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Vatican City, Nov 25, 2024 / 17:40 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis presided over a solemn event Monday at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Argentina and Chile that settled a border dispute between the two countries.

The pontiff denounced the hypocrisy of some countries "where there is much talk of peace" but "the highest yielding investments are in the production of arms." 

This pharisaical attitude, he continued, always leads "to the failure of fraternity and peace. May the international community make the force of law prevail through dialogue, for dialogue "must be the soul of the international community."

The agreement between Chile and Argentina resolved the crisis caused by a territorial dispute over the Beagle Channel and sovereignty over several islands. The Vatican played an essential role in this peace agreement after St. John Paul II sent Cardinal Antonio Samorè as mediator, who worked out the agreement between both nations, avoiding an armed conflict.

Speaking before the authorities and the diplomatic corps of both countries, among whom were the Argentine ambassador to the Holy See, Luis Pablo Beltramino and the Chilean foreign minister, Alberto van Klaveren, Pope Francis praised the papal mediation that avoided the conflict that was "about to set two brother peoples against each other."

In his speech, the Holy Father proposed this agreement as a model to imitate, while renewing his call for peace and dialogue in the face of current conflicts, where "recourse to force" prevails.

Mediating role of St. John Paul II 

He recalled in particular the mediation of St. John Paul II, who from the first days of his pontificate showed great concern and demonstrated a constant effort not only to prevent the dispute between Argentina and Chile "from degenerating into a disgraceful armed conflict," but also to find "the way to definitively resolve this dispute."

The pontiff noted that after receiving the request of both governments "accompanied by concrete and stringent commitments," St. Pope John Paul II agreed to mediate the conflict with the aim of proposing "a just and equitable, and therefore honorable solution."

For Pope Francis, this agreement deserves to be proposed "in the current world situation, in which so many conflicts persist and degenerate without an effective will to resolve them through the absolute exclusion of recourse to force or the threat of its use."

The pope recalled the words of Benedict XVI on the 25th anniversary of the treaty, who said that the agreement "is a shining example of the power of the human spirit and the desire for peace in the face of the barbarity and senselessness of violence and war as a means of resolving differences."

For the Holy Father, this is "a most timely example" of how it is necessary to persevere at all times with "firm determination to the final consequences in an endeavor to resolve disputes with a real desire for dialogue and agreement, through patient negotiation and with the necessary compromises, always taking into account the just requirements and legitimate interests of all."

In conclusion, Pope Francis described what is happening in Ukraine and Palestine as "two failures" of humanity today where the "arrogance of the invader prevails over dialogue."

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, Nov 25, 2024 / 18:15 pm (CNA).

The release of Season 5 of the hit series "The Chosen" was announced Nov. 25 by 5&2 Studios. "The Chosen: Last Supper" is coming to theaters during Lent, in the weeks leading up to Easter.

Season 5, which focuses on the events of Holy Week, will bring the most important week in history to viewers in a special theatrical release. During a four-week run in theaters, all episodes of Season 5 will be released in three parts starting with part one, episodes 1 and 2, to be released on March 27. Part two, episodes 3, 4, and 5, and part three, episodes 6, 7, and 8, will be released in the weeks following. 

Beginning April 10, "The Chosen: Last Supper" will also be released in theaters globally in over 40 countries including Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Poland, Philippines, United Kingdom, and India. 

After the full-season run in theaters concludes, the season will make its streaming debut. 

The newly released trailer begins with a glimpse of Jesus and the disciples during The Last Supper and teases other powerful moments including Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, and Judas' betrayal. 

Earlier this year at ChosenCon, the annual "Chosen" fan convention in Orlando, CNA spoke with several of the cast members about the upcoming season of the popular show. 

Dallas Jenkins, the show's creator, director, and writer, told CNA that Season 5 is "sad at times; it's actually heartbreaking at times because we know we're getting closer and closer to the cross … We're going to get to see some iconic moments from Scripture, but we're also going to, I believe, be drawn closer to who Jesus was because of his suffering."

Ryan Swanson, one of the writers of "The Chosen," added that Season 5 is "truly going to feel like a different kind of series. After Season 4's dread and doom and foreshadowing, this is when the wick is lit."

"We have stepped up our game in every aspect," Luke Dimyan, the actor who portrays Judas Iscariot, said. "The filmmaking, the production, the cameras we used. We even felt it on set — the way we scheduled and we worked — everybody was on their A game. So I think you'll be able to see that on screen and I think you're really going to like what you see. We put our all into this."

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CNA Staff, Nov 24, 2024 / 15:25 pm (CNA).

A bishop in Illinois has halted in his diocese a traveling tour of a relic of St. Jude following an "incident" that allegedly took place between a visiting priest and several students.

A statement from Father Michael Lane and Father Gregory Alberts at Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church in Joliet, Illinois, said that on Thursday of this week the parish hosted the arm of St. Jude as part of the relic's ongoing tour throughout the United States.

A priest with the Canadian order Companions of the Cross was overseeing the relic's visit through the "Treasures of the Church" ministry, the statement said.

During the visit, "an incident with the priest and some students was reported to have happened in our church," it continued.

"We immediately contacted the police," the priests said. "A police investigation is still ongoing. The priest was confronted with the information. We informed the priest that he must depart from our parish and out of our diocese."

The priests subsequently canceled the remainder of the relic's visit, they said. They further informed Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks, who "canceled the tour of the relic scheduled at two more of our parishes this week."

The bishop "also informed the superior of the Companions of the Cross Order of priests" of the incident.

"All involved in this incident are safe," the priests wrote.

The statement did not identify the priest by name, though the Pillar on Saturday evening reported that the priest was Father Carlos Martins, the director of Treasures of the Church. The ministry said last August that Martins would be leading the St. Jude relic tour throughout the United States.

CNA could not immediately confirm whether Martins was the priest referenced in the statement. Reached by CNA on Sunday afternoon, Martins declined to comment.

Treasures of the Church is based out of Michigan. It identifies itself as a "ministry of evangelization of the Catholic Church" that exists "to give people an experience of the living God through an encounter with the relics of his saints in the form of an exposition."

Martins is also known for his ministry as an exorcist. The podcast "The Exorcist Files," hosted by Martins and Ryan Bethea, topped the charts last year with what are claimed to be dramatic reenactments of the priest's case files.

This is a developing story.

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ACI MENA, Nov 24, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Following the second meeting between Pope Francis and Mar Awa III, ACI Mena, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, conducted an exclusive interview with the catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East to discuss the significance of Pope Francis' decision to include St. Isaac of Nineveh in the Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church.

Welcoming Pope Francis' decision to include St. Isaac of Nineveh, a revered seventh-century mystic and theologian of the Assyrian Church, in the Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church, Mar Awa III called it "a very positive step in ecumenical relations between the Assyrian and Catholic churches." 

"This recognition, along with that of other saints and martyrs from non-Catholic Eastern churches, is a commendable step toward sincere ecumenical relations," he said.

The patriarch stressed the spiritual importance of this decision, saying: "The saints and martyrs provide us with what is called an 'ecumenism of spirituality.' Their lives and teachings have the unique ability to transcend ecclesiastical and doctrinal boundaries and unite believers in common respect."

Progress in theological dialogue

Reflecting on three decades of theological dialogue since the signing of the Common Christological Declaration, Mar Awa commended the relationship between the Assyrian and Catholic churches as one of the most successful in ecumenical history.

"Unlike other divisions within Christianity, there were no formal condemnations or excommunications between the Assyrian Church of the East and the Catholic Church," he explained.

"The 1994 declaration dispelled the misunderstandings arising from the Council of Ephesus in 431, clarified the theological positions, and paved the way for greater understanding," he added.

Mar Awa also pointed to the significant role of the historical context in fostering further unity.

"The role of the bishop of Rome must be redefined in a united church within a way that respects the patristic tradition of the first millennium. Such an approach could provide a solid foundation for future dialogue," he said.

A call for unity amid persecution

Addressing the current challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East, the patriarch called for solidarity among churches. 

"It is essential for all Christian churches, especially in the Middle East, to come together and put aside theological differences and arguments," he said, advocating for unity to confront the challenges of persecution and displacement.

Mar Awa expressed hope that the inclusion of St. Isaac would serve as an inspiration for Christians in the region.

"Through the testimony of saints like St. Isaac, we remember our common faith and the strength it provides, even in the face of suffering and adversity," he said.

A bridge to deeper unity

Mar Awa highlighted the power of shared spirituality in fostering unity.

"Spirituality is a source of bringing churches closer together because saints transcend the doctrinal or ecclesiastical divide," he said. "The Lord's Prayer, for example, unites us, regardless of language, because it is Our Lord's teaching to all believers."

He also noted the cooperation between the Catholic and Assyrian churches in areas such as education and humanitarian efforts but called for further initiatives to address historical divisions.

"It is necessary to strengthen cooperation among believers and heal the memories of the past, so that we can come together," he concluded.

The Assyrian Church of the East

The Assyrian Church of the East traces its origins to the Apostolic Age, specifically to the evangelization efforts of St. Thomas and his disciples St. Addai and St. Mari in Mesopotamia. The church in this region of the world has endured centuries of persecution and displacement, particularly in the modern Middle East. Today, the global Assyrian Church of the East has approximately 500,000 members. 

Mar Awa III, a first-generation Assyrian American, was born in Chicago and was elected as the 122nd catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East in 2021. He is the first Western-born patriarch of the Assyrian Church.

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

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CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2024 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Castletown Media, the production company behind the new film "Roadmap to Reality: Carlo Acutis and Our Digital Age," has announced that the National Eucharistic Congress Inc. and the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame have become official partners for the upcoming documentary exploring the life of the Catholic Church's first millennial saint.

"The National Eucharistic Congress is passionate about reigniting devotion to the Eucharist in this country, and when we shared the project with them they were thrilled insofar as how this film really resonates with that mission," the director of the new Acutis film and founder of Castletown Media, Tim Moriarty, told CNA in an interview.

In a press release, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, chair of the National Eucharistic Revival who appears in the film, said: "Soon-to-be St. Carlo Acutis is a modern apostle who can inspire young people to discover the incredible gift of the Eucharist. Carlo is the model for the kind of Eucharistic missionary we, as bishops, hope every Catholic will become."

Meanwhile, the McGrath Institute, known for its work partnering with Catholics parishes, dioceses, and schools to offer resources and materials to address pastoral challenges, will be offering its expertise to the film's production by developing educational materials for parishes and schools based on themes found in the documentary.

Moriarty explained that they began speaking with the McGrath Institute when they began to cover the issue of technology and the impact it's having on young people while making the film. They interviewed several members of the McGrath team and realized that together they could "do more good." 

As partners, the McGrath Institute will specifically be creating material for youth preparing for their first Communion by helping them "understand what the Eucharist is at a time in their lives where screen addiction becomes increasingly problematic," Moriarty explained.

On Nov. 20, Pope Francis announced the canonization date of Blessed Carlo Acutis, which will take place on April 27, 2025, during the Church's Jubilee of Teenagers. Moriarty called this announcement "providential" as the film will be in theaters in time for the canonization. 

"Roadmap to Reality" explores the life of Carlo Acutis and the lessons he offers young people regarding the challenges of the digital world. The documentary blends live action, animation, and documentary-style interviews with Acutis' family, friends, tech experts, and scholars to tackle urgent questions about artificial intelligence and the technological world we live in.

"One of the themes in the film is that he [Acutis] was online to lead people offline," Moriarty shared. "He was online to lead people back to the Eucharist, back to real encounters, and he's a great model for us."

"I think what Carlo did in his life was to show us that yes, we have to be engaging online, sharing the Gospel online, but we have to do it in a way where we don't lose touch with the incarnational reality, which is fully present to us in the Eucharist, which is that real substantial presence. I think there's something in that that is very powerful and for me has been really moving and healing the more I try to follow Carlo's example," Moriarty concluded.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 23, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The major relics of St. Thomas Aquinas, "The Angelic Doctor," are on tour and scheduled to make a stop in Washington, D.C., next weekend as part of the commemoration of the 700th anniversary of his canonization. 

Members of the faithful will be able to venerate the relics, including his skull, on two separate occasions: first at St. Dominic's Church on Friday, Nov. 29, and then again on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Dominican House of Studies. The event is co-sponsored by the Thomistic Institute. 

"In a time of renewed interest in the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas, the jubilees of his canonization (700 years in 2023), death (750 years in 2024), and birth (800 years in 2025) draw our attention to the masterwork of wisdom and sanctity which God wrought in him," Father Gregory Pine, OP, assistant director at the Thomistic Institute, said in a press release. 

"The opportunity that we have to receive and venerate his relics makes this grace all the more proximate and precious to us," Pine added.

Friday's event will begin at 12:10 p.m. with a solemn Mass celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of Washington, followed by an opportunity to venerate the relics of the revered theologian and philosopher from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be solemn vespers at 5:30 p.m. and night prayer at 6:45 p.m. with a Marian procession to follow. 

On Saturday, the Dominican House of Studies will begin the day with solemn lauds and a votive Mass of St. Thomas Aquinas at 7:30 a.m., and veneration of the relics will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pine will also preach at 3 p.m. that day. 

"'Get wisdom, get understanding' (Prv 4:5). One way is to study, another way is to pray for it, but an exceptional way is to pray for it in the presence of the skull of St. Thomas Aquinas," Father James Brent, OP, an assistant professor of philosophy at the Dominican House of Studies, also stated in the release. 

The relic of St. Thomas Aquinas' skull comes to the U.S. from the Dominicans in Toulouse, France, and is one of two skulls Church officials claim to have belonged to the 11th-century saint. The other is housed in the Italian city of Priverno. The Dominicans in France commissioned a new reliquary for the skull last year to celebrate the saint's canonization anniversary.

After Aquinas' death in 1274, his body was kept in Fossanova Abbey in Priverno until 1369, when his relics were moved to Toulouse, a city in southwestern France, where the Order of Preachers was established. Aquinas' tomb rests in the Church of the Jacobins. 

Researchers are currently weighing the possibility of conducting an in-depth forensic analysis of both skulls to determine their authenticity. 

Where do the relics go next?

After two stops in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, Aquinas' relics hit the road for their U.S. tour:

Charlottesville, Virginia: St. Thomas Aquinas on Dec. 2

Providence, Rhode Island: Providence College on Dec. 4

Cincinnati: St. Gertrude Priory on Dec. 6

Columbus, Ohio: St. Patrick Priory on Dec. 7–8

Louisville, Kentucky: St. Louis Bertrand on Dec. 10

Springfield, Kentucky: St. Rose Priory on Dec. 12

New York City: St. Vincent Ferrer on Dec. 14

Philadelphia: St. Patrick on Dec. 16

Baltimore: Sts. Philip and James on Dec. 18

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Vancouver, Canada, Nov 23, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Sometimes it just takes moving across the world to understand the value of a sacramental marriage. At least that's what it took for Eddelyn and Mario John, two recent arrivals to Canada from the Philippines. They were one of 19 couples whose marriages were sacramentally blessed at the Marriage Mass at St. Mary's in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, one of three such events across the archdiocese this year.

In total 121 couples had their marriages convalidated this year in the archdiocese, a substantial increase from last year's 42.  

Eddelyn and Mario met almost two decades ago while Eddelyn was working at a farm supply store where Mario would come to purchase feed. Things developed quickly, and the couple married after only three months of courting.

At the time, the couple embodied a certain cultural Catholicism. Mario's family urged them to have a church wedding, but they declined.

"I always said we were good — it's OK," Eddelyn recalled. "As long as we always go to church every Sunday, it's OK."

Soon, they were pregnant, and their daughter was born before their first wedding anniversary.

Life continued apace, but something always felt like it could be better. They weren't unhappy and had a good family life with their daughter. It wasn't until they were apart that things clicked for Eddelyn and Mario.

In 2019, an opportunity arose for them to immigrate to Canada. One of Mario's favorite uncles encouraged the couple to make the journey, but COVID delayed their plans, and he passed away before they made the move.

Eddelyn was finally accepted for a student visa last year. Because of delays with their daughter's visa application, she made the trip alone, arriving in Canada in December 2023 to start her studies in business management.

At the first Canadian Mass she attended at St. Mary's in Vancouver, someone announced that the Marriage Mass was coming up on Oct. 19 — the birthday of her beloved uncle who had passed away.

Eddelyn saw this as a sign, and she and Mario decided that if they could get their marriage sacramentally validated in Canada, they would.

"We want to be part of the seven sacraments of the Church," Mario said.

As anyone dealing with Immigration Canada knows, getting the paperwork done can be a nightmare. Still, as fate would have it, everything was finalized in time for Mario to bring their daughter to Canada for the Marriage Mass. Their application to have their marriage blessed barely made this year's deadline, submitted the day before the cutoff.

"We have a desire to live out our spiritual commitment — I think it's in God's perfect timing," Eddelyn said.

"A religious ceremony provides a sense of fulfillment," Eddelyn said. "Those are the steps that are quite meaningful for our whole family. It is a fulfillment for those in heaven as well."

Their daughter, who struggles with communication due to hearing problems, was also happy. "We saw through her face that she was very happy," Eddelyn said.

In addition to an honor guard by the Knights of Columbus and music by a joint St. Mary's choir, couples were each given six tickets to a catered reception after Mass so they could celebrate with friends and family.

This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and has been adapted by CNA. It is reprinted here with permission.

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ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2024 / 16:05 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, who will be installed as a cardinal on Dec. 7, spoke to the Vatican new agency Fides about the present and future state of the country.

The archbishop said that "an aging society like Japan's will not be able to survive," pointing to the dangers of the country's demographic winter.

Faced with this reality, he noted that the government "is hesitant to fully accept migrants" for fear of entering into territory never previously explored in Japan, a nation little accustomed to receiving migrants.

"Until now, Japan has been a remarkably homogeneous country. However, the reality is that without the presence of migrants, Japanese society cannot sustain itself. This is a fact. It's true that migrants come in with different types of visas but, due to the reluctance of institutions, many of them are forced sooner or later to face bureaucratic problems related to their immigration status," he said.

Kikuchi said that Japanese society often perceives migration as a "problem" and that even within the Church there is talk of the "immigrant problem." The archbishop believes that this language reflects the "negative perception" of many Japanese about this reality.

Immigrants in Japan 'not a problem but a hope'

"I firmly believe that immigrants are not a problem but a hope for the Church. They offer the Catholic community a unique opportunity to grow, especially with young people, and to proclaim the Gospel in areas where there is no active presence of the Church," he said.

"In a certain way, immigrants offer the Japanese Church the possibility of renewing itself and of being more active in its mission. This is a real hope," he added.

Since it is geographically located in a strategic position, between great world powers such as the United States, Russia, and China, the country of the "rising sun" is not unfamiliar with the diatribes and circumstances that the world is going through today.

Specifically on the subject of war and the growing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Kikuchi was emphatic in pointing out that nuclear weapons "do not provide real protection."

The Japanese government approved a 16.5% (about $56 billion) increase in defense spending by 2024. "It's just throwing money away," the archbishop said.

Dialogue 'the key to stability'

"Anyone who seriously analyzes the political situation in Asia understands that dialogue is the key to ensuring stability, not the threat posed by weapons. Investing more money in weapons, especially nuclear weapons, is an unnecessary and dangerous expense, since these weapons are not designed to resolve conflicts but to destroy the world," he commented.

The prelate said the Japanese Church will continue to promote initiatives "that seek the elimination of nuclear weapons. We will work with bishops in the United States and other countries to demand that both Japan and the U.S. government commit to abolishing these weapons as soon as possible."

"Dialogue is the key to stability. We must not argue. We must talk to each other. Dialogue is not just about talking, but also about building relationships. Synodality is also necessary in this area," the archbishop concluded.

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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Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov 22, 2024 / 16:50 pm (CNA).

On Nov. 21, Brazil's Federal Police charged Father José Eduardo de Oliveira e Silva of the Diocese of Osasco in São Paulo state as part of a group of 37 people that includes former President Jair Bolsonaro on suspicion of plotting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, plotting a coup d'état, and belonging to a criminal organization. 

According to authorities, the publication of the list of defendants in the final report of the investigation into the alleged coup d'état was authorized by the country's Supreme Federal Court.

The charges stem from the investigation by the Federal Police into an alleged plot to assassinate then-President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his vice president, Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Military personnel and military police have already been detained in connection with the investigation.

Despite the announcement by the police, the public prosecutor's office is not obliged to go forward with prosecuting the persons implicated or the alleged crimes being charged. 

The priest's defense attorney, Miguel Vidigal, told ACI Digital, CNA's Portuguese-language news partner, that "the press release by the Federal Police with the list of defendants is one more abuse by those responsible for the investigation, and publishing it on the police department's official website contaminates the entire institution."

"Who authorized the Federal Police to break the secrecy of the investigations? As far as we know, [Supreme Court] Justice Alexandre de Moraes decreed absolute secrecy," the attorney said.

"So far there is no decision by [him] that voids such determination," he added.

"Less than seven days after giving testimony to the Federal Police," Father José Eduardo "sees his name in print [on the list] by the Federal Police as one of those indicted by investigators." The same investigators didn't shy away from breaking the law and international treaties by combing through the priest's conversations and spiritual direction that are guaranteed to be confidential, Vidigal denounced.

In February, the priest was the subject of a raid and seizure operation by the Federal Police that was authorized by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The priest was accused of being part of the "legal core" of the alleged coup d'état, for which former president Bolsonaro, advisers, allies, military personnel, and former ministers of his government were also investigated.

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2024 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

The national anti-poverty program run by U.S. bishops has released its annual report from 2023, revealing that it spent $11.4 million more than it collected.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Annual Report 2023 revealed that the program ended the year with a net operating deficit of $2,830,364 after spending more than the combined total of its $8,451,156 savings and the $7,284,574 in revenue it collected this year. 

The CCHD is a nationwide anti-poverty program run by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that raises money every year and allocates funding to charitable organizations that benefit the poor. 

In total, the organization dedicated to "breaking the cycle of poverty" spent $18,696,903 overall despite having just $15,735,730 in available funds after clearing out its accumulated assets.

Bishop Timothy Senior of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who chairs the Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, stated in the annual report that the various charitable projects that received CCHD funds mentioned represent "a small taste of how CCHD invested $7.3 million of [donor] gifts in grants in 2023 to help people help each other." 

The CCHD has not published a list of grantees since 2022, though USCCB spokesperson Chieko Noguchi told CNA this week that she expects CCHD's 2023 grantee list to be "posted soon." 

CCHD's recent difficulties and past controversy

The CCHD annual report documenting its financial difficulties comes after its former director, Ralph McCloud, resigned from his position in April. In June, several USCCB social justice employees working for the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development, which oversees CCHD, were laid off. Bishops had privately discussed the CCHD during its June plenary assembly ahead of the layoffs. 

Noguchi told the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, at the time that the layoffs were part of a "reorganization" geared toward enabling the conference to "align resources more closely with recent funding trends." 

"The CCHD subcommittee will continue its work," she continued, adding: "In the interest of good stewardship, the administration of the collection is being reorganized to allow for more efficient management."

McCloud is now a fellow at a social justice political advocacy group called NETWORK, which was founded by Catholic Sisters in 1972. 

Over the years the program has generated controversy and criticism. Beginning in 2008, the CCHD was faulted by activists — and some Catholic bishops — for funding organizations that have taken positions contrary to Church teaching, such as on abortion and same-sex marriage.

In 2010, the USCCB instituted new controls to help ensure that grantees conform with Catholic teaching.

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