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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 23, 2024 / 18:37 pm (CNA).

A Catholic pregnancy center in Chicago called "Aid for Women" was vandalized in the early morning hours after the closing of the Democratic National Convention.

No one was present at the center at the time of the incident. Police have been contacted and are investigating the incident as a violation of the Freedom of Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, according to Mary FioRito, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a spokesperson for Aid for Women.

Aid for Women is a non-profit which according to its website was "founded on the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church." 

The nonprofit operates five pregnancy centers and two maternity homes in the Chicago area. The group partners with the Archdiocese of Chicago and offers a range of services including ultrasounds, abortion pill reversal medications, counseling, and material aid.

FioRito, who has been a regular volunteer at Aid for Women for over two decades, told CNA that the incident occurred in north Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood at 3 a.m. Friday morning, hours after the DNC's final closing.

The act of vandalism was caught on the center's security camera. The footage has now been turned over to police.

According to FioRito, four vandals splattered red paint and painted the words "fake clinic" and "the dead babies are in Gaza" on the center's entrance. FioRito said that the vandals also cemented the center's doors shut, forcing staff to cancel all appointments on Friday — which she said were with about a dozen women.

As of Friday afternoon, the center's doors were still cemented shut and there is no timeline on when it will be able to reopen. FioRito said that this means the Aid for Women pregnancy center may have to cancel its appointments or ask women to visit another location on Saturday, which FioRito said is their busiest day.

FioRito said that when she saw the pictures of the damage to the center she was "horrified."  

Addressing the vandals she said: "You're not hurting us; you're hurting these women."

"These are working-class women. A lot of stuff for them is a struggle. Why would you do this to women who already are facing so many obstacles? It baffles me," she said.

The act of vandalism was caught on the center's security camera. The footage has now been turned over to police.

According to FioRito, there was an unusually low police presence in the neighborhood at the time of the incident due to the DNC which took place in another part of town.  

FioRito lamented that pregnancy centers have borne the brunt of anti-abortion anger since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

"It's so strange to me that pregnancy centers are somehow the collateral damage of all this anger over Roe being overturned because the pregnancy centers didn't have anything to do with it," she said. "Pregnancy centers are largely apolitical … they are not political advocates, they are not legal advocates, they simply help women."

Edgewater is an urban neighborhood as culturally diverse and "not a wealthy neighborhood."

"Many of the women we serve are not women of means," she said. "Pregnancy is hard enough. You don't need something like this layered on top of it, making your life even harder."

"If the people who did this were intending to hurt the pro-life movement or get back at the pro-life movement for Dobbs, all they're really hurting is poor women when they do something like this," said FioRito.

The DNC took place at Chicago's United Center this week, Aug. 19-22. Several of the Democratic speakers, including Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, highlighted abortion as a central issue in the 2024 election and condemned pro-life attempts to restrict abortion.

A local Planned Parenthood operated a free mobile abortion clinic just outside the convention. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers reported on Thursday that the mobile clinic had provided nine vasectomies and eight chemical abortions.

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Vatican City, Aug 23, 2024 / 12:15 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has accepted the decree of an archbishop approving the spiritual activities of the Catholic Shrine of Chandavila in the town of La Codosera in Badajoz, Spain, where Our Lady of Sorrows is alleged to have appeared to two young girls at the end of World War II.

An Aug. 22 letter from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) called Our Lady of Sorrows of Chandavila a "beautiful devotion," with "many positive aspects," including conversions, healing, and other visible signs of the action of the Holy Spirit in the pilgrims who visit the shrine. 

The letter, signed by DDF prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández and approved by Pope Francis in an Aug. 22 audience, said the shrine "may continue to offer to the faithful who wish to approach it, a place of interior peace, consolation, and conversion."

Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows of Chandavila springs from several alleged appearances of Our Lady of Sorrows to two young Spanish girls, 10-year-old Marcelina Barroso Expósito and 17-year-old Afra Brígido Blanco, close to the border with Portugal shortly before the end of World War II in 1945.

The DDF noted that "after the alleged visions, the two girls led a discreet and inconspicuous life. Both dedicated themselves to works of charity, especially to caring for the sick, the elderly, and orphans, thereby transmitting to those who are suffering the sweet consolation of the Virgin's love that they had experienced."

"There is nothing one can object to in this beautiful devotion," the letter added.

The Vatican's doctrinal office confirmed the "nihil obstat" judgment of the diocesan bishop, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M. In accordance with new norms on the discernment of "alleged supernatural phenomena," the local bishop must consult and receive final approval from the Vatican after investigating and judging alleged apparitions and connected devotions.

According to the May 17 norms, a "nihil obstat" judgment means: "Without expressing any certainty about the supernatural authenticity of the phenomenon itself, many signs of the action of the Holy Spirit are acknowledged 'in the midst' of a given spiritual experience, and no aspects that are particularly critical or risky have been detected, at least so far."

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 23, 2024 / 13:17 pm (CNA).

An audit by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revealed that there are tens of thousands of migrant children unaccounted for and many are vulnerable to being victims of human trafficking, exploitation and forced labor.

Published Aug.19, the audit contains the findings of an examination by the agency's Office of Inspector General into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations between fiscal years 2019 to 2023.

During this period, the report reveals that ICE processed 448,000 unaccompanied migrant children, referred to in the report as "UCs." Of those, over 32,000 unaccompanied children failed to appear at their scheduled immigration court hearings after being released to their "sponsors."

According to the report, ICE has limited oversight of unaccompanied minors and does not have a policy in place for children who do not show up to their court dates.

"Immigration court hearings are often ICE's only opportunity to observe and screen UCs for trafficking indicators or other safety concerns," the report stated.

Based on interviews with ICE officials, the report said migrant children "who did not appear in immigration court are considered more at risk for trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor."

"Without an ability to monitor the location and status of UCs, ICE has no assurance UCs are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor," said the report.

Additionally, the DHS reported that as of May 2024, 291,000 unaccompanied children who crossed the border into the U.S. were never given notices to appear in court.

At one ICE office visited by the DHS inspector general, 84% of the 41,638 unaccompanied minors processed - 34,823 children - were not given a notice to appear in court, meaning the government has little way to ensure their safety or initiate their immigration proceedings.

The report also noted that there is not a sufficient system in place to respond to fears that a minor's sponsor is not fit to assume custody of the child.

DHS said that "even if ICE were to identify UCs in unsafe conditions, the agency has limited authority to respond."

The report noted that "ICE personnel at two field offices affirmed this and explained they had identified UCs in unsafe conditions but were unable to intervene" and that one ICE officer "expressed concern with not being able to take action in a case involving a UC whose sponsor claimed the UC was in an inappropriate relationship with her husband."

The period of time covered by the report includes when both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden were in office. However, the number of unaccompanied minors processed by ICE during the years covered under the Biden administration more than triple that during Trump's.

Whereas 83,115 unaccompanied children were processed by ICE in 2019 and 2020, 265,705 children were processed between 2021 and 2023.

'Real-world consequences'

House Republicans are blaming the crisis on the Biden-Harris administration and particularly Vice President Kamala Harris for her role as lead on the administration's border policy.

In an Aug. 20 statement House Republicans said that Harris "oversaw the misplacement of nearly 300,000 illegal immigrant children" and that "no person bears more responsibility for this crisis."

Dylan Corbett, executive director of the El Paso humanitarian group the Hope Border Institute, told CNA that the report highlights the human costs of the political gridlock surrounding immigration.

"The DHS report is deeply concerning," said Corbett. "Our intractable polarization on immigration has real-world consequences and only gives control to smugglers and traffickers."

"We have moral and legal obligations to ensure the safety of children and to prevent and eradicate all forms of human trafficking," he added.

"This is an unacceptable byproduct of our inability to put in place a robust system of protections and safe and humane channels for those who need to migrate."

CNA was not able to reach the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration, Bishop Mark Seitz, for comment.

However, Chieko Noguchi, a spokeswoman for the U.S. bishops, responded to the report by telling CNA that the USCCB has been partnering with the government to promote the safety of migrant children. She said that "fighting and abolishing human trafficking, as well as other forms of abuse and exploitation" is "fundamental." 

"Through our ministries serving newcomers, we recognize that unaccompanied children are a particularly vulnerable population," she added. "The USCCB's Department of Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), together with its network of direct-service providers, works in partnership with the federal government to promote the safety, well-being, and best interests of those served." 

Noguchi indicated that the USCCB has asked the government to increase its funding to enhance protections for migrant children as well as made recommendations for practices they believe will help safeguard children once they have been released to a sponsor.

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Lima Newsroom, Aug 23, 2024 / 07:30 am (CNA).

Catholics are strictly prohibited from being Masons or belonging to Freemasonry. Below are seven facts to know in order to not be misled about the matter.

Recently, Father Eduardo Hayen, a Mexican priest of the diocese of Ciudad Juárez and director of the weekly publication "Presencia," pointed out on X that "a Catholic priest cannot give sacramental absolution to a Mason who asks for Confession and refuses to renounce Freemasonry."

"No matter how much some Masons insist that one can be Catholic and belong to a lodge, the reality is that these two visions of the world and of God are irreconcilable," he warned.

1. The idea of ??God

The outspoken priest explained that the idea of God "for Masons, is dictated by reason, while for Catholics it is given by the Revelation of God in Jesus Christ."

"For Freemasonry, God is the Great Architect of the Universe, but it denies that Jesus is begotten and not created, of the same nature as the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, who became incarnate and spoke to all men to offer them salvation," as the Nicene Creed of the Catholic Church declares.

2. Relativism

Hayen then warns that "while Freemasonry welcomes all religions in a religious relativism, Catholicism requires loving submission to the one true God, as well as the renunciation of all beliefs opposed to the God revealed by Christ."

3. Masonic 'mysteries'

The Mexican priest also pointed out that "Masonry studies 'mysteries' that are revealed only to a few initiates who reach higher levels of knowledge of these enigmas. The Catholic, on the other hand, knows the Great Mystery that was hidden for centuries and that was revealed in the fullness of time, when the Word became man."

"This 'Great Mystery' is not for a few, but for all humanity: man is immensely loved by God and is called to participate, in Christ, in the same divine life here on earth and in eternity," Hayen emphasizes.

4. Fraternity in Freemasonry

"Fraternity in Freemasonry comes from the ideals of the French Revolution: it is the generic idea of ??being brothers only because we are of the same human race," the Mexican priest explained.

"Being brothers for Catholics, on the other hand, is first recognizing the source of brotherhood, which is God the Father, who gave his Son Jesus Christ to make us sons in the Son," who gives himself for all of us daily in the Eucharist.

5. Masonic philanthropy vs. Christian charity

Hayen also noted that "Christian charity is different from Masonic philanthropy. Masons say that it is based on doing good, but what good? For them there is no morality based on natural law and the Ten Commandments. In fact, the promotion of abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage are of Masonic inspiration. They base their actions on moral and doctrinal relativism."

The priest emphasized that "for Catholics, on the other hand, charity is inspired by the commandment of love for Christ: 'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you' (Jn 13:34), and it is Christ himself who lives in his brothers: 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me' (Mt 25:40)."

6. What does the Catholic Church say about Masons?

The Code of Canon Law establishes in Canon 1374 that "A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; one who promotes or takes office in such an association is to be punished with an interdict."

Broadly speaking, an interdict can be defined as a canonical penalty or censure that, while it does not break the communion with the Church like excommunication, it does deprive the person of celebrating or participating in sacraments.

The wording of the Code of Canon Law approved in 1983 differs from the 1917 version in two respects: the penalty is not automatic and there is no explicit mention of Freemasonry.

In response to this, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, when he was prefect of the Congregation — today a Dicastery — for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican, published the 1983 "Declaration on Freemasonry."

This text by the future Pope Benedict XVI highlights that "the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church." 

Therefore "membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion," the text declares.

7. The latest Vatican document on Freemasons

On Nov. 15, 2023, the Vatican reaffirmed that Catholics cannot belong to Freemasonry and are prohibited from joining a lodge due to their "irreconcilability" with Catholic doctrine.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith made this declaration in a document released at the time, with the signature of its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, a text approved by Pope Francis.

The letter was issued in response to a query from Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete in the Philippines, who expressed to the Holy See his concern about the situation in his diocese caused by "the continuous increase in the number of faithful" who are joining Freemasonry.

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

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Denver Newsroom, Aug 23, 2024 / 11:09 am (CNA).

With pro-abortion measures now on ballots in nine states, a prominent pro-life activist, appearing on EWTN's "Pro-Life Weekly" called on pro-lifers to "be engaged."

Abortion is currently on the ballot in Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota, Missouri, New York, Maryland, Florida, and potentially Nebraska, where a measure is pending.   

When asked on Thursday if it's likely for these measures to be passed, Kelsey Pritchard, the director of state public affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told EWTN News President and COO Montse Alvarado that "it all depends upon what happens between now and election day in those states."

"As the pro-life community, we all need to be engaged," she said. "We need to pray, and we need to engage however we can, whether it's by making sure everyone in our lives knows what these amendments do, or whether it's by donating money or donating our time."

"Arizona already has a 15-week law, so this would be about abortions purely after the point science shows a baby can feel pain: this is after when a baby can smile, suck their thumb, when you know if it's a boy or a girl," said Pritchard. "This is about late-term abortion."

"Again, in Montana, they already have a viability law," she continued. "This is about enshrining second and third trimester abortion and forcing taxpayers to find abortion."

Many of the ballot measures would enshrine abortion as a right and allow abortion up until "fetal viability," generally around 22-24 weeks. But Pritchard said that "the way things are worded in those amendments, they essentially allow all trimester abortion, because they have gaping health exceptions that the courts have ruled can include familial health, age."

"The abortionist is the one who decides when a woman needs an abortion," Pritchard said. "An abortionist can, at any point in a woman's pregnancy, justify abortion. That is horrific. That is even after the point of viability, when a baby could survive outside of the womb." 

Pritchard said that the current Democratic platform is "very extreme" on abortion. 

"I can tell you that the Democratic platform mentions abortion more than [it] ever has. They use the word abortion 13 times in their platform. In previous years, it's been in there two, three, four times," she said. 

"Abortion is what they're running on. They're very extreme on this issue. They believe in all-trimester abortion, no limits whatsoever."

This week's Democratic National Convention featured numerous pro-abortion speakers, a 20-foot inflatable intrauterine device (IUD), a mobile Planned Parenthood abortion clinic parked near the venue offering free abortions and vasectomies, as well as a march outside the DNC with activists dressed as abortion pills. 

"It's really despicable what's going on there at the DNC," Pritchard said. 

"I just hope and pray that it wakes people up, not only on our side to be more engaged, but people in the Democrat Party as well. This is no longer the party of 'Safe, Legal, and Rare.' It's the party of abortion done by anyone at any time, anywhere."

When asked if states have a lot of support for pro-abortion measures, Pritchard said that "the abortion lobby wants us all to think that they have these races in the bag and that there's no way that the pro-life community can win with ballot measures." 

"They point to previous races," she noted. "The truth is that we've had similar [pro-abortion] measures passed in Michigan and Ohio. But Michigan, again, is a pretty blue state. Ohio is a purple state. We have up to seven red states that could have abortion on the ballots in November. And so the dynamics are different in these states."

"We have a shot at winning in every single one, but it all depends on all of us getting involved and speaking out," Pritchard said.  

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ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 23, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

After the miracles in Italy worked through the intercession of St. Rose of Lima and her canonization in 1671, a congregation of Dominican nuns was established in Italy in honor of the patron saint of South America. Each member of this congregation is named Rose.

St. Rose was a Dominican tertiary. The Catholic Church celebrates her feast day on Aug. 23, though it was formerly celebrated Aug. 30.

"All of us bear the name of Rose because of our patron saint and mother, St. Rose of Lima. The day when we receive the holy habit, they also change our name; they give us all the name of Rose, by tradition," Mother Rosa Mónica Gamonal, prioress of the Dominican convent of St. Rose of Lima, explained to EWTN News.

The Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima was founded in 1677 by Mother Giovanna Caterina Boldona in Finalborgo, northern Italy. She was impressed with this saint of the New World and, following her spiritual path, she decided to give her life to God in a convent along with a group of young women.

"Our founding mother, on hearing about the life of St. Rose, fell very much in love with her charism, with her life; she became enthused and felt the call to found a congregation so we could continue what she has left us, what she has handed on to us. To continue with her work of love for Christ, of this gift of self, and also of love for neighbor," Mother Rosa Mónica recounted.

The prioress said that the miracles that took place in Italy through the intercession of St. Rose of Lima made the saint much loved.

"The miracles for her canonization fittingly were in Italy and they were numerous; four were used in the canonization process. Especially women with terminal cancer, already beyond hope. At that moment of great pain, of much suffering, they had implored Rose for help and they were completely healed," the nun related.

She also described a miracle that Pope Clement X requested before he decided to canonize her.

"Even Pope Clement X, before naming her a saint, said: 'Rose, if you really are a saint, you have to give me a sign. I would like to see it rain roses. And the pope felt he saw this rain of roses. Very convinced of her sanctity, he went on to canonize her," the prioress recounted.

The sister also noted that her congregation is present in several places in Italy and in Brazil, where they serve in the slums. In Peru they serve those most in need and live in the monastery that is inside the saint's shrine in central Lima.

Mother Rosa Mónica said that St. Rose of Lima is an example of holiness for many today and that "she teaches us to look at Christ, walk with Christ, and for each day to be an act of faith, an act of love of Christ."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, on Aug. 29, 2022. It has been translated, adapted, and updated by CNA.

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ACI Africa, Aug 23, 2024 / 05:30 am (CNA).

The Chancellor of the Roman Curia, Ghanaian-born Cardinal Peter Turkson, addressed the evolving nature of power in ecclesial and societal contexts in his Aug. 17 inaugural lecture for the opening of the new academic year at Nairobi-based Hekima University College (HUC).

In his address, the cardinal referenced the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the African Synod (1994), and the multi-year ongoing Synod on Synodality. 

"Power is not a monolithic force; it manifests in various forms and influences every aspect of our lives, from governance and civil society to the very structures that shape our daily existence. Governance structures hold significant sway over population trends, civil liberties, and lifestyle choices," he said in his lecture titled, "Re-imagining Power Dynamics in the Ecclesial and Socio-Political Loci: Lessons from Vatican II, Ecclesia in Africa, and Synod on Synodality."

In various parts of the world, Turkson added, structures of governance "can either empower communities or reinforce existing inequalities, depending on how power is wielded."

"The Second Vatican Council was a watershed moment in the history of the Church, a moment when the Church sought to renew itself by addressing issues related to power and authority," he said.

Turkson explained that the exercise of power by the pope, as seen in the promulgation of council documents, is not "autocratic" but "synodal," involving consultation and collaboration with the Catholic bishops and the wider Church community.

He noted that while the Holy Father has the "unique privilege to approve and promulgate conciliar documents," this power is exercised "in various degrees with all the different people in communion."

This collaborative approach, he went on to say, reflects the Church's "commitment to synodality," where decisions are made through a process of discernment involving the entire Church, not just the hierarchy.

"The Second Vatican Council was not just a response to doctrinal disputes," he explained. "It was a proactive effort to renew and update the Church's mission and practices." 

The 73-year-old Ghanaian prelate who served as Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) from August 2016 until December 2021 when he resigned, said that the Second Vatican Council emphasized the need to open the Church to the world, recalling Pope John XXIII's expression: "throwing open the windows of the Church."

Turkson reflected on the relationship between the Church and the state, a topic that he said was deeply explored during the Vatican II Council.

Vatican II, he said, marked a "significant shift in how the Church interacts with civil society, moving away from the earlier model where the Church relied on state power to protect its interests. Instead, the Council emphasized the importance of religious freedom and the dignity of the human person, principles that continue to shape the Church's social teachings today."

Turkson acknowledged with appreciation the progress made since Vatican II, and said that much work remains to be done especially in the era of digitality. 

"The digital age has ushered in unprecedented advancements, but it has also deepened the chasm between the haves and have-nots. Cyber power is now a key determinant of economic and social status, and those without access to technology are being left behind in every aspect of life," he said.

This divide, Turkson warned in his talk, could lead to "marginalization if not addressed through inclusive policies and equitable distribution of technological resources."

"Today, we must draw on that same spirit of renewal of Vatican II as we confront the challenges of our time," he said. "The council's emphasis on collegiality, dialogue, and the inclusion of the laity in decision-making processes is a model for how the Church can move forward."

The cardinal went on to highlight how the First Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops in 1994 and the ongoing Synod on Synodality built upon the Vatican II vision of power. 

He said these events have addressed specific challenges and opportunities within African contexts in their advocacy for a more inclusive and participatory approach to power.

"The African Synod emphasized the importance of contextualizing the Church's teachings within the unique cultural and social realities of Africa. It called for a Church that is deeply engaged with the realities of its people, promoting justice and peace in a way that resonates with local contexts."

Regarding the multi-year Synod on Synodality, which Pope Francis extended to 2024 — the first phase was Oct. 4-29, 2023, concluding with a 42-page summary report, and the second session is scheduled for October 2-29 in Rome — he highlighted the focus on "listening and dialogue" as important.

"The Synod on Synodality invites the entire Church to engage in a process of listening and dialogue, reflecting on how we can build a Church where all feel they belong and contribute. It challenges us to rethink traditional structures and relationships to foster a more inclusive and participatory Church," the prelate said.

Turkson went on to call for reflection and engagement in examining power dynamics within the Church and society. 

"As we navigate the complexities of power in today's world, we must continually reflect on how our faith and teachings guide us in these dynamics," he said, adding, "As the Church seeks to renew itself, it can also offer a prophetic witness to the world by challenging unjust power structures and advocating for the dignity of every human person."

"In a world where power is often used to oppress and exploit, the Church must stand as a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless. The legacy of Vatican II, the African Synod, and the Synod on Synodality offers valuable insights into building a more just and inclusive Church and society."

The cardinal called on leaders in the Church and society to engage in a "critical reexamination of power dynamics," saying, "This is not just a challenge for the leaders of the Church or the powerful in society; it is a call to each of us to examine how we use the power we have in our own lives. Whether in our families, our workplaces, or our communities, we must strive to use power in ways that reflect the values of justice, compassion, and the common good." 

"May the Spirit of God lead us as we seek to reimagine power in our Church and in our world, so that all may experience the fullness of life that Christ came to bring," 

New academic year opens for HUC

Turkson announced in his lecture the opening of the 2024/2025 academic year of HUC.

The new academic year at HUC has been placed under the theme, "HUC@41 Forward and Upward: A Bold Vision Filled with Hope."

In his address during the event, HUC Principal, Father Marcel Uwineza, said the theme of the new academic year shows the institution's "commitment to continuous improvement, academic excellence, and spiritual growth while building on the legacy of its founders and predecessors."

Reflecting on the HUC's achievements since it marked four decades of existence last year, Uwineza noted that 99% of the objectives set under the 2023/2024 theme, "Moving from Better to Best", had been accomplished. 

"Going forward means continuing to progress, to build on the strengths of those who came before us, and to learn from the mistakes of the past. Mistakes are not failures; they are opportunities for growth and wisdom. This is the essence of Hekima — wisdom that comes from lived experience," the Rwandan-born member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) said.

As part of the new academic year's agenda, Uwineza announced the launch of a new six-year strategic plan aimed at expanding the University College's programs, increasing its global visibility, and ultimately transitioning the Jesuit institution of higher learning into a full-fledged university.

He called on faculty, staff, and students to contribute to this mission, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and a shared commitment to achieving "these ambitious goals."

In his welcoming remarks to new students, Uwineza encouraged them to "engage deeply with the academic and spiritual life" at HUC, inviting them to embark on a journey of "serious scholarship and personal growth."

The HUC Principal reminded students that the true value of their education "lies not in external accolades but in the depth of their knowledge and the positive impact they can have on those around them."

Uwineza also underscored the importance of maintaining a positive attitude toward studies and lecturers, urging students to make HUC their home and fully commit to their academic journey.

Margaret Muhoro, Chair of the HUC Council, emphasized the importance of time, dedication, and collective effort in achieving the HUC's "ambitious goals."

Muhoro underscored the value of hard work and perseverance in achieving academic success. 

"No masterpiece was ever created by a lazy artist. Excellence is not an accident. Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, do not turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it," she said.

Muhoro encouraged HUC students to engage fully with the opportunities provided at the Jesuit institution of higher learning, reminding them that learning is a process that often involves overcoming multiple challenges. 

"You have a well-laid-out stage — the faculty, learning infrastructure, and a beautiful environment— all set! You cannot be a spectator; Obey the weather — dance in tune, in rhythm, bring your whole self to the stage," she said.

She reaffirmed the council's commitment to supporting the HUC strategic plan, which she said seeks to drive growth and expansion in every facet of the institution.

"The clock is ticking; it is time to move forward and upward with boldness and hope," the HUC Council chair said.

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, CNA's African news partner, and has been adapted for CNA.

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Caracas, Venezuela, Aug 23, 2024 / 06:30 am (CNA).

The first Catholic missionaries arrived in Papua New Guinea just 70 years ago. In a place where the faith is so recent, Father Martin Prado, amissionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) who does pastoral work in the country, highlighted the conversions that occur "through very simple things that reflect that it is God who is behind it."

Pope Francis will visit Papua New Guinea as part of an apostolic journey that will take place Sept. 2-13 in Oceania and that will also take him to Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore.

In an interview with the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Prado, who has been in the country for 10 years, explained that the faith of the locals is "a youthful faith" from which I learn a lot." "The faith of Christians here is very much alive and very simple," he said.

However, Prado noted that "the indigenous spirituality is still very influential, which makes it difficult for them to achieve a full understanding of Christianity" adding that "there is a strong commitment here to ancestral and cultural traditions that are not compatible with the Gospel."

"The spiritual beliefs and superstitions are persistent and sometimes get mixed up with the Catholic Faith. Our work, as missionaries, is to help Christians to understand that these things do not go together, and try to effect change," he explained.

His work, he continued, bears fruit, and many of the locals manage to discern on their own between what is false and what is true "despite not being able to read or having had any sort of sophisticated formation."

"Nonetheless, when you don't take care of your spiritual life, or live for others, it becomes very easy to be influenced by superstition and superficial elements," he added

The importance of the papal visit

According to Prado, the pope's trip "was greeted with great surprise and joy by everyone" but he noted that due to the limited access to the news and social media on the island, few were aware the pope was coming.

"We are all very excited and working hard to be able to welcome the pope as best as we can, despite the simplicity and poverty in which we live," he said.

Regarding the pastoral fruits of the visit, the missionary hopes that the faith and spiritual life of believers will be strengthened, highlighting that people are preparing with great enthusiasm for the arrival of Pope Francis by praying the Rosary every night. 

In addition, the local church has organized talks, hymns, some dances, and times for confession in which thousands of people have participated. "It was very moving," the priest commented.

"People are looking forward to the Holy Father's arrival with enthusiasm and excitement, and awaiting the encounter with the Lord which they so desire," he shared.

The challenge of youth

"Young people do not have models to follow or serve as inspiration, and only a few have the support and accompaniment of their parents to commit to their spouses for life. Forming good families is a challenge, but we see that, little by little, things begin to change," the priest emphasized.

Prado encouraged Catholics around the world to pray for the country, for the local population, and for the pope's trip. He also asked the faithful to pray a lot for Papuan missionaries and vocations to the priesthood, "which is what really can lead to change."

"In 2019, we started a group to pray for vocations, and since then the number of priests has doubled. We have started to see local vocations, which we had never had before. We already have three seminarians and two novices," he concluded.

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

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Lima Newsroom, Aug 22, 2024 / 18:30 pm (CNA).

Every Aug. 22 the International Day of Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief is commemorated, an observance established by the UN General Assembly on May 28, 2019.

In resolution A/RES/73/296, the United Nations expresses its concern over "continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and religious minorities around the world."

The resolution reminds member states that "they have the primary responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely."

Ewelina Ochab, a lawyer and writer, specializing in the situation of religious minorities in the Middle East, was one of the main promoters of the initiative approved by the UN. In August 2019, she said that  "it was a long process with many participants, but Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was the inspiration."

Ochab said that having a date to remember the victims and survivors of religious persecution is not "a goal in itself," but is important "so as not to forget our commitments" and "the beginning of a long campaign to prevent more victims in the future."

The international executive president of ACN, Thomas Heine-Geldern, explained in 2019 the commemoration of this international day is something that "we have been waiting for for a long time" and represents "an important step so that in the future the voice of persecuted Christians is heard more."

The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need has been working for Christians who are persecuted for their faith for more than 70 years.

Heine-Geldern also said that this commemoration should initiate "a process that will lead the international community to a coordinated plan of action to end religious persecution and prevent it in the future."

"In reality, it is the duty of the United Nations, governments and political actors to enforce the human right to religious freedom. This symbolic day must now be followed by concrete actions," he emphasized.

The ACN CEO also stressed that although "all religious communities regularly suffer attacks, international reports on religious freedom unfortunately confirm that Christians are the most persecuted."

In its 2023 report on religious freedom, ACN revealed that "the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is violated in one in three countries (31%), or in 61 out of 196 nations."

Thus "almost 4.9 billion people, or 62% of the world's population, live in countries where religious freedom is severely restricted."

As for Christians, the pontifical foundation estimates that 325 million believers are persecuted for their religion, especially in countries where they are a religious minority.

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

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 22, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

A first of its kind study by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) shows that 28% of dioceses in the country offer Spanish-language Masses. 

This number suggests a rise in the number of U.S. Catholic parishes offering Spanish-language Masses over the last 10 years.  

Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, assistant director of Hispanic Affairs in the USCCB's Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, said in a statement that the survey "reflects the dedication of our dioceses to Hispanic and Latino communities."

He called the results of the survey "heartening" because it shows a "widespread commitment to build a more integrated and united Catholic Church in the United States."

Survey findings

The bishops' survey included data from 175 dioceses and 16,279 parishes. The survey found that 4,479 parishes — 28% of all U.S. parishes — currently offer one or more Spanish-language Masses.

Though there is no precise data to compare this number to, it suggests an approximately 10% increase from 2014 when the bishops reported that 81% of the around 5,000 parishes offering non-English Masses were celebrating Mass in Spanish.

Additionally, the survey said that 2,760 parishes have a Hispanic ministry presence but do not offer a Spanish-language Mass.

Not included in the survey were the Archdiocese for the Military Services, the Diocese of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, and the Eastern Catholic eparchies in the U.S.

The Church's Hispanic hotspots 

The city with the highest number of parishes offering Spanish-language Masses in the U.S. is Los Angeles. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has 240 parishes, that is 83% of all parishes in the archdiocese, offering a Spanish-language Mass.

Southern California has an especially high concentration with 78% — 423 out of 540 — of parishes in the region's four dioceses offering a Spanish-language Mass.

Texas and Florida are also hotspots for Hispanic ministry.

All but one parish in the south Texas dioceses of El Paso and Laredo offers a Spanish-language Mass. Meanwhile, a Spanish-language Mass is offered in all 72 parishes in the Diocese of Brownsville.

In the Archdiocese of Miami, 89 out of 109 — 81% — of parishes offer a Spanish-language Mass. The twenty parishes not offering a Spanish-language Mass still have some form of Hispanic ministry presence.

Why it matters

According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos make up 33% of the country's total 52 million Catholics.

Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez, one of the USCCB's leaders in Hispanic evangelization, told CNA in an interview earlier this year that the spiritual health of Latino Catholics is vital to the U.S. Church.

He also shared that the bishops are aware of the danger posed by an increasing number of young Hispanics leaving the Church.

José Manuel De Urquidi, founder of a Latino Catholic ministry called the Juan Diego Network, told CNA that the survey further demonstrates the need for the entire Church, not just specialized Hispanic ministry offices, to evangelize to the Latino community, especially to the young. 

"The vast majority of Gen Z and Alpha generations are Latinos," he pointed out. "In order to have Latinos attend weekly masses we have to go out there and try to understand them so we can evangelize them and form them so they are attracted to the sacraments. For this we need to do a lot of things as a Church, not rely on the overwhelmed and under-budgeted Hispanic ministries." 

The U.S. bishops released a pastoral plan at the end of last year to better minister to the country's growing Hispanic Catholic population

The plan is meant to be a guiding document in serving the country's Hispanic population over the next 10 years, leading up to the 500th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2031 and the 2,000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in 2033.

Commenting on the new survey, Bishop Oscar Cantú of San Jose, chairman of the USCCB's Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs, said in a statement that "surveys like this are vital to understand and address the response of the Church to the needs and aspirations of our Hispanic/Latino communities."

"There are common obstacles that dioceses face when engaging in Hispanic/Latino ministry, such as bilingual priests, or limited resources," he said. "In a practical way, this survey helps to measure our work and determine how we can continue serving this thriving part of our Church and the importance of ongoing ministry to the needs of our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters."

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