Catholic News
- Vatican publishes Pope's response to cardinals' dubia (CWN)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has published Pope Francis’s response (Spanish text, English translation), dated July 11, to questions posed by five cardinals on July 10. - Vatican responds to Czech cardinal's dubia on divorced and remarried Catholics (CNA)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has published an Italian-language response to ten questions posed by Cardinal Dominik Duka of Prague on the pastoral care of Catholics who have remarried outside the Church. Though he retired in 2022, Cardinal Duka sent the dubia on July 10, 2023, on behalf of the Czech episcopal conference. Pope Francis assented to the Dicastery’s reply on September 25. “It is each person, individually, who is called to put himself before God and expose his conscience to him, with both its possibilities and its limits,” and evaluate one’s disposition to receive Holy Communion, the Dicastery said in its response. “This conscience, accompanied by a priest and enlightened by the guidelines of the Church, is called to be formed to evaluate and give a sufficient judgment to discern the possibility of accessing the sacraments.” The Dicastery advised the Czech bishops to “agree on some minimum criteria to implement the proposals of Amoris Laetitia” to help priests “in the process of accompaniment and discernment regarding the possible access to the sacraments of divorces in a new union, without prejudice to the legitimate authority that each bishop has in his own diocese.” - Cardinal Fernandez raps cardinals for persisting in dubia (CNA)
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has criticized the five cardinals who submitted dubia to Pope Francis in advance of the Synod. The Argentine prelate told a Spanish interviewer that the Pope had already answered the cardinals’ questions, in a July letter. (The five cardinals had acknowledged the papal reply, but pointed out that it left their fundamental questions unanswered.) “Instead of publishing those answers [from the Pope], they now make public new questions, as if the Pope were their slave for errands,” Cardinal Fernandez complained. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has now published the full text of the Pope’s July letter. (See today’s related CWN news brief.) - Cardinals send new 'dubia' to Pope, plead for clarity (CWN)
Five prominent cardinals have submitted dubia to Pope Francis, urging him to clarify points of doctrine before this month’s meeting of the Synod on Synodality. - Pope creates 21 new cardinals, calls on College of Cardinals to 'resemble a symphony orchestra' (CWN)
Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals on September 30 during a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square (booklet, video). - Climate activists to introduce new papal document at Vatican press conference (Vatican Press Office)
The Vatican has announced a press conference to be held on Thursday, October 5, to introduce Laudate Deum, a new papal statement on climate change. The Vatican announcement mentions nine speakers who will comment on the Pope’s statement. In a rarity for the introduction of a papal document, none of the experts scheduled to speak at the press conference is a bishop, priest, or theologian. The line-up includes scientists, environmental activists, and authors. The new document, an apostolic exhortation following up on the encyclical Laudato Si’, will be released that same day. - Pope praises 'silent work' of the Little Sisters of Jesus (Vatican News)
Pope Francis received participants in the general chapter of the Little Sisters of Jesus during an October 2 audience. Founded in 1939, the Little Sisters are part of the spiritual family of St. Charles de Foucauld. - US bishops' migration chairman welcomes President Biden's commitment to refugee resettlement (USCCB)
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Migration, welcomed President Biden’s decision to permit up to 125,000 refugees to enter the United States during the 2023-24 fiscal year, as he had for the previous two fiscal years. “We commend the Biden administration for its ongoing efforts to ensure the United States is a global leader in refugee resettlement and international humanitarian protection,” said Bishop Seitz. The presidential determination, signed on September 29, permits a greater number of refugees from Latin America and the Caribbean, with a decreased number from Europe and Central Asia. “We take this opportunity to reaffirm our solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world, especially those in the Middle East and Asia, who face increased barriers to accessing permanent protection,” said Bishop Seitz. “We implore the administration to provide equitable access to refugee resettlement for these populations and to engage with host countries to promote their humane treatment.” - Judge blocks 2 provisions in North Carolina's new abortion law (AP)
A federal district judge has blocked two provisions of a new North Carolina law that bans most second—and third-trimester abortions. While leaving most of the new law in place, Judge Catherine Eagles, appointed to the bench by President Obama in 2010, halted a provision that would have required abortions after the beginning of the second trimester to take place in hospitals. The judge also prevented “enforcement of a rule that doctors must document the existence of a pregnancy within the uterus before prescribing a medication abortion,” the Associated Press reported. - 11 people dead after church roof collapses in Mexico (AP)
The roof of a church in Ciudad Madero, Mexico, collapsed on October 1 during a baptism. “Security camera footage from about a block away showed the unusual, gabled roof simply collapsed downward,” the Associated Press reported. “The walls did not appear to have been blown outward, nor was there any indication of an explosion, or anything other than simple structural failure.” - Papal telegram to Iraqi Christian community after tragic wedding fire (CNA)
119 people were killed in the Qaraqosh wedding fire on September 26. “His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the devastating effects of the fire in Qaraqosh, and he sends the assurance of his spiritual closeness to everyone affected by this tragedy,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, said in a telegram. - DDF ruling permits Cardinal Ricard, who sexually abused minor, to vote in conclave, minister in diocese of residence (CWN)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has barred Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard from public ministry outside of his diocese of residence for five years as punishment for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in 1987, La Croix reports. - Former US ambassador regrets conflict between Israel, Armenia (Washington Times)
Sam Brownback, a former US senator who later served as a special ambassador for religious freedom, has called attention to the odd conflict between Israel and Armenia, two countries facing hostility from different forces in the Middle East. In a Washington Times op-ed, Brownback remarks: The sad reality is that the region’s only two Judeo-Christian nations have developed a horrible relationship, driven by the need to survive in a region dominated by hostile Muslim states. - Secretariat of State seeks $185 million damages in Vatican financial trial (Vatican News)
The Vatican Secretariat of State is asking for €177 million ($185 million) in damages from the defendants in the Vatican’s financial-misconduct “trial of the century.” In September 28 arguments before a Vatican tribunal, Paola Severino said that the defendants, led by Cardinal Angelo Becciu, had “seriously damaged” the institutional reputation of the Secretariat of State, as well as incurring heavy financial losses for the Vatican. The lawyer for the Secretariat of State argued that the institution had followed a careful, conservative investment strategy until “the moment of entry of the temple merchants, fully accompanied and consented to by his Eminence Becciu.” She sketched a series of speculative financial deals, culminating in the disastrous London real-estate purchase that prompted a Vatican criminal investigation. Severino told the court that when Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra succeeded Cardinal Becciu as the sostituto, or deputy secretary of state, he recognized that the London deal was a debacle, and sought “to find a way out of the situation, preserving the investment as much as possible.” Earlier this week a legal representative for the Vatican bank, the Institute for Religious Works, had told the tribunal that officials of the Secretariat of State treated the bank “like a cash machine” to bail out unwise investments. The Vatican bank is also seeking about $1 million in damages from the defendants. On September 29, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), which was also called upon to absorb the losses of the Secretariat of State, will present its own case for punitive damages against the defendants. In hearings scheduled next week, lawyers for the defendants will present their case. - Pope, at ecumenical prayer vigil, reflects on importance of silence (Vatican Press Office)
On the eve of the Synod on synodality, an ecumenical prayer vigil entitled “Together” took place in St. Peter’s Square on September 30 (booklet, video). The prayer vigil’s purpose was to entrust the Synod’s deliberations to the Holy Spirit. The prayer vigil’s texts were prepared by the Taizé Community (an ecumenical French monastic community), in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Synod of Bishops. Several Christian leaders read prayers or Scripture during the vigil, beginning with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Anne Burghardt of the Lutheran World Federation, Mar Paulus Benjamin of the Assyrian Church of the East, and Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syrian Orthodox Church. In his homily, Pope Francis stressed the importance of silence. “Silence is essential in the life of the believer,” he preached. “Silence is essential in the life of the Church ... Silence is essential for the journey of Christian unity.” “That is why, brothers and sisters, in common prayer we ask to learn again to be silent: to listen to the voice of the Father, the call of Jesus and the groaning of the Spirit,” Pope Francis said. “Let us ask that the Synod be a kairós [opportune moment] of fraternity, a place where the Holy Spirit will purify the Church from gossip, ideologies and polarization.” “As we approach the important anniversary of the great Council of Nicaea, let us ask that we may know how, like the Magi, to worship in unity and in silence the mystery of God made man, certain that the closer we are to Christ, the more united we will be among ourselves,” he concluded. “Brothers and sisters, let us set out together, eager to meet him, worship him and proclaim him, ‘so that the world may believe’” (Jn. 17:21). - 'Sinners yes, corrupt no': papal reflection on parable of the two sons (Vatican Press Office)
During his October 1 Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on Matthew 21:28-32, the Gospel reading of the day. In reflecting on the parable of the two son, Pope Francis described the first son (who said he would work for his father, but did not) as corrupt, and the second son (who said he would not work for his father, but did) as a sinner who was sincere. “Let us look at ourselves now and, in the light of all this, ask ourselves some questions,” Pope Francis said to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “When I make a mistake, am I willing to repent and retrace my steps? Or do I pretend everything is okay and go through life wearing a mask, concerning myself only about appearing good and righteous?” He concluded, “Finally, am I a sinner, like everyone, or is there something corrupt in me? Do not forget: sinners yes, corrupt no. May Mary, mirror of holiness, help us be sincere Christians.” - Apostolic exhortation on St. Thérèse of Lisieux to be published on October 15 (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis said on October 1 that an apostolic exhortation on St. Thérèse of Lisieux will be published on October 15. “Today is the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower, the saint of confidence, the saint of confidence in ourselves,” Pope Francis said on October 1. “This coming 15 October, an apostolic exhortation on her message will be published. Let us pray to Saint Thérèse and to Our Lady: may Saint Thérèse help us have confidence and to work for the missions.” In June, Pope Francis announced that he planned to write a document on St. Thérèse in 2023, the year of the 150th anniversary of her birth and the 100th anniversary of her beatification. - Papal appeal for humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh (Reuters)
“In these days, I am following the tragic situation of the displaced people in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Pope Francis said on October 1, in reference to the flight of tens of thousands of Armenian Christians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) for Armenia following a military offensive by predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan. “I renew my appeal for dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and hope that talks between the parties, with the support of the international community, might foster a lasting agreement to bring the humanitarian crisis to an end,” Pope Francis added. - Baltimore archdiocese enters bankruptcy (AP)
The Archdiocese of Baltimore has filed for bankruptcy protection, in anticipation of a flood of lawsuits, as a new Maryland law lifts the statute of limitations for sex-abuse claims. The Baltimore archdiocese—the oldest diocese in the US—will join 29 other Catholic dioceses that have sought federal bankruptcy protection in the wake of the sex-abuse scandal. Archbishop William Lori said that bankruptcy is necessary “to equitably compensate victim-survivors of child sexual abuse.” The archdiocese has estimated its assets at between $100 and $500 million, and its liabilities at between $500 million and $1 billion. - Abuse survivors demand that Pope Francis remove 'totally inappropriate' Cardinal Fernández from office (Crux)
Representatives of Ending Clergy Abuse and the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) gathered in Rome and urged Pope Francis to “rescind the appointment” of Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández as prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and his elevation as cardinal (video of protest). “To us, Pope Francis demonstrates not only poor judgment, but also gross disrespect to Catholic victims around the world, by these appointments” as prefect and cardinal, SNAP said in a statement. The prelate’s “response to the victims of Fr. Eduardo Lorenzo makes him a totally inappropriate fit for both positions.” In 2019, when he was archbishop of La Plata (Argentina), Cardinal Fernández permitted Father Lorenzo to remain as pastor of his parish despite multiple abuse allegations. He also publicly questioned the motives of parents and others who raised concerns about Father Lorenzo. In addition, when the future Cardinal Fernández was a parish priest, he published his own erotic poetry in Heal Me with Your Mouth, a book he described as a “small youth catechism” that he wrote for the adolescents of his parish. - More...