he is praying for Nicaraguans after the destruction of a nearly 400-year-old crucifix at the cathedral in Managua. - Benedict XVI seriously ill (CNA)
Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI is seriously ill, according to his biographer. Peter Seewald, who has collaborated with the retired Pope on several books, reported after a visit that Benedict is “very frail,” his voice barely audible, and is suffering from shingles. He reportedly has been growing weaker since a trip to Germany in late June to visit his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, who died July 1. - Scalfari again interviews Pope Francis (America)
Eugenio Scalfari of La Repubblica has published another article based on a personal interview with Pope Francis. The friendly conversation, centering on environmental concerns, did not include any shocking statements attributed to the Pontiff. After past interviews Scalfari— who is 96 years old, and relies solely on his memory to reconstruct quotations— had claimed that Pope Francis denied the existence of hell and said that Jesus is “not an incarnate god.” - Papal nuncio in France to meet with women who 'applied' for priestly roles (Crux)
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio in France, has contacted several women who “applied” for positions in the Church, to arrange private meetings. The women, who call for equality in the Church, had organized around Anne Soupa, a theologian who announced in June that she was “applying” to be named Archbishop of Lyon. - New Jersey diocese suspends payments to clergy abuse victims, citing Covid financial stress (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Diocese of Camden has paid nearly $1,000,000 for victims’ therapeutic assistance, $10,270,000 in financial settlements, and an additional $7,577,500 in awards as determined by the Independent Victim Compensation Program, according to a statement. - Massachusetts city recognizes polyamorous relationships (New York Times)
“Under its new domestic partnership ordinance, the city of Somerville now grants polyamorous groups the rights held by spouses in marriage,” according to the report. - Superior general challenges Jesuits to live out evangelical poverty during Ignatian Year (Society of Jesus)
“Living our vow of poverty in the current conditions of the world will require changes in our organizational culture,” said Father Arturo Sosa. “We need to recognize our deficiencies and even our sins, in this area, if we want to arrive at a real identification of ourselves with the poor and humble Jesus of the Gospels.” - Churches in Manila shut doors again (Manila Times)
“The country’s coronavirus caseload has climbed to more than 5,000 a day,” according to the report. “Many hospitals in metro Manila are nearing full capacity.” - US ambassador for religious liberty warns Vatican: China can't be trusted (Crux)
“If I were a Vatican official and seeing this is who I am dealing with, and this is how they are going to deal with me, it would cause me great pause to think about how can I trust and work with these other individuals that are spying on me,” Ambassador Sam Brownback said following a report that China hacked into Vatican computer systems. - Assist Catholic school students, bishops urge Congressional Black Caucus (USCCB)
“As the impact of the coronavirus has disproportionately affected the black community, the same is true for our Catholic schools that serve predominately black communities, and we are imploring your help for these families who have sought a Catholic education for their children,” the bishops said in their letter. - Italian priest named personal secretary to Pope (Vatican News)
Father Fabio Salerno, an official in the Secretariat of State, has replaced Msgr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid as one of the Pope’s secretaries, in what is described as “a normal turnover of roles.” - American on trial for blasphemy in Pakistan is assassinated in courtroom (Religion Clause)
The suspect said that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, “had ordered him to kill [Tahir Naseem] because he had belonged to the Ahmadi faith.” - Bishops decry increasing insecurity in southeast Nigeria (Punch)
“Gun-carrying herders and other bandits are occupying many farmlands and forests, destroying crops, raping women, killing and kidnapping many persons,” the area’s bishops warned. - Liberian bishop laments attacks on political group (Front Page Africa)
The West African nation of 4.9 million (map) is 43% Christian, 39% ethnic religionist, and 16% Muslim. Bishop Andrew Karnley warned that “silence, including from the Church or state, offers the wrong signal to the perpetrators that their actions are acceptable, and makes us collectively complicit.” - Washington retreat center to serve as Covid quarantine site (Diocese of Spokane)
“The new resource at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center is for people diagnosed with the virus who don’t have a place to isolate or need to be away from the people they live with to protect them from exposure,” KXLY-TV reported. “Catered meals and a room will come at no charge to the sick people at the center ... money from the CARES Act will cover the bills.” - 'Crazy and outrageous': Bishop Barron rebukes Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for criticizing St. Damien statue in Capitol (Daily Wire)
The New York congresswoman referred to St. Damien of Molokai as an example of “what patriarchy and white supremacist culture looks like.” The Los Angeles auxiliary bishop responded, “To associate this man in any way with colonialism or white supremacy is so ridiculous and insulting. And it shows the superficiality and the simplistic quality of these sort of woke categories.” - August papal prayer intention: the maritime world (Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network)
The Pope’s July prayer intention, disseminated by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer), is “for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.” - China hacked Vatican computer system before accord talks (The Hill)
Chinese hackers have accessed the Vatican’s computer network, an independent cybersecurity firm has revealed. The Chinese hackers were apparently looking for information about the Holy See’s negotiating stance in talks with Beijing about an accord on the appointment of bishops. The hackers also systematically penetrated the computer systems of the Hong Kong diocese and other Catholic organizations. - More...