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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 10, 2024 / 15:15 pm (CNA).

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi criticized Pope Francis for the Vatican's deal with China regarding bishop appointments during an interview with the National Catholic Reporter published on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

The congresswoman from California and former speaker of the House of Representatives told the outlet that she is "not too happy" about the Vatican-China agreement, saying: "I don't know what they have achieved" and adding: "Do you know of any success?"

"We have, for decades, seen the suffering of Catholics in China," Pelosi, who is Catholic, told the Reporter. "I have a completely different view [from Francis]. … Why should the Chinese government be having a say in the appointment of bishops? I've talked to some folks here and they're, 'Well, we have to keep up with the times.' What?! I don't get that."

In January 2018, Pope Francis and Chinese officials entered into a deal that gives the Chinese Communist Party input on bishop appointments. Most of the details of the deal and how it functions have not been made public, but the pontiff revealed in September 2023 that the agreement created a joint China-Vatican commission on the appointment of bishops.

The agreement has been renewed three times, most recently in October. The most recent renewal extends the deal into October 2028. Despite the appearance of friendlier relations on the surface, a report published in October by the Hudson Institute found that the "religious repression of the Catholic Church in China has intensified" since the deal went into effect. In November 2022, the Vatican accused China of violating the terms of the deal. 

In her interview with the Reporter, Pelosi referenced the Gospel of Matthew in her critique of the Vatican-China agreement. 

"Let me say it this way: 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,'" Pelosi said. "Every bishop has sprung from that rock. And now, the Chinese government?"

The congresswoman said she had spoken to the papal nuncio about "what our concerns were," and commented that those concerns were bipartisan: "This brings a lot of us together because, over time, even bishops were being killed. I mean, this is like martyrs."

Pelosi also showed solidarity with Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and staunch critic of the Chinese Communist Party and Vatican-China deal. In 2022, Hong Kong police arrested the cardinal for his role in assisting pro-democracy protesters for their legal fees, but he was later released on bail.

"With all the respect in the world for His Holiness, Pope Francis, my point of view is closer to the cardinal of Hong Kong, Joseph Zen," Pelosi told the Reporter.

In 2020, Zen told CNA that he had not seen any positive changes for the Church following the deal with China. 

"Is there any choice between helping the government to destroy the Church or resisting the government to keep our faith?" Zen said.

According to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom in October, China has continued its persecution of Catholics and other religious faiths through its policy of the "sinicization of religion," which means to make the religion conform to Chinese culture.

The report noted that, in practice, the policy essentially subordinates faiths to "the [Chinese Communist Party's] political agenda and Marxist vision for religion." This includes censorship of religious texts, forcing clergy to preach the party's ideology, and requiring the display of Chinese Communist Party slogans in the churches.

In her interview with the Reporter, Pelosi also spoke about a wide variety of other issues, which included the decline of Catholic support for the Democratic Party in the 2024 elections and her feuds with Catholic bishops over her adamant support of abortion.

Although her bishop, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, prohibited her from receiving Communion within the archdiocese because of her support for abortion, Pelosi told the Reporter that she "received Communion anyway" and said: "That's his problem; not mine." 

"My Catholic faith is: Christ is my savior," Pelosi said. "It has nothing to do with the bishops."

Pelosi won her reelection by a more than 60-point margin in the heavily Democratic 11th Congressional District in California. The congresswoman, who turns 85 in March 2025, resigned from her leadership position within the Democratic Party in 2016 and was replaced by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who currently serves as the House minority leader.

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CNA Staff, Dec 10, 2024 / 15:45 pm (CNA).

A pair of former Vatican officials has been found guilty of embezzlement and abuse of office as part of a long-running investigation into financial irregularities at a prominent choir there. 

Monsignor Massimo Palombella, who previously directed the Sistine Chapel Choir in Vatican City, and Michelangelo Nardella, who was the choir's manager, were both found guilty in the Vatican City State Tribunal on various counts of embezzlement, laundering, and abuse stemming from their time leading the choir.

Nardella's wife, Simona Rossi, was also convicted of embezzlement in connection with the scandal.

News of financial improprieties at the choir first broke in 2018 amid reports that Palombella and Nardella used choir concert proceeds for personal expenses. The Vatican launched an investigation that year.

Palombella resigned his position at the choir in July 2019. In January of that same year, Pope Francis issued a motu proprio that among other things moved the Sistine Chapel Choir under the administration of the Office of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations.

Palombella was sentenced to just over three years in prison as well as a fine of 9,000 euros (about $9,500); Nardella will spend four years and eight months in prison and pay 7,000 euros (about $7,400) in fines. Nardella was also served with "perpetual disqualification from holding public office."

Rossi, meanwhile, will serve two years in prison and pay 5,000 euros (about $5,300) in fines, along with a similar disqualification from public office. 

All three defendants will further be subject to the confiscation of tens of thousands of euros as part of restitution for the embezzlement crimes, and all will be required to pay legal fees.

Known officially as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, the Sistine Chapel Choir is composed of 20 professional singers from around the world as well as a treble section made up of 35 boys aged 9–13 called the Pueri Cantores.

With a 1,500-year history, the Sistine Chapel Choir is believed to be the oldest active choir in the world.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 10, 2024 / 16:30 pm (CNA).

The Papal Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that provides funding for Catholic projects around the world, recently announced that it has awarded $800,000 to recipients of its scholarship fund.

The awards were distributed across 42 countries and helped enable 110 priests, brothers, sisters, and laypeople to pursue their studies at 14 pontifical universities in Rome as participants in the foundation's St. John Paul II Scholarship Program. 

"Since its founding, the program has provided nearly $14 million in scholarships to more than 1,700 individuals, known as Saeman Scholars, to advance their education and prepare them to return home and serve in leadership positions in their own countries," the foundation stated in a recent press release. 

Eustace Mita, president of the Papal Foundation's board of trustees, in the release invoked the foundation's establishment at the request of Pope John Paul II.

"We are inspired by, and committed to, St. John Paul II's vision to prepare Catholic leaders and educators for service," she said. "These scholarships help train those called to lead in developing nations, where resources for ongoing leadership formation are limited."

Dec. 5 marked 25 years since the foundation launched its John Paul II Scholarship Fund after John and Carol Saeman — a couple from Denver — made a gift of $5 million that was matched by the Papal Foundation. 

The Papal Foundation is "the only charitable organization in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to fulfilling the requests of the Holy Father for the needs of the Church" and has dedicated more than $225 million to causes designated by popes since its inception. 

The foundation receives its funding from personal money donated by its Stewards of St. Peter, while the Holy Father designates the use of funds based on recommendations from his nuncios or ambassadors around the world. 

Cardinal Seán O'Malley, chairman of the foundation's board of trustees, praised the foundation's stewards, stating that "in a society where the gap between rich and poor continues to grow," they "recognize their responsibility to prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable." 

"These grants, scholarships, and charitable initiatives are our organization's gift to the Catholic Church," the foundation's executive director, David Savage, stated. 

In the past year alone, the foundation has successfully supported 118 projects in over 60 countries and announced in April that it would distribute nearly $10 million in 2024. Among the beneficiaries include efforts at "providing for basic needs such as access to clean water," "constructing schools and renovating classrooms," and "translating Church teachings for evangelization."

One scholarship recipient, Sister Anna Kapounamai of India, is quoted in the release stating that her studies in Rome are aiding her efforts to help guide young people toward healthy use of social media.

"Today, the influence of social media is growing among youth and children ... My vision is to help young people become literate and responsible social media users while preserving their personal and social values," she said, thanking the Papal Foundation for its support.

During an audience with Pope Francis in April, the Holy Father commended the foundation for "enhanc[ing] the integral development of so many, including the poor, refugees, immigrants, and nowadays the increasingly large numbers of those affected by war and violence."

"Through these various worthy initiatives," Francis addressed the group, "you continue to help the successors of Peter to build up many local Churches and care for large numbers of the less fortunate, thus fulfilling the mandates entrusted to the apostle by Our Lord."

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ACI MENA, Dec 10, 2024 / 17:20 pm (CNA).

In the wake of the Assad regime's fall in Syria, the streets of Lebanon were alive with celebration. Church bells rang out as Lebanese Christians gathered en masse, uplifted by the seismic political shift. Flags waved triumphantly as sweets passed from hand to hand and fireworks filled the sky, casting light over a nation long shadowed by turmoil. 

But why have Lebanese Christians reacted so fervently to this news from a neighboring country?

A dark history

Lebanese Christians have long harbored animosity toward the Assad regime, which occupied their country for 29 years. This occupation came to an end in 2005 following the Cedar Revolution, where Lebanese from all sects united in protest. 

Despite the formal end of Syrian control, the regime's influence lingered, and the ghosts of the past never truly departed. Both under Hafez and Bashar al-Assad, Lebanese Christians endured significant suffering.

The impact of the regime's actions and crimes has left a deep and lasting mark. Lebanese journalists faced abductions, mutilations, and execution for their opposition. Media outlets were attacked and forcibly shut down. Political assassinations were common, and the daily lives of civilians were marred by humiliation, torture, and interrogations by Syrian intelligence. 

Lebanese citizens faced the grim reality of enduring Syrian checkpoints within their own country, each crossing fraught with potential peril. Students were violently removed from classrooms and beaten up. 

Towns like Zahleh — one of the largest predominantly Christian towns in Lebanon and the Middle East — withstood sieges, while neighborhoods such as Ein el-Remmaneh and Ashrafieh suffered immensely under heavy shelling. Car bombs, shelling of vital supply ships, and massacres perpetuated a climate of fear and repression. 

Almost every Christian Lebanese family has a story of suffering at the hands of the Assad regime's occupation of Lebanon. 

On X (formerly Twitter), Lebanese citizens began sharing personal and familial stories that highlight those dark and oppressive days. Reflecting on this dark history, the news was not just important for Syria but also for Lebanon, which has suffered immensely under Assad's rule.

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, Jean Bou Assi, a 27-year-old Lebanese Christian activist who joined in the celebratory gatherings, reacted to the news.

"I wanted to express my happiness as a Lebanese Christian after this historic event," he said. "The fall of the Assad regime is deeply tied to years of oppression, occupation, and assassinations that Lebanon endured under this regime. As Lebanese Christians, our history and fate have often been linked to the Lebanese entity (that the Assad regime doesn't recognize). The fact that Lebanon's entity endured despite this oppressive regime's existence is a significant reason to celebrate following its downfall."

Justice served

Many Christian Lebanese view the fall of Assad as a form of justice being served. 

Bou Assi described the atmosphere, noting that chants of "Bachir hay fina" ("Bachir lives among us") filled the air, an invocation of the memory of President-elect Bachir Gemayel. 

Gemayel was a prominent Lebanese Christian leader who was assassinated in 1982. 

Bou Assi explained that for many, it feels like a moment of justice for Gemayel. 

"Many feel that President Bachir was finally avenged, as Syria was widely implicated in his assassination," he explained. "This sentiment is reinforced by Syria's history of granting asylum to his assassin, Habib Chartouni, even after freeing him in 1990. People are now awaiting action from the new Syrian administration, hoping they will hand over Habib Chartouni once identified."

In a similar vein, Michel Moawad, a member of Parliament and founder of the Independence Movement, shared a poignant tribute to his father, René Moawad, who was the president of Lebanon. 

"Sleep tight dad, for heaven's justice has been achieved on earth, even if it took a while," Moawad said in a heartfelt message.

Nayla Tueni, CEO of An-Nahar, one of Lebanon's most influential newspapers, published an article to honor her father, Gebran Tueni, a journalist assassinated for his strong criticism of Assad. She titled it "To Gebran and All Martyrs: The Justice of Fate."

MTV, a major Lebanese TV channel, was shut down by the Assad regime in 2002, giving them a strong reason to celebrate the regime's fall this week. In one of its posts, it wrote: "The tyrant's regime fell, but MTV remained."

A glimmer of hope

Names of Lebanese citizens believed to be in Syrian prisons have become a focal point on Lebanese media, sparking hope for reunions with loved ones. 

Since 1975, more than 17,000 Lebanese have disappeared, and there is no definitive count of how many are still alive in Assad's jails. However, families are actively sharing posts about their missing relatives, holding onto hope for their return.

One of the detainees, held for 32 years because of his affiliation with the Lebanese Forces — an anti-Assad Christian party and resistance movement — was released and returned to his family in Lebanon. Many others are anxiously awaiting more such reunions and the return of other detainees.

Lebanese are also hopeful that the refugee crisis, which has been placing a strain on the country, will now begin to ease. 

"With the war in Syria reigniting, I previously feared that Lebanon would face an even greater influx of refugees, adding to the 2 million Syrian refugees already hosted — a burden that has strained Lebanon's demography, economy, and infrastructure," Bou Assi said. 

"Many Syrians have cited fear of mistreatment by Assad's regime as a reason for not returning home. Now that Assad is gone, this justification no longer holds. The Lebanese government will be in a stronger position to address the crisis, implementing measures that encourage refugees to return to Syria." 

The recent events have also stripped Hezbollah of a crucial ally and supporter. As a significant political backer, arms supplier, and facilitator of Hezbollah's operations through border smuggling routes — particularly in the trafficking of Captagon — Assad's departure marks a pivotal shift. 

"With Syria's support gone and Hezbollah weakened by its last war with Israel two months ago, attempts to rearm the group will be significantly hindered. This isolation will disrupt Hezbollah's logistical and political network, forcing it into a more precarious position within Lebanon's shifting power dynamics," Bou Assi said.

This newfound isolation of Hezbollah is seen as a strategic opportunity by its adversaries. 

Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces, the largest Christian party in Lebanon, expressed his long-term frustrations and current hopes in an interview with MTV channel. 

"Over the past 50 years, the regime of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad was the biggest obstacle to the building of a state in Lebanon," Geagea stated. "No matter how the situation in Syria will be after Assad, it's impossible that it will be worse than Assad. I don't know what awaits us with the new Syrian authorities, but there is nothing worse than Assad."

Seizing the moment, Geagea called for Hezbollah to either hand over their weapons or sell them, urging a collective effort to build a state in Lebanon. In one tweet, he had a strong message: ''To Hezbollah, game over."

With the situation changing, there are also hopes for improved relations between the two countries that share a brutal history.

''While it's still early to predict the future, I remain optimistic that Lebanon and Syria can turn the page toward a new chapter of friendship," Bou Assi said. "This could mark the end of Syrian aggression toward Lebanon, from denying Lebanon's existence as an independent entity to its military occupation and facilitating Hezbollah's armament. The fall of the Assad regime could close the door on this dark era, paving the way for a better relationship based on mutual respect.''

Joy amid uncertainty

While there is joy over the end of the brutal regime, fear and skepticism naturally persist. 

The transition process remains unclear, and Lebanon must be vigilant against the potential infiltration of pro-Assad intelligence forces and commanders through illegal crossings.

Moreover, Lebanon is not yet free from conflict as the temporary ceasefire was intended for 60 days. Additionally, Lebanon must address its own significant challenge and elephant in the room: Hezbollah. 

Lebanese Christians may not know what will happen next in Syria or even in Lebanon, but they are acutely aware of the unfathomable atrocities committed against them by the Assad family. For now, it is a time to rejoice.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 10, 2024 / 17:50 pm (CNA).

Catholic Church leaders in the U.S., Rome, and the Middle East have expressed cautious "hope" that the new regime in Syria will respect Christian communities after a lightning offensive this past week by Islamist rebel groups toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace issued a statement on Tuesday in which he called on the U.S. and the international community at large to support Syria as it "starts a new chapter in its rich history."

"In yet another dramatic development in the Middle East, after enduring more than a decade of bloody civil war, Syria is undergoing a national political transition that will surely impact the entire region," Zaidan said.

The 53-year reign of the Assad regime crumbled in little more than 10 days after a coalition of so-called "rebel" forces led by the jihadist Sunni Muslim group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept through the war-torn country's major cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and finally Damascus on Dec. 8. HTS is notorious for its early roots in Al-Qaeda and has been designated as a terror group by the U.S. and the United Nations.

Al-Assad, successor to his father Hefez, has fled to Moscow with his wife and children, according to Russian and Iranian state media.

The radical turn of events has provoked reactions of both joy at the end of the oppressive regime and fear at the prospect of what an HTS-controlled Syria could mean for its citizens, especially minority Christian communities who fear persecution.

Zaidan further referenced comments made by the apostolic nuncio of Damascus, Cardinal Mario Zenari, who told Vatican News in a Dec. 8 interview that he was greatly relieved at what he described as a relatively peaceful transition thus far. 

"Thank God, this transition happened without bloodshed, without the carnage that was feared," Zenari said, adding: "Now the path ahead is steep — those who have taken power have promised to respect everyone and to build a new Syria. We hope they will keep these promises, but of course, the road ahead remains very difficult."  

According to Zenari, HTS rebel forces met with bishops in Aleppo "immediately" after capturing the city, "assuring them that they would respect the various religious denominations and Christians." 

In his statement, Zaidan said he agrees with Zenari that the "sentiments on the transition and aspirations of the Syrian people are clear."

"The people of Syria want a government in Damascus that will respect and defend human rights," Zaidan said, "especially the religious freedom of minorities, uphold the rule of law, and promote economic and civil society development throughout the country."

"As Syria starts a new chapter in its rich history, I urge the United States and the international community to keep the people of Syria in prayer and to closely monitor the situation so that all aid organizations are able to reach those most in need," he concluded.

The Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, also addressed the developing situation in Syria at a meeting on interreligious dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Milan at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

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Madrid, Spain, Dec 10, 2024 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) has called on the European Union (EU) to appoint a coordinator for the fight against anti-Christian hatred in the same way it already employs coordinators to combat hate directed against Jews and Muslims.

"The time is mature for the appointment of an EU coordinator on combating anti-Christian hatred in Europe," said Alessandro Calcagno, an adviser to the bishops on fundamental rights, during his speech at the European Prayer Breakfast held at the European Parliament last week.

"It is not a question of victimism but equal access to tools of protection," Calcagno said. 

COMECE is the body that officially represents the Catholic Church to the EU.

Calcagno explained that the right to freedom of religion, as well as provisions to fight against discrimination on the grounds of religion, should not be seen only through the prism of protecting faith communities that are religious minorities. 

"It is necessary to break the 'majorities vs. minorities' dynamic that underpins the approach of certain actors and policymakers," Calcagno stated.

Appointing a coordinator is one of the priorities that Calcagno, on behalf of the European bishops, outlined in relation to the exercise of religious freedom in the EU, among which is "need to ensure equal protection to all dimensions of this core fundamental right, including the institutional one," he highlighted.

"Too often, freedom of religion is depicted as a 'problematic' right, and its collective dimension, compared with its individual dimension, is neglected," the adviser said.

The need to protect places of worship and data of a religious nature as well as better integrate the defense of religious freedom into EU policies was also addressed during the event.

The European Prayer Breakfast, attended by some 450 participants from across the continent and beyond, was held in conjunction with a panel focused on current trends of rising religious intolerance in Europe.

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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ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 10, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Among the new crop of cardinals created by Pope Francis on Dec. 7, Cardinal Mykola Bychok, CSSR, stands out. He is the bishop of the Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, and at age 44, he has become the youngest cardinal in the world. 

The website of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia explains that the new cardinal belongs to an Eastern-rite church, so for the Dec. 7 occasion he wore "a purple robe according to the old Kyivan tradition" that was "adorned with embroidered images of Sts. Peter and Paul."

"On his head he wore a black koukoul [or koukoulion] in accordance with the Ukrainian monastic tradition, styled after the 17th-century Brest Union and trimmed with a thin red border." Bychok also wore on his chest a medallion with an image of the Virgin Mary.

During the ceremony, Pope Francis placed a red skullcap and biretta on the heads of all the other cardinals whereas on Bychok he placed the koukoulion.

The 1596 Union of Brest (or Brzesc) united Orthodox Christians in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Holy See, leading to what is now the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Eastern rites and the Ukrainian rite

The website of Ukrainian Catholics in Australia explains that "the Ukrainian Catholic Church (UCC) is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Apostolic See."

"With more than 5.5 million faithful, it is the largest of all 23 Eastern Churches in the global Catholic community, second in number after the Latin (Roman Catholic) Church. The UCC is headed by the major archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, His Beatitude Sviatoslav [Shevchuk]," the site notes.

This church has "its own rite, which originates in the Constantinopolitan tradition, and preserves its liturgical, theological, spiritual, and disciplinary heritage in the cultural and historical circumstances of its people."

The majority of Catholics in the Western world belong to the Latin rite.

'Ukraine is in my heart'

"We have a special title in the Church, but we must remember who we are: human beings, dependent on God," said the new cardinal following Saturday's consistory, according to Vatican News.

After saying that he has not forgotten his native country, now ravaged by war, the 44-year-old cardinal said: "I am a bishop in Australia, a cardinal of the universal Church, but Ukraine is in my heart," and he asked for prayers for Ukrainians.

Bychok was born on Feb. 13, 1980, in Ternopil, Ukraine. He was ordained a priest in 2005.

In 2020, he was appointed bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne. On June 7, 2020, the feast of Pentecost according to the Julian calendar, he was consecrated bishop in St. George's Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine.

His episcopal motto is ????????? ??????????, ????? ??? ("Holy Mother of God, save us"). St. Sophia on Via Boccea was designated yesterday as his titular church as a cardinal.

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, Dec 10, 2024 / 09:30 am (CNA).

The healing of a British World War I soldier at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France has been proclaimed as the 71st miracle attributed to the pilgrimage site.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool in England declared the miraculous healing of John Traynor, a soldier of the British Royal Navy, on Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 81st anniversary of his death.

The Church has not recognized a miraculous event at Lourdes since 2018.

The news comes after the president of the Lourdes Office of Medical Observations, Dr. Alessandro de Franciscis, commissioned a review of Traynor's case last year, which was undertaken by an English doctor and member of the International Medical Committee at Lourdes, Kieran Moriarty.

Moriarty's investigations uncovered numerous files in the archives at Lourdes that included the testimonies of the three doctors who examined Traynor before and after his cure, along with other supporting evidence.

McMahon concluded during a canonical commission that based on the evidence assembled by Moriarty, Traynor's healing was indeed miraculous.

"Given the weight of medical evidence, the testimony to the faith of John Traynor and his devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is with great joy that I declare that the cure of John Traynor, from multiple serious medical conditions, is to be recognized as a miracle wrought by the power of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes," the archbishop stated.

"I hope that in February 2025, during the jubilee year, we will have a fitting celebration at the metropolitan cathedral to mark this significant moment in the history of our archdiocese, helping us all to respond to the jubilee call to be 'pilgrims of hope,'" McMahon added.

Traynor was born in Liverpool, England, in 1883. Though his Irish mother passed away when he was young, Traynor's personal testimony featured on the shrine's website states that "her devotion to Mass and holy Communion and her trust in the Blessed Mother stayed with him as a memory and fruitful example." Traynor described his mother in the testimony as a "daily Communicant when few people were."

A member of the Royal Navy Reserve, Traynor was mobilized at the outset of the war in 1914. During the battle at Antwerp, he was hit in the head by shrapnel while attempting to carry an officer off the field. He quickly recovered and returned to service.

On April 25, 1915, Traynor took part in an amphibious landing on the shores of Gallipoli as a part of an unsuccessful attempt by British and French troops to capture the peninsula in the Ottoman-occupied Turkey. Traynor was one of the few soldiers to reach the shore during that first day, having prevailed through the onslaught of machine-gun fire by the Turkish forces who were poised atop the steep banks of the beach.

For over a week, Traynor remained unscathed as he attempted to lead the small coalition that survived the landing up the sandhill.

However, on May 8, Traynor caught a spray of machine gun bullets to the head, chest, and arm during a bayonet charge. The wounds he sustained from the battle left him paralyzed in his right arm and regularly susceptible to epileptic attacks. Doctors attempted numerous surgeries to repair the damaged nerves in his arm and to treat the head wounds believed to have been the source of his epilepsy, but to no avail.

Eight years after the battle that left him "completely and incurably incapacitated," Traynor was slated to be admitted to a hospital for incurables. Instead he went to Lourdes.

A long journey to Lourdes

Against the pleas of his wife, doctors, and several priests, Traynor insisted upon joining a parish-led pilgrimage to Lourdes from Liverpool from July 22–27, 1923.

Traynor wrote in his testimony that he "succeeded in being bathed nine times in the water from the grotto spring," despite being desperately ill in the first three days of the trip and facing much resistance from his caretakers.

On the second day of the trip, Traynor recalled suffering a severe epileptic fit while being wheeled to the baths. "Blood flowed from my mouth and the doctors were very much alarmed," he said. When the doctors attempted to bring him back to his lodgings, Traynor refused, pulling the brakes on his wheelchair with his good hand.

"They took me into the bath and bathed me in the usual way. I never had an epileptic fit after that," he said in his testimony.

The next day, Traynor went again to the baths — while he was bathing, he recalled his legs becoming "violently agitated" and feeling as though he had regained use of them. Since he was due to return for a Eucharistic procession, Traynor's caretakers — who believed he was having another fit — rushed him to Rosary Church.

When the archbishop of Rheims passed him by with the Blessed Sacrament, Traynor's arm too became "violently agitated," and he broke through his bandages and made the sign of the cross for the first time in eight years.

The next morning, Traynor leapt from his bed and ran to the grotto. 

"My mother had always taught me that when you ask a favor from Our Lady or wish to show her some special veneration you should make a sacrifice," Traynor recalled. "I had no money to offer, as I had spent my last few shillings on rosaries and medals for my wife and children, but kneeling there before the Blessed Mother, I made the only sacrifice I could think of: I resolved to give up cigarettes." 

On the morning of July 27, Traynor was examined by three doctors who found he had regained his ability to walk perfectly, as well as full use and function of his right arm and legs. The sores on his body had healed completely and his fits had ceased. Remarkably, an opening in his skull that was created during one of his surgeries had also "diminished considerably." 

One of the official reports issued by the Medical Bureau at Lourdes on Oct. 2, 1926 — later discovered by Moriarty — states that Traynor's "extraordinary cure is absolutely beyond and above the powers of nature." 

Traynor went on to have three children after receiving his cure, one of whom is called Bernadette. He is believed to be the first British Catholic to be cured at Lourdes, according to the shrine's website.

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Calgary, Canada, Dec 9, 2024 / 15:50 pm (CNA).

Known for his boldness in taking a stance on controversial issues, Bishop Emeritus Frederick Bernard Henry, who led the Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from 1998 to 2017, died on Dec. 3 at Calgary's Rockyview General Hospital. He was 81.

Throughout his career, Henry was unafraid to challenge mainstream narratives, often drawing national attention for his positions on topics such as same-sex marriage, euthanasia, gender identity, and residential schools. His episcopal motto, "Dabo Vobis Pastores" ("I will give you pastors"), reflected his dedication to shepherding the faithful while holding firmly to Catholic teachings.

Born in London, Ontario, on April 11, 1943, Henry was the eldest of five sons in the family of Leo and Noreen Bishop Henry. He entered St. Peter's Seminary in London after high school and was ordained a priest on May 25, 1968, by Cardinal G. Emmett Carter.

Henry's ministry combined academic achievement and pastoral leadership. He earned a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1971 and a licentiate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1973. His academic career included roles as associate professor, dean, and rector at St. Peter's Seminary before his episcopal appointment.

As bishop of Calgary, Henry tackled controversial issues. In 2007, he banned gambling-based fundraising in Catholic schools, prompting a transition to ethical funding practices that spread across Alberta. He defended religious freedom during contentious debates on same-sex marriage and faced a human rights complaint in 2005 after issuing a pastoral letter defending traditional marriage. In his letter, he articulated the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage as a union between one man and one woman, emphasizing its sacramental nature and moral significance.

The letter was published in a newspaper, which led to complaints being filed with the Alberta Human Rights Commission, alleging that his statements constituted hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community. The complaints were dismissed after mediation.

Henry stood firm, using the opportunity to argue that defending Catholic doctrine should not be mischaracterized as hateful or discriminatory. He saw the complaints as an example of government overreach into religious freedom and the public expression of faith.

More recently, Henry's skepticism regarding the unverified claims of mass graves at former residential schools made him a polarizing figure. He questioned the lack of evidence supporting the allegations and called for transparent investigations, saying: "No truth. No reconciliation." Despite criticism, he maintained that seeking factual clarity was essential for justice and healing.

His willingness to engage with controversial topics extended to the public square. In a 2018 interview, Henry urged clergy not to shy away from tough questions about the Church's role in society, including the sexual abuse crisis. "We ought to be talking to the press," he said. "If they don't like it, that's OK. They can ask tough questions, but we've got the tough answers too."

Henry resigned in 2017 due to severe chronic pain from an autoimmune disease that affected his spine, making movement increasingly difficult. In his resignation letter to Pope Francis, he wrote: "I believe that someone younger with more energy, stamina, and pastoral vision should take over." He was replaced by Bishop William McGrattan.

Throughout his nearly two decades as bishop of Calgary, Henry remained committed to Catholic education, social justice, and evangelization. At the time of his retirement, Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller described him as "a hardworking, dedicated bishop who was never afraid to take a tough stand on a controversial issue."

Henry's funeral is being held Dec. 10 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Calgary.

This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and is reprinted with permission.

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CNA Staff, Dec 9, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

In his first sit-down broadcast network interview since the election, President-elect Donald Trump said that in his first 100 days in office, he would focus on immigration as well as enacting tax cuts and tariffs.

During the interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday, the president-elect reaffirmed his support of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a fertility procedure opposed by the Catholic Church because it destroys embryonic life and separates conception from marriage. Trump also said he would "probably" not restrict the abortion pill, though he refused to commit to that, noting that "things do change." 

Immigration 

Trump pledged that the first thing he would do is address the border issue, beginning with criminals who are in the U.S. illegally. He told NBC he would begin "rapidly" with criminals who are here illegally such as Venezuelan gang members and MS-13.

"We're starting with the criminals, and we gotta do it," he said. "And then we're starting with others and we're going to see how it goes." 

When asked about deporting everyone who has been living in the country illegally for years, he said: "Well, I think you have to do it."

"It's a very tough thing to do, but you have to have rules, regulations, laws; they came in illegally," Trump said. 

He noted that this is unfair for people waiting to come into the country legally. 

"We're going to make it very easy for people to come in, in terms of, they have to pass the test," Trump said. "They have to be able to tell you what the Statue of Liberty is. They have to tell you a little bit about our country. They have to love our country."

When asked about families with mixed immigration status, Trump said he wouldn't split up families, saying the families could be deported together if they choose.

"I don't want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back," he said. 

"We have to do our job," Trump continued. "You have to have a series of standards and a series of laws." 

Trump also pledged to end birthright citizenship for children of immigrants.

When asked whether his plan violates the 14th Amendment's guarantee that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside," Trump said that he may have to turn to "the people," but "we have to end it." 

Trump also pledged to "work with the Democrats on a plan" to help Dreamers (immigrants who came into the country illegally as children) stay in the country, noting that Republicans are "very open" to doing so.

The U.S. bishops in November urged the American government to reform the immigration system with "fair and humane treatment" of immigrants. The statement called for a system that "provides permanent relief for childhood arrivals, helps families stay together, and welcomes refugees," while also "keep[ing] our borders safe and secure." 

In vitro fertilization

During his campaign, Trump promised free in vitro fertilization (IVF), either through the government or insurance mandates. In the interview, Trump reaffirmed his support for the treatment, calling himself "the father of IVF in a certain way."

Trump cited his involvement in the Alabama IVF controversy earlier this year in which he voiced support for IVF. After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that frozen human embryos constitute children under state statute, the Republican governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, signed legislation granting clinics immunity when they "damage" or cause the "death" of human embryonic life in the process of providing in vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments to women.

Trump noted that in response to the court decision he issued "a statement from the Republican party that we are all for IVF." 

"The Alabama Legislature met the following day and passed it," he said. "It was a beautiful thing to see." 

But when asked where IVF was on his list of priorities, Trump noted that "we have a lot of other things."  

"We're going to be talking about it," he said of IVF. "We'll be submitting in either the first or second package to Congress the extension of the tax cuts. So that might very well be in there, or it'll come sometime after that." 

The Catholic Church has long opposed IVF as "morally unacceptable" because of the rejection of the natural procreative act of husband and wife, the commodification of the human child, and the destruction of embryonic human life, which is very common in the procedure. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that though "research aimed at reducing human sterility is to be encouraged" (No. 2375), practices such as IVF "disassociate the sexual act from the procreative act" and the act "entrusts the life and identity of the embryo into the power of doctors and biologists" (No. 2377). 

Abortion pills 

Trump reaffirmed that he would not restrict abortion pills, though he refused to commit to the position, noting that things sometimes change.

When asked if he would restrict abortion pills, Trump said: "I'll probably stay with exactly what I've been saying for the last two years, and the answer is no." 

When asked if he committed to that statement, Trump noted that "things do change, but I don't think it's going to change at all." 

Medical or chemical abortions — abortions procured via a two-pill regimen — made up 70% of abortions in the U.S. in 2022, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

During the presidential campaign, Trump was criticized by pro-life advocates for his position that abortion law should be left for the states to decide. In June he said he agreed with the Supreme Court's ruling on the abortion pill saying: "I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it."

The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is "gravely contrary to the moral law" and that "life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception" (CCC, No. 2271). 

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