Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Cabinet. / Credit: Official photograph of the Office of the President of Colombia. Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsACI Prensa Staff, Oct 12, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).The Unidos por la Vida (United for Life) platform in Colombia has called a nationwide march for Oct. 19 in opposition to a memorandum from the Colombian Health Superintendency in support of sex changes for children.The National Health Superintendency (Supersalud) issued External Memorandum 115 on Sept. 21 that provides "general instructions for inspection, oversight, and control to guarantee the right to health of trans people in Colombia."The demonstration's slogan is "Don't Mess with Children" and is against, among other things, Section H of the memorandum dedicated to "trans children and adolescents who are in the process of development." The document states that the objective is to ensure this population has "healthy development and support in the affirmation of identi...
Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Cabinet. / Credit: Official photograph of the Office of the President of Colombia. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 12, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).
The Unidos por la Vida (United for Life) platform in Colombia has called a nationwide march for Oct. 19 in opposition to a memorandum from the Colombian Health Superintendency in support of sex changes for children.
The National Health Superintendency (Supersalud) issued External Memorandum 115 on Sept. 21 that provides "general instructions for inspection, oversight, and control to guarantee the right to health of trans people in Colombia."
The demonstration's slogan is "Don't Mess with Children" and is against, among other things, Section H of the memorandum dedicated to "trans children and adolescents who are in the process of development." The document states that the objective is to ensure this population has "healthy development and support in the affirmation of identity and/or gender expression in these stages of the life cycle."
In support of this, the Supersalud document cites in footnote 26 rulings by the Constitutional Court in favor of sex change for minors.
For example, it points out that "judgment T-447 of 1995 established that sex reassignment requires the direct consent of the 'patient,' since minors are the only ones who can decide on their life and freedom, which include sex as a relevant element of identity."
Likewise, it cites ruling T-218 of 2022, which, arguing "the need to ensure the autonomy of minors," establishes that "in cases of intersexuality" the consent of the person responsible for the minor will only be necessary when the minor is under 5 years old. Furthermore, without making any distinction between patients, Supersalud requires in its instructions to "verify that the right of trans people to access health services in treatment for surgical sexual reaffirmation or sex change is guaranteed."
March will demand policy change
In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, the president of United for Life, Jesús Magaña, said the goal of the Oct. 19 march is to demand the revocation of Memorandum 115 and the resignation of the superintendent of health, Luis Carlos Leal.
Leal has held the position since Feb. 23, appointed by President Gustavo Petro.
Magaña said Leal "has issued this memorandum to promote hormone therapy and sex changes, in accordance with his ideology, his own way of life. He is a homosexual activist, promoter of this entire LGBTIQ ideology."
He also said this is "a very clear project of President Petro, through his superintendent of health."
"They don't care about destroying the family, destroying children, they don't care about respecting the rights of parents because they want to do it to minors," he added.
The march, to be held in Bogotá, the country's capital, will begin at 10 a.m. in the National Park and will head to Plaza de Bolívar in the downtown area.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Eight people in this church and adjoining buildings in Derdghaya, Lebanon, were killed. / Credit: Aid to the Church in NeedACI Prensa Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 19:05 pm (CNA).A church of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Tyre, Lebanon, was hit by a missile from Israeli airstrikes in the country's south Oct. 9, killing at least eight people, the British branch of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has reported.Local sources told ACN that the church, located in the town of Derdghaya, was sheltering people displaced by the conflict. A priest's house and a three-story building housing parish offices were also completely destroyed by another missile.Pope Francis called for peace in the Middle East on X, stating that "all nations have the right to exist in peace and security: Their territories must not be attacked, their sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed through dialogue and peace."In an additional post on Oct. 11, the pontiff said: "I call for an im...
Eight people in this church and adjoining buildings in Derdghaya, Lebanon, were killed. / Credit: Aid to the Church in Need
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 19:05 pm (CNA).
A church of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Tyre, Lebanon, was hit by a missile from Israeli airstrikes in the country's south Oct. 9, killing at least eight people, the British branch of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has reported.
Local sources told ACN that the church, located in the town of Derdghaya, was sheltering people displaced by the conflict. A priest's house and a three-story building housing parish offices were also completely destroyed by another missile.
Pope Francis called for peace in the Middle East on X, stating that "all nations have the right to exist in peace and security: Their territories must not be attacked, their sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed through dialogue and peace."
In an additional post on Oct. 11, the pontiff said: "I call for an immediate cease-fire on all fronts of the war in the Middle East, including Lebanon. Let us #PrayTogether for the Lebanese, especially for the inhabitants of the south forced to leave their villages, so that they can return as soon as possible and live in #peace."
'We will not give in to hate'
The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, sent a letter to Pope Francis in which he conveyed the "most sincere gratitude" of Catholic leaders and all the faithful of the Holy Land for his closeness and compassion.
Published in the Oct. 11 edition of L'Osservatore Romano, the patriarch also noted that the Holy Father has been "the only world leader" to recognize "the human suffering of all" in the region.
Pizzaballa said the Church is responding with "weapons of love" to the mistrust that seems to be spreading more and more among all those involved in the conflict.
"In this context of deep-rooted hatred, there is a need for empathy, for gestures and words of love that, even if they do not change the course of events, bring comfort and consolation," the patriarch said, as reported by Vatican News.
The cardinal was also emphatic in stating that we must not give in to the logic of evil and hatred. "We will not give in to the events that seem to drive us apart; rather we will always try to be builders thirsty for peace and justice," he stressed.
For the patriarch, the testimony of many men and women in the Holy Land who, despite being affected even on a personal level by violence, have had the courage to forgive is of great relevance. This "small remnant," he continued, might be a starting point for rebuilding relationships and trust that have been broken.
"From this difficult moment, we must learn to make our relationships even stronger and more sincere in the future, to build authentic and serious contexts of peace and respect," he said.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024, in Ambler, Pennsylvania. / Credit: Hannah Beier/Getty ImagesCNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 19:40 pm (CNA).Michigan's Catholic bishops on Friday condemned a video sketch of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a journalist for what some have called a "mocking" of the Eucharist. The video, posted on Thursday and which quickly went viral, shows Whitmer feeding the journalist a Dorito chip.The skit took place during "Chip Chat," a session with Liz Plank, a Canadian author, journalist, and influencer with 610,000 followers on her Instagram page "feministabulous."The video has garnered criticism because Plank's kneeling posture and the placement of the Dorito on the tongue appeared to mock reception of holy Communion to many viewers. null The caption of the video, which was edited, references the "CHIPS Act," a 2022 Biden administration law known as the "Creating ...
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024, in Ambler, Pennsylvania. / Credit: Hannah Beier/Getty Images
CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 19:40 pm (CNA).
Michigan's Catholic bishops on Friday condemned a video sketch of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and a journalist for what some have called a "mocking" of the Eucharist.
The video, posted on Thursday and which quickly went viral, shows Whitmer feeding the journalist a Dorito chip.
The skit took place during "Chip Chat," a session with Liz Plank, a Canadian author, journalist, and influencer with 610,000 followers on her Instagram page "feministabulous."
The video has garnered criticism because Plank's kneeling posture and the placement of the Dorito on the tongue appeared to mock reception of holy Communion to many viewers.
null
The caption of the video, which was edited, references the "CHIPS Act," a 2022 Biden administration law known as the "Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act."
An edited caption of Plank's Instagram post read: "If he won't, Gretchen Whitmer will. Chips aren't just delicious, the CHIPS Act is a game-changer for U.S. tech and manufacturing, boosting domestic production of semiconductors to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers! Donald Trump would put that at risk."
Defenders of Whitmer have said the move was part of a TikTok trend when a person is fed by another person.
Plank responded to the criticism in a post on X saying: "This is the trend weirdos chill out," in reference to the "feeding someone trend" on TikTok.
But the sketch has led to controversy as many Catholics saw it as a mockery of the Eucharist.
"The skit goes further than the viral online trend that inspired it, specifically imitating the posture and gestures of Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist, in which we believe that Jesus Christ is truly present," said Paul Long, Michigan Catholic Conference president and CEO, in a statement on Friday.
"It is not just distasteful or 'strange'; it is an all-too-familiar example of an elected official mocking religious persons and their practices," Long continued. "While dialogue on this issue with the governor's office is appreciated, whether or not insulting Catholics and the Eucharist was the intent, it has had an offensive impact."
A spokesperson for Whitmer said in a statement to Fox News Digital that "the governor's social media is well known for infusing her communications with pop culture."
"This popular trend has been used by countless people, including Billie Eilish, Kylie Jenner, and Stephen Colbert, and the fact that people are paying attention to a video promoting President Biden's CHIPS Act proves it's working," the statement continued. "Republicans want to distract from the fact that Democrats have invested billions of dollars into local economies to create a record number of jobs and bring supply chains back from overseas, while Donald Trump's policies would kill these jobs and send them back to China."
Notably, the referenced trends do not usually involve someone kneeling before the other person.
The full video on Plank's YouTube channel also included a discussion of abortion where Plank and Whitmer joke about "post-birth abortions," in reference to Trump's comment about the abortion bill signed into law by Minnesota Gov. and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.
But the Michigan Catholic Conference's Long is demanding that those in public office respect religious people.
"People of this state and across the country have grown tired of and continue to express their alarm at the bar of civility and respect toward people of faith lowering by the day," Long said.
"Michigan is a religiously diverse state and includes thriving communities of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim believers," Long continued. "The time is now for those in public office, their handlers, and strategists to return a level of respect, civility, and appreciation for those who have found peace and fulfillment in life by worshipping God and serving their neighbor."
Whitmer's office did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
The General House of the Society of Jesus in Rome. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN NewsMadrid, Spain, Oct 11, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).Father Johan Verschueren, the general counsellor and delegate for the Interprovincial Houses and Works of the Society of Jesus in Rome, expressed his support for the "LGBTQ Catholics" event held recently at the general house of the Society of Jesus in the Eternal City.Within the context of the Synod on Synodality, the Jesuits hosted an event Oct. 8 in which a group of LGBTQ-identifying people (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, and queer) shared their testimonies and requested greater participation in the ecclesial community.Verschueren expressed to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, his "moral support" for the event, although he said he did not attend it.Referring to the members of this group, he said in a conversation with ACI Prensa that "their gender identity was not a moral choice" and claimed that "they were born that way."He...
The General House of the Society of Jesus in Rome. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
Madrid, Spain, Oct 11, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).
Father Johan Verschueren, the general counsellor and delegate for the Interprovincial Houses and Works of the Society of Jesus in Rome, expressed his support for the "LGBTQ Catholics" event held recently at the general house of the Society of Jesus in the Eternal City.
Within the context of the Synod on Synodality, the Jesuits hosted an event Oct. 8 in which a group of LGBTQ-identifying people (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, and queer) shared their testimonies and requested greater participation in the ecclesial community.
Verschueren expressed to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, his "moral support" for the event, although he said he did not attend it.
Referring to the members of this group, he said in a conversation with ACI Prensa that "their gender identity was not a moral choice" and claimed that "they were born that way."
He also reiterated that "they are equally called and loved by Our Lord and Savior, and invited to follow him" and added that "it's good to hear them give their witness."
Panel titled 'What Is the Experience of LGBTQ Catholics?'
The event, titled "What Is the Experience of LGBTQ Catholics?", was organized by America Media and the pro-LGBT group Outreach, whose founder is Jesuit Father James Martin, who is participating in the Synod on Synodality by appointment of Pope Francis.
The event was opened by Father Antoine Kerhuel, secretary of the Society of Jesus, in the hall of the General Curia, located on the busy Borgo Santo Spirito street very close to the Vatican.
Moderated by Martin, the panel included other guests such as Christopher Vella from the LGBT Catholic organization Drachma in Malta. "Let us allow love to express itself," Vella urged.
Also participating was Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean activist, abuse victim, and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, who condemned the support that some Church leaders "have given to controversial laws that stigmatize LGBTQ people, especially in places like Uganda."
Janet Obeney-Williams, a lesbian who lives with another woman in London and was married to her in a civil ceremony, also spoke.
A retired doctor, Obeney-Williams recounted her "conversion" to Catholicism following the welcoming words of Pope Francis.
Several prelates and cardinals also took part, including the Jesuit bishop of Hong Kong and delegate to the synod, Cardinal Stephen Chow, who led an opening prayer for the event, which read in part:
"O Holy Spirit, send us your guiding light of truth, so that our ignorance and prejudices can melt away through this synodal encounter, and a new morn marked by mutual respect and empathic understanding can take shape in our Church for our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers, as well as for ourselves and our Church as a whole," the cardinal prayed.
Joanita Warry Ssenfuka, a lesbian Catholic from Uganda who heads the organization Freedom and Roam Uganda, said that Jesus' message "was one of love" and urged Church leaders "to see LGBT Catholics as human beings and not as the sum of their sins."
Ahead of the synod, both Martin and Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP, spiritual assistant at the synod and cardinal-designate, published personal reflections on pastoral approaches for Catholics who experience same-sex attraction.
Over the years, critics have accused Martin of rejecting Catholic teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual acts, but he has insisted that he does not reject Church teaching.
The Church's consistent teaching on homosexuality is outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Nos. 2357 and 2358, which state that while people with homosexual tendencies must be welcomed "with respect, compassion, and sensitivity," homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered" and "under no circumstances can they be approved."
Who is Father Johan Verschueren, SJ?
Verschueren studied botany at the Catholic University of Louvain and later philosophy in Paris. He taught for two years at the Centre for Research and Promotion of the Peasantry in Peru.
He also studied theology at the Catholic University of Louvain from 1991 to 1995 and was superior of the Jesuits in the European Region of the Netherlands.
Since February 2020, he has been general counsellor and delegate for the Interprovincial Houses and Works of the Society of Jesus in Rome.
Verschueren was also the superior of Father Marko Rupnik, a well-known Jesuit accused of committing sexual abuse and whose case is being investigated by the Vatican.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Father Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara. / Credit: Ventura County Sheriff's OfficeCNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 13:55 pm (CNA).A priest in California has pleaded no contest to charges of possessing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material, with his conviction coming just over a year after his arrest. The Ventura County district attorney's office said in a press release on Thursday that Father Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara "pled no contest to one felony count of possession of child sexual abuse material." He had been associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, California. As part of that plea, the 39-year-old priest also admitted that he possessed "over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12."Martinez-Guevara was arrested in September 2023. In announcing the priest's plea this week, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said Martinez-Guevara "betrayed the ...
Father Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara. / Credit: Ventura County Sheriff's Office
CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 13:55 pm (CNA).
A priest in California has pleaded no contest to charges of possessing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material, with his conviction coming just over a year after his arrest.
The Ventura County district attorney's office said in a press release on Thursday that Father Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara "pled no contest to one felony count of possession of child sexual abuse material." He had been associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard, California.
As part of that plea, the 39-year-old priest also admitted that he possessed "over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12."
Martinez-Guevara was arrested in September 2023. In announcing the priest's plea this week, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said Martinez-Guevara "betrayed the law and the trust placed in him as a religious leader."
"Child sexual abuse material preys on the most vulnerable members of our society, and we will continue to ensure that anyone who engages in such heinous crimes is held accountable, no matter their position or title," the prosecutor said.
The priest is a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit. The religious congregation said in a statement following Martinez-Guevara's plea that his crimes "[do] not reflect the values of our congregation, and we are deeply saddened by his actions."
"Our hearts go out to all the victims who were hurt and whose lives were harmed in this horrendous way," the institute said.
Martinez-Guevara's "canonical process of loss of clerical state will move forward" following the guilty plea, the group said.
Investigations into Martinez-Guevara were initiated in April 2023 after reports were made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A task force of multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the investigation.
The priest is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9 in Ventura County.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles told media last year that Martinez-Guevara was "not a priest of [the archdiocese]" but had possessed "faculties to minister" there. After his arrest he was "removed from ministry by the archdiocese and his order," the statement said.
"The archdiocese stands against any sexual misconduct and is resolute in our support for victim-survivors of any misconduct," the statement added.
The Missionaries of the Holy Spirit currently have members in several dozen communities in multiple countries, though the majority are in Mexico. Priests with the group are also located in Italy, Colombia, and Spain.
Bishops and cardinals concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis to open the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter's Square. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAVatican City, Oct 11, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).Synod on Synodality events open to the public gave a glimpse Wednesday evening into the private debates happening among delegates and theological experts on the issues of a bishop's authority and his relationship to the laity in light of synodality.At the Oct. 9 forum on "The Role and Authority of the Bishop in a Synodal Church," hosted in a conference hall near the Vatican, four theologians and a canon lawyer gave presentations on finding and following the correct interpretation of the Second Vatican Council's teaching on episcopal authority, with frequent citations of the council's dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium.Speakers claimed an important part of synodality is implementing the proper ...
Bishops and cardinals concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis to open the second assembly of the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 2, 2024, in St. Peter's Square. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Vatican City, Oct 11, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Synod on Synodality events open to the public gave a glimpse Wednesday evening into the private debates happening among delegates and theological experts on the issues of a bishop's authority and his relationship to the laity in light of synodality.
At the Oct. 9 forum on "The Role and Authority of the Bishop in a Synodal Church," hosted in a conference hall near the Vatican, four theologians and a canon lawyer gave presentations on finding and following the correct interpretation of the Second Vatican Council's teaching on episcopal authority, with frequent citations of the council's dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium.
Speakers claimed an important part of synodality is implementing the proper understanding of a bishop's authority in his diocese, which demands cooperation with laypeople.
Italian canonist Father Matteo Visioli pointed out that "What power of governance can be entrusted to laymen and women?" is one of the questions being asked by the synod that, he said, still needs further theological exploration.
"The problem is, which offices require the sacred orders and which don't?" he asked in response to a question about changes Pope Francis has made to permit laypeople to hold positions formerly reserved to priests or bishops.
The canonist noted that while Pope Francis has drawn practical lines in the sand in some instances, including in the newest constitution governing the Roman Curia, Praedicate Evangelium, "if he entered into the theoretical line, he would have gotten stuck."
In his remarks, Italian theologian Roberto Repole, archbishop of Turin and bishop of Susa, cited paragraphs 38-39 of the 2024 Instrumentum Laboris, which says that a bishop's powers and ministry do "not imply his separation from the portion of the people of God entrusted to him" and "is not the justification for an episcopal ministry that is 'monarchical …'"
In light of what is written in the Instrumentum Laboris, Repole, who will be made a cardinal in December, said there are different ways to interpret Lumen Gentium's teaching that bishops have the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders.
He argued that a "synodal" interpretation of the bishop's ministry — one in which he serves in full cooperation with priests and laypeople — could "dissolve" some of the isolation and stress faced by bishops around the world and prevent a "monarchical"-style rule.
A prominent theologian from Argentina, Father Carlos María Galli, argued in his lecture that the bishop is the servant of the Lord, not a "lord" of the Church, and said a "novelty" of Vatican II was viewing the people of God as equal in dignity to the Church's hierarchy.
The second chapter of Lumen Gentium, on the people of God, was a "big revolution" in Church ecclesiology, he said. "These theological foundations should move us to a change of mentality, of mindset."
In his contribution, Father Gilles Routhier, a French Canadian and theological consultant to the general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, described the bishop's relationship to the laity using imagery from the Mass.
Just as the celebration of the Mass includes the organic participation of all the parts (priest and laity), so, too, the bishop should view his communion and cooperation in running a diocese, he said.
Routhier also criticized the Church's use of the prepositions "of," "for," or "at" to describe a bishop instead of the words "in" and "within." As written in Lumen Gentium, the priest and bishops, he said, are part of and within the same assembly of the people of God.
"We can't speak of the autonomy of the pastor from the rest of the assembly," the theologian and Vatican II expert claimed.
Sister Gloria Liliana Franco Echeverri, ODN, addressed bishops directly in her contribution to the forum, exhorting them to be servant leaders and to combat abuse.
During a question-and-answer session, Cistercian abbot general Father Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori responded to the religious sister's speech, saying that if he were a bishop it would have left him feeling "depressed." Lepori stressed that bishops cannot be "supermen" and added that lay Catholics should help their bishops help others.
The theological conference, held at the Pontifical Patristic Institute "Augustinianum" and moderated by U.K.-based theologian Anna Rowlands, was well attended by cardinals, bishops, and priests, with a small number of laypeople also present. Most of the attendees appeared to be Synod on Synodality participants.
While not synod delegates, Routhier, Galli, and Repole are three of the seven members of a study group formed to provide a deeper theological perspective on "the synodal missionary face of the local Church."
Sister Franco was the only presenter who is also a synod delegate; Galli is one of the synod's theological "experts"; and Visioli, a canonist, is a member of the study group on "the synodal method."
At the evening's other event, a forum hosted by the Jesuit Curia on "The People of God as Subject of Mission," theological experts shared insights on Church governance and synodality.
Thomas Söding, vice president of the lay organization promoting the German Synodal Way, argued that bishops shouldn't control or dictate discipleship but should encourage diverse expressions of faith. Australian theologian Father Ormond Rush warned against reducing synodal reform to majority-rule voting or mere consultation, stressing the need to balance the Church's divine and human aspects.
Italian canonist Donata Horak criticized the Roman Catholic Church's current structure as "monarchical" and out of step with democratic sensibilities. She suggested that the Latin Church adopt deliberative synods, as seen in Eastern Catholic churches, although she did not note that these do not allow lay voting.
During questions and answers following the panelists' presentation, an attendee raised concerns that the people of God image can be overtly sociological, while a teacher from Germany suggested that the reason the faith is struggling in her home country isn't because of a lack of participatory structures but because Church leaders are ashamed of being Catholic.
Bishop Lúcio Muandula of Xai Xai, Mozambique, also gave a presentation at the conference, which was moderated by the Austria-based theologian Klara Csiszar.
On Oct. 16 there will be an additional two forums, running simultaneously, on the topics "The Mutual Relationship Local Church-Universal Church" and "The Exercise of the Primacy and the Synod of Bishops."
A Dominican friar blesses the faithful with the Eucharist during Benediction at the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on Sept. 28, 2024. / Credit: Jeffrey BrunoCNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).The U.S. bishops have approved a new translation of texts used during Eucharistic adoration and Communion outside of Mass.The texts from the ritual book "The Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass" serve as a liturgical resource for Eucharistic worship. The Vatican approved the new translation on March 7, 2023, more than a year after the U.S. bishops approved it in November 2021. Though the translation received Vatican approval earlier this year, parishes were granted the option to use the new translation on Sept. 14. The translation will be required beginning Dec. 1.The ritual book includes prayers and guidelines to be used when the Eucharist is distributed outside of Mass,...
A Dominican friar blesses the faithful with the Eucharist during Benediction at the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on Sept. 28, 2024. / Credit: Jeffrey Bruno
CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).
The U.S. bishops have approved a new translation of texts used during Eucharistic adoration and Communion outside of Mass.
The Vatican approved the new translation on March 7, 2023, more than a year after the U.S. bishops approved it in November 2021.
Though the translation received Vatican approval earlier this year, parishes were granted the option to use the new translation on Sept. 14. The translation will be required beginning Dec. 1.
The ritual book includes prayers and guidelines to be used when the Eucharist is distributed outside of Mass, which can happen in certain circumstances such as when a Catholic is ill or nearing death. These rituals are known as the Order of Distributing Holy Communion Outside Mass and the giving of Communion and Viaticum to the sick by an extraordinary minister.
A person may receive the Eucharist as viaticum when nearing death, in addition to the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Receiving the sacrament as viaticum is considered "the last sacrament of the Christian," according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Nos. 1524–1525).
The new translation of the ritual book also affects any other distribution of Communion outside of Mass, which may take place when there are pastoral needs, such as when someone is unable to attend Mass for health reasons. A Eucharistic minister may carry the Eucharist in a pyx, a small round container for the Eucharist, and carry it in a small burse, a cloth or leather bag around the minister's neck to bring Communion directly to the person in need.
The ritual book also includes instructions on Communion services not offered by a priest in which a deacon may offer Communion when no priest is available. If no deacon is present, an acolyte — a lay Catholic authorized to give Communion as a special minister — may do so in certain circumstances.
The new translation of the ritual book also affects prayers sung or said at Benediction, such as the hymns "O Salutaris Hostia" and "Tantum Ergo." The translation of "O Salutaris Hostia" is the first to become standardized in English, while in past years translations have had slight variances. The hymns may still be sung in Latin if desired.
The previous translation of the ritual book from the Latin text was approved by the U.S. bishops in 1976.
Catholics join in prayer for the 2019 International Week of Prayer and Fasting at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. / Credit: IWOPFWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 11, 2024 / 09:25 am (CNA).Catholics around the world are gathering for the commencement of the 32nd annual International Week of Prayer and Fasting (IWOPF) under the theme "Conquering the Darkness: Triumph of Mercy, Hope, and Healing."This year's event will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 12, with an in-person conference at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax, Virginia, followed by a three-day virtual speaker series. Relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) and Blessed Carlo Acutis will also be available for veneration on Saturday. IWOPF is a grassroots movement joined by various pro-life groups and the Legion of Mary that invites Catholics and Christians around the world to pray and fast for peace, the conversion of all peoples, the sanctity of marriage, buildin...
Catholics join in prayer for the 2019 International Week of Prayer and Fasting at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. / Credit: IWOPF
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 11, 2024 / 09:25 am (CNA).
Catholics around the world are gathering for the commencement of the 32nd annual International Week of Prayer and Fasting (IWOPF) under the theme "Conquering the Darkness: Triumph of Mercy, Hope, and Healing."
This year's event will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 12, with an in-person conference at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax, Virginia, followed by a three-day virtual speaker series. Relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) and Blessed Carlo Acutis will also be available for veneration on Saturday.
IWOPF is a grassroots movement joined by various pro-life groups and the Legion of Mary that invites Catholics and Christians around the world to pray and fast for peace, the conversion of all peoples, the sanctity of marriage, building a culture of life, and for all priests and vocations.
It has received two apostolic blessings from St. John Paul II and one from Pope Francis, along with support from St. Teresa of Calcutta as well as from EWTN foundress Mother Angelica.
This is the first year that International Week of Prayer and Fasting events are not taking place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Flynn told CNA that the basilica was only available in early November and many of the participants did not want to be in D.C. so close to the presidential election on Nov. 5.
"I didn't want to change it," IWOPF co-founder Maureen Flynn said. "But sometimes things happen — things happen for a reason."
"So we're just trusting the Lord, and we're just encouraging everybody [for] nine days, from Oct. 12–20, [to] really to pray for our country in a big way, pray for the elections, pray for our leaders, our families, and for peace in the world," she said. "Because as you know, we just read the news, and we really need prayer."
Flynn co-founded the movement with her husband, Ted, and friend John Downs in 1989 after Flynn had been struck by an article in the Washington Post that featured two grandmothers who she said had been "bragging about being pro-abortion."
"I remember thinking, 'Oh, my gosh, how can these grandmothers be pro-abortion, be for the killing of the innocent?'" Flynn told CNA. The incident inspired her to organize a day of prayer. However, Downs encouraged her to organize a week of prayer instead, insisting that one day "is not enough."
Although the movement started with the sole intention of praying for the unborn, Flynn recalled that "as the time went on, there were all these other issues that kept coming up: We began to pray for our families, our children, our leaders. It expanded. Now we have five goals over 32 years."
The movement particularly emphasizes the power of the rosary, Flynn told CNA, "to stop wars, for healing in families, and for healing of addictions."
"Our Lady has told us we need to use weapons of prayer and fasting because we're dealing with diabolical forces, and things are ratcheting up in that way as far as evil," Flynn continued.
"And so we need to use the treasures of the Church, what Our Lord and Our Lady has told us, of the good weapons today."
While the in-person event will be held in Fairfax, anyone can sign up to view the talks online for free. The talks will be available for up to a year if viewers purchase an all-access pass. Speakers for the event include film producer Jim Wahlberg and Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Baker of Birmingham, Alabama.
Flynn encouraged families to think of ways they can participate in a week of prayer and fasting independently.
"The key is to participate somehow," she said, recalling that when her kids were younger, their family would have smaller meals, such as soup, during the week, offering it up for the unborn or for families that are struggling.
"They remember that," she said of her children. "It was a way that we could participate."
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Oct 11, 2024 / 10:25 am (CNA).Pope Francis met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a private audience at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Friday morning, assuring the political leader of his and the universal Church's continuous prayers for the people of Ukraine.The pope gifted Zelenskyy a bronze relief of a small bird beside a flower with the engraved message "La Pace E' Un Fiore Fragile" ("Peace is a fragile flower"), as well as a copy of his "Message for Peace."Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Credit: Vatican MediaZelenskyy also received two books from the Holy Father including the 2020 "Statio Orbis" and "Persecuted for the Truth: Ukrainian Greek Catholics Behind the Iron Curtain." In turn, Zelenskyy gifted the Holy Father an ...
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Pope Francis during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Oct 11, 2024 / 10:25 am (CNA).
Pope Francis met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a private audience at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Friday morning, assuring the political leader of his and the universal Church's continuous prayers for the people of Ukraine.
The pope gifted Zelenskyy a bronze relief of a small bird beside a flower with the engraved message "La Pace E' Un Fiore Fragile" ("Peace is a fragile flower"), as well as a copy of his "Message for Peace."
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
Zelenskyy also received two books from the Holy Father including the 2020 "Statio Orbis" and "Persecuted for the Truth: Ukrainian Greek Catholics Behind the Iron Curtain."
In turn, Zelenskyy gifted the Holy Father an oil painting depicting the scene of a massacre that took place in the Ukrainian city of Bucha from the perspective of a young girl named Marichka. More than 630 civilians were killed in the Russian attack.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents Pope Francis with a painting during their meeting on Oct. 11, 2024, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
The Oct. 11 meeting is the fourth meeting the Ukrainian president has had with the Holy Father since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. The last meeting between the two leaders took place in June when Zelenskyy was in Italy for the G7 Summit.
Since February 2022, Pope Francis has regularly used his general audiences and Angelus addresses to express his concern for the victims of the ongoing conflict in the region, calling for an end to the violence, access to humanitarian aid, and the release of prisoners.
The Ukrainian leader also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations, to discuss the "state of the war," humanitarian issues, and pathways that could lead to "just and stable peace" in Ukraine.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
Last month, Parolin met with Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova via a Sept. 16 video conference to discuss the need to safeguard international human rights conventions, with the prelate thanking her for her role in securing the release of two Redemptorist priests.
During his special June 29 Angelus address for the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Francis expressed gratitude for the release of the two Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests: "I give thanks to God for the freeing of the two Greek Catholic priests. May all the prisoners of this war soon return home."
Pope meets with head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
On Thursday, the Holy Father also met with the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who is participating in this year's session of the Synod on Synodality as a representative of Eastern-rite Churches.
Shevchuk has asked all people to support the suffering people of Ukraine with their solidarity, prayers, and humanitarian aid.
"Nearly 6 million Ukrainians will face a food crisis this winter. We need to feed the hungry," he said in a Vatican News report.
University of Mary students gather to celebrate the Blessed Mother's birthday at the school's grotto. / Credit: Mike McCleary/University of MaryCNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Amid low enrollment at academic institutions across the country, Catholic colleges and universities with strong Catholic identities have bucked the trend, boasting high enrollment for fall 2024.College enrollment has been declining since 2010 by approximately 12%. Enrollment at private four-year colleges decreased by 54% from 2010 to 2021. Meanwhile, enrollment nationwide declined by 7% from 2019 to 2022.But at 11 Catholic colleges, enrollment is up, some with record enrollment rates. What these thriving colleges have in common is a "strong Catholic identity," according to the Newman Guide, an education resource for Catholics by the Cardinal Newman Society. CNA caught up with some of these Catholic schools to ask their leaders why they believe their schools are thriving.University of Mary (North ...
University of Mary students gather to celebrate the Blessed Mother's birthday at the school's grotto. / Credit: Mike McCleary/University of Mary
CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Amid low enrollment at academic institutions across the country, Catholic colleges and universities with strong Catholic identities have bucked the trend, boasting high enrollment for fall 2024.
College enrollment has been declining since 2010 by approximately 12%. Enrollment at private four-year colleges decreased by 54% from 2010 to 2021. Meanwhile, enrollment nationwide declined by 7% from 2019 to 2022.
But at 11 Catholic colleges, enrollment is up, some with record enrollment rates. What these thriving colleges have in common is a "strong Catholic identity," according to the Newman Guide, an education resource for Catholics by the Cardinal Newman Society. CNA caught up with some of these Catholic schools to ask their leaders why they believe their schools are thriving.
University of Mary (North Dakota)
University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, had its largest incoming class for its second year straight, the media relations specialist for "UMary," Tom Ackerman, told CNA. This fall, enrollment increased from 3,805 students in 2023 to 3,861 students.
UMary Vice President for Public Affairs Rachael Brash credited the growth to UMary's "authentic" Catholic identity.
"When you are mission-centric in everything that you do for students, it shows," Brash told CNA. "It goes in direct opposition to what's happening in so many parts of our culture today."
UMary has 24-hour-a-day adoration at its Benet Chapel and offers eight different Catholic student groups, including the Knights of Columbus and FOCUS.
"I think that the students, prospective students, and their families are seeking authenticity," she said. "At the University of Mary, what we hear the most out of our students is that we are who we say we are. And that's why I think so many places, including the University of Mary, are succeeding in bucking against that trend of declining enrollment. It's because we have kept ourselves ordered correctly and understanding who we're serving."
Procession of University of Mary students as they celebrate the Blessed Mother's birthday. Credit: Mike McCleary/University of Mary
"We want our students to feel like they come home when they come to our campus," Brash said of UMary.
"We have an environment where we want students to flourish throughout the whole of their life," Brash said. "And so our students come prepared, not just with the current relevant skill sets and the newest technology, but the ability to understand the world and interact in it in a way that is true to both our mission, but that's true to serve them throughout the whole of their life."
Belmont Abbey College (North Carolina)
Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina, just outside Charlotte, announced its fourth-highest enrollment rates in the college's history. The college had a 2% increase in enrollment since last year, with 1,687 students enrolled, including in-person and online undergraduate and graduate students.
Belmont Abbey College as well as UMary both feature maternity programs for student mothers. Belmont's maternity program for pregnant college students is known as MiraVia. UMary's St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers program made headlines last year after its first student mom graduated with her daughter.
"It's providing these young mothers with a great opportunity to go to school and get their bachelor's degree," Brash said of UMary's program. "But we're equally as blessed to have these young children on our campus and for students to be babysitting them and for these mothers to be helping each other and for their opportunity to go to a job here on campus."
Katie Chihoski, the first mom to graduate from University of Mary's St. Teresa of Calcutta Community for Mothers, walks across the stage with her daughter Lucia. Credit: Mike McCleary/University of Mary
"We talk about being pro-life, and of course, you know this, that in our culture, that's talked mainly about abortion and end of life," she said. "But for life, so much of it happens between birth and death."
Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio)
Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS) in Ohio has hit its 10th consecutive year of record-breaking enrollment, John Romanowsky, director of marketing and media relations, told CNA. FUS welcomed its largest-ever incoming class of 812 students. The university has a total of 3,977 students enrolled in both its in-person and online programs.
At least four Masses are offered daily on campus, often with standing room only, Stephen Hildebrand, vice president for academic affairs and a theology professor at FUS, told CNA last December.
FUS has continued its growth by launching a Washington, D.C., program this fall for students that prioritizes evangelization, formation, and bringing a Catholic perspective to the capital.
The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.)
The Catholic University of America (CUA), America's oldest Catholic research university, experienced slight growth in enrollment amid challenges, Vice President for University Communications Karna Lozoya told CNA.
"Like many Catholic universities nationwide, this enrollment cycle presented challenges in first-time fall enrollment due to the well-documented FAFSA delays and the resultant cost uncertainty," Lozoya said. "Despite these obstacles, we are pleased to report a slight increase in overall student enrollment."
CUA has had increased interest in applications as part of "an upward trend in interest we've seen over the past several years," Lozoyanoted.
Ave Maria University (Florida)
Ave Maria University in Florida also had record-high enrollment in fall 2024 while increasing its GPA standards for applicants.
"Students want to come here," Susan Gallagher, vice president of marketing and communications, said, "especially when they visit and see the Ave joy — joy in the truth."
Ave Maria also has the highest percentage of Catholic students in more than a decade, at 93%.
University of Dallas (Texas)
Another university that has seen increased enrollment is the University of Dallas, where freshman enrollment was up significantly over last year, with a class of nearly 400 — a 14% increase from last year, Clare Venegas, vice president of marketing and communications, told CNA.
"Our strong Catholic identity coupled with the academic rigor of our curriculum are both key reasons students cite for choosing UDallas," Venegas said.
Caption: A Eucharistic procession on campus at University of St. Thomas Houston. Credit: University of St. Thomas Houston
University of St. Thomas, Houston (Texas)
University of St. Thomas, Houston, another Catholic university in Texas, also welcomed a record-breaking undergraduate class this fall, with 683 freshmen and more than 200 new transfer students, according to Sara Nevares Johnson, dean of admissions.
She said the school has been taking steps to increase enrollment and development.
"At the University of St. Thomas, we're witnessing a growing desire among students to develop holistically — in mind, body, and spirit," Nevares Johnson told CNA. "Our year-over-year increase in inquiries and applications reflects a rising interest in pursuing a liberal arts education right here in the heart of Houston, standing in contrast to the national trend of declining university enrollment."
"Rooted in the traditions of the Basilian Fathers, our mission resonates with students seeking a deeper understanding of their purpose and place in the world," she said.
Benedictine College (Kansas)
A liberal arts college in a small city of 10,000 has been growing for the past 20 years. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, has seen "another year of record enrollment, with 2,213 full-time undergraduates," Benedictine College's Director of Marketing and Communications Stephen Johnson told CNA.
"This is a continuing trend of positive enrollment growth over the past 20-plus years," he added.
Benedictine is seeing growing freshmen classes as well as "large increases" in transfer students, Johnson noted.
Benedictine highlights Catholic values such as being "Christ-centered" and community- and faith-oriented, according to its website.
The small but mighty
Most liberal arts colleges are on the small side, with numbers in the thousands, compared with public universities, which can reach tens of thousands. Some Catholic liberal arts colleges are designed for an even smaller number of students. In spite of being small by design, these colleges are still setting records.
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (New Hampshire)
The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire, which keeps its student body intentionally small, hit its largest number of students this year: 98, the college president, William Edmund Fahey, told CNA. The college's student body has more than doubled since 2009.
Fahey said the college is "at the point at which we will need to run a building campaign so as to house the increase."
Students attend class at Christendom College in Virginia. Credit: Paul Aguilar/Christendom
Christendom College (Virginia)
Another school that is intentionally small but growing is Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. Christendom reached its enrollment cap for the past four years, instituting a waiting list each year.
"We had to institute a waiting list for the fourth year in a row this year, due to the continued high demand for a Christendom education," Christendom Director of Communications Zachary Smith told CNA. "In fact, over the past 10 years, Christendom has grown by 40%, helping us to achieve our cap of 550 students."
"We keep the school intentionally small in order to keep class sizes smaller," Smith explained. "This fosters more discussion in the classroom and better connections between students, their peers, and their professors."
Thomas Aquinas College (California and Massachusetts)
Another intentionally small school, Thomas Aquinas College, has expanded to two campuses to grow. "TAC" keeps its student body intentionally small given its Socratic style classes and focuses on a tight-knit community. TAC has two campuses, one in California and one in New England.
The two campuses combined hit record-high enrollment this fall at 566 students, Christopher Weinkopf, the college's executive director for college relations, told CNA. The California campus was near capacity, at 372 students, and the New England campus has its largest student body yet, at 194 students, about a 13% increase since last year, according to Weinkopf.
"These numbers are very much in keeping with the overall trend: California has been at maximum capacity for years, and the number of students on our New England campus has nearly quadrupled since its launching in 2019, in keeping with our campus growth plan," Weinkopf explained.
Other Newman Guide schools including Wyoming Catholic College and John Paul the Great Catholic University are known for their Catholic identity but did not respond with enrollment data in time for publication.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Cabinet. / Credit: Official photograph of the Office of the President of Colombia. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
