Catholic News

• Pope's civil-union remark came from heavily-edited 2019 interview (AP)
  Broadcast in the new documentary Francesco, the Pope’s endorsement of same-sex civil union legislation came from an unaired portion of a 2019 interview with the Mexican television broadcaster Televisa. “The Vatican, which had the full interview in its archives, apparently allowed the comments to be aired now,” the Associated Press reported. CNA reported that the comment was heavily edited; in the 2019 interview, the Pope also said, “What I said is that they ‘have a right to a family.’ And that doesn’t mean to approve of homosexual acts, not at all.”
• Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople meets with Pope (Rome Reports)
  Born in 1940, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was installed in 1991 as Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch; he holds a primacy of honor among the Orthodox churches. He participated in an interfaith peace gathering on October 20 and met with Pope Francis for 50 minutes on October 22.
• Vatican and Beijing renew secret agreement (CWN)
  The Holy See and the Chinese government announced on October 22 that they have agreed to a two-year extension of their secret agreement governing the appointment of Catholic bishops.
• San Francisco archbishop issues statement on role of civil unions (Archdiocese of San Francisco)
  Following the Pope’s endorsement of same-sex civil union legislation, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone recounted a conversation with the Pope in January. “The Holy Father clearly differentiated between a civil arrangement which accords mutual benefits to two people, and marriage,” he said. “The former, he said, can in no way be equated to marriage, which remains unique. I would add that a civil union of this type (one which is not equated to marriage) should be as inclusive as possible, and not be restricted to two people of the same sex in a presumed sexual relationship. There is no reason, for example, why a brother and a sister, both of whom are unmarried and support each other, should not have access to these kinds of benefits.”
• Nicaraguan government expels Colombian priest (Fides)
  As the government of Daniel Ortega began to enforce its “law on the regulation of foreign agents,” Bishop Rolando José Álvarez of Matagalpa called on officials to “respect the will of the people” and called on the government and opposition alike to respect the family, human freedom, human dignity, and social justice, particularly respect for human life.
• US bishops' religious liberty chairman applauds HHS actions to ensure access to spiritual care during pandemic (USCCB)
  “Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, gave us the sacraments to convey God’s grace and healing,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said following an announcement by the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department of Health and Human Services. “It is of paramount importance that our government, public health authorities, and health care providers strive to respect the liberty of the faithful to receive the sacraments.”
• Bishop Schneider begs Pope: retract civil-union support 'for the sake of souls' (Edward Pentin)
  Bishop Athanasius Schneider has exhorted Pope Francis to retract his support for civil unions, “for the sake of the salvation of your own immortal soul, for the sake of the souls of all those persons who through your approval of same-sex unions are by their sexual acts grievously offending God and exposing their souls to the danger to be eternally lost...”
• Australian police not investigating Vatican fund transfers (AP)
  Australian police officials have indicated that they are not pursuing an investigation into the transfer of funds from the Vatican during the trial of Cardinal George Pell. Police in the state of Victoria, where the cardinal was tried, say that found no evidence of wrongdoing in the money transfers.
• Pope Francis calls Trump administration's family separation border policy 'cruelty of the highest form' (America)
  “It’s cruelty, and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights,” Pope Francis said in the documentary Francesco. “It’s something a Christian cannot do. It’s cruelty of the highest form.”
• Pope Francis endorses civil-union legislation (CNA)
  Pope Francis has called for legislation to recognize same-sex unions, in a new documentary film. “What we have to create is a civil-union law. That way they are legally covered,” the Pope said. The Pope’s statement contrasts with those of his predecessors; both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had opposed the legal recognition of civil unions.
• Kerala bishops: Catholic teaching on homosexuality has not changed (New Indian Express)
  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.
• Bishops blast government leaders in DR Congo (Fides)
  The Catholic bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo have condemned the “revolting indifference” of the government regarding the “indescribable misery” of the people, suffering from poverty, the Covid epidemic, and armed conflict involving foreign forces. The bishops charged that the ruling coalition has devoted all its energies to maintaining its own position in power rather than serving the nation.
• Pope, Ecumenical Patriarch, other religious leaders participate in interfaith peace gathering (Vatican Press Office)
  On October 20, the Community of Sant’Egidio sponsored international meetings of prayer for peace. Pope Francis preached at a Christian prayer service for peace at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome; later, he delivered an address at Rome’s Piazza del Campidoglio, and signed an interfaith appeal for peace (video).
• Texas bishop says Francis' support of civil unions is 'dangerous,' papacy lacks clarity (National Catholic Reporter)
  In a Catholic Answers webinar (video), Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler said, “It is evil that [the Vatican’s McCarrick] report is still not out there, and if I get fired for saying that, for not being politically correct, go ahead and fire me” (12:35). The prelate weighed in other topics, from the Church in Germany to synodality: “All this synodality is garbage as far as I’m concerned.”
• Church's constant teaching on marriage remains unchanged, Singapore archdiocese says (Archdiocese of Singapore)
  “We have not had an official statement or communication from the Vatican,” the Southeast Asian nation’s sole diocese said a statement. “Also, any quote from the Holy Father recorded in a documentary is not considered or admissible as an official papal teaching. At any rate, the Catholic Church’s constant teaching on marriage remains unchanged regardless of a civil union between two persons of the same sex approved by the State.”
• In Pakistan, 13-year-old Catholic girl kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam (Fides)
  Arzoo Raja was also forced to marry a 44-year-old Muslim man. “This is umpteenth case, a story that repeats itself,” said human rights activist Nasir Raza. “She was playing at home. She went out to go to a shop and never came back.”
• US commission holds hearing on online hate speech, disinformation targeting religious communities (USCIRF)
  “Online hate speech and misinformation has been used to target and mobilize violence against the Rohingya in Burma, Jews in Iran, Shi’a Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, to name only a few,” according to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
• When looking to future, include most vulnerable, Vatican official, Nigerian bishop tell G20 forum (CNS)
  The G20 Interfaith Forum took place prior to the G20 Summit.
• Cardinal Czerny: Pope's social teaching inspires a Church 'going out' (Vatican News)
  Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, is Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
• Catholic Relief Services warns climate change poses dangers to African farming (Crux)
  The US bishops founded Catholic Relief Services in 1943, and the majority of the members of its board of directors are bishops.
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