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A Catholic priest is among five people kidnapped on Monday in the West African nation of Mali. The group of Catholics were reportedly traveling to a funeral when the abduction took place. Mali is a predominantly Muslim country, and it has experienced a surge in violence involving both civilians and the military since 2012. Kidnappings have become common, with militants seeking either to obtain ransom money or exert political pressure.

The cardinal in charge of Saint Peter’s Basilica, has clarified details of a recent ban on the celebration of private Masses in the upper part of the basilica. The cardinal said requests to celebrate - instead of concelebrate - early morning Masses at Saint Peter’s may be allowed, depending on the group’s particular and legitimate needs. The new protocols were released in March, to the criticism of several cardinals including Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah, and Raymond Burke. 

At his general audience today, Pope Francis warned against preachers who sow division and mistrust online. The pope said such preachers present themselves, not primarily to announce the Gospel of God, who loves man in Jesus Crucified and Risen, but to insist as true ‘keepers of the truth,’ ... what is the best way to be Christian. He said that these “new preachers” can be recognized by their “rigidity,” which contrasts with preaching the Gospel that makes us free and joyful.

The pope had an unusual guest at his general audience in Rome today: Spider-Man. The man inside the costume is a young Catholic Italian, who dresses up as the comic-book character to visit sick children in hospitals across the country. He gave Pope Francis a Spider-Man mask of his own. The man briefly met the pope, and he said the pope already knew who he was, and about his mission. 

Today, the Church remembers Blessed Basil Hopko. He is considered one of the many priests and religious martyred by Communism. He died in 1976 of poor health, after he was imprisoned and tortured for a time for subversive activity.

June 23, 2021

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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After 72 hours in captivity, a Catholic priest and four other people who were kidnapped in the West African nation of Mali, have been released. The five kidnapping victims were dropped off on a roadside yesterday, and are reported to be in good health. Kidnappings have become common in Mali, especially since 2012, with militants seeking either to obtain ransom money or exert political pressure.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248118/kidnappers-free-catholic-priest-and-four-others-in-mali

Leading U.S. bishops on Wednesday praised President Joe Biden for pledging 500 million COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, and urged his administration to work with Catholic and other faith-based groups on vaccine distribution. Pope Francis, in his Easter message, called vaccines an “essential tool” to combat the pandemic, and asked the international community, “in a spirit of global responsibility,” to expedite vaccine distribution to poorer countries. 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248111/leading-us-bishops-praise-bidens-global-vaccine-pledge

Police in British Columbia, Canada are investigating two fires at Catholic Churches that happened earlier this week. Both churches served indigenous First Nations families, and there are concerns the fires could have been targeted attacks, either against the indigenous community, or against the Catholic Church itself. The local native chief said many Canadians are angry about recently discovered Mass graves outside a former Catholic-run residential school in the province.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248122/police-investigate-after-two-catholic-churches-burn-on-british-columbia-tribal-lands

The Vatican’s new liturgy chief has recommended the practice of adoration to help increase awareness of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Archbishop Arthur Roche likened the practice of adoration to radiotherapy for sinfulness. 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248119/adoration-is-like-radiotherapy-for-our-sinfulness-says-vaticans-new-liturgy-chief

Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, preacher and relative and Jesus, who baptised and prepared people for Jesus’ coming. He was born to Zachary and Elizabeth, an elderly married couple. The Angel Gabriel had visited Zachary and told him that his wife would bear a child, even though she was already past the child-bearing age.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-john-the-baptist-515

June 24, 2021

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. 

www.catholicnewsagency.com

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A nearly 150-year-old church in Beirut, Lebanon is due to reopen next month, after sustaining major damage in the port explosion last year. The Church of St. Joseph has been restored with funds from Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical foundation. Located less than two miles from the port of Beirut, the church’s windows and wooden doors were destroyed by the explosion last August, which also damaged the pitched roof and lighting fixtures.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248126/beiruts-st-joseph-church-badly-damaged-in-port-explosion-to-reopen

The European Parliament voted Thursday in favor of a report describing abortion as “essential healthcare” and seeking to redefine conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care.” The report also declares that violations of “sexual and reproductive health and rights” are “a form of violence against women and girls.” Catholic leaders and pro-life groups had urged the European Parliament to reject the report, and Catholic bishops in Poland, and Ireland are already speaking out against it. The president of the European Parliament is expected to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248121/breaking-european-parliament-backs-extreme-abortion-report-despite-protests

The U.S. bishops’ conference on Thursday emphasized the need to welcome immigrants after the Supreme Court resolved a challenge to the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. The protocols, which the Biden administration ended earlier this month, required non-Mexican asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to remain in Mexico while their requests were adjudicated in immigration court, which led to long waits in poor conditions at the border. However, the border remains closed to asylum-seekers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248129/after-remain-in-mexico-policy-is-dismissed-usccb-urges-acceptance-of-migrants

A man who allegedly stole more than $250,000 from the cathedral in Lubbock, Texas, has been located in Colombia. The suspect managed the cathedral’s donations and its Venmo and PayPal accounts, and was allegedly embezzling the donations. The cathedral rector was not implicated in the theft, but resigned after its discovery. Federal officials have asked the Colombian government to detain the suspect through INTERPOL.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248135/lubbocks-catholic-cathedral-finds-250k-missing-fbi-finds-embezzlement-suspect-in-colombia

Today the Church honors St. William of Vercelli, an 11th-century noble who decided to dedicate his life to God as a hermit. While living as a hermit, he was credited with healing a blind man.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-william-of-vercelli-514

June 25, 2021

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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Pope Francis offered prayers and condolences to all affected by a deadly condominium building collapse in Florida last week. Early on Thursday morning, a 12-story beachfront condo partially collapsed. As of Monday, nine people have been officially declared dead, and 152 are still unaccounted for. 

An explosion inside a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least two people “seriously injured.” The explosion took place early in the morning on Sunday. A homemade bomb was placed in the first row after the altar. It is believed the bomb was meant to target crowds gathered for a Confirmation Mass later that day. 

On Sunday, Pope Francis challenged Catholics to let Jesus see and heal their hearts. The pope said that intimacy with Christ is the path to inner healing. He said Catholics are also called to look at others with the gaze of Christ, a gaze the pope described as non-judgmental, but welcoming. The pope made his comments in his Angelus address. 

Today, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons. The second-century bishop and writer is best known for defending Christian orthodoxy against the set of heresies known as Gnosticism. Eastern Catholics celebrate his feast in August.

June 28, 2021

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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Catholics in Miami are uniting in prayer, as the search continues for survivors of a condominium collapse late last week. At least ten people have been confirmed dead, and 151 people are still unaccounted for. 

A monstrance was stolen from a Catholic Church in the Bronx last Friday, before the parish’s morning Eucharistic adoration. The monstrance stolen from the parish is worth $10,000. The parish told CNA the Eucharist was not in the monstrance at the time of the theft. 

Pope Francis celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul today, with a message that true freedom is found in Christ. The pope said Peter and Paul set free the power of the Gospel in the world, only because first they themselves had been set free by their encounter with Christ. The pope made his comments during Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. It was the largest Mass in the basilica since the start of the pandemic. 

A new poll suggests that a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases after the first trimester. The poll was conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll follows a Gallup poll, which suggested that, for the first time in two decades, more Americans believe abortion to be morally acceptable than morally wrong. 

Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saints Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there.

June 29, 2021

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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President Joe Biden’s regular parish in Washington DC has said its priests and ministers will not deny Communion to those approaching to receive. Holy Trinity parish in Washington released the statement on Tuesday. Biden has attended Sunday Mass at the parish at least six times as president. Biden supports the codification of legal abortion in federal law, and the taxpayer funding of abortion. 

Several organizations in Spain are planning massive demonstrations against the current government’s laws that violate a right to life. The government legalized euthanasia in March. Lawmakers are also working to pass a bill that would criminalize sidewalk counseling or demonstrating by pro-lifers near abortion clinics.

The dramatic conversion of Saint Paul should remind us that God has a plan for our lives. That was the message of Pope Francis on Wednesday, during his general audience in Rome. The pope asked how often we ask how it is possible for God to use a sinner to do his will. Francis said everything has been prepared in God’s plan. 

Yesterday was Pope Emeritus Benedict the Sixteenth’s 70th ordination anniversary. The future Benedict the Sixteenth, Joseph Ratzinger, was ordained at the age of 24 in Bavaria. He was ordained alongside his brother. The pope emeritus reportedly offered Mass privately to mark the anniversary. 

Today, the Church remembers the first Christians persecuted and martyred under the Emperor Nero in the year 64. These men and women were martyred before Saints Peter and Paul. They are called the “Disciples of the Apostles”, and their firmness in the face of their gruesome deaths was a powerful testimony that led to many conversions in the early Roman Church.

June 30, 2021

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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Canadian authorities are investigating two more fires at Catholic Churches in Canada as suspicious. Four churches on tribal lands in Canada burned down within one week. Politicians on the local and national level spoke out against the repeated fires at churches in Canada.

Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington has opened five new cooling shelters in Spokane. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave. Portland, Oregon recorded an all-time heat record of 116 degrees on Monday. Both Portland and Seattle have recorded hundreds of emergency room and urgent care visits for heat-related illness. 

U.S. Olympic gymnast Grace McCallum is bringing both her skills and her Catholic faith to the Tokyo games in July. McCallum reportedly does not travel anywhere without her rosary and a special cross from her grandmother. At just 18 years old, McCallum is one of six women competing in the Tokyo summer Olympic games this year. 

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Chicago auxiliary Bishop John Manz. The bishop turned 75 in November, which is the age at which bishops are required to send a resignation letter to the pope. He was one of eight auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He dedicated his priesthood to advocating for immigrants. 

Today is the feast day of Arnulf of Metz. Saint Arnulf was a first-century statesman and bishop.

July 1, 2021

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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An additional 182 undocumented graves were discovered Thursday outside a former residential school in Canada. The residential school system was set up by the Canadian federal government, beginning in the 1870s, as a means of forcibly assimilating indigenous children and stripping them of familial and cultural ties. The Catholic Church or Catholics oversaw more than two-thirds of the schools. The last remaining federally-run residential school closed in 1996.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office has released a 30-page report on sexual abuse by members of the clergy, almost exactly two years after the bishops agreed to release their records regarding sex abuse in their dioceses. The office reportedly received 50 complaints of clerical abuse, both by Catholic and non-Catholic clergy. The report notes that none of Iowa’s four bishops were involved in cover-ups. 

The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Maryland has a special exhibit of items from the saint’s life, in honor of the 200th anniversary of her death. Items on display include the iconic bonnet Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton wore. The exhibit will also include personal books, her personal rosary and crucifix, and her daughter’s baptismal gown. 

Today, the Church remembers Saint Otto. The saint was born in 1060 in Germany. He was a bishop, who is best remembered for his evangelization of Pomerania. He baptized more than 22,000 people, and established 11 churches.

July 2, 2021

We talk with the parents of priests and religious about the experience of having a child dedicate themselves to God. 

Show notes:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247923/new-priest-blesses-his-sister-a-nun-its-been-a-real-privilege-and-a-joy

http://carmelitemonks.org/

Ep. 105: Meet the Parents: Moms and dads of priests and religious speak out

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.

July 26, 2021

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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Breaking: A Catholic priest has been murdered in western France, according to an announcement from the country’s Interior Minister on Monday. The Diocese of Luçon named the murdered priest as Fr. Olivier Maire, French provincial superior of the Montfort Missionaries, ​​and a popular retreat-giver. A suspect has reportedly handed himself in to the police.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248621/breaking-catholic-priest-murdered-in-france-says-countrys-interior-minister

An envelope addressed to Pope Francis, containing three bullets, was intercepted in Milan late on Sunday night, according to Italian media reports. The piece of mail had no return address, but carried a French stamp. Local law enforcement have seized the note and are investigating its origins.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248622/report-envelope-with-three-bullets-addressed-to-pope-francis-intercepted

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of Argentina will go on trial on sexual abuse charges in October. The 57-year-old bishop is charged with abusing two men, reports of which surfaced as early as 2015, and which he denies. The Vatican has repeatedly denied having prior knowledge of sexual abuse allegations against Zanchetta before his December 2017 appointment to a high-level post. 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248617/bishop-zanchetta-faces-trial-on-sexual-abuse-charges-in-october

American pop star Britney Spears announced last week that she is Catholic now, and attends Mass. In a since-deleted Instagram post, Spears, who was raised Baptist, said she is Catholic and asked her followers to pray. It is not certain if she was previously baptized, and it is unclear if she has received any other sacraments. Her statements about her faith come amid revelations that as part of a conservatorship, Spears has been forced to wear an intrauterine device despite wanting to have another child.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248608/update-britney-spears-says-she-is-catholic-now-in-social-media-post

Today the Church honors St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Born Edith Stein, St. Teresa converted from Judaism to Catholicism in the course of her work as a philosopher, and later entered the Carmelite Order. She died in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1942.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross-edith-stein-557

August 9, 2021

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. Get the latest news about Pope Francis and the Vatican, and much more. This is a service of EWTN News. 

For more information or to report a problem, please contact newsroom@catholicna.com.

All of CNA's news can be found at www.catholicnewsagency.com.

July 26, 2021

Catholic News

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