Catholic News

• Proclaim and rejoice: Pope Francis reflects on the Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption (Zenit)
  During his August 15 Angelus address (video), Pope Francis reflected on two verses from the Gospel reading of the day.
• Apostolic Penitentiary issues note on inviolability of Confession, confidentiality of spiritual direction (L'Osservatore Romano (p. 6))
  The document, dated June 29, has been published in the English edition of the Vatican newspaper.
• New Pax Christi presidents look to elevate Church's nonviolence teachings (National Catholic Reporter)
  Founded in 1945, Pax Christi is a Catholic peace movement. At a recent Vatican meeting, Pax Christi sought “to bring nonviolence from the periphery of Catholic thought on war and peace to the center—to mainstream nonviolence as a spirituality, lifestyle, a program of societal action, and a universal ethic.”
• After 10 years of Boko Haram violence, Nigerians crave peace (AP)
  In a Facebook post, the Nigerian bishops’ conference stated, “The group, whose name loosely translates as ‘Western education is forbidden,’ quickly advanced throughout the northeast region of Nigeria, striking homes, schools, markets, places of worship and places of work, killing thousands of people and leaving nearly 2.4 million people displaced across Nigeria as well as Cameroon, Chad and Niger.”
• LCWR calls on Trump to stop 'divisive and polarizing rhetoric' (CNS)
  The religious superiors who belong to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious represent nearly 80% of the 44,000 religious sisters in the United States.
• Buffalo diocese hit with RICO suit (CNA)
  A group of 22 plaintiffs has filed suit against the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, under the terms of the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute, charging that the diocese—along with the local Jesuit province and a number of Catholic schools and parishes—engaged in a conspiracy to protect clerical abusers. “All the defendant(s) knew and/or reasonably should have known, and/or knowingly condoned, and/or covered up, the inappropriate and unlawful criminal conduct activities,” the suit charges.
• 4 more allegations against former Cheyenne bishop made in past year, Missouri diocesan official says (Casper Star-Tribune)
  The Diocese of Cheyenne announced in 2018 that Bishop Joseph Hart was guilty of the sexual abuse of minors. Bishop Hart, now 87, was a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (1956-1976), auxiliary bishop of Cheyenne (1976-78), and bishop of Cheyenne (1978-2001). He resigned five years before the typical retirement age of 75 and has denied committing sexual abuse.
• South Carolina bishop says sexual abuse allegations against him are 'provably false' (ABC Columbia)
  Bishop Robert Guglielmone, the bishop of Charleston since 2009, said, “The allegations are false. I engaged in no wrongdoing. I look forward to being vindicated in court.”
• Lawsuit alleges retired Albany bishop sexually abused a teenage boy (Schenectady Daily Gazette)
  Bishop Howard Hubbard, now 80, was bishop of Albany (NY) from 1977 to 2014.
• 'Is this still the Catholic Church?': Chinese priests take 'formation course' after Sino-Vatican agreement (AsiaNews)
  33 diocesan priests took part in a course organized by the Central Institute of Socialism.
• On 50th anniversary of Battle of the Bogside, Northern Ireland bishop reflects on ecumenism, Brexit (Vatican News)
  “Two days of rioting that became known as the Battle of Bogside (after the Catholic area in which the confrontation occurred) stemmed from the escalating clash between nationalists and the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary],” Encyclopedia Britannica states in its article on the Troubles. “Thereafter, violent confrontation only escalated, and the Troubles ... had clearly begun.”
• Sudanese bishop says country is fragile, future unclear (CNS)
  Sudan (map) is a Muslim nation of 43.1 million that is distinct from largely Christian and animist South Sudan. Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s ruler since 1989, was overthrown in an April coup.
• Planned Parenthood to withdraw from Title X, unless court intervenes (NPR)
  In March, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, while restating the Church’s “strong objections to government promotion and funding of contraceptives,” praised the Trump administration’s new rule separating abortion from Title X family planning.
• Church in Kerala responds to flood emergency (Vatican News)
  The southwestern Indian state of Kerala (map) is 55% Hindu, 27% Muslim, and 18% Christian. Two Eastern Catholic churches (the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church) have their headquarters there, as do two Oriental Orthodox churches (the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church).
• Pittsburgh diocese cancels parish festival after receiving 'disturbing letter' (WTAE-TV)
  “Although there was no direct threat, the letter raised grave concern due to the appalling chain of mass violence that our nation has experienced,” the Diocese of Pittsburgh said in a statement.
• Woman sues Houston archdiocese over 'lay exorcism' (Crux)
  A Texas woman has filed suit against the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, claiming that she suffered emotional damage as a result of a lay “exorcism” performed during a charismatic prayer service. Exorcisms are allowed only with the formal permission of the diocese. The parish where the incident occurred has suspended the activities of the charismatic prayer group.
• 'I know words mean very little without action,' Erie bishop says on anniversary of grand jury report (Diocese of Erie)
  More than 300 Pennsylvania priests abused over 1,000 minors since the 1940s, a landmark state grand jury report found. Veteran journalist Peter Steinfels later described the report as “misleading” and “irresponsible.”
• Monk found murdered in Lebanese monastery (Fides)
  Mar Chaaya is the motherhouse of the Antonine Maronite Order.
• 1 year after bridge collapse, Pope writes to people of Genoa (Vatican News)
  The Ponte Morandi collapsed on August 14, 2018, leaving 43 dead.
• Cardinal Sean Brady turns 80, becomes ineligible for conclave (CWN)
  Cardinal Sean Brady, the retired Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, celebrated his 80th birthday on August 16 and becomes ineligible to participate in a papal conclave.
• More...