Stories for October 2021

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Oct. 29

 In BBC ‘Thought for the Day,’ Pope backs climate-change action
 Cardinal Burke: US bishops should back discipline for pro-abortion politicians
 Biden: Pope said I should receive Communion
 Manitoba court upholds Covid restrictions on churches
 Anti-conversion law foments anti-Christian campaign in central India
 Vatican diplomat, Catholic peace activists wary of new hypersonic weapons developments, arms race
 Catholic schools in Guernsey ‘may have to close’ if new discrimination law passes, bishop warns
 Alaska archbishop revokes recognition of Catholic school
 At San Francisco Catholic high school, most students walk out of pro-life presentation
 Cleveland diocese to reopen seminarian coercion investigation
 Nigerians are tired of ‘weak’ and ‘mediocre’ presidents, bishop says
 Rep. Lipinski: The Pope is not on Biden’s team
 In New Zealand, Lutherans and Catholics reach landmark Baptism agreement
 Italy’s disputed homophobia bill defeated in Senate

Released Thursday, Oct. 28

 Vatican blocks live coverage of Pope-Biden meeting
 Vatican extends November indulgences for prayers for deceased
 Vandalism reported outside DC church
 Viral Washington video shows man disrupting Mass, getting into physical confrontation at altar
 Michigan Catholic Conference: Gov. Whitmer ought to back school choice bill, not veto it
 Vatican conference convenes experts to study early Christian history
 Divest from fossil fuels, Vatican official advises
 Sostituto travels to Armenia, opens nunciature
 3rd dose of Covid vaccine provided to Vatican employees
 Pew recaps polling data on eve of Pope-Biden meeting
 Bombs have not destroyed faith of Syria’s Christians, cardinal says
 ‘Healing on a summer night’: Vatican publishes additional details of healing mentioned by Pope
 Vatican newspaper: ‘It is no time for half measures’ on climate

Released Wednesday, Oct. 27

 Pope tightening control over Knights of Malta
 Anti-Christian violence in India seen as clear constitutional violation
 Lebanese prelate suggests ‘institutional compromise’ in political crisis
 European bishops’ leader sees ‘profound moral imperative’ on global warming
 Texas bishop condemns ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy
 Pope to visit Canada
 In Venezuela, economic crisis has brought many closer to the Church, bishop says
 Theme of Pope’s general audience: ‘The fruit of the Spirit’
 Vatican hosts conference on early history of the Church
 Catholic foster care ‘back 100%’ after Supreme Court decision
 Bishops call on US Senate to retain longstanding bipartisan pro-life policies 
 Canadian diocese requires Covid vaccination to attend Mass
 Ecumenical Patriarch, Cardinal Gregory meet at Georgetown University
 British Columbia parish receives warning for not following lockdown order
 3 Philippine priests suspended for running for office
 Caritas leader calls for radical conversion, reconciliation with creation
 Sudan bishop says military coup was predictable

Released Tuesday, Oct. 26

 Ecumenical Patriarch meets Biden, urges vaccination
 Polish prelate: Traditionis Custodes ‘resolved too harshly’
 Pope extends delegate’s authority over Knights of Malta
 Pope to appear in film series on generations
 Chinese bishop taken into police custody again
 Nicaraguan bishops seek fair vote, blast political repression
 Chaldean museum to host ancient artifacts saved from Islamic State
 Proposed legislation would protect priests at crime scenes in UK
 Oklahoma high court stays effect of laws on abortion
 European Court rules that tabloid coverage of deceased priest violated privacy rights
 Former Cleveland seminarians allege sexual coercion, inadequate response
 In Cyprus, Orthodox bishop acquitted of rape charges
 Sri Lanka’s intelligence chief files complaint against priest
 Speak out against evil taking place in Myanmar, Cardinal Bo urges faithful
 Knights of Columbus’ leader meets with Pope
 Bishops must teach truth, but avoid partisan politics, Archbishop Lori says
 Ecumenical Patriarch hospitalized at start of 12-day US visit
 St. Peter’s Square hosts cardiology mobile clinic for poor
 Hundreds of Lutherans, Catholics go on joint pilgrimage to see the Pope
 Pope renews plea for Libyan refugees

Released Monday, Oct. 25

 Pope comments on the prayer of blind Bartimaeus
 Papal plea for Libyan refugees
 German president meets with Pontiff
 Jeffrey Sachs named to Pontifical Academy
 Chaldean bishops address post-election tensions in Iraq
 Chilean bishops urge harmony amid election-campaign tensions
 Sudan’s Christian minority shaken by coup
 Vatican finance-trial defendant under investigation in hospital crisis
 Fire at Tacoma parish; cause unknown
 Italian laywoman beatified in Rimini
 Melkite Patriarch: The Gospel can be proclaimed only with ‘a force that is not ours’
 Archbishop Chaput comments on Pope’s remarks on EWTN, skewers papal ‘courtiers’
 Papal message pays tribute to Maria Montessori
 Nigerian priest regains freedom after 10 days in captivity
 ‘Renew your mission in listening love for young people,’ Pope tells Salesian sisters
 Leading Polish prelate renews request to proclaim St. John Paul II doctor of the Church
 Vatican spokesman pays tribute to US death row lay chaplain
 Vatican asks Tamil Nadu priests to shut down private trusts
 Sow seeds of an equitable economy in soil contaminated by finance, Pope tells Vatican conference

Released Friday, Oct. 22

 Pope plans more foreign travel in 2022
 Pope sends anniversary greetings to Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew
 Myanmar: more military assaults on church targets
 Pakistani Muslims bulldoze Christian graves
 Australian archbishop rues legislation against confessional seal
 Vatican clarifies bishops’ role in liturgical translations
 Miami archbishop: ‘This is the worst Haiti has been for a long time’
 Sri Lanka cardinal doubtful Easter victims will find justice under current government
 Denver archbishop condemns anti-religious vandalism, prays for healing
 Santa Fe archdiocese: Woman’s attempted ordination invalid
 Marian pilgrim route back to life after lockdown
 Catholic groups outline priorities ahead of Glasgow COP26 climate change summit
 Vatican symposium explores sacramental penance in 19th century
 Despite pandemic, 117,000 have visited Blessed Carlo Acutis’ tomb in past year
 Cardinal announces formation of Fratelli Tutti Foundation
 Background: World Mission Sunday
 Vatican newspaper rues record arrests at US-Mexican border
 Papal message to Italian Catholics encourages conversion to God, ecological conversion

Released Thursday, Oct. 21

 Chilean diocesan building looted, torched
 Archbishop opts out of Synod process
 Vatican launches recovery plan for Rome hospital
 Benedict XVI still has ‘zest for life,’ longtime secretary reports
 Catholic senator: no comment on Pope’s condemnation of abortion
 World Catholic population slightly up; seminary enrollment down
 Shootings toward nuns’ Missouri abbey prompt investigation, concern
 USCCB president: Synod can foster call to holiness, participation in Church life
 College football coach describes vaccine-related firing as attack on his Catholic faith
 Missouri Christian church wins settlement over Covid restrictions on worship
 Holy See deplores attacks on churches, human rights violations in DR Congo
 Pray and offer sufferings for the missions during October, Pope urges
 Vatican hosts conference on solidarity, cooperation, and responsibility
 Pope names replacement for Minnesota bishop who resigned after Vatican investigation
 Italian bishops, delegates ponder ‘the planet we hope for’
 ‘Beyond the threshold of shame’: Vatican newspaper rues plight of children in Yemen, Afghanistan
 Papal praise for children’s spontaneity after disabled 10-year-old interrupts audience

Released Wednesday, Oct. 20

 Catholic group opposes federal judicial nominee
 ‘Hypocrisy’ of West harms standing of Christians in Pakistan, cardinal says
 Benedict XVI: looking forward to next life
 Bishops’ conference for Amazon region gains Vatican recognition
 Theme of Pope’s general audience: ‘Freedom is realized in love’
 Pilgrimages to the Holy Land are slowly resuming
 Trudeau says Canada’s bishops must ‘step up’ morally, financially for residential school survivors
 US bishops have ‘snuffed out’ message of Laudato Si’ and deny climate change, authors charge
 In meeting with French PM, Vatican Secretary of State says sacraments must be respected
 Holy See backs Serbia on Kosovo, foreign minister says
 Vatican unveils synod prayer app, website
 Religious fanatics gain strength in Muslim-majority Bangladesh
 In Karnataka, Hindu militants storm churches, sing against ‘conversions’
 Catholic primate says he raised concerns about focus of Armagh event
 Forced to flee Afghanistan, Catholic mission waits to start a ‘new page’

Released Tuesday, Oct. 19

 Vice-president Harris shared investigation evidence with abortion lobby, whistleblower charges
 Indian archbishop rejects ‘dangerous’ government bid to study church workers
 Arson suspected in fire at Scotland’s national shrine
 English bishop rues police block on last rites for slain lawmaker
 Vatican sets new rules for postulators of sainthood causes
 Bible software, Qu’ran removed from Apple store in China
 Leading Holy See diplomat calls for cap on nuclear weapons, laments other threats
 Bail for Indian Christian women in conversion case
 Pope shares survivor’s letter pleading for clergy to face truth of abuse
 Wave of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh
 The world needs women’s leadership and skills, Cardinal Parolin tells G20 women’s forum
 US bishops to vote on document on the Eucharist at November meeting
 Vatican cardinal discusses work of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
 ‘’The church I so loved has lost its way’: prominent Anglican bishop explains conversion to Catholicism
 Priest who sought to give last rites to British lawmaker says he respects police decision
 Superiors-general, US Vatican embassy hold symposium on human trafficking
 Diocesan phase of synod on synodality begins
 Pope remembers victims of attacks in Norway, Afghanistan, and UK

Released Monday, Oct. 18

 17 Christian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti
 Pope tells new bishops to serve, not rule
 French prime minister meets Pope amid furor on abuse, confessional seal
 Patients come first, Pope reminds biomedical researchers
 Nebraska priest charged with siphoning funds from colleague with dementia
 Study predicts 30% of US churches will close
 ‘The disciples want to rise up, and Jesus wants to immerse Himself,’ Pope tells pilgrims
 Myanmar’s military strikes 2 churches
 Mystery fire destroys old church in Australia
 Catholic, Muslim dignitaries in Bosnia call for tensions to be defused
 Cardinal Gregory pours praise on America’s embattled press
 UK police prevented priest from giving last rites to murdered MP
 Los Angeles removes St. Junípero Serra’s name from park
 Sicilian archdiocese imposes moratorium on godparents
 We are not condemned to exclusion and inequality, Pope tells popular movements
 127 martyrs beatified in Córdoba
 Private papal visit to Assisi announced

Released Friday, Oct. 15

 Nigeria working to persuade terrorists to abandon violence
 Most US churches not pushing vaccines, poll finds
 Papal visit to East Timor contingent on vaccination rates?
 Pope lauds ‘ambitious goal’ of eliminating hunger
 8 years after abduction, new Orthodox archbishop named in Aleppo
 Vatican-backed abuse research institute expands mandate
 5th Circuit reinstates Texas heartbeat abortion ban while appeal is pending
 Parents still interested in schools with Catholic ethos, Archbishop of Dublin says
 Latino Catholics are among the most vaccinated religious groups
 100 incidents of vandalism reported at Catholic sites in US since May 2020
 Children have suffered most from lockdowns, Vatican diplomat says
 Prelate discusses mission, work of Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization
 English bishops call for 9 days of prayer to defeat attempt to legalize assisted suicide
 Pope Francis: ‘I will never tire of upholding the dignity of work’
 Do not be accomplices to abortion, Pope tells Italian pharmacists

Released Thursday, Oct. 14

 Pakistan rejects bid to outlaw forced conversion to Islam
 Prominent Anglican bishop enters Catholic church
 French bishops clarify: confessional seal will be honored
 Chinese bishop, imprisoned for years, dead at 99
 Biden to meet Pope October 29: confirmed
 Italy’s high court nixes arrest warrant for Vatican suspect
 Religious vaccine exemption stays for NY health care workers
 DR Congo bishop decries persecution of the Church by armed groups
 Polish bishops criticize Vatican’s discipline of bishops who covered up abuse
 Rep. Lipinski reflects on work as pro-life Catholic Democrat
 Bishops offer update on national Eucharistic revival
 Number of new Polish seminarians falls 47% over 8 years
 Kidnappers abduct priest, unidentified woman in Umuahia
 Cathedral, 2 parishes vandalized in Seattle
 3 abducted Kaduna seminarians regain freedom
 Judge blocks Baltimore from banning Catholic group’s rally

Released Wednesday, Oct. 13

 Mafia is ‘killing Naples,’ archbishop says
 US bishops’ pro-life spokesman urges Biden to act like a Catholic
 Theme of Pope’s general audience: ‘Christian freedom, universal leaven of liberation’
 Beatification of John Paul I expected before Easter
 US bishops’ migration chairman welcomes refugee admissions target of 125,000
 We’re against LGBTQ+ activities: Ghana’s bishops restate position
 Preservation board attempts to save deconsecrated Cincinnati church from demolition
 Leading French bishop discusses confessional seal with nation’s interior minister
 Catholic troops can refuse Covid vaccine, archbishop declares
 Vatican launches family Rosary initiative
 Dozens of Catholic leaders worldwide urge G20 to ‘consign fossil fuels to history’
 Pakistani bishops want 30,000 vacant jobs reserved for minorities filled immediately
 2 nuns accused of ‘conversions’ seized at a bus stop in Uttar Pradesh
 Vatican issues message for World Mental Health Day

Released Tuesday, Oct. 12

 In Los Angeles, Italian parish vandalized with anti-colonization graffiti
 Suspected terrorists invade Nigerian seminary, kidnap seminarians
 Muslims shoot Christians, killing 2 and wounding several in Okara
 Middle East home to highest rate of religious persecution
 US nuncio says he’ll stay on, confirms Pope-Biden meeting at end of month
 Dismissing abuse victims’ lawsuit, court rules Vatican cannot be sued in European courts
 Care is the ‘new name for peace’: papal message for Assisi prayer march
 Pope encourages Sisters of Charity to imitate Martha and Mary
 Papal prayer for victims of suicide and their families on World Mental Health Day
 Italian priest beatified
 Freedom, love, giving: Pope reflects on the rich young man’s encounter with Jesus

Released Monday, Oct. 11

 New master of ceremonies for papal liturgies
 Armenian president meets with Pontiff
 Spanish cathedral is setting for racy music video; archbishop apologizes
 Vatican trial defendant involved in release of Colombian hostage nun?
 Vatican survey did not support Traditionis Custodes, journalist says
 Prepare for COP26 with responsibility and solidarity: papal address to lawmakers
 Rep. Pelosi meets with Pope Francis
 Indiana Catholic, a former US senator, is Vatican ambassador nominee
 Pope encourages Russian Catholics to pursue unity
 Statues vandalized at Miami parish
 Vandals deface Denver cathedral with ‘Satan lives here’
 Pope Francis opens synod on synodality
 Foundress of Capuchin Poor Clares beatified in Naples
 Papal message for 50th anniversary of German edition of L’Osservatore Romano
 Malta’s prime minister meets with Pontiff
 Foster peace and stewardship of creation, Pope urges leaders of other religions

Released Friday, Oct. 8

 Pope dropping plan for October visit to Scotland?
 French archbishop to discuss confessional seal with government leader
 Leading Muslim cleric praises Fratelli Tutti
 Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Mandates Tested in New York Case
 Vatican cardinal welcomes Pelosi visit
 Merkel and Pope discuss climate change in farewell visit
 Indian Christians demand action against church attackers
 ‘Extraordinary’ changes seen in Saudi educational system’s treatment of Christianity
 Tajikistan punishes ‘underground’ religious formation for children
 Pennsylvania nuns again lose challenge to Atlantic Sunrise pipeline
 Oklahoma judge blocks 2 abortion laws, allows 3 others
 Missouri’s 4 bishops urge state leaders to end executions
 How and when will Church in France compensate victims of ‘systemic’ child abuse?
 California rolls back assisted-suicide safeguards
 New Biden administration rule allowing Title X funds for abortion called ‘offensive’ to millions
 Pope to name St. Irenaeus of Lyon a doctor of the Church

Released Thursday, Oct. 7

 Poll shows most US Catholics unaware of restrictions on traditional Mass
 Pope launches ecological studies at Lateran University
 Papal focus on synodality in address to Catholic-Orthodox working group
 Federal rules limit religious exemptions to vaccination
 Acquittal in Vatican seminary abuse trial
 Federal court halts enforcement of Texas abortion law
 Pope Francis creates new Vatican foundation for Catholic hospitals facing financial difficulties
 Black Catholic administrators call out treatment of Haitians at border
 Irish bishops call for climate action, provide update on Synodal Pathway
 Indigenous ‘expert’ who advised book burnings at Catholic schools in Canada draws scrutiny
 USCCB: French abuse report ‘underscores the need for us to repent ‘
 Metropolitan Hilarion meets with Pope Francis
 Synods can become entrenched structures, Anglican primate cautions
 Sant’Egidio community hosts major interreligious gathering
 ‘People are slaughtering each other’: in South Sudan, Church leaders work for peace
 ‘This is a moment of shame’: Pope Francis responds to French abuse commission report

Released Wednesday, Oct. 6

 Vatican court rebukes prosecution in financial trial
 Theme of Pope’s general audience: ‘Christ has set us free’
 Vietnamese priest calls state media attacks against him ‘slander’
 Belarusian government steps in to defend Catholic priests
 A new Catholic Bishops Conference of Central Asia is born
 Status report on 18 state AG investigations into Catholic dioceses and abuse
 ‘Shame and horror’: French bishops react to report on sexual abuse of 216,000 children
 As Legion of Christ fought sex abuse claims, secret trusts sheltered millions offshore
 Pope Francis prays for victims following report on clerical sexual abuse in France
 Do not confuse utility with happiness, Pope tells pontifical academy conference participants
 In video message, Pope encourages young people to create a new economy
 Hostility, conflict are fruits of the Devil, Pope tells Vatican police

Released Tuesday, Oct. 5

 French report: over 300,000 victims of clerical abuse [updated]
 Rash of anti-Christian violence across India
 New date set for World Youth Day in 2023
 Vatican UN observer: law requires commitment to justice
 Pope says all faiths should promote education
 Maronite Patriarch decries Hezbollah influence in Lebanon
 Attorney general orders FBI to probe opposition to school boards
 China accelerates Sinicization of Catholic Church
 Another Pentecostal pastor arrested in Himachal Pradesh
 Pope, other religious leaders issue pre-COP26 appeal on climate change
 2 Italian laywomen beatified
 Pope Francis thanks Christian disability group for witnessing to ‘the heart of the Gospel’
 New papal appeal for peace in Myanmar
 Pope calls for more humane prison life after Ecuador deaths
 Papal tribute to Cardinal dos Santos, ‘indefatigable servant of the Gospel’
 British court says unborn child has no rights under European Convention on Human Rights
 Canadian bishops conclude meeting, elect new president
 Mexico’s bishops urge nation to return to policy of ‘open arms’

Released Monday, Oct. 4

 Papal aid for disaster victims in South Sudan, Greece
 Beatification set for Pauline Jaricot
 First female chancellor for pontifical Urbaniana University
 Three members of Swiss Guard resign over vaccine mandate
 Cardinal Turkson opposes denial of Communion for Biden
 Forbes previews Vatican financial trial, notes papal involvement
 German ‘Synodal Path’ set back by lack of quorum [News/Analysis]
 Chilean Cardinal Medina Estevez dead at 94
 Defense lawyers question fairness of Vatican trial
 Become like children before God, Pope tells pilgrims
 Old Testament expert, philosopher from Germany win 2021 Ratzinger Prizes
 ‘Jesus asks us all, and you as well, to be missionary disciples,’ Pope says
 Papal tribute to St. Thérèse of Lisieux
 Papal encouragement for youth at World Food Forum
 Australian plenary council begins—the 1st since 1937
 Catholic, other religious leaders in UK call for ‘transformational’ climate action
 Kentucky diocese’s LGBT commission: Respect for life includes respect for LGBT lives
 Vatican announces 40-day Laudato Si’ prayer campaign
 ‘Abandoned by all’: Vatican newspaper laments plight of starving Afghans
 Vatican releases details of Synod on Synodality’s opening ceremonies

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