Catholic News
- Taiwan president tells Pope of China's religious persecution (UCANews)
In her letter to Pope Francis, President Tsai Ing-wen spoke of “authorities dispatching armed police to fire tear gas and suppress and arrest people expressing the wish to pursue democracy and human rights … religious practitioners facing detention and persecution by public security officers when they, following their conscience, refuse to be coerced into signing documents to join an organization that violates their religious doctrines.” - International finance watchdog re-admits Vatican (Vatican Press Office)
The Vatican’s Financial Information Authority (AIF) has been re-admitted to full membership in the Egmont Group. The Egmont Group, an international consortium that shares information about possible financial crime, had suspended the AIF in October, after Vatican police removed documents from the AIF office. The Vatican agency was re-admitted after Egmont leaders were assured that confidential documents would remain secure. - Supreme Court appears split on Montana's ban on vouchers for religious schools (Washington Times)
The Becket Fund has published background information on the case. “The case before the Supreme Court today concerns whether the Constitution offers states a license to discriminate against religion,” the USCCB said in a statement. “It is about whether our nation will continue to tolerate this strain of anti-Catholic bigotry. Blaine Amendments, which are in 37 states’ constitutions, were the product of nativism … We hope that the Supreme Court will take this opportunity to bring an end to this shameful legacy.” - In US, conversions to Catholicism have fallen 46% since 2000 (CARA (Georgetown University))
The number of adults received into the Catholic Church in the United States fell from 172,581 in 2000 to 93,621 in 2018. - Islamic extremists kill Nigerian pastor, attack his hometown (AP)
Following the killing of Rev. Lawan Andimi, Boko Haram attacked his hometown in Borno State (map), a largely Muslim region where sharia is the basis of civil law. - Majority of Americans describe themselves as pro-choice, yet favor restrictions on abortion (Marist Poll)
The poll found that more Americans describe themselves as pro-choice (55%) than pro-life (40%); 21% believe that abortion should be available in all three trimesters. 55% support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, and majorities oppose taxpayer funding of abortion at home (60%) and abroad (76%). 65% oppose the abortion of babies with Down syndrome. - Joint statement by Benedict XVI, Cardinal Sarah censored by Vatican? (La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana (Italian))
A joint statement by Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah, clarifying their respective roles in the preparation of a book defending priestly celibacy, was delivered to the Vatican Secretariat of State for public release, but never made public, according to an Italian news report. - Pope Francis offers greetings for Chinese New Year (Vatican News)
On “25 January next, in the Far East and in various other parts of the world, many millions of men and women will celebrate the Lunar New Year,” the Pope said following his January 22 general audience. “I send them my cordial greetings, wishing them in particular to be places of education in the virtues of welcome, wisdom, respect for each person, and harmony with creation.” - President Trump proclaims National Sanctity of Human Life Day (White House)
“Our Nation proudly and strongly reaffirms our commitment to protect the precious gift of life at every stage, from conception to natural death,” President Trump wrote in his proclamation. “My Administration is also building an international coalition to dispel the concept of abortion as a fundamental human right.” - Maronite Patriarch calls on protesters to give new government a chance (AsiaNews)
Headquartered in Bkerké, Lebanon, the Maronite Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) is an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See. - Cleveland bishop named new Archbishop of Philadelphia (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
Bishop Nelson Perez, 58, succeeds Archbishop Charles Chaput, 75. Bishop Perez was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1989, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre (N.Y.) in 2012, and was named Bishop of Cleveland in 2017. Philadelphia is one of the United States’ leading sees: Archbishop Chaput’s five predecessors were named cardinals. - As numbers fall, Franciscans withdraw from 9 East Coast parishes (Holy Name Province)
“In 1985, just 35 years ago, Holy Name Province had 708 friars, a number that dropped to 443 in 2001, and currently stands at a little less than 300,” according to an announcement from the Franciscan province, which had a presence in 12 East Coast states. “While there are a number of men in the initial formation process, just three friars have professed their solemn vows since August 2018.” - Chinese churches suspend Masses as deadly coronavirus spreads (UCANews)
If the virus “spreads quickly and uncontrollably, church meetings and gatherings may be banned,” an anonymous layman said. “Authorities may also use this a pretext to crack down on the Church more severely,” - Study finds US bishops are satisfied with their life and ministry (CNS)
Based on responses from 213 bishops, the study found that “the average workday for respondents was 9.8 hours. On average, bishops sleep 6.5 hours per night … Bishops spend an average of 108 minutes per day in prayer. Overall, 97% are either somewhat or strongly satisfied with their life as a bishop.” - Venezuelan priest killed by abuse victim, police report (Fides)
A Venezuelan bishop has revealed that a priest who was found dead on January 22 was apparently killed by a young man who had accused him of sexual abuse. - USCCB, Florida bishops seek new trial for death row inmate (USCCB)
Citing “persuasive evidence of actual innocence,” the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a brief with the Supreme Court on behalf of James Dailey (AP story). - Could majority of Russians one day be Muslim? (AsiaNews)
Currently, 82% of Russia’s 142 million people are Christian (79% Orthodox), and 13% are Muslim. Citing “various analyses,” the author of this report writes that “in 2030 the number of followers of Muhammad in the country will reach 30%, and in 2050 could exceed 50% of the population.” - 'We are all members of the one human family,' Pope emphasizes in message to World Economic Forum (Vatican Press Office)
As the 2020 World Economic Forum opened in Davos, Switzerland, Pope Francis wrote that “we are all members of the one human family. The moral obligation to care for one another flows from this fact, as does the correlative principle of placing the human person, rather than the mere pursuit of power or profit, at the very center of public policy.” - Protecting unborn is a preeminent priority, Pope Francis tells US bishops (CNS)
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City (KS) said that Pope Francis “was truly kind of stunned” when he was told there have been 61 million abortions in the US since Roe v. Wade. On January 16, the Pope received bishops from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. - Cardinal Sarah: no confusion on Benedict's role in new book (Cardinal Sarah- Facebook)
Cardinal Robert Sarah has announced that he met with Pope-emeritus Benedict, and “we have been able to see how there is no confusion between us” about the retired Pontiff’s role as co-author of a new book defending clerical celibacy. Cardinal Sarah said that he wanted to meet privately with Benedict because of the “incessant, unpleasant and false controversy that has never stopped since the beginning of the week.” - More...