The university has endured sustained backlash for nominating the outspoken abortion advocate to lead an academic department.
Nearly half a dozen more bishops have joined the growing backlash against the University of Notre Dame over its controversial appointment of an outspoken abortion advocate to lead a university department.
Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 issued a statement criticizing the university for appointing global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school's Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
Three of Rhoades' fellow bishops quickly backed the prelate's remarks, voicing support on social media and calling on the university to drop Ostermann's nomination.
On Feb. 12, five more bishops commended Rhoades for his statement and expressed hope that the historic Catholic university would rescind the appointment.
Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Wall praised Rhoades for his stance, with the western U.S. prelate offering a quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV: "We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest, whether the child in the womb or the old man in his fragility, for both are gifts from God."
Green Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken, meanwhile, wrote: "I fully affirm and stand in solidarity with my brother bishop [Rhoades]." He said Rhoades spoke "with clarity, courage, and fidelity to the Church's mission."
"[L]et us turn with confidence to our Blessed Mother. Our Lady, pray for us! You are our loving Mother — we love you and entrust this to your Immaculate Heart," Ricken wrote.
The University of Notre Dame has continued to stand by its appointment of Ostermann, whose post is scheduled to take effect July 1. Rhoades on Feb. 11 said there is "still time [for the university] to make things right."
Ostermann, meanwhile, told the National Catholic Register in January that her role at the school "is to support the diverse research of our scholars and students, not to advance a personal political agenda."
The professor said she "respect[s] Notre Dame's institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage" and described herself as "inspired by the university's focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person."
The aid has been coordinated between the Catholic Church in Cuba and the United States government, bypassing the communist regime.
Caritas Cuba reported that a ship carrying seven containers of humanitarian aid arrived at the port of Santiago de Cuba on Feb. 10. The aid, sent from the United States, will continue to assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The commercial vessel docked at the port in eastern Cuba five days after the U.S. government announced a second aid package valued at $7 million. In January, the United States sent an initial aid package of $3 million.
The arrangements are being made directly between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church in Cuba, without the intervention of the communist regime.
On its website, Caritas Cuba reported that the shipment contains food and hygiene kits. "Once the supplies leave the port, their final destination will be the dioceses of Bayamo-Manzanillo, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba, where they will be distributed with the usual organization, care, and respect for the recipients," Caritas stated.
"The Catholic Church, through its humanitarian arm Caritas Cuba, reaffirms with this work its commitment to accompany, serve, and support those most in need, especially during the most difficult times," the organization stated.
The chargé d'affaires of the United States Embassy in Cuba, Mike Hammer, reported on X that he was in Santiago de Cuba yesterday to verify the arrival of the aid and "see if we can continue sending it to alleviate suffering and improve the conditions of the people a bit."
The economic crisis in Cuba has been ongoing for several years, with shortages of food and medicine as well as prolonged power outages that sparked street protests in 2021.
In recent days, the situation has worsened with an oil shortage, following Trump's announcement that as a way to pressure the communist regime, he would impose tariffs on countries that send fuel to the island.
The Cuban government's response has been to enact even more restrictions on the population. One example is the notice published by the official newspaper Vanguardia that, for the time being, bread will only be guaranteed for children under 13 and adults over 65.
Likewise, the regime announced a few days ago that it no longer has fuel for commercial aircraft, so some airlines have indicated they will no longer be able to operate flights to the island, directly impacting tourism, one of the government's main sources of income.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
After a report found that nearly two-thirds of abortions are chemical, advocacy groups are pushing for national and local safeguards against mail-order abortion pill prescriptions.
About two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, according to a Feb. 10 report by the National Right to Life.
The 2026 "Status of Abortion in the United States" report, an analysis of developments in abortion policy, found that chemical abortions account for 63% of all reported abortions in the U.S. as of 2023.
Mail-order pills, which can be shipped into every state, even if they are illegal, make chemical abortion easily accessible. State safeguards designed to protect women — such as required in-person physician visits — can be easily sidestepped.
The Trump administration has pledged to review the dangers of the abortion drug but has not restored safeguards that the Biden administration removed.
National Right to Life looks to establish accountability on the state and local level through legislation.
"This is a moment of stark contrast in America," said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. "Some states are racing to entrench abortion at any cost, while others are advancing compassionate policies that recognize the humanity of unborn children and provide real support to mothers."
The Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education (APPLE) Act is "designed to hold abortion-pill providers accountable and give women legal recourse when harmed," according to the Feb. 10 press release.
The report calls the model legislation a "fresh approach."
"The APPLE Act empowers women to sue any party involved in the abortion pill supply chain — prescribers, sellers, manufacturers — when harm occurs," the report read. "The goal is accountability and transparency."
Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the removal of safeguards around abortion pill prescriptions was "reckless."
"The abortion industry treats abortion pills like casual online purchases, though the reality is that they are far more dangerous," Francis told EWTN News. "Known complications for women include hemorrhage, severe infection, and the need for emergency surgery."
Dr. Christina Francis heads the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). | Credit: AAPLOG
"Anyone can order them online — a woman, a minor, even an abuser — with no ID, no pregnancy verification, and zero medical supervision or follow-up," she continued.
The APPLE Act would ensure a public record of injuries and failures — something currently not in place, as abortion pill complications go underreported.
"This report makes clear that while Roe [v. Wade] is gone, the abortion industry has simply shifted tactics — relying heavily on dangerous mail-order pills and legal loopholes to avoid accountability," Tobias said.
"At the same time, we're seeing encouraging momentum in states working to protect both women and their unborn children," Tobias continued. "The APPLE Act is one important step toward restoring transparency and responsibility in an industry that has operated for too long without either."
So far, two states — Washington and Ohio — have introduced the APPLE Act.
"Because the APPLE Act is fundamentally consumer protection law, it has the potential to gain traction even in states that support abortion," the report read.
"The truth about chemical abortion is becoming harder to ignore," the report continued.
Francis urged the FDA to reinstate the safeguards.
"When the FDA recklessly scrapped the last remaining safeguards over these high-risk drugs, it opened the floodgates for extensive harm and abuse of both women and preborn children," Francis continued. "The result is widespread and reckless distribution of these pills, thousands of preborn lives lost, and more women harmed because they were never given truly informed consent or afforded basic medical care and support."
"This is medical malpractice, and it is time for the FDA to take this situation seriously and do its job by restoring essential safeguards," she said.
U.S. parishes and other Catholic groups are expected to participate in the initiative ahead of the Fourth of July.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to participate in an initiative to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through Eucharistic adoration and works of mercy.
"All Catholics are encouraged to join the bishops in praying for the unity and healing of our country," a bishops' guideline on the initiative reads.
Leading up to July 4, the bishops are encouraging individuals and parishes to contribute to 250 collective hours of adoration and 250 collective works of mercy as Americans approach the anniversary of the country's formation.
The initiative also coincides with the lead up to the bishops' reconsecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the June 12 solemnity. The consecration is set to happen during a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Aaron Weldon, assistant director of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, told EWTN News the initiative was born out of a desire "to do something to kind of celebrate in a prayerful way." He said the bishops also wanted to "give Catholics a way to participate in the consecration."
The USCCB published a guide with resources on how to participate, which suggests parishes can set up a Holy Hour with Eucharistic adoration on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.
"While 250 hours seems like a lot, each person present constitutes an hour prayed," the guide states.
It provides resources for setting up Holy Hours dedicated to specific intentions, such as a Holy Hour for life or a Holy Hour for peace. It adds that parishes can also incorporate the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus into the Holy Hour to prepare for the consecration.
"You may have other ways to invite members of your community to spend some time in prayer for our country with Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament," the guide adds.
For works of mercy, the USCCB guide states that individuals and groups can engage in existing activities in their parishes or start initiatives on a weekly or monthly basis leading up to the Fourth of July.
"Our works of mercy draw from the deep well of our faith and prayer, constantly reminding us that in tending to our brothers and sisters, we tend to Christ himself," it states.
Works of mercy can include a variety of activities, such as assisting women who face a crisis pregnancy, donating to food pantries, sponsoring a refugee family, or volunteering at homeless shelters, among other things, according to the USCCB guide.
Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, New York (right), talks with Elisabeth Espinosa, director of Outreach Programs at the Roarke Center Food Pantry, on April 4, 2025, at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Troy, New York. | Credit: Cindy Schultz for The Washington Post via Getty Images
The USCCB is asking parishes to document their communities' participation in the initiative and report to the bishops about ways in which people participated and fruits from the prayers and the actions.
Weldon said the bishops hope to "collect stories about the different ways that parishes … or small Catholic groups found a way to put these ideas into actions," adding that the suggestions are "flexible," so parishes and other Catholic groups can "do what works best for them."
"I hope that we can start to hear back from people the different ways that people are putting some of these ideas into action," Weldon said.
In September 2025, the White House launched the "America Prays" initiative, which also asks people to pray for the United States and its people leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Weldon said the USCCB initiative is separate and independent from that. He said the bishops' consecration and the adoration and works of mercy offer "distinctly Catholic ways of celebrating" the 250th anniversary launched by the bishops.
An official replica of Manila's centuries-old Jesús Nazareno image has been entrusted to Holy Family Parish in Artesia, California, bringing one of the world's largest Catholic devotions to the U.S.
The centuries-old devotion to Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno of Quiapo, Manila, in the Philippines has formally reached the U.S. West Coast as an official replica of the revered image was turned over to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and entrusted to Holy Family Parish in Artesia and the archdiocese's Filipino ministry.
The replica, gifted by the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesús Nazareno in Manila, will be enthroned at Holy Family Parish and serve as a pilgrim image, visiting parishes across the archdiocese's five pastoral regions as part of a broader evangelization initiative.
Father John Cordero displays the official replica of the Jesús Nazareno from Manila's Quiapo Church in 2025. | Credit: Holy Family Catholic Church Artesia
The arrival of the image marks the fruit of an evangelization effort spearheaded by then-rector of Quiapo Church, now Bishop Rufino Sescon of Balanga, Bataan. According to Father John Cordero of the Marian Missionaries of the Holy Cross, pastor of Holy Family Parish, the development unfolded providentially.
"The real starting point of this development was the evangelization initiative of the National Shrine of Jesús Nazareno in Manila, spearheaded by then-rector and now bishop of Balanga, Rufino 'Jun' Sescon," Cordero told EWTN News.
The replica was initially offered to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles through Father Rodel Balagtas, priest liaison to the Filipino Ministry. Although another parish had first expressed willingness to host the image, no final arrangements had been made.
Months later, Sescon personally contacted Cordero — a former graduate school classmate — to reestablish communication between Quiapo Church and a receiving parish. What seemed at first a closed matter reopened, and Cordero discerned that the parish could accommodate the image by converting a religious goods store in the vestibule into a shrine.
"I noticed something that had slipped my attention: We have space," Cordero said. After consultation with Filipino Ministry leaders, including its president and parishioner Noel Motus, the parish agreed to receive the image. "It is a gift from the national shrine, and our parish was merely chosen to be the caretakers."
Formal reception and Mass
Sescon will celebrate the Mass marking the official arrival and reception of the replica in Los Angeles on Feb. 14. Later this year, the image will also be brought to the annual Religious Education Congress, further expanding its exposure to thousands of catechists and ministry leaders.
Bishop Oscar Solis of Salt Lake City — the first Filipino-born bishop to lead a diocese in the United States — is also scheduled to celebrate a Mass in connection with the image's visit.
While there was no prior organized clamor among parishioners for a Nazareno image, Cordero said the parishioners' response after learning that their parish will be the home of the replica has been one of "sheer joy," with Filipino and Hispanic faithful alike rallying around the new shrine.
"As a pastor explaining this new devotion to my multicultural parish, I would like to point to our mutual interconnectedness with this image," he said. "This is primarily an image of Jesus, the focal point of our Christian unity."
Historical connections
The original image of the Jesús Nazareno, which arrived in Manila from Mexico in 1606, bears deep historical ties to both the Philippines and the Americas. California itself was once part of Mexico, and devotion to Jesús Nazareno has long-standing roots throughout Latin America.
"The image, touched by hundreds of millions of pilgrims throughout its four centuries of devotional history, connects us with the everyday faith stories of all who identify with the suffering of Our Lord," Cordero said.
In a gesture underscoring that spiritual continuity, "like the Galileans who were content with touching the tassels of the cloak of Jesus for their healing," Cordero requested Father Jade Licuanan, the current Quiapo Basilica rector, to have the replica be touched to the original image in Quiapo before being shipped to the United States. Cordero described this as an "intimate act of blessing and sending."
Mass devotion in Manila
The devotion to the image once known as the "Black Nazarene" is among the largest Catholic expressions of popular piety in the world. Each January, millions of barefoot devotees join the Traslación procession in Manila, accompanying the dark wooden image of Christ carrying the cross through the streets of Quiapo.
Cordero, who recently visited the basilica, described the scale of devotion as "mind-boggling," noting that even hourly Masses draw thousands of worshippers.
Now, he believes, the image comes to Los Angeles at a providential moment.
"Amid a sociopolitical climate marked by fear and division, this symbol of our connection in the Lord and with one another, embodied in this rustic image of Jesus carrying the cross, offers us consolation and mission," he said.
Citing the U.S. bishops' pastoral letter "A Treasured Presence," which describes Filipino Catholics as a vital but often unseen minority in the United States, Cordero said the Nazareno highlights the "prophetic resiliency and joy" they bring to the Church.
"The Jesús Nazareno reassures us that we are not alone in bearing our crosses," he said. "In this strange new world, our Catholic faith has been our familiar refuge of connection, support, and strength."
Revitalizing faith
Balagtas said he hopes the popular Filipino icon that has a rich tradition in Latin America will help revitalize the faith of the people of the largest and most ethnically diverse archdiocese in the United States, thanks to the vibrant devotion of Filipino Catholics.
Father John Cordero, MMHC, signs the "Memorandum of Agreement" formalizing Holy Family Parish's reception of the official replica of the Jesús Nazareno on behalf of the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as Father Jade Licuanan, rector of the Basilica and National Shrine of Jesús Nazareno in Manila, looks on in 2025. | Credit: Holy Family Catholic Church Artesia
"The people who are filling the pews of the churches in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as in other dioceses, are Filipino Catholics."
From Quiapo, Manila's narrow streets, where millions gather each year for the Traslación, to the sprawling parishes of Southern California, the cross-bearing Christ now stands in a new land — inviting the faithful not only to venerate but also to follow him.
Communion and Liberation's annual cultural event, the New York Encounter, will begin Friday in the heart of New York City.
The annual three-day cultural event hosted by Communion and Liberation, a movement within the Church founded by Father Luigi Giussani, begins this Friday evening with a video message from Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
This year's New York Encounter will center on the theme "Where Everything Is Waiting for You," focusing on "the reemerging human desire for authentic belonging amid global isolation, emphasizing how freedom, truth, forgiveness, and dignity foster certainty and openness in true community."
The event is set to take place Feb. 13–15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood. Several of the presentations will be livestreamed, but for those who wish to attend in person, the event is free and open to all.
Holly Peterson, one of the event's moderators, told "EWTN News Nightly" on Feb. 10 that amid life's challenges and "the angst of the world we live in," the New York Encounter is "a place to go where everything is waiting for you."
"We'll have amazing speakers who will be able to address some of the challenges that we have today, whether it be social media or AI or whatnot," she said. "But it's a place where everyone is welcome."
Peterson said the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem has recorded a "phenomenal" video that will be aired at the event. She further highlighted several panels and discussions set to take place at the event, including one on just war theory and another featuring Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, who will be interviewing two Ukrainian bishops about the situation on the ground in Ukraine.
Dialogue and reflection will focus on urgent questions shaping common life, according to the event's website. The Encounter plans to bring together leading voices from culture, academia, faith, and the arts to explore how human flourishing is possible in today's world.
Peterson said she hopes participants will leave the event with "curiosity" and motivated to ask "deep questions and not necessarily find answers, but to be able to address some of the topics that are discussed with friends and family."
"There'll be thousands of people there, but it's all free and everyone will be welcome," she said.
A sitting mayor attended the past five archbishop installations in New York dating back to 1939.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani broke a long-standing New York tradition when he missed the Feb. 6 installation Mass for Archbishop Ronald Hicks at St. Patrick's Cathedral and met with the archbishop four days later.
Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the Archdiocese of New York, told EWTN News that "the mayor and the archbishop were together at a [New York Police Department] event" Feb. 10 and "then spoke by phone later in the day."
The archdiocese confirmed that Mamdani was invited to the installation Mass. Prior to Hicks' installation, a sitting mayor was present for at least the past five archbishop installations, which were in 2009, 2000, 1984, 1968, and 1939. Hicks replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan following his retirement.
In Mamdani's absence, Helen Arteaga, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, attended the Feb. 6 installation Mass. Prior to the meeting and phone call, Mamdani congratulated Hicks on social media.
"Congratulations to Archbishop Ronald Hicks on today's installment and welcome to New York City," Mamdani said in a post on X. "I know that Archbishop Hicks and I share a deep and abiding commitment to the dignity of every human being and look forward to working together to create a more just and compassionate city where every New Yorker can thrive."
The mayor's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mamdani became the first Muslim and first democratic-socialist mayor of the city on Jan. 1.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, a Catholic advocacy group, criticized Mamdani for missing the Mass, saying in a statement that Mamdani "ghosted the event."
"He could easily have been there," Donohue said. "Instead, he attended to business as usual."
"One in 3 New Yorkers are Catholic, making them the largest faith community in the city," he added. "Mamdani's professed interest in diversity and inclusion obviously hits a brick wall when it comes to Catholics. He wants nothing to do with them."
Donohue also criticized some of Mamdani's policy positions, which he said includes "rabid support for abortion, gay marriage, and transgenderism (including the child abuse inherent in sex-reassignment surgery for minors)."
During his campaign, Mamdani vowed to increase public funding for abortion, hormone therapy drugs, and surgeries designed to make a person appear like the opposite sex.
Mamdani defeated two candidates with nearly 51% of the vote in the November 2025 election. His plans include free buses, city-owned grocery stores, no-cost child care, raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour, and freezing the rent for people in rent-stabilized apartments.
"Mamdani has been in office for just over a month, and already he is signaling to Catholics that they are not welcome," Donohue said.
At least 10 people are dead, including young teens, and many are wounded in a mass shooting in northern British Columbia, Canada.
On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes — the Church's World Day of the Sick — Prince George Bishop Stephen Jensen called people of faith to prayer and penance following Tuesday's mass school shooting in Tumbler Ridge in northern British Columbia, Canada.
"The unimaginable tragedy that struck the community of Tumbler Ridge yesterday has traumatized us all," Jensen said in a statement released Wednesday morning.
At least 10 people were confirmed dead, with dozens injured, after a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the suspected shooter, an 18-year-old whom authorities said was born a biological male but identified as female, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Lockdowns and an emergency alert were lifted as officers secured the town and moved students to safety. Investigators continue examining connections between the shooter and victims.
School District 59 announced that Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School will remain closed for the rest of the week as the community mourns and recovers.
Tumbler Ridge, a northeastern British Columbia community of about 2,500 people, is located roughly 400 kilometers (249 miles) northeast of Prince George within the Diocese of Prince George. The town has one Catholic parish, Holy Cross Mission, served by Our Lady of Peace Parish in Chetwynd, about an hour northwest. There is no Catholic school.
Messages of prayer and solidarity poured in from across the country to the parish's Facebook page. Father Jeevan Bandanadham, SAC, pastor of Holy Cross Mission in Tumbler Ridge and Our Lady of Peace Parish in Chetwynd, reached out to parishioners Tuesday evening, saying he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the shooting.
"I am very concerned for each of you. I sincerely hope that you and your families are safe and doing well. Please know that you are in my heartfelt thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God surround you with his peace, comfort, and protection. Good night, and may God bless you all."
Jensen said in his statement: "The most effective response we can offer for the intentions of the dead and the survivors, their families, the emergency responders, the parish community and town, is our own prayer and penance, which God has provided that we can use to address suffering and help bring mercy and healing to all."
Other Catholic leaders across British Columbia echoed that call to prayer. In Vancouver, Archbishop Richard Smith expressed solidarity with the Diocese of Prince George and the grieving community.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of yesterday's tragic violence in Tumbler Ridge," he said. "Together with everyone in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, I offer my prayers for all who have lost loved ones and for the entire community in mourning."
His message ended: "In this time of grief, may the Lord draw close to those who suffer and grant strength to all who care for them. Let us join together in prayer for peace and healing in our province."
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster and state chaplain for the British Columbia and Yukon Knights of Columbus said he had reached out to clergy in his eparchy immediately.
"We are shocked and saddened by the horrific event that took place in the northern community of Tumbler Ridge," he wrote to priests. "Please offer a prayer for this intention in these days in your parish liturgies together with your parishioners."
He added that while there is a Catholic mission parish in Tumbler Ridge, there is no local Knights of Columbus council, though Knights are exploring ways to assist the community.
Jensen noted the start of Lent in one week, "a time for more intense prayer and penance — personal sacrifice — to beg God's healing grace for our lives and for the world."
Jensen closed his message by stating: "Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the words of the familiar prayer, we turn to her 'mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.' May we all unite our prayers to Our Lady's intercession to ask for God's presence and mercy in our suffering world."
This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and is reprinted here with permission. The story has been updated with the age of the alleged shooter and the information that the shooter was born a biological male but identified as female.
The Archdiocese of Corrientes, Argentina, announced that it will act ex officio in accordance with canon law to take any "formal canonical disciplinary measures that may be appropriate."
The Archdiocese of Corrientes, Argentina, announced it will take appropriate canonical disciplinary measures following the celebration of a marriage between two persons who identify as "transgender" in a local parish.
The ceremony took place on Jan. 28 at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish between the two individuals, one biologically male and the other biologically female, each of whom legally changed their names and genders to the opposite sex on their national identity documents under Argentina's gender identity law.
One of the persons involved, Solange Ayala, an LGBT activist from Corrientes, said in an interview with Radio Sudamericana: "We are a trans couple who were able to receive the blessing of the Church."
Ayala noted that although getting married in a church seemed "impossible" to them, the couple explored other options. "Several people told us that this church was quite open to welcoming the community," she said in reference to Our Lady of Pompeii Parish.
"We completed the process like anyone else, we started a marriage application, we went to speak with the priest, and he received us very well," she explained.
"We had a chat, he explained the steps to follow and he himself went to speak with the archbishop and told us that there was nothing he could object to against us being able to get married, because if we spoke like this, transparently, biologically we were a man and a woman, then we could be blessed under the sacrament of marriage," she recounted in the interview.
However, the Archdiocese of Corrientes later denied having given approval for the sacrament to be administered, stating that "this archdiocese at no time received the ecclesiastical documentation corresponding to the formalities required for processing these cases."
In a statement, the archdiocese reiterated that Christian marriage "requires compliance with certain essential conditions for its validity and licitness, as established by canon law and the living tradition of the Church."
The text added that "the omission of these conditions not only distorts the profound meaning of the sacrament but can also generate confusion within the community of the faithful."
In that context, the archdiocese announced that, after consulting with the relevant authorities, it will act ex officio in accordance with canon law to take any "formal canonical disciplinary measures that may be appropriate."
At the same time, the archdiocese reaffirmed the commitment "of a Church that welcomes, accompanies, and walks alongside people, always in fidelity to the Gospel, to Church doctrine, and to the legal order that ensures the proper and fruitful celebration of the sacraments."
The parish priest of Our Lady of Pompeii, Friar Fernando Luis Gómez, also issued a statement in which he affirmed that the parish "acted following the pastoral guidance and ecclesial norms of the ordinary (the bishop)."
In that context, the archdiocese affirmed that "Christian marriage, as a sacrament, requires essential canonical conditions for validity and licitness."
"It's not just a matter of a ceremony or documentation: It requires that the contracting parties be legally competent to marry, that there be no canonical impediment, and, crucially, that they give genuine consent; that is, that they wish to enter into marriage as the Church understands it, with integrity and good faith," the explained.
Furthermore, "out of respect for the privacy of those involved," the archdiocese clarified that "no details will be provided nor will speculation be fueled" and reiterated its commitment "to an authentic pastoral reception, always united to the truth of the sacrament."
Finally, the archdiocese announced that going forward, "the interview, preparation, and verification procedures will be strengthened to safeguard the sanctity of the sacraments and avoid confusion in the community."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
The Vatican's doctrinal office told a traditionalist group that consecrating bishops without a papal mandate would mean a "decisive rupture" of communion.
The Vatican's doctrinal office said Thursday it is willing to begin a structured theological dialogue with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), but warned that any plan by the traditionalist group to consecrate bishops without a papal mandate would constitute a break in communion and would immediately halt the talks.
In a statement following a Feb. 12 meeting between Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Father Davide Pagliarani, the SSPX's superior general, the dicastery said the two sides agreed on a "specifically theological" process with a defined methodology to address questions it said have not yet received sufficient clarification.
The dicastery also warned that if the SSPX proceeds with episcopal consecrations it has announced for July 1 without authorization from the Holy See, the move would "imply a decisive rupture of ecclesial communion (schism)," carrying "grave consequences" for the fraternity as a whole and would bring the dialogue to an immediate end.
The statement did not explicitly mention excommunication, which canon law prescribes for all bishops involved in episcopal consecrations without a papal mandate.
The dicastery said Pagliarani told Vatican officials he would present the proposal to the fraternity's council and later communicate a response. If the response is positive, the statement said, both sides would jointly establish the steps, stages, and procedures to follow.
The SSPX did not immediately respond to a request for comment from EWTN News.
What the Vatican says the talks would cover
According to the dicastery, the theological dialogue would address contested questions tied to the interpretation of post–Second Vatican Council teaching, including God's will regarding the plurality of religions; the distinction between an act of faith and "religious submission of mind and will"; and the differing levels of assent required by various Vatican II texts and their interpretation.
The underlying issue is whether the SSPX must accept Vatican II as doctrinally binding or whether it can treat it as primarily pastoral and therefore open to critique.
The dicastery also said the discussions would seek to identify "minimum conditions" required for full communion with the Catholic Church and, consequently, for outlining a canonical status for the SSPX, alongside other questions to be studied further.
Why the meeting happened now
The meeting followed Pagliarani's Feb. 2 announcement that the SSPX intends to consecrate new bishops on July 1, arguing the move is needed to preserve continuity.
The consecrations would reportedly be carried out by Bishop Bernard Fellay, Pagliarani's predecessor as superior general, with Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta as co-consecrator. Pagliarani has said an exchange of letters with the Holy See did not produce the response the fraternity sought.
The shadow of 1988
The Vatican warning recalls the 1988 rupture, when Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without a pontifical mandate after negotiations with Rome collapsed, triggering a formal declaration of excommunication and a long-running break in full communion.
In 1988, a solution had appeared within reach after an agreement would have given the fraternity a recognized place in the Church and permission to celebrate exclusively the Traditional Latin Mass, in exchange for acceptance of Vatican II and recognition of the validity of the reformed rites. Lefebvre ultimately proceeded with the consecrations anyway.
Benedict XVI later lifted the excommunications of the bishops consecrated in 1988 in 2009. Under Pope Francis, the Holy See extended certain pastoral faculties to SSPX priests, while also restricting broader use of the Traditional Latin Mass through the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
