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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 25, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

In the wake of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signing an executive order banning "conversion therapy" for children, some experts are raising the alarm that the move could have a "chilling effect" on beneficial mental health counseling.

The order, signed by Beshear last week, defines conversion therapy as "any practice, treatment, or intervention that seeks or purports to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender."

The order prohibits state and federal funding for conversion therapy and counseling and gives state licensing boards authority to penalize practitioners offering such services to minors.

In a Sept. 18 press statement, the state's Democratic governor said conversion therapy "has no basis in medicine or science, and it can cause significant long-term harm to our kids, including increased rates of suicide and depression."

"Kentucky cannot possibly reach its full potential unless it is free from discrimination by or against any citizen — unless all our people feel welcome in our spaces, free from unjust barriers and supported to be themselves," the governor said. "This is about protecting our youth from an inhumane practice that hurts them."

Free speech experts raise alarm

According to Liberty Counsel, a law firm specializing in religious freedom and free speech, the order's broad definition of conversion therapy means that therapists are prohibited from simply counseling patients who want to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.

The law firm also called the order an "unconstitutional" sidestep of the Kentucky Legislature after that branch of the state government has repeatedly protected children by rejecting attempts to enact an actual law banning counseling.  

"Counseling for gender confusion is actually talk therapy," Liberty Counsel said in a Sept. 19 press release. "Gov. Beshear's order ignores minors with unwanted same-sex attractions or gender confusion and makes it illegal for them to get professional help to stop their mental distress."

Daniel Schmid, an attorney with Liberty Counsel, told CNA that since only the legislature can ban conversion therapy the order is largely a "paper tiger" with little legal effect and cannot prohibit counseling.

Nevertheless, he said the order "creates a significant First Amendment problem" for counselors, children, and parents. He said the order will likely have a significant chilling effect on therapists who may be intimidated by the threat of losing their professional license.

"If you're a licensed professional, loss of your license is loss of your livelihood," he said. "If all you do is listen to the media or listen to what the governor said, which is that we're prohibiting this and we're going to come after the people who do it, that is a significant enough cause for concern for many counselors."

"There may be counselors out there who say, 'Well, I don't like the idea in here that I could be referred for professional discipline.' That's, of course, a chill," he said.

Conversion therapy bans

Currently, 28 states and the District of Columbia restrict or ban conversion therapy on minors, according to data gathered by the pro-LGBTQ think tank the Movement Advancement Project.

Melissa Moschella, a professor specializing in biomedical ethics and parental rights at the University of Notre Dame, told CNA that these bans effectively put a gag on therapists from seeking out the underlying causes of gender dysphoria and instead mandate "really bad therapy."

"A lot of the support for these bans, at least initially, came from horror stories about electroshock therapy for people with same-sex attraction and things like that," she explained. "But now the term conversion therapy is defined so broadly that it basically means any form of therapy that doesn't completely affirm and support either a same-sex attraction or a transgender identity."

Moschella said there is "no evidence at all" that so-called conversion therapy, which she said seeks to explore the underlying mental health issues surrounding gender, increases suicidality or exacerbates mental health problems. On the contrary, she said this type of therapy appears to be "the only therapy that in the long run actually seems to help."

Ultimately, Moschella said these bans will "make it much harder" for parents to find good therapists and will "require a great deal of courage" on the part of therapists to offer genuine counseling to children suffering from gender dysphoria.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 24, 2024 / 18:25 pm (CNA).

In an address to the United Nations' "Summit of the Future" in New York, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's secretary of state, emphasized the need for promoting the dignity of the human person and voiced the Vatican's disapproval of the assembly's promotion of abortion and gender ideology.

Parolin addressed U.N. members gathered for the summit on Monday. Though praising summit attendees for engaging in dialogue, Parolin commented that there is a "need to rethink actions in a number of areas."

The cardinal voiced the Vatican's concerns with a document titled "Pact for the Future," which was passed by summit attendees on Sunday. He said that "in conformity with its nature and particular mission, [the Holy See] wishes to express its reservations" regarding the assembly's promotion of abortion and gender ideology.

The Holy See retains the status of a nonvoting "permanent observer" in the United Nations.

What did Parolin say?

Parolin emphasized the need to promote the dignity of the human person across the world. He praised the summit as a "reason for hope" amid a time of crisis in which there is an ongoing "erosion of trust between nations, as evidenced by the growing prevalence and intensity of conflict."

"Today, the sense of belonging to a single human family is fading, and the dream of working together for justice and peace seems outdated and utopian. This need not be the case, if there is a will to engage in genuine dialogue," Parolin said. "If dignity is the foundation and integral human development is the goal of our future, dialogue is the necessary means."

Though the "Pact for the Future" passed by the summit does not mention abortion explicitly, it states the summit's goal to "ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights." "Reproductive health" and "reproductive rights" are terms used to refer to an array of primarily women's health services, often including abortion.

"Regarding the terms 'sexual and reproductive health' and 'reproductive rights,' the Holy See considers these terms as applying to a holistic concept of health, which embrace, each in their own way, the person in the entirety of his or her personality, mind, and body, and which foster the achievement of personal maturity in sexuality and in the mutual love and decision-making that characterize the conjugal relationship between a man and a woman in accordance with moral norms," Parolin said.

"The Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion or abortifacients as a dimension of these terms," he clarified.

"With reference to 'gender,'" Parolin continued, "the Holy See understands the term to be grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female."

What other issues did Parolin emphasize?

Parolin went on to emphasize the Vatican's belief that the "eradication of poverty" through global development must be the "overarching goal of all future action."

He also stressed the need for the pursuit of peace through global disarmament and the "total elimination of nuclear weapons," saying that "narrow geopolitical considerations must be put aside and strong economic lobbies must be resisted in order to uphold human dignity and ensure a future in which all human beings can enjoy integral development, both as individuals and as a community."

Finally, Parolin also said there is an "urgent need" for governments to regulate the development of artificial intelligence to promote "AI ethics that encompasses the life cycle of AI and addresses, inter alia, data protection, accountability, bias, and the impact of AI on employment."

"Above all," Parolin said, "thinking of the future should take into account the needs and interests of future generations. It is imperative that a dignified future is guaranteed for all, ensuring the provision of the requisite conditions — including a nurturing family environment — to facilitate flourishing while simultaneously addressing the myriad challenges that impede this, including those resulting from poverty, conflict, exploitation, and addiction."

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Puebla, Mexico, Sep 24, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The Catholic Church has issued an alert to parents, priests, and catechists to "take all necessary security measures" following recent reports of the disappearance of minors and the confirmed existence of a gang dedicated to child theft.

In a circular letter dated Sept. 17, Cuernavaca Bishop Ramón Castro indicated that "reports of the disappearance of minors have been filed, and the media have reported the existence of a gang dedicated to the theft of children that has been corroborated by the authorities."

One of the most recent cases is that of Joshua, a baby stolen in Cuautla, Morelos, on July 2. According to the local media outlet La Jornada, the minor was rescued along with other minors on Sept. 17 as part of a joint operation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (FGR, by its Spanish acronym) and the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA, by its Spanish acronym) in Chiapas.

The FGR reported on Sept. 17 that five people were arrested in relation to the operation for their alleged participation in a minor trafficking ring.

According to central government statistics, since the Oct. 1, 2018, beginning of Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo's term as governor of Morelos, there have been 379 disappearances of minors in the state, mostly girls.

Castro called for reinforced security in "all catechetical centers," urging that "in the event of the slightest suspicion, the municipal authorities be informed." The prelate highlighted the importance of assuming "together the responsibility of caring for our children."

In addition, Castro urged the Catholic faithful to pray so that this situation "that worries us at the moment is transformed into an environment of security" in order to guarantee well-being and harmony.

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St. Louis, Mo., Sep 23, 2024 / 16:45 pm (CNA).

A Missouri death row inmate sentenced to death for a 1998 murder will have his case reviewed by the state Supreme Court ahead of his scheduled execution on Tuesday. 

Attorneys for Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams argued before the court Monday that Williams did not receive a fair criminal trial in part because of the racial makeup of the jury and the fact that the trial prosecutor struck at least one juror in part because of his race, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. 

Felicia "Lisha" Gayle, a reporter for the Post-Dispatch, was found brutally stabbed dozens of times in her home in the St. Louis suburb of University City in 1998. Circumstantial evidence, including the discovery of several of Gayle's personal belongings in Williams' car, tied him to the break-in and murder. Williams also allegedly confessed to the murder to his girlfriend and a fellow inmate. 

Williams, who was already serving jail time for two unrelated robberies, was charged with Gayle's murder in 1999 and convicted in 2001. St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Hilton upheld Williams' conviction earlier this month. 

Though Williams has maintained his innocence throughout the process, his filing with the Missouri Supreme Court emphasized the alleged constitutional errors in his initial trial, including alleged racial bias. Williams was convicted by a jury with 11 white people on it and only one fellow Black person, which his attorneys argued reflected the fact that the prosecutor struck at least one potential Black juror because he and Williams "looked like brothers."

Williams' attorneys had recently pushed for Williams' release after new DNA testing revealed at least two other people's DNA on the knife used in the murder, though it later came to light that the DNA belonged to law enforcement professionals who had handled the knife without gloves. 

Williams, who is Muslim, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Sept. 24. Missouri is among the most prolific of all U.S. states when it comes to the death penalty; it was one of only five states to carry out executions in 2023, carrying out four that year. In April, Republican Gov. Mike Parson denied a death row inmate's clemency request despite protests from Catholics and others, clearing the way for the state's first execution of 2024. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as "inadmissible" and an "attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person" (CCC, No. 2267). The change reflects a development of Catholic doctrine in recent years. St. John Paul II, calling the death penalty "cruel and unnecessary," encouraged Christians to be "unconditionally pro-life" and said that "the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil."

The Missouri Catholic Conference, which advocates for public policy on behalf of the state's bishops, encouraged Catholics to contact Parson to express their opposition to Williams' execution. (Parson has never granted clemency to a death row inmate during his governorship.)

"The Catholic Church is strongly opposed to the death penalty because it disregards the sanctity and dignity of human life," the conference noted. 

In addition, the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national advocacy group that demonstrates against the death penalty, urged Catholics to oppose Williams' execution, calling him "a loving father, mentor, and respected leader within the incarcerated community" as well as "an accomplished poet who has dedicated much of his time in prison to studying Islam and writing poetry."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 23, 2024 / 17:15 pm (CNA).

Vice President Kamala Harris is breaking with four decades of political tradition by snubbing the Al Smith Dinner, a charity fundraiser hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

The New York Post reported on Saturday that Harris has decided to skip the event. This is the first time a presidential candidate has refused an invitation to the dinner since then-Democratic nominee Walter Mondale did so in 1984.

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who as archbishop has served as host of the dinner for the past several years, sitting between the two candidates, responded to the decision by telling reporters that the archdiocese is "disappointed." 

According to a video of a press conference posted online Monday by Dolan's podcast "The Good Newsroom," the cardinal said the archdiocese had been "looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome."

"We're not used to this, we don't know how to handle it," he said, noting that Mondale lost 49 out of 50 states after refusing the archdiocese's invitation.

"I don't want to say that there's a direct connection there," he said, smiling, "but we're not used to this and we're not giving up." 

Joseph Zwilling, communications director for the Archdiocese of New York, confirmed to CNA that Harris' staff informed the archdiocese on Saturday that the vice president was "unable" to attend the dinner. Harris' staff has said she will not be attending the dinner so that she can instead campaign in key battleground states, according to the New York Post.

Former president Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, will attend the $5,000-a-plate black-tie event, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 17 in New York City, Karoline Leavitt, Trump's 2024 national press secretary, told CNA.

Trump said in a Monday Truth Social post that Harris' decision to skip the event is consistent with what he called her "history of anti-Catholic actions."

"It's sad, but not surprising, that Kamala has decided not to attend," Trump said. "I don't know what she has against our Catholic friends, but it must be a lot because she certainly has not been very nice to them."

Trump said that Catholics are "literally being persecuted" by the Biden-Harris administration and that "any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined."  

The Al Smith Dinner, first held in 1946, was named in honor of the first Catholic to run for president and raises millions of dollars for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.

The event has seen the participation of some of the most prominent political and cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon attended the dinner in 1960, it has been a tradition for both presidential nominees to attend and exchange lighthearted jokes about each other.

At this year's dinner prominent Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan will be the master of ceremonies. 

According to Dolan, the archdiocese has not given up hope on Harris attending. He said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who represents New York, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul are "working hard to see that they convince her to come."

"Sen. Schumer said to me: 'I don't think she made the decision; I think her schedulers are saying she can't make it,'" Dolan said. "So, we're not giving up, we hope she's there. It's a grand evening and it's an evening of fun and friendship with an extraordinarily noble goal."

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, a national Catholic civil rights group, told CNA that Harris' decision is "probably a good move" given the format of the event.  

"This is a high-profile event that is well covered by the media and it is attended by New York notables from many walks of life. It is a jovial atmosphere where both candidates get a chance to 'roast' the other. My guess is that Vice President Kamala Harris is not used to such a setting," Donohue explained.

"Her less-than-average ability to think quickly on her feet surely must have been a factor in her taking a pass," he said. "The event would play to Trump's strengths — he is a New Yorker — and her weakness."

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CNA Newsroom, Sep 23, 2024 / 13:25 pm (CNA).

Just days after organizers of the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October said topics were not the focus of discussions, two prominent participants have publicly weighed in on the question of Catholics identifying as LGBTQ.

Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe and Jesuit Father James Martin on Sept. 19 published personal reflections on pastoral approaches to Catholics experiencing same-sex attraction.

Radcliffe, who served as a spiritual assistant at the 2023 synod assembly, has courted controversy in the past with statements on same-sex attraction. He wrote in the Sept. 19 edition of L'Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See, about being on "the synodal path with gay Catholics."

The 79-year-old Dominican wrote that same-sex "desires," like all desires, are "God-given" and need to be "educated" rather than denied. Radcliffe praised "mature gay Catholics" in "committed relationships."

"Church teaching is already developing as it is refreshed by lived experience: gay people are no longer seen only in terms of sexual acts but as our brothers and sisters who, according to Pope Francis, can be blessed," Radcliffe added.

Strong opposition at the synod

Meanwhile, Father James Martin on Sept. 19 for America Magazine covered conversations he had with synod delegates over the past year regarding what he described as "LGBTQ issues."

The controversial Jesuit, who attended the 2023 synod as a papal appointee, reported encountering strong opposition.

The priest, who founded the pro-LGBTQ group Outreach, outlined several objections he heard from synod participants, including that LGBTQ ideology represents a form of neo-colonialism imposed on traditional cultures.

"In the end, the best way to help those who oppose" LGBTQ, Martin wrote, "is to meet them, listen to them, and come to know them as beloved children of God, that is, our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Critics have over the years accused Martin of rejecting Catholic teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual acts, but he has insisted that he does not reject the teaching of the Church.

The Church's consistent teaching on homosexuality is outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that while individuals with homosexual tendencies "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity," homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered" and "under no circumstances can they be approved" (CCC, 2357–2358).

The catechism further emphasizes that persons experiencing same-sex attraction "are called to chastity" and can draw nearer to Christian perfection through self-mastery, prayer, and sacramental grace (CCC, 2359).

Apostolates like Courage International offer spiritual support and fellowship for Catholics seeking to live according to Church teaching on this issue. Courage takes a chastity-based approach, helping members grow in holiness while embracing the Church's vision of human sexuality.

The articles by Radcliffe and Martin come as the Synod on Synodality prepares to hold its second and final session from Oct. 2–27 at the Vatican.

The gathering of bishops and other participants is expected to discuss a range of issues related to the Church's mission and internal life.

Controversial topics — such as LGBTQ questions — have been delegated to the competency of 15 study groups, whose mandate extends beyond the October synod to June 2025.

These groups will provide an update on their work at the beginning of the synod session in October.

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ACI MENA, Sep 23, 2024 / 15:56 pm (CNA).

Christians in southwestern Arabia, and specifically in Aden, a port city located in Yemen, have a deeply-rooted history dating back to the fourth century. Despite persecution over the centuries, the Christian faith continued to flourish and expand, becoming the most widespread religion in Aden before the advent of Islam. But with the rise of extremist religious thought, the Christian minority there has experienced hardship. 

Badr, a Yemeni Catholic woman born in the 1980s and living in Aden, spoke recently about the plight of Christians there with ACI Mena, CNA's Arabic-language news partner.

Wishing to remain anonymous, she explained: "I didn't realize that we, as Christians, were a minority until I reached middle school. There, I experienced harsh challenges related to my faith and to the loss of our rights."

She continued: "Although some small churches became nationalized in the 1970s, Christians maintained the right to education in schools and employment in government jobs before 1994. Women enjoyed the freedom to dress [as they wish], and on the religious level, we were allowed to pray inside churches that were tax-free like mosques. The state also provided visas and residency status for foreign priests. No one pressured us to change our religion."

However, Badr said all of that changed when the Muslim Brotherhood came to power. 

"We were forced to wear the hijab," she told ACI Mena. "The government officially prohibited us from celebrating midnight Mass on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Christians accepted the situation and did not raise their voices. Some emigrated, others changed their religion, fearing to lose their homes and jobs. Many practiced their faith behind closed doors at a time when the Church did not support young people or work on strengthening families."

She continued: "After 1994, the authorities tried to make Yemen an Islamic state. They wiped out our identity as Christians and refused to write 'Christian' on documents. Christians had to write either 'Muslim' or leave a blank space. They accused us of being 'remnants of British colonialism' and said that 'the United States funds us.' Teachers pressured me to change my religion and forced me to read the Quran daily. When I got full marks in Islamic education, they would reduce my grades, because they told me 'a Christian couldn't be equal to a Muslim.'" 

Badr said the most critical period for Christians in Aden began with the outbreak of the 2015 war and the subsequent closure of churches. 

"After being banned from praying, we started praying secretly in the convent of the nuns," she said. "Unfortunately, all the nuns were later killed. The priest was kidnapped. The churches were stolen, and some were vandalized."

"In 2018, the authorities refused to renew our passports unless we wrote the word 'Islam' in the religion section of the application form, as we were told: 'There are no Christians in Yemen.'" 

Badr noted that there has been a recent improvement in the situation of Christians: They have been recognized again as citizens. She called on the Catholic Church to seek to restore its presence in Aden, to send priests there, and to reopen the churches that remain closed to this day.

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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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 23, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Last week, the first screening in the U.S. of the BBC documentary "Better Off Dead?" took place in the United States Congress.

Produced by British actress and renowned disability rights advocate Liz Carr, the film shows from a secular perspective how assisted-suicide laws around the world threaten the lives of individuals with disabilities.  

Carr, who is not religious, told CNA that for many people, the absence of nonreligious arguments against assisted suicide has disadvantaged the cause.

"I think that for too long, opposition to assisted suicide has been marginalized, sidelined as being pretty much religious, only religious. And therefore, it's been seen as not valid by some people," she said, "depending on the perspective." 

Carr makes the case that assisted suicide "becomes an ultimate discrimination against certain groups of people" who may not have a voice.

"If you're a disabled person," she said, "often if you come under these laws, then what happens is you pretty much fast-track to encouragement, to be assisted, to end your life rather than receiving suicide prevention."

Ultimately, she argued, assisted-suicide laws suggest "that some lives are more important than others," an idea that stems from the commonly held position that having a disability is "a fate worse than death." 

The central point of 'Better Off Dead?'

Carr explained to CNA that the central point of the documentary "Better Off Dead?" is to counteract this position, showing that life has value regardless of whether an individual has full functional control of his or her body.

Carr since age 7 has been disabled due to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare genetic condition affecting joints and muscles, and has used a wheelchair since age 14. As a young girl, she recalled, the absence of imagery of disabled people living valuable lives had at times led her to wonder whether nonexistence was better than existence for a disabled person.

"The dominant ideas [regarding the issue] are that in order to be a valuable human being, you should be able to walk and do basic tasks for yourself," she said. "Well then when I couldn't do those things, when I never saw people like me in the media doing anything other than being cared for and living in care homes, of course I would want to die."

"To imagine that, and then to see now, you know, I'm sitting on a beautiful terrace in Washington, D.C.," she said, continuing: "There is no way that when I was 12, I would imagine 40 years later at 52 what my life would be like."

"How many lives did we lose because people feel hopeless?" she speculated. "And what could we have done to have alleviated that suffering and that hopelessness?" 

In comments to CNA after the screening, co-sponsored by the National Council on Disability, the Patients Rights Action Fund, and Not Dead Yet, Matt Vallière of the Patients Rights Action Fund expressed appreciation for Carr's "phenomenal documentary" and optimism regarding the current climate for stopping and reversing assisted-suicide laws in the U.S.

"With Democratic Gov. [John] Carney vetoing the assisted-suicide bill in Delaware," Vallière stated, "we are poised as a movement to see three years in a row of no new states legalizing assisted suicide and seeing increasing bipartisan opposition to these dangerous and discriminatory public policies."

"A myriad of stories of abuse and harms [are] coming out of legal jurisdictions, here in the states, just north in Canada, and abroad, as well as a major federal lawsuit levied against the state of California by progressive disability-rights groups," Vallière pointed out, noting that legislators on both sides of the aisle have begun "having second thoughts about these insidious laws." 

Bipartisan resolution

Testifying to that bipartisan sentiment, Reps. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, and Lou Correa, D-California, also spoke at the screening.

The two representatives introduced a resolution in May "expressing the sense of the Congress that assisted suicide (sometimes referred to using other terms) puts everyone, including those most vulnerable, at risk of deadly harm."

The two lauded Carr for her transformative activism, with Wenstrup, who is a physician, declaring that "to support this case is a no-brainer."

"Until that last breath is taken, human life has value," Wenstrup emphasized.

The Ohio congressman told the story of his father's passing, noting that in his final days, his dad began to recite the Lord's Prayer. He speculated that had his father's death been expedited, this spiritual moment may not have occurred.

"We gotta respect life," he concluded.

Correa, a Catholic, agreed, stating his belief in the "moral responsibility" of legislators to facilitate heightened access to resources such as palliative care for those with terminal illnesses rather than opening the door to medically-assisted death.

Speaking with CNA after the event, Carr expressed her gratitude to the representatives for attending and showing their support, saying "it gave real importance" to the issue. 

"These appearances matter," she said. "It matters that representatives, you know, whichever country we're in, that are our lawmakers and politicians, that they engage with these issues."

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National Catholic Register, Sep 23, 2024 / 11:15 am (CNA).

One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. 

Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.

As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here's a look at 13 facts about St. Pio's life and faith.

1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.

Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.

2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice. 

Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.

3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.

On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion. 

4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume. 

Referred to as the "odor of sanctity," the blood that came from Padre Pio's wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.

5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.

While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessionial. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.

The saint once said: "Confession is the soul's bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!"

6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis. 

From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil.

In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: "The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul."

Amorth continued: "The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis."

7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.

Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world. 

As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred "by an extension of his personality."

8. A sighting of a "flying friar" kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio's town during World War II. 

Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio's appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of this incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.

9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.

A doctor examining the saint's body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio's body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray. 

10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived. 

All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.

11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio. 

Several miracles have been attributed to the saint's intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.

12. He established a hospital.

Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means "Home for the Relief of the Suffering," was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.

13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer. 

Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late pope St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization.

The video below shows St. Pio celebrating Mass the day before his death:

This article was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.

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Vatican City, Sep 23, 2024 / 11:45 am (CNA).

Pope Francis has named 28 new consultors to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, including moral theologian Father Maurizio Chiodi, who has expressed opinions contrary to Church teaching.

Chiodi, a moral theologian, has come under media scrutiny in recent years for suggesting contraception use in marriage could be morally permissible in some circumstances.

In a 2017 lecture in Rome, the priest also said that homosexual relationships "under certain conditions" could be "the most fruitful way" for those with same-sex attraction "to enjoy good relations."

Chiodi was made a theology professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and the Family Sciences in 2019 following its refounding by Pope Francis. He has also been a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life since 2017.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office responsible for issues of doctrinal orthodoxy in the Catholic Church and the investigation and prosecution of sex abuse by priests, has been under the leadership of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández since September 2023. 

In the past year, the DDF has faced internal and ecumenical fallout from Fiducia Supplicans, the dicastery's declaration permitting nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples. It has also published a document on human dignity, Dignitas Infinita, that addresses growing concerns over gender theory, sex changes, surrogacy, and euthanasia in addition to abortion, poverty, human trafficking, and war.

In May, the dicastery also issued new norms on judging alleged Marian apparitions, subsequently approving Marian devotion at a number of spiritual sites, including most recently at Medjugorje.

The nearly three dozen new external consultants — experts in theology, canon law, and Scripture — will meet with existing DDF consultors to advise the dicastery's leadership and members at regular intervals.

The 28 new appointments are mostly Italian priest-theologians but also include six women — two religious sisters and four lay theologians — and two lay male theologians.

The full list of new consultors is below:

Bishop Antonio Staglianò, president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology

Father Giovanni Ancona, theology professor

Father Giacomo Canobbio, scientific director of the Catholic Academy of Brescia

Father Carlo Dell'Osso, secretary of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archeology in Rome

Father Basilio Petrà, theologian

Father Bruno Fabio Pighin, canonist

Father Mario Stefano Antonelli, rector of the Pontifical Lombardo Seminary of Sts. Ambrogio and Carlo in Rome

Father Pasquale Bua, theologian

Father Maurizio Chiodi, theologian

Father Massimo Del Pozzo, canonist

Father Aristide Fumagalli, theologian

Father Federico Giuntoli, biblicist

Father Pier Davide Guenzi, moral theologian

Father Franco Manzi, theologian

Father Massimo Regini, theologian

Father Raffaele Talmelli, superior general of the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete and exorcist

Father Denis Chardonnens, OCD, theologian

Father Armando Genovese, MSC, theologian

Father Juan Manuel Granados Rojas, SJ, biblicist

Father Dominic Sundararaj Irudayaraj, SJ, biblicist

Mario Bracci, theologian

Sister Giuseppina Daniela Del Gaudio, SFI, director of the Observatory for Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena regarding the Virgin Mary in the World

Sister Benedetta Rossi, Missionaries of Mary, biblicist

Donatella Abignente, theologian

Claudia Leal Luna, theologian

Sandra Mazzolini, theologian

Ignazia Siviglia, theologian

Emanuele Spedicato, canonist

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