Catholic News
- God's closeness, our watchfulness: Pope celebrates Mass with new cardinals (Vatican Press Office)
“To awaken us from that slumber of mediocrity and lukewarmness, there is the watchfulness of prayer,” Pope Francis preached on November 29, at a Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica with new cardinals (video, booklet). “To rouse us from that slumber of indifference, there is the watchfulness of charity.” - Pope creates 13 new cardinals, urges them to remain on Jesus' road (Vatican Press Office)
At the beginning of the consistory, Cardinal-designate Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, discussed the importance of synodality. The Pontiff then delivered a homily and raised the cardinals-designated to the cardinalate (video, booklet). - Pope Francis reflects on Advent as time of expectation and hope (Vatican Press Office)
In his November 29 Angelus address (video), Pope Francis reflected on 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, the second reading of the day. - Holy See delegation, in Istanbul, takes part in patronal feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity)
“Even in these difficult times, in which the whole of humankind is affected by the coronavirus, Pope Francis desires to show his affection for the Church of Constantinople by the presence of a delegation,” said Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Koch conveyed a papal message to Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch. - Report blames leading Canadian Church officials for ignoring warning signs about abusive priest (CBC)
Pepita Capriolo, a retired Québec Superior Court Justice, issued a report, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Montreal, on “who knew what when” about Brian Boucher, a now-laicized and imprisoned priest who was ordained in 1996. Capriolo decries a culture of secrecy, shredded documents, and stolen documents in the Archdiocese of Montreal. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, named prefect of the Congregation for Bishops in 2010, was rector of the Major Seminary of Montreal from 1990 to 1994. - Pope discusses 6 points on which to build social rights (Vatican News)
Pope Francis offered a Spanish-language reflection as judges from Africa and the Americas took part in a conference. - China mulls new rules on foreigners to 'prohibit religious extremism' (CNN)
According to the report, the draft rules prohibit “foreigners from ‘interfering with or dominating the affairs of Chinese religious groups,’ advocating ‘extremist religious thoughts,’ using religion to conduct terrorist activities, or ‘interfering with the appointment or management of Chinese clergy members.’ The last point appears aimed at the Vatican.” - Federal appeals court upholds Kentucky governor's closing of religious schools (AP)
Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order “applies to all public and private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, religious or otherwise; it is therefore neutral and of general applicability and need not be justified by a compelling governmental interest,” the 6th Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled. In doing so, the appeals court rejected a lower court decision and arguments made by the state’s attorney general. - Canadian bishop resigns at age of 64 'for the good of the Church' (CNA)
“In obedience to and in communion with the Holy Father, but more importantly for the good of the Church, on November 16, 2020, I presented my resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Hearst-Moosonee,” said Bishop Robert Bourgon. The prelate, according to the report, “faced criticism following the dismissal of two priests facing charges of fraud . . . Following protests by parishioners, who believed the priests to be innocent of wrongdoing, Pope Francis mandated a visitation.” - Supreme Court declines case of Louisiana pastor who defied Covid orders (Baton Rouge Advocate)
“Governor [John Bel] Edwards’s Proclamations have always treated comparable secular institutions similarly to comparable religious institutions,” a lower court ruled in a suit filed by Life Tabernacle Church and its pastor. “To the extent that Plaintiffs argue that any restrictions on their right to gather violate the US Constitution, they are clearly incorrect.” - Papal call for 'firm rejection' of death penalty (@Pontifex)
“Let us keep in mind that not even a murderer loses his personal dignity — God Himself guarantees it,” tweeted Pope Francis, who cited St. John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae (no. 9). :The firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being.” - Papal prayer for new cardinals, Central American disaster victims, pandemic difficulties (Vatican News)
Following his November 29 Angelus address, Pope Francis encouraged pilgrims to “derive some good from the difficult situation that the pandemic imposes on us: greater sobriety, discreet and respectful attention to neighbors who may need it, a few moments of prayer done in the family with simplicity. These three things will help us a lot.” - Supreme Court blocks New York restrictions on worship (US Supreme Court)
The US Supreme Court, in a key decision released late on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, blocked enforcement of New York regulations that restricted attendance at religious services. The Court’s sided with the Brooklyn Catholic diocese and two Orthodox synagogues, saying the restrictions appeared to discriminate against religion. - People want 'better government,' not more government, Kenya's bishops say (CNS)
The East African nation of 49.1 million (map) is 61% Protestant, 21% Catholic, 8% Muslim, and 8% ethnic religionist. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2015. - Christmas tree rises In St. Peter's Square (Zenit)
The 92-ft. tree comes from Slovenia and arrived at the Vatican on November 30 (video). - Eritrean bishops call for peace in Ethiopia's Tigray region (Vatican News)
Pope Francis and Ethiopia’s bishops also appealed for peace after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military intervention in the Tigray region (map). - New Zealand's bishops pledge to listen to abuse survivors, work with royal commission (New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference)
The Royal Commission of Inquiry is hearing testimony from victims of abuse in Catholic, Anglican, and Salvation Army settings. - Pontifical academy president: after state and market, now is the time for community (Vatican News)
Economist Stefano Zamagni was named president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in 2019. - Pope Francis: Church's social doctrine makes us agents of hope (Vatican News)
Pope Francis sent a video message to the 10th Festival of Social Doctrine (Italian-language program). . - Pope reaffirms ecumenical commitment in message to Orthodox Patriarch (Vatican Press Office)
In a message to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Pope Francis has voiced his confidence in the future of ecumenical ties. In his message the Pontiff credits the Ecumenical Patriarchate with advancing ecumenism “before the Catholic Church and other churches engaged themselves in dialogue.” The papal message was delivered to Patriarch Bartholomew on November 30, the feast of St. Andrew, the patron of the Constantinople patriarchate. - More...