Lord we pray "Help me to continually increase parish vitality and reflect the presence of Christ in the world."

Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

First Word from the Cross: Older Than America — The Blood of the Martyrs

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The Seven Last Words and America’s 250th

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The Island Where Religious Freedom Began

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Dialogue Between Orthodox and Catholic Churches Could See Opening, George Weigel Says

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USCCB urges faithful to oppose Trump administration's proposed regulations for federal funding recipients (CWN)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued an action alert calling on the faithful to oppose the Trump administration’s proposed new regulations for recipients of federal funding.

Israel denies Cardinal Pizzaballa access to Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then backtracks (CWN)

Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. Following international condemnation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would permit Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to enter the church.

Bishops 'alarmed' by EU's approval of new deportation policies (COMECE)

The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) lamented the European Parliament’s decision to develop a migration framework that will increase deportations.

COMECE stated that it is “particularly alarmed by the potential consequences of the adopted position for the dignity and fundamental rights of vulnerable persons. Measures that facilitate returns, expand detention, or externalize responsibilities to third countries raise serious questions about the effective safeguarding of human rights and respect for the dignity of every human person.”

Archbishop Caccia condemns racism, warns against AI stereotypes (Holy See Mission)

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, reiterated the Holy See’s “full and firm condemnation of racism and racial discrimination in all their forms.”

Addressing a UN meeting, Archbishop Caccia said that “at first glance, racism appears to persist in manifesting itself as discrimination founded on erroneous assumptions of racial superiority. However, at a more profound level, this pervasive scourge is operating through more subtle and complex mechanisms that often evade immediate recognition.”

Citing Pope Leo, Archbishop Caccia warned that AI systems can reflect the biases of those who construct them.

Archbishop Caccia’s mandate as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations officially ceased on March 7. However, no replacement has been named, and he has continued to represent the Holy See at the UN.

French bishops announce program for abuse victims (Église catholique en France)

The French bishops overwhelmingly approved the formation of Renaître (To be reborn), a program to accompany abuse victims.

Renaître will come into existence on September 1, following the expiration of the mandate of the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation. The bishops’ conference explained that “personalized support is set up by people specifically trained by the national authority ... The support will make it possible to find restorative approaches with the person recognized as a victim.”

Under Renaître, the local bishop will send a “letter of acknowledgment of the violence suffered” upon the canonical or civil conviction of the accused. In other cases, such as when the accused priest is deceased, the bishop will acknowledge the suffering that has been experienced.