Saint Joseph Catholic Church

The Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled that a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., by a younger priest may proceed.

In a 2024 suit, Father Michael Bechard alleged that Father Rosica assaulted him in 2002, when Father Rosica was organizer of World Youth Day in Toronto. The Congregation of St. Basil argued that because both are priests, a canonical court should have exclusive jurisdiction.

The appellate court, upholding a lower court ruling, held that civil courts do have jurisdiction in the case. Father Rosica has denied the allegations.

After organizing World Youth Day, Father Rosica helped lead Salt + Light Television, a Canadian Catholic network. He resigned in 2019 amid a plagiarism scandal.

March for Life UK announced that a record 14 bishops, led by Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster, will take part in the march this year.

“It is hard to think of another event, or cause, that receives this level of support from the hierarchy of the Church,” organizers said in a statement. “Their presence demonstrates the primary importance that the Church places on this key and fundamental issue.”

The Church celebrates the Memorial St. Boniface (c. 673-680-754). Boniface was a monk of Exeter in England. Boniface is one of the great figures of the Benedictine Order and of the monastic apostolate in the Middle Ages. Gregory II sent him to preach the Gospel in Germany. He evangelized Hesse, Saxony and Thuringia and became Archbishop of Mainz. He well earned the title of Apostle of Germany, and Catholic Germany in our own times still venerates him as its father in the faith. He was put to death by the Frisians at Dokkum in 754 during the last of his missionary journeys. The famous abbey of Fulda, where his body lies, has remained the national shrine of Catholic Germany.

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