John Magufuli, Tanzanian president who downplayed COVID-19, dies at 61 March 18, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News Magufuli had downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, keeping the country open while others announced curfews and lockdowns. Last June, he declared the country was free of the virus, attributing the result to Christian and Muslim prayers.
Pope names woman Scripture scholar as secretary of biblical commission March 11, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bible, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has named Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, an Old Testament scholar and professor at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, to be secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
Vandalism on Ohio basilica grounds prompts sorrow, forgiveness for perpetrator March 10, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Two days after the desecration of 16 statues on the grounds of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown, parishioners who were gathered for Mass Feb. 28 expressed deep sorrow but also forgiveness for the perpetrator.
Doctors seek permanent relief from mandate to do transgender surgeries March 9, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News Attorneys for doctors and hospitals argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit March 3 that they shouldn’t be forced to perform gender-transition surgeries required under the Affordable Care Act, stressing this is an issue of conscience.
Remains of Father Emil Kapaun, Korean War military chaplain, identified March 6, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News A U.S. government forensic team announced March 4 it has identified the remains of Father Emil Kapaun, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, who was an Army chaplain and died in a Chinese prisoner-of-war camp during the Korean War.
Bishop Rhoades: Latest COVID-19 vaccine can be used in good conscience March 4, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News In a new video, Bishop Kevin Rhoades, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine and a former rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, reiterated that use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine “can be used in good moral conscience.”
Bishops address concern over Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s abortion link March 2, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, approved Feb. 27 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, raises moral concerns because it was “was developed, tested and is produced with abortion-derived cell lines,” the chairmen of two U.S. bishops’ committees said March 2.
Pope tells attendees of L.A.’s virtual congress to proclaim God’s promise February 19, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Evangelization, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis told attendees at this year’s all-virtual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress to look for hope amid the pandemic — “a difficult time for all” — in the very theme of their gathering: “Proclaim the Promise!”
Peru’s bishops indignant over COVID-19 vaccine scandal involving nuncio February 18, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, World News Peru’s Catholic bishops want a thorough investigation of a COVID-19 vaccine trafficking scandal that includes the country’s papal nuncio.
On ‘Today’ show, Cardinal Gregory reflects on his faith journey, racism February 17, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Racial Justice, World News In a Feb. 15 segment for the “Today” show’s “Changemakers” and “Black Voices” series, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington reflected on his faith journey and on his own experiences with racism.
Bishop sprays holy water from firetruck to ‘cleanse’ Colombian city February 12, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The bishop of a Colombian city that is suffering from a deadly spike in drug violence boarded a firetruck to spray the town’s main street with holy water and help to “cleanse it” of evil.
Aid to the Church in Need admits its founder was accused of assault February 11, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need said it found “very plausible” the claim of a former employee that the late Norbertine Father Werenfried van Straaten, founder of the charity, had sexually assaulted her in the 1970s.
