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Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Vatican drops investigation of Spanish bishop accused of abuse (Crux)

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith closed its investigation into an abuse allegation against retired Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cádiz y Ceuta, Spain.

A former seminarian alleged that the abuse began when he was 14 and continued for seven years. The dicastery reportedly closed its investigation “because it could not determine whether the victim was underage at the time of the alleged abuse,” Crux reported.

Bishop Zornoza, 76, retired last November and has denied the allegation.

Peruvian bishops' conference secretary general steps down after abuse allegations surface (OSV News)

The bishop of Huacho, Peru, stepped down as secretary general of the Peruvian bishops’ conference after a former seminarian alleged abuse and a priest who was his assistant alleged sexual harassment.

Bishop Antonio Santarsiero Rosa, O.S.I., 74, appointed bishop of Huacho in 2004, said that he categorically denied the allegations.

Pope Leo departs from Cameroon, says his remarks there did not refer to President Trump (CWN)

Following a farewell ceremony at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (video), Pope Leo departed from Cameroon for Angola this afternoon.

State of Maryland faces billions in liability from over 12,000 abuse claims (WBFF-TV)

Three years after the State of Maryland passed the Child Victims Act lifting the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases, 12,305 abuse claims have been lodged against public school teachers, youth detention workers, and other government employees.

Last year, Moody’s downgraded the state’s bond rating amid growing fiscal concerns, and one state senator now estimates that the potential liability could approach $60 billion.

Cuba's bishops defend Pope amid attacks (Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Cuba)

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba released a statement of support for Pope Leo.

“At a time when the figure of the Pope has been the object of attacks and questioning, the Cuban bishops have wanted to publicly express their support and closeness,” the bishops’ conference stated. “In the midst of a world wounded by conflicts and wars, the Pope’s voice becomes a prophetic light that invites us to work for peace and to defend the poor and excluded.”

Religious Liberty Commission holds final hearing (Religion Clause)

The Religious Liberty Commission, established by President Donald Trump last year, held its seventh and final hearing.

The “capstone hearing of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission contained more powerful testimony and discussion about how people of religion are under assault by the secular left,” said Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, the Commission’s chairman. “Next month, the Commission will deliver our recommendations to President Trump to ensure that Americans’ religious liberty is safeguarded against evil forces seeking to suppress them in our country.”

Two bishops are commissioners: Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron. In addition, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades serve on the commission’s advisory board.

USCCB asks Catholics: Urge Congress to press for peace in Middle East (USCCB)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) asked the faithful to urge members of Congress to press for peace in the Middle East.

The USCCB suggested the following language in emails to members of Congress:

As a constituent and a Catholic, I echo the call of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to support an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated end to the conflict with Iran. I ask you to encourage the Trump Administration to avoid any escalation, especially actions that would endanger civilians or expand the war across the region.

Pope Leo XIV and the U.S. bishops have pleaded for peace and warned that targeting civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified. Please press for diplomacy, a negotiated peace, and humanitarian protection of the innocent not just in Iran, but across the Middle East.

Draw near to the suffering and the poor, as Jesus did, Pope preaches at final Cameroon Mass (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV traveled this morning from the nunciature in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital city, to Yaoundé Airport (video), where he celebrated an outdoor Mass (video)

US bishops urge DHS, ICE to avoid arrest, detention of pregnant mothers (USCCB)

The chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committees on Pro-Life Activities and Migration asked the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and the senior official of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to “avoid the arrest and detention of pregnant and postpartum mothers, absent exceptional circumstances.”

“Doing so would be consistent with this Administration’s recent pro-life actions,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas.

Vatican spokesman recalls papal statements on nuclear weapons (Vatican News)

Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, published an editorial, “The Magisterium of the Popes and nuclear weapons.”

Tornielli cited statements by Venerable Pius XII, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV.