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CNA Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

The stories surrounding St. Agnes' life and death are varied. We know the place of her burial, her approximate age, and the place where she was martyred. Much less is known about her life, though there are many stories passed down since her martyrdom in the fourth century.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates her feast day every Jan. 21, the day of her death. She was only about 12 or 13 year old when she was martyred in A.D. 304, but she has been honored by the Church for more than 1,700 years.

Today, the saint's skull resides in a side chapel of the church Sant'Agnese in Agone in the Piazza Navona, Rome. Her body was buried in what is now known as the catacomb of St. Agnes, and her bones are still preserved in the Church of St. Agnes Outside the Walls, which was built over the catacomb where she was originally buried.

St. Agnes' name means "chaste" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin. Both meanings foreshadowed her death as a virgin martyr who died because she defended her chastity and refused to give up her faith. 

St. Agnes was born to noble Christian parents in A.D. 291 in the Roman Empire. She lived during a time of Christian persecution under the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

In the year 302, the emperor resolved to wipe out Christianity. While Agnes was growing up, in 303, Diocletian along with his co-ruler Galerius called for the destruction of churches and the burning of books. Clergy and laity were imprisoned and tortured for refusing to worship the emperor. 

There are accounts of her life going back to the late fourth and early fifth century, including one by the Roman Christian poet Prudentius called "The Passion of Agnes." St. Ambrose and Pope Damasus wrote accounts of her martyrdom as well. Though there are small differences across all, the general story is quite similar.

An anonymous author popularized her story through a biography, "The Life of St. Agnes of Rome: Virgin and Martyr," written in French in the 1800s and translated to English soon after.

The story goes that as she was returning home one day, Procopius, the son of Roman prefect Symphronius, fell in love with her and sought to marry her. He brought her many gifts and offered her riches, but she refused, saying she was bound to her spouse — Christ.

When Symphronius learned that she was a Christian, he put her on trial.

"My life belongs to him who has chosen me first," she insisted in response to his threats, refusing to betray her vow to Christ.

Though the prefect at first offered her a chance to preserve her virginity by becoming a priestess of the goddess Vesta, she refused, and so he sent her to a brothel. When he ordered her stripped of her garments, the story goes that her hair unbraided and grew to cover her. As she was paraded through the streets, the onlookers are said to have looked away. 

When she reached the brothel, an angel of the Lord surrounded her with a bright light, obscuring her from the eyes of those who intended to rape her. Though many in the brothel fell down in worship, when the son of the prefect approached her, calling the others cowards, he died.

The prefect blamed her for the death of his son, but when she defended herself against his accusations of witchcraft, the prefect said he would believe if she asked the angel to bring him back. After she prostrated herself on the ground in prayer, the son came back to life.

In another version, the son was struck blind, not dead.

Priests and authority figures became concerned about the attention Agnes was getting and condemned her to death. The prefect abandoned her, and she was thrown into a fire in a public area.

But the flame, the story goes, divided in half and did not touch her. In another version, the stake she was tied to would not burn. She praised God and then was executed by beheading.

Because of the nature of her martyrdom, the Church honors St. Agnes as the patron saint of girls, chastity, virgins, and victims of rape.

On the day of her feast day, two lambs are blessed. The lambs are then shorn, and the wool is used to make palliums, liturgical vestments worn by archbishops.

This story was first published on Jan. 21, 2024, and has been updated.

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CNA Staff, Jan 21, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

During his campaign for the presidency, President Donald Trump said in a video posted in October 2024 that he would close the U.S. Department of Education and send education "back to the states." This would require an act of Congress. But as commentators and activists speculate on what the new Trump administration may bring, CNA took a closer look at how the Department of Education impacts Catholic education and what shuttering it might look like.

Though private education doesn't receive government funding, private schools often work with the Department of Education to enable their students to receive benefits from the variety of taxpayer-funded programs the department offers.

Reestablished under President Jimmy Carter in 1978 to collect data, the Department of Education now manages funding for various programs for elementary and secondary students as well as federal student loans for higher education.

An estimated 10% of funding for public schools comes from the federal government, with the rest coming from state and local taxes.

The department's two biggest programs for K–12 education are the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is meant to ensure that students with special needs have a free public education, and the Title I program, which is designed to help educate children from low-income families. 

For higher education, the department manages federal student loans as well as the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The federal student loan program currently has an outstanding balance of more than $1 trillion.

In addition, the department tracks data about education through programs such as the Nation's Report Card and the Civil Rights Data Collection program.

The Department of Education — one of the smallest Cabinet-level departments in terms of employees — has a staff of more than 4,000 people and a discretionary budget of $80 billion for 2025. 

The department's role in Catholic education

The Department of Education plays a role in Catholic education by contributing funding to private-school students for various programs. While private K–8 schools don't receive government funding, private-school students are eligible for several federal education programs following the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965.

The department's Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) "is the liaison to the nonpublic school community including religious, independent, nonsectarian, and home schools," spokesman for the Department of Education Jim Bradshaw told CNA.

"ONPE's congressionally mandated mission is to foster maximum participation of nonpublic school students and teachers in federal education programs and initiatives," Bradshaw explained.

"In general, the department does not regulate private elementary and secondary schools or home schools," Bradshaw noted. "Government regulation of private and home schools is limited and, if any regulation is made, it is usually enacted at the state level."

"The department's interaction with nonpublic elementary and secondary schools, including Catholic schools, is primarily related to the participation of their students and teachers in federal education programs and initiatives," Bradshaw continued.

"Catholic schools also actively participate in the National Center for Education Statistics surveys and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card," Bradshaw added. "Important to note: Catholic private schools do not receive any funding under these programs. Rather, their students and teachers receive services."

Sister Dale McDonald, PBVM, vice president of public policy at the National Catholic Educational Association, noted that for various federal and state programs, "private schools participate differently from public schools."

"Private schools have to follow what they call the 'child benefit theory' that only children in need get served," McDonald explained. 

Through a consultation process, private schools can request aid for various needs such as professional development or technological assistance or direct aid to kids with learning needs, McDonald noted.

Students have access to various government programs, but not all of them are implemented by the Department of Education. For instance, the Obama-era National School Lunch Program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while the early childhood education program Head Start is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

What dismantling the Department of Education could look like 

Trump is not the first to call for the shuttering of the Department of Education. Closing it was a major goal of Ronald Reagan's administration — a goal it ultimately backed down on due to lack of congressional support.

While closing it is not a new idea, it has become more popular amid school choice debates and criticism of the public school system. Sen. Mike Rounds, R- South Dakota, recently proposed a bill in November 2024 to dismantle the agency.

Jonathan Butcher, a senior research fellow for the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, shared with CNA what reform of the department could look like on a practical level in his view.

Butcher, a proponent of dismantling the department, said there are many programs that would be better served if moved to other departments in the federal government.

"I think that the Department of Education is simply taking on roles and responsibilities that it's not designed to do — nor is it best at doing these things," he told CNA.

For instance, the U.S. Department of Education's data collectors — the Institute for Education Science, the Nation's Report Card, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress — could be run by the Census Bureau, Butcher proposed.

"They collect data already. In fact, they already release reports about student enrollment in states around the U.S.," he said.

Butcher proposed that the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights be moved to the Department of Justice "for much the same reason."

"The Department of Education's main responsibilities — what it was built to do — is to facilitate the transfer of money from the treasury to districts and states," Butcher said. "Civil rights is an urgent issue; it should be handled by an agency that is dedicated to doing that."

"We don't want to get rid of it just because we're getting rid of the Department of Education," he noted. "We just want to move it to a place where it's more appropriate to operate."

Shuttering the department would require an act of Congress, which currently has a narrow Republican majority.

Some legislators are hesitant to cut federal funding to public education, and others expressed concern that important programs would be cut.

Michael Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative education think tank, told the Wall Street Journal that he doesn't anticipate large budget cuts.

"I don't think you'll see enormous cuts because that's super unpopular," Petrilli said.

Some argue that practically speaking, it's not feasible to close the Department of Education.

Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute said the Trump administration may need to keep it open to fulfill other commitments.

"It strikes me that a lot of the other promises Trump made about holding campuses accountable, about responding to antisemitism, or the excesses of DEI, require using some of the machinery at the [education] department," Hess told National Public Radio in November.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) noted that the bishops are committed to education regardless of what happens with the Department of Education.

"We are aware of the various proposals and ideas being expressed by the [Trump administration] regarding education," Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the USCCB, told CNA. "The USCCB remains committed to upholding the education mission of the Catholic Church that is carried out locally in our parishes and schools, and we will engage appropriately when policies are put forth by the officeholders."

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CNA Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 22:07 pm (CNA).

On Jan. 20 Catholic News Agency's official X account, @cnalive, was compromised, and used to publish scam-related posts on the platform. 

The EWTN News digital media team is actively taking complete control of the account.

EWTN News is working with the X Support team. We will notify you when the problem has been resolved.  

In the meantime, all users are asked to refrain from clicking on any strange links or posts that may be made in this time. 

We apologize for the inconvenience.

This is a developing story.

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Puebla, Mexico, Jan 20, 2025 / 15:20 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Mexico, acknowledged the influence of organized crime in some areas of the country, thus partially backing recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump on the lack of security in the country.

"It's disturbing that a foreigner claims that organized crime rules our country," Arizmendi said in an article shared with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. "Even though our authorities maintain the opposite, there are facts that confirm that this is what is happening in some places and sectors."

The cardinal's comment comes days after controversial statements by Trump, who earlier this month said that in Mexico "they are basically run by the cartels."

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Trump's claim, insisting that "in Mexico, the people rule."

Influence of organized crime

Arizmendi, who was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020 and led the Diocese of San Cristóbal de las Casas from 2000–2017, alluded to several aspects that, according to him, reflect criminal influence.

In the area of ??local politics, the cardinal pointed out that public opinion is that in the last elections the criminals "authorized who could run for office. And once their candidates are elected, they demand a million-dollar monthly fee or to hold strategic positions" in the government.

"Municipal presidents [similar to county executives], local police, and other low-ranking officials must submit to their orders. They are not collaborators or accomplices, but they are oppressed by those who govern the region," he charged.

Regarding the economy, Arizmendi said he has "firsthand data" that confirms that criminal groups "impose the price of almost everything, from tortillas and eggs to construction materials. This makes everything more expensive, and there is no one who can avoid and control it."

Livestock traders "must buy the animals from whom these leaders order and at the price they impose," he said, adding that something similar occurs in the timber industry, where members of organized crime "determine which trees must be cut down, and they are the ones who market the wood, which passes freely along our roads."

Regarding extortion, the cardinal explained that businessmen "must pay them a fee; otherwise, they expose themselves to all kinds of reprisals, such as having their businesses burned down and those who refuse are murdered." This widespread practice creates an atmosphere of fear and submission among local merchants and businessmen, according to the prelate.

Call to action

The cardinal urged the authorities, the Catholic Church, and civil society to "attack the causes of this violence by offering education, work, and social supports." However, he warned that for many criminals, "what matters is to get as much money as they can."

Arizmendi concluded by asking for prayer "that our authorities may be enlightened and do something more effective for social peace."

Mexico is in a period of transition as Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico's new president on Oct. 1, 2024, replacing Andrés Manuel López Obrador, during whose six-year term 199,621 homicides were recorded, the highest level in the modern history of Mexico.

The surge in violence occurred under the previous administration's controversial policy of "hugs, not bullets" against organized crime. This approach attempted to combat drug cartel violence by addressing the root causes of the drug trade, such as poverty, and softened the use of force by the military and police. 

As the Sheinbaum administration begins, Arizmendi said "there seems to be a change in the federal strategy to combat these crimes." 

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Father Frank Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn opened and closed the prayers of invocation and benediction, respectively, at the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Dolan kicked off the prayers of invocation and was followed by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late renowned American evangelist Billy Graham and current head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In his prayer Dolan, who was also tapped to offer the invocation at Trump's 2017 inauguration, called on Americans to pray that the incoming administration be guided by and aligned with the will of God and for the new president, especially, that he be instilled with wisdom.

"We, blessed citizens of this one nation under God, humbled by our claim that in God we trust, gather indeed this inauguration day to pray for our president Donald J. Trump, his family, his advisers, his Cabinet, his aspirations, his vice president," Dolan prayed.

As the inauguration also fell on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in the United States, Dolan also invoked the memory of the slain civil rights activist, stating: "Observing the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, who warned: 'Without God, our efforts turn to ashes.'"

Calling especially upon God for the gift of wisdom, Dolan prayed: "If wisdom, which comes from [God] be not with him, he shall be held with no esteem. Send wisdom from the heavens that she may be with him, that he may know your designs."

"Please, God, bless America," he concluded: "You are the God in whom we trust, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."

Following Dolan, Graham centered his prayer on gratitude, saying: "We come to say thank you, O Lord our God! Father, when Donald Trump's enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand." 

Graham prayed in particular for continued safety for Trump and his wife, Melania. 

Notably, Graham also prayed for Vance, that he may stand beside Trump and "hold his arms up like Aaron held up the arms of Moses in the midst of battle." 

"We know that America can never be great again if we turn our backs on you," he concluded. "We ask for your help. We pray all of this in the name of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, your Son, my Savior, and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen." 

After Trump and Vance were sworn in, African-American Pastor Lorenzo Sewell and Rabbi Ari Berman offered two of the three prayers of benediction. 

Referencing Trump's near-assassination, Sewell centered his benediction on gratitude, declaring: "Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimeter miracle."

Also referencing Martin Luther King Jr., Sewell continued: "We pray that you use our president so that we will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character." 

Berman prayed that Trump and Vance would unite the nation "around our foundational biblical values of life and liberty of service, of sacrifice, and especially of faith and morality, which George Washington called the 'indispensable supports of American prosperity.'"

"May our nation merit the fulfillment of Jeremiah's blessing," he stated, "that like a tree planted by water, we shall not cease to bear fruit; may all of humanity experience your love and your blessing, may it be thy will, and let us say amen." 

Father Frank Mann offers closing benediction

Lastly, Mann of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, concluded the prayers of benediction, offering a particularly personal prayer for the new president, with whom he is personally acquainted.

"As our president and vice president embrace their newly appointed roles," he said, "we humbly implore that your everlasting love and wisdom will envelop them and grant them the clarity of mind to navigate the challenges that lie ahead and the compassion to serve all citizens with fairness and integrity."

As CNA reported last week, Mann, who is a retired diocesan priest, originally struck up what the Tablet called an "unlikely friendship" with Trump after he came across the grave sites of Trump's parents in a Queens cemetery.

"It was slightly overgrown," Mann told the Tablet. "I thought this shouldn't be. This is a historic site. So, I went and bought a weed whacker and some decorations and fixed up the plot." The priest then sent a photo of the graves to the president.

When Trump learned of the priest's actions, he called Mann personally saying the two should meet up. They have continued to remain in contact since, with Trump reportedly seeking Mann's advice on winning the Catholic vote in this past election.

Mann concluded his prayer by giving special thanks for Trump's parents, Mary and Fred Trump.

"Without [them], this day would never be the miracle that has just begun," he reflected. "From their place in heaven, may they shield their son from all harm by their loving protection and give him the strength to guide our nation along the path that will make America great again." 

Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who had previously been scheduled to offer a Muslim benediction at the ceremony, did not appear at the event. The Dearborn, Michigan-based Husainy had generated controversy for his past expressions regarding Hezbollah and Iran.

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CNA Staff, Jan 20, 2025 / 16:20 pm (CNA).

A major U.S. HIV/AIDS relief program is facing potential blowback amid reports that the program was used to fund abortions in southeast Africa.

Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch said in a statement last week that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revealed that funds for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) were spent on abortions in Mozambique.

PEPFAR was launched in 2003 during George W. Bush's first term. The U.S. Department of State says the program is "the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history." It works to treat AIDS patients and prevent infections of HIV as well as supporting countries to achieve "HIV epidemic control."

The program says it has saved more than 25 million lives since its inception. But it is also barred from using funds to help procure abortions. The 1973 Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act bars federal funds from being used to bankroll abortion in foreign countries. 

Reuters reported that "three U.S. officials" briefed Congress last week on reported violations of that rule in Mozambique. Specifically, "four nurses performed a total of 21 abortions since January 2021," according to the news wire. 

Risch in his statement said the "future of the PEPFAR program is certainly in jeopardy" given the reported violations. 

"I will not support one dollar of American money going towards abortion anywhere in the world, and I will do all I can to ensure this never happens again," Risch said. He called for the CDC to be investigated over the allegations. 

Risch was not the only congressional figure to call for an investigation. Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast in a statement described the reported violation as "disgraceful and unacceptable." 

"The State Department and CDC must investigate to ensure that not one penny of PEPFAR goes toward abortion," Mast said. 

Democrats called for more oversight of the program while hailing its years of work in addressing the AIDS crisis. Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Lois Frankel said in a joint statement that the violation "appears to be an isolated incident in Mozambique" and that it should not "undermine the overwhelming success and integrity of PEPFAR's mission." 

"A commitment to compliance and transparency is an absolute requirement, and we have seen swift actions by program administrators to address this issue," they said. "By strengthening oversight and reaffirming our commitment to PEPFAR, we can protect the global progress this program has achieved."

In a statement last week, meanwhile, PEPFAR said it identified the reported violation and "took immediate corrective action with the partner" in Mozambique. 

The organization said it was "implementing new, additional preventive measures, including requiring an annual signed attestation by PEPFAR-funded clinical service providers to ensure compliance with U.S. funding restrictions." 

The group said it would work with both the Mozambique government and "all PEPFAR partner countries" to ensure future compliance.

On its website, the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique says the country has the second-largest HIV epidemic in the world with upwards of 2.2 million Mozambicans infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the "leading cause of mortality for Mozambicans over the age of 5," the embassy says. 

PEPFAR has "managed to make significant progress towards the response to HIV/AIDS," the organization says, with efforts including millions of HIV tests, the delivery of antiretroviral medication, and interventions with pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, among other measures.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

President Donald Trump credited God with his survival of two assassination attempts and promised to bring the United States into a "golden age" that "increases our wealth" and "expands our territory" during his inaugural address on Jan. 20.

After referring to his inauguration day as an American "liberation day" from the past four years of President Joe Biden, Trump expressed his hope "that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country."

The newly inaugurated president invoked God several times during his speech, including his belief that God saved him from the assassination attempts on his life.

"Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life," Trump said.

"I felt then — and believe even more so now — that my life was saved for a reason," the president said before invoking his campaign slogan: "I was saved by God to make America great again."

Trump vowed that "the golden age of America begins right now" and outlined his plans for economic success, stronger border security, and American expansionism as part of his "America First" agenda. 

"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world," the president said. "We will be the envy of every nation and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America First."

Announces 'two gender' policy

Trump promised to immediately sign executive orders to expand immigration enforcement, permit businesses to drill for oil on American land, and end the government's efforts to "socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life."

The president said that under his leadership, the government will forge a "colorblind and merit-based" society and promised that "it will … be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female," which received loud applause from most attendees. 

Trump said his executive orders will establish the "complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense."

"We will not forget our country, we will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God," the president said.

In his speech, Trump vowed to end "the vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government."

During his campaign, the president has criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the criminal and civil cases against him and his supporters. He has also criticized the Richmond FBI's proposed spying on traditionalist Catholics and the DOJ prosecutions of pro-life protesters under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

America First agenda

Trump contended that there is a "crisis of trust" in the government due to high rates of illegal immigration, inflation-driven high costs of goods, dissatisfaction with the government response to recent hurricanes and wildfires, and ongoing foreign wars abroad.

However, he told Americans that "from this moment on, America's decline is over."

"Our liberties and our nation's glorious destiny will no longer be denied and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America's government," Trump said.

In one of his first acts, the president said he "will declare a national emergency at our southern border," which will ensure "all illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came." 

Trump promised to send the military to the southern border to repel the "disastrous invasion of our country," said he would reinstate his "Remain in Mexico" policy, end "catch and release," and designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

The president said his administration will immediately work to "rapidly bring down costs and prices" and blamed inflation on overspending by the government and energy policies. He said he will declare a national energy emergency to ensure businesses can "drill, baby, drill" and "export American energy all over the world." He vowed to save "our auto industry" by ending environmental regulations that mandate electric vehicle production.

Trump envisioned an American foreign policy that measures success not simply based on winning battles but by the "wars that we end" and the "wars we never get into." He said he intends to be a "peacemaker and a unifier" but also a leader who "expands our territory."

Trump has recently expressed strong interest in making Greenland a part of the United States in addition to sending American astronauts to Mars.

"Ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation and right now our nation is more ambitious than any other," Trump said when outlining his vision for the country.

"To every parent who dreams for their child and every child who dreams for their future: I am with you, I will fight for you, and I will win for you. We're going to win like never before," Trump emphasized.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 20, 2025 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

The Sodality of Christian Life confirmed on Monday that Pope Francis has decided to dissolve the society of apostolic life without going into further details about how the process will be carried out.

The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV, by its Latin acronym) issued a statement following the news published on Saturday by Infovaticana, according to which Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda supposedly announced the dissolution to its members gathered for the general assembly that is taking place in Aparecida, Brazil.

The general assembly began on Jan. 6 and will end Jan. 31. Ghirlanda is attending in his capacity as consultant for the process of revising the constitutions of the Sodalitium and is its delegate for formation, a task entrusted to him by the Vatican in 2019.

In its statement on Monday, the SCV said: "On Jan. 18 of this year, the website 'Infovaticana' published the news that the Holy Father had dissolved our society of apostolic life. The main information about what occurred was true, but it contained several inaccuracies."

In its text, the Sodalitium does not indicate what the inaccuracies are but clarifies that the leak to the press of this "confidential" information did not come from Ghirlanda but from two members of the sodality who violated "the confidentiality of the case" and who have been expelled from the assembly.

"The assembly recognizes as its own only the news from its official communications; therefore, the assembly disassociates itself from all other news that has come out or may come out from the press related to the assembly, to the Sodalitium, to the Holy Father, in whom we trust and whom we obey, to Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu Farnós, and to Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ," the SCV stated.

According to Infovaticana, the decree of dissolution "refers to the immorality of the founder, Luis Fernando Figari, as an indication of the nonexistence of a founding charism, and therefore, the lack of ecclesial legitimacy for the permanence of the institution."

Figari was expelled from the SCV by Pope Francis in August 2024. The Holy See had already sanctioned him in 2017 and banned him from having contact with any member of this society after it was proven that he committed sexual abuse and the abuse of power.

According to Infovaticano, the Vatican supposedly appointed Bertomeu, a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, as commissioner responsible for the dissolution process. The Spanish priest was part of the special mission that the pontiff sent to Peru in July 2023 to investigate the accusations against members of the Sodalitium.

The SCV was founded in Lima, Peru, in 1971 and currently is also present in Italy, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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CNA Staff, Jan 20, 2025 / 11:55 am (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Chicago has removed two priests from active ministry as it investigates sex abuse allegations leveled against both of them.

The archdiocese announced the development on Saturday, writing to 14 different parishes at which the two priests, Father Matthew Foley and Father Henry Kricek, served over a series of years.

The allegation against Foley involved claims of abuse when he was assigned to St. Agatha Parish (now renamed St. Simon of Cyrene Parish) "approximately 30 years ago," the archdiocese said, while those against Kricek concerned alleged abuse at St. John Bosco Parish "approximately 40 years ago."

Both allegations involved abuse of a minor, the archdiocese said. Both priests have been removed from ministry while the archdiocese investigates the claims.

The archdiocese has reported the allegations to civil authorities and has offered the accusers access to the diocesan victim assistance ministry.

"After the civil authorities have finished their work, the archdiocese will complete its investigation and report the results to our Independent Review Board," the archdiocese told parishioners of the respective priests.

Both priests have "strenuously" denied the allegations against them, the archdiocese said in its letters while noting that "those accused are innocent until proven otherwise."

In November the archdiocese announced that archdiocesan priest Father Martin Marren, who had previously been accused of abuse of a minor, had been restored to ministry after the archdiocesan Independent Review Board "found that there [was] not a reasonable cause" to believe the allegations.

In September the archdiocese removed from ministry Father Martin Nyberg after allegations that he molested a child during a recent penance service that allegedly took place at a youth retreat. Nyberg denied the claims. That investigation is still underway.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 20, 2025 / 12:35 pm (CNA).

In tandem with the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., is preparing to offer visitors an up-close glimpse of a uniquely personal element used during the presidential swearing-in ceremony.

Museum of the Bible Chief Curatorial Officer Robert Duke told CNA that beginning Tuesday, Trump's personal Bible, which First Lady Melania Trump held while Trump took the oath of office on Monday, will be added to the set of U.S. presidential inauguration Bibles currently on display at the museum.

Given to him in 1955 to mark his Sunday Church Primary School graduation, Trump's personal Bible is a 1953 Revised Standard Version published by Thomas Nelson and Sons in New York, according to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.

It is embossed with his name on the bottom corner of the front cover and is signed by church officials on the inside alongside an inscription with the details of when it was presented to him.

Trump was also sworn in with the revered Lincoln Bible, which he also used during his 2017 inauguration. The Lincoln Bible is unique in that Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, and Trump are the only presidents to have used it for their swearing-in ceremonies.

"The Bible's played such a pivotal role in the history of presidential inaugurations," Duke said. "So we thought, for this year, it'd be great on our first floor to have a mini exhibit on the inauguration."

In addition to the Trump and Lincoln Bibles, other Bibles featured in the exhibit include the one used by the late President Jimmy Carter. His Bible is opened to Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good, / And what does the Lord require of you? / To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God," which he quoted during his 1977 inaugural address.

"We also have on display the Grover Cleveland Bible," Duke pointed out, noting that Cleveland "was the only other president that had four intervening years between their two presidencies."

Meanwhile, newly sworn-in Vice President JD Vance used a family Bible that belonged to his maternal great-grandmother, which had been given to him in 2003 on the day he left home for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina, according to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee.

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