Irish diocese to rely on laity to preside over funerals amid shortage of priests
In the letter, he said that the lay ministers would lead the “liturgy of reception of the body at the church and the Rite of Committal at the graveside.” Duffy…
U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges White House to list India as country of concern
Advocates have lately been warning of the persecution of religious minorities in India. Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the chair of USCIRF, said earlier this year that the country was in a…
Cardinal Becciu convicted: six things to know about the prelate and his trial
In addition, the section “attends to the preparation of whatever documents the Holy Father entrusts to it” and “enacts the provisions for appointments within the Roman Curia.” It also “attends…
U.S. bishops: Vatican declaration does not change Church teaching on marriage
Fiducia Supplicans states that the Church cannot permit a liturgical blessing for same-sex couples because it would “offer a form of moral legitimacy to a union that presumes to be…
Nahida and Samar: Mother and daughter killed in attack on Gaza parish
The Israel Defense Forces has denied responsibility for the deaths. The Christian community in Gaza has approximately 1,000 members, most of whom are Greek Orthodox. There are only about 100…
Congressional commission urges sanctions if Hong Kong won’t release Jimmy Lai
Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, who serve as the chair and co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), called on the Biden administration…
Vatican says priests can bless same-sex couples without condoning their lifestyles
The basis for the DDF’s guidance on blessing same-sex couples is grounded in an apparently novel distinction between the liturgical and “pastoral-theological” understanding of blessings. The DDF said that pastoral…
New York bill would bar Chick-fil-A from major highway over Sunday closures
“Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one-seventh of the week or more is a disservice and…
U.S. bishops renew call for peace after Christian women reportedly killed in Gaza Church
In a statement on Saturday, meanwhile, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for “an…
Trial begins for Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong Catholic activist imprisoned for 3 years
“It’s significant to me that Lai is a journalist,” Sirico said. “I think journalists should have had this on the front burner.” Lai, Sirico argued, is “manifestly not guilty of…
Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus: ‘Only in God do we find the light of life’
Expanding on this observation, the pontiff noted that John’s mission is characterized by his “frank language” and is underscored by his “sincere behavior, his austerity of life.” Thus it is…
Pope Francis condemns reported Israeli sniper attack on Gaza Catholic church
Vatican News, the Holy See’s official news outlet, reported the Latin Patriarchate’s account on Saturday. The news report said the reported attack was “justified by Israelis” who “claimed the presence…