Catholic News

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A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a mandatory 48-hour waiting period for abortions in Tennessee. The waiting period went into effect in 2015. In 2020, a federal judge struck down the waiting period for being unconstitutional. A lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom praised the waiting period as common sense, compassionate and constitutional. She said many women resort to abortion because they feel it is their only choice.

The archbishop of San Francisco has decried disrespectful responses to the Pope’s recent regulations on the Traditional Latin Mass. The archbishop said the pope introduced the new norms out of a concern for unity. He said he supports Pope Francis, while affirming the validity of the Norvus Ordo form of the Mass, and the Second Vatican Council.

The International Eucharistic Congress will feature a Mass setting in a language spoken by the Romani people in Hungary. The event will mark a significant moment for the traditionally nomadic Romani people, who are Hungary’s largest minority group. The Congress will open on September 5th, in Budapest.

Today is the feast of the Transfiguration. The feast commemorates one of the pinnacles of Jesus’ earthly life, when he revealed his divinity to three of his closest disciples, by means of a miraculous and supernatural light. The feast is celebrated today by both Roman and Eastern rite Catholics.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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A new civil sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The lawsuit also named an Opus Dei priest who is currently a pastor in the Archdiocese of New York. Lawyers say Father Michael Barrett abused the plaintiff for several years, beginning when the plaintiff was twelve. The lawsuit was filed under New York’s Child Victims Act, a law which created a temporary window for new civil sex abuse lawsuits to be filed in old cases where the statute of limitations had already expired. The time window for civil lawsuits expires on Aug. 14.

A top publisher of hymns will stop publishing works by Catholic composer David Haas. GIA Publications has reportedly received additional allegations of sexual misconduct against Haas. Haas, a member of the laity, was a mainstay in the "contemporary liturgical music" movement that began in the 1970s. Among his more popular songs are, "Glory to God," "You are Mine," "We are Called," and "Blest are They,"

Some Catholic institutions are calling for conscience exemptions to COVID-19 vaccinations. New York City announced this week that it will require proof of vaccination for workers and patrons of some businesses. The local archdiocese has warned priests against granting religious vaccine exemptions for Catholics. The head of the National Catholic Bioethics Center has argued that well-founded conscientious objections are part of Catholic doctrine.

The Catholic archbishop of Dublin paid tribute this week to a local priest, who died saving the life of his parish secretary. The 72-year-old priest died on Tuesday, after reportedly pushing his secretary out of the way of an oncoming bus, in a village in County Cork. The bus driver also died. Local reports suggest he lost control of the bus after suffering a medical trauma.

Today is the feast of the second-century Saint Emygdius. He was a bishop who was martyred for his missionary work in Germany. He is a patron against earthquakes.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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Pro-life advocates have filed more than 75 amicus briefs at the Supreme Court, supporting Mississippi’s ban on most elective abortions after 15 weeks. The Supreme Court will consider the ban this fall. Pro-life advocates say the case presents an opportunity for the court to reevaluate, or even possibly overturn its previous rulings that claimed a right to abortion.

Catholic gymnast Simone Biles returned to competition at the Olympics on Tuesday, and will leave with two medals. Biles had been favored to win as many as five gold medals in Tokyo, but she withdrew from four events, after revealing that she was suffering from the twisties. The twisties refers to a disconnect between a gymnast’s brain and body, and results in random loss of muscle memory. Biles has spoken about her Catholic faith in the past, and she keeps a rosary in her gymnastics bag, and prays prior to competitions. She says she lights a candle to St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, prior to competition.

In his general audience today, Pope Francis said Christians must receive the truth of the Gospel as it was announced, without seeking to negotiate with it. Francis said faith in Jesus is not a bargaining chip, it is salvation and redemption. One month has passed since the pope underwent surgery on his colon. Vatican commentators said the pope appeared agile, attentive and responsive during today’s general audience.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint John Vianney, the patron of priests. John was born in 1786 in France. He was a parish priest in a remote French community. While there, he prayed and worked for the conversion of his parishioners. He restored his parish church, opened an orphanage, and cared for the poor. Pilgrims would travel from all over France to come to him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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The Archdiocese of New York has instructed priests not to grant religious exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines. The archdiocese said such an exemption would contradict Pope Francis, who has said it is morally acceptable to receive any of the vaccines, and there is a moral responsibility to get vaccinated.

Dioceses in the capital city of Manila, in the Philippines, have suspended public Masses for three weeks, due to a rise in COVID-19 infections. Masses will be available only online until August 20th. Officials fear a surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19. There were reportedly more than 8,000 recorded infections a day from Friday to Monday.

The archbishop of San Francisco has instituted a monthly Traditional Latin Mass at the city’s cathedral. The archdiocese said it established the monthly Masses, in response to the enthusiasm of local Catholics for the Traditional Latin Mass. San Francisco’s archbishop has said Traditional Latin Masses will continue in his diocese, as the pope’s recent motu proprio allows.

The pope is asking Catholics around the world to pray, during the month of August, for the reform of the Church. In a video message, the pope said renewal is only possible by discerning God’s will in our daily life.

Today, the Church remembers Saint Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a secret disciple of Jesus. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He reminded the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to a trial. He also helped prepare Jesus’ body, and placed him in the tomb. Tradition holds that St. Nicodemus was martyred, though no record remains.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick now faces a fifth civil sex abuse lawsuit, in New Jersey. The lawsuit came one day after McCarrick was criminally charged in a Massachusetts district court for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. The 91-year-old is the first U-S cardinal to be criminally charged with sex abuse of a minor.

Catholics in Washington D-C are asking their archbishop to reinstate a pontifical Mass scheduled for August 14th at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass was canceled after Cardinal Wilton Gregory withdrew his permission for it, because of new papal restrictions on traditional liturgies. The cardinal has reaffirmed his decision.

A new study has found that nearly 3,500 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first 200 days of this year. This equates to roughly 17 Christians being murdered every day in the country. The report suggested Fulani herdsmen were responsible for the majority of the killings.

In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis said God wants a loving relationship with us. The pope said Catholics are called to mature in their faith, leaving behind self-interest and calculation. Pope Francis made his comments in reflection on Sunday’s Gospel reading, which detailed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves.

Today, the Church remembers Saint Peter Julian Eymard. The French priest was born in the early 19th century. He established a community of men dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration. The congregation also worked with the poor and helped them to prepare for First Communion.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Massachusetts in the 1970s. This is the first time the ex-prelate has been criminally charged since accusations of longstanding sexual misconduct by him first came to light three years ago. The 91-year-old faces three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14. He has not been arrested, and he is scheduled to appear in court August 26th. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The U-S House has passed spending bills that would allow funding of abortions both in the United States and abroad. One bill excludes the Hyde Amendment, a federal policy which bars funding of most elective abortions in Medicaid. The bill also excludes an amendment which encourages state and local governments to uphold conscience protections in health care. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas have spoken out against the spending bills. The bishops said the funding of abortion and violation of conscience rights are grave abuses of human rights.

The Catholic health care network Ascension will require coronavirus vaccination for its employees, physicians, volunteers and vendors. The network promised some exemptions to the mandate for people with health problems or religious exemptions. Tens of thousands of its employees have already been vaccinated, but the network said it wants to do more to overcome the pandemic.

Today is the feast of Saint Peter Chrysologus. Peter was a fifth-century Italian bishop known for testifying to Christ's full humanity and divinity, during a period of doctrinal confusion in the Church. He is a Doctor of the Church.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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A new bishop created under the 2018 Vatican-China deal has been ordained in China. Pope Francis appointed the 49-year-old coadjutor bishop of a diocese in north-central China. Before his appointment as bishop, he was secretary of the Chinese bishops’ conference.

The retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office underwent robot-assisted surgery this week in Italy. Cardinal Robert Sarah was the most senior African prelate at the Vatican before his retirement. Doctors said the surgery on the 76-year-old was successful. The reason for Cardinal Sarah’s surgery has not been made public.

A Catholic priest in southern India has been arrested for alleged hate speech after making political remarks, including criticism of India’s ruling party. The priest has denied the charges. He says videos criticizing his remarks were deceptively edited. He apologized for any hurt he may have caused.

The Vatican has unveiled the official image of the next World Meeting of Families, which will be held next June, in Rome. The image features the Wedding at Cana, the first miracle of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The image was painted by a Slovenian Jesuit priest. The priest said he painted the Wedding at Cana because the family is the expression of a sacrament.

Today is the feast day of Saint Martha. Martha is mentioned in three Gospel passages. In the Gospel of Luke, she receives Jesus into her home and worries herself with serving him. In the Gospel of John, she witnesses Jesus raising her brother Lazarus from the grave. She is mentioned another time in the Gospel of John. Saint Martha is the patron of housewives, servants, waiters and cooks.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington has reportedly withdrawn permission for a solemn pontifical Mass that was to be offered on August 14 in D-C . The cardinal reportedly cited the pope’s recent motu proprio, restricting the Traditional Latin Mass . A pontifical Mass is celebrated by a bishop in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The Mass was to take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in honor of the Solemnity of the Assumption. Cardinal Gregory has otherwise not yet applied the motu proprio to his archdiocese.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland issued a formal directive requiring that full abortion services are available in the region by March of 2022. Catholic bishops, including the Primate of All Ireland, are lamenting the directive as unjust and gravely disquieting. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, but abortion law is considered to be a devolved issue under the control of the Northern Ireland Assembly. But due to the suspension of the regional government, the British parliament decriminalized abortion in Northern Ireland in October 2019, and obliged the U-K government to create legal access to abortion in the region.

A new report shows the toll of the coronavirus pandemic on the Church in Mexico. The report suggests Mexico has lost five bishops, more than 230 priests, and fifteen religious men or women during the pandemic. The Archdiocese of Guadalajara has been the hardest hit, with 25 priests who have died.

Today the Church remembers one of its earliest popes - Saint Victor the First. Victor was pope from 189 to 199. He is most famous for decreeing that Easter be universally celebrated on a Sunday. He may have died from martyrdom.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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Catholic Relief Services has warned of a hunger pandemic affecting the elderly population in Cuba. The country is experiencing shortages of food, hygiene supplies and personal health protection equipment, due to the coronavirus pandemic. About twenty percent of Cuba’s population is elderly. Catholic Relief Services and other humanitarian agencies are running a house-to-house soup kitchen program.

The archbishop of Munich and Freising has said he may again ask Pope Francis to accept his resignation. Cardinal Reinhard Marx first submitted his resignation in May, amid the fallout from the clerical abuse crisis in Germany. Pope Francis declined his resignation. Marx is a member of the pope’s advisory Council of Cardinals. He is also coordinator of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy. Until last year, he was chairman of the German bishops’ conference.

Monday marked the five year anniversary of the murder of French priest Father Jacques Hamel. The priest was killed during Mass in 2016, by supporters of the Islamic State. Four people suspected of involvement in the attack will go on trial in Paris in early 2022. The priest’s cause for sainthood formally opened in 2017, one year after his death.

The Vatican court held the first hearing today in a trial against ten people charged with committing financial crimes against the Holy See. Among the defendants is Cardinal Angelo Becciu. He is the first ever cardinal to be tried by the tribunal of the Vatican City State since Pope Francis changed the rules to allow it in April.

Today the Church remembers Blessed Mary Magdalen Martinengo. Mary was born to a noble family in Italy. She joined the Capuchins and eventually became superior of her community. She had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.

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The pope offered his blessing on Sunday to athletes competing in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Pope Francis prayed that the games be a sign of hope, universal brotherhood and healthy competition. Among the more than 11,600 athletes are several committed Catholics, including U-S gymnast Grace McCallum.

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has expressed concern about the lack of faith within Church institutions in Germany. Benedict shared his concerns in a written conversation that was published in a German magazine. Benedict wrote that many people in Church institutions in Germany do not share the inner mission of the Church. He warned that this will, in many cases, obscure the witness of the Church. The written conversation was published in honor of the 70th anniversary of Benedict’s ordination to the priesthood.

The archbishop of Tokyo has been named the new secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. The archbishop made headlines last week for asking Olympic athletes to not visit churches to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The archdiocese of Tokyo had reportedly been preparing to care for the spiritual needs of Olympic athletes, but canceled those plans because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, the Church remembers the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne. The couple's faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ.