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Catholic News

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Bishops Around the World Are Divided Over Vatican’s Same-sex Blessing Declaration  

Dec 20, 2023

Some bishops are welcoming the news, some are approaching it with caution, while others are outright refusing to implement it.

A blessing service at St. Augustin Catholic church in Würzburg, Germany, for couples, including those of the same-sex, May 10, 2021. | Credit: CNA Deutsch

TIMELINE: What Has the Catholic Church Said about Same-sex "blessings"?

Dec 20, 2023

Here’s a timeline of how the controversy over same-sex blessings has unfolded.

Credit:Salesian Missions

Salesians Realize Month-long Campaign on Value of Vocational Education in Rwanda

Dec 20, 2023

The Job Service Office of the members of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in Rwanda organized a month-long campaign to raise awareness of the need to embrace vocation and technical education in the East African nation.

Credit: Agenzia Fides

South Sudan Needs Trauma Healing to Address “sexual violence effects”: Catholic Official

Dec 20, 2023

Survivors of sexual violence in South Sudan need to be helped, the Coordinator of the Catholic Health Commission (CHC) in the East-Central African nation has said, and proposed the reestablishment of a trauma healing facility in the country.

A screenshot of Fr. John Chrysostom Maviiri preaching during the 8th graduation ceremony of St. Francis Schools of Health Sciences (SFRASH) on Wednesday, December 20. Credit: Ugandan Catholics Online

Medical Students at Ugandan Catholic Institution Urged to Prioritize God’s Will in Service

Dec 20, 2023

Medical graduands at St. Francis Schools of Health Sciences (SFRASH) in Uganda’s Catholic Diocese of Lugazi have been urged to seek for and prioritize the will of God in their professional duties.

Pope Francis attends the general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall Oct. 21, 2020. | Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Urges Humanitarian Response to Darien Migration Tragedy

Dec 20, 2023

“We need the joint effort of the most directly affected countries and the international community to prevent this tragic reality,” Pope Francis said.

A liturgy at St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, Arakuzha, India. | Achayan via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Dissenting Priests in Syro-Malabar Church Protest Pope Francis’ Christmas Deadline 

Dec 20, 2023

Tensions have risen in the Eastern Catholic Church in the Indian state of Kerala as the deadline approaches to implement a universal liturgy.

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). Credit: ECM

“Blessings for same sex unions of any kind are not permitted in Malawi”: Catholic Bishops

Dec 19, 2023

Catholic Bishops in Malawi have prohibited the implementation of the Vatican declaration on the blessing of “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations”, which the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF) released on Monday, December 18 under the title, Fiducia Supplicans.

A poster announcing the webinar. Credit: African Digital Youth Faith Influencers (ADYFI)

Vatican Declaration on Blessings of Same-Sex Couples: Take from Webinar in Ghana

Dec 19, 2023

A day after the release of Fiducia Supplicans, the Monday, December 18 Vatican declaration on the blessing of “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations” released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith (DDF), a Catholic media entity in Ghana organized a discussion that sought “to create more clarity” on the declaration.

Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito, the Liaison Bishop for the SACBC Migrants and Refugees Office. Credit: SACBC

“A Savior of possibilities”: Bishop in South Africa Expresses Solidarity with Refugees

Dec 19, 2023

“Our savior who is going to be born is a Savior of possibilities.” This is the message of Bishop Joseph Mary Kizito, the liaison Bishop for the Migrants and Refugees department of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC).

Stephen Cardinal Brislin. Credit: SACBC

Let’s Pray for “end to this horrifying violence”: South African Cardinal on Gaza Conflict

Dec 19, 2023

Stephen Cardinal Brislin has called for prayer for an end to the Israel-Hamas war following the reported December 16 attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza and on the Centre for Disabled Children, which the Missionaries of Charity run within the Parish compound.

Fr. Beno Kikudo, Director of the National Laity Department of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC). Credit: TEC

“We must respect life”: Tanzania Bishops’ Conference Official to Youth on Abortion

Dec 19, 2023

The Director of the National Laity Department of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) has cautioned the youth in the East African nation against abortion and urged them to respect life.

Bishop François Abeli Muhoya Mutchapa of Kindu Diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Credit: Radio Okapi

Let’s “go massively to the polling stations”: Catholic Bishop in DR Congo ahead of Polls

Dec 18, 2023

Bishop François Abeli Muhoya Mutchapa of Kindu Diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is calling for active participation in the Central African nation’s general elections scheduled for December 20.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Abuja Archdiocese. Credit: ACI Africa

Demands to Return Nigeria to Religious Freedom Violators List a “wake up” Call: Archbishop

Dec 18, 2023

The calls from over two dozen human rights advocates for the U.S Congress to get Nigeria back to the list of religious freedom violators is a “wake up” call for the West Africa nation that is Africa’s most populous nation, the Catholic Archbishop of the country’s Abuja Archdiocese has said.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama with parishioners of the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish of his Metropolitan See. Credit: Abuja Archdiocese

“Our joy must outweigh every sorrow”: Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria on Gaudete Sunday

Dec 18, 2023

“Our joy must outweigh every sorrow,” Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese in Nigeria has said in his homily on December 17, Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent that invites the people of God to “rejoice always” as is captured in Philippians 4:4.

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins, President of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CEPAMI) in Angola. Credit: Vatican Media

International Migrants Day: Archbishop in Angola Advocates for “reference structure”

Dec 18, 2023

On the occasion of the annual International Migrants Day marked December 18, the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CEPAMI) in Angola has appealed for the creation of a “reference structure” to assist migrants.

St. Peter's Basilica. | Credit: vvo/Shutterstock

Vatican Says Priests Can Bless Same-sex Couples Without Condoning their Lifestyles

Dec 18, 2023

The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. 

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of South Africa’s Johannesburg Archdiocese. Credit: SACBC

Push for Signing of UN Law on Statelessness: South African Archbishop to Religious Leaders

Dec 18, 2023

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of South Africa’s Johannesburg Archdiocese has called on religious leaders across the world to push their respective governments to sign the United Nations Conventions on Statelessness. 

Credit: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)

Catholic Charity Foundation Responds to Sisters Struggling to Evangelize in Uganda

Dec 18, 2023

Members of The Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi (LSOSF) serving vulnerable communities in Uganda have increased their reach in the East African nation, thanks to a boost by the Pontifical charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Credit: Salesian Missions

Salesians Address Electricity Challenges at 156-bed-capacity Hospital in DR Congo

Dec 18, 2023

The Institute of Salesian of Don Bosco (SDB) has addressed electricity challenges at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by procuring a new generator.