Daily News

Morning must-reads

December 23

Pope urges Roman Curia members to go to Confession

Then 'blessed ourselves, let us bless others in turn'

Portuguese cardinal defends attending Communist rally

As chance to grow closer to those of a distant ideology

Trump names activist to be ambassador to Holy See

Brian Burch is president of influential CatholicVote org

Diocese of Columbus approves new Order of Widows

Widows of Prayer began in Diocese of Green Bay in 1994

Biden commutes sentences of 37 death-row prisoners

After recent telephone conversation with the Pope

Gaza Catholic parish preps for 2nd Christmas amid war

The parish children helped decorate the church’s tree

December 20

Tenn. to consider $5M penalty for mailing abortion pills

Makers, distributors, relatives could all be held liable

Ohio school district settles with teacher for $450,000

She refused to participate in 'social transition' of minors

Artists’ group rebuilds Satanic display at N.H. capitol

States, 'No religion is better or worse than any other'

Hallow App CEO: Liam Neeson partnership was ‘mistake’

Publicly reverses his previous defense of the decision

Bishops' CCHD announces $2.1M in grants for 2025

Scaled back after revelation of $2.3M deficit last year

Louisiana prof seeks just wage for Church employees

Consistent Church teaching is 'aimed primarily ad extra'

December 19

Former Anglican leader Carey resigns from priesthood

After revelation he had helped abuser return to ministry

Trump HHS nominee RFK Jr. reassures pro-life senators

He supports restrictions, conscience rights, nixing funding

Record number of Belgians, 14,251, request 'debaptism'

Due to abuse scandal & documentary series about it

Pope declares French Martyrs of Compiègne saints

16 Carmelite nuns were executed during Reign of Terror

Gov. Walz allows Satanic display at capitol building

Minn.: Spokesman says, 'He does not police speech'

Pakistan: Christian-Muslim dialogue prevents riot

Joint intervention of Franciscans, imam, local police

December 18

Vatican cautions on using Eastern-rite priests as subs

As Western countries with priest shortage may overdo it

Document on same-sex blessings fizzled in the U.S.?

Diocesan officials say the issue 'just doesn’t come up'

Syria’s new leader calls for unifying ‘social contract’

Between the state & all religions, to guarantee justice

Supreme Court of Spain: Surrogacy exploits women

And harms the dignity & rights of the children conceived

Argentine legislative leader takes aim at abortion law

Pres. Milei several times has called abortion murder

Kroger says it's not selling abortion pill mifepristone

Calls previous online listing of drug a third-party 'error'

December 17

Wisconsin: Teen and teacher killed in school shooting

At private K-12 Christian school, which perp attended

Banking should serve people, not profit, Pope says

'When finance tramples people, it betrays its purpose'

Texas sues NY abortionist for mailing abortion pills

Which killed baby & caused serious harm to mother

Pope skips in-flight press conference for first time

Due to short flight and whirlwind daytrip to Corsica

Missouri priest: I stole to avoid diocesan oversight

Makes claim while awaiting sentencing in fed. court

Milwaukee Catholic Charities fires thieving employees

Four embezzled at least $1.7M in years-long scheme

December 16

Pope, in Corsica, praises popular piety, many children

Says only in Timor-Leste did he see as many children

Belgian province to pray for episcopal delegate at Mass?

Critics rip naming lay official in Eucharistic Prayer

Cdl. Pizzaballa expects war in Holy Land to end soon

Focuses on hope, sees no short-term political solution

Trump commits to keeping abortion pill available

In interview; has vowed to free imprisoned pro-lifers

Supreme Court to hear Wis. Catholic Charities case

On whether serving the poor is a religious activity

Gov't funded experiments on aborted babes continue

Daleiden: PP supplies bodies, parts to UC San Diego

December 13

British gov't enacts puberty-blocker ban for children

Experts determined there's an 'unacceptable safety risk'

Pope calls for restoration of just international order

Reduction of world debt, end of death penalty, food fund

German ‘synodal committee’ loses spiritual advisers

Pair found spiritual accompaniment wasn't really desired

E. Pentin creates in-depth College of Cardinals website

To help cardinals know one another, per their request

N.H.: Satanic display battered, removed after three days

State rep arranged ugly idol as adjunct to Nativity scene

Canada euthanized 15,343 in 2023; 4.7% of all deaths

96% cited 'loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities'

December 12

Quebec Premier wants to end prayer in public spaces

Bishops voice alarm; his message was aimed at 'Islamists'

Aleppo bishop has ‘positive meeting’ with new gov't

Muslim regime's intention 'seems to be to build trust'

Nigeria: Church battles attempts to legalize abortion

Some in gov't prioritize foreign interests over Nigerian lives

Russian Orthodox patriarch writes to new mothers

Letter for first medical visits, to encourage keeping baby

First-ever Nativity display on steps of U.S. Capitol

After fed. court ruling that the steps are a public forum

Pakistan: Pentecostal church holds group wedding

For 18 adopted 'brick slave' gals, to end spiral of poverty

December 11

LBGT Jubilee pilgrimage organized by Bologna Jesuit

Supported by Italian bishops’ conference, Cdl. Zuppi

Pope entrusts Syria to the intercession of Mary

Prays citizens can live in peace, security, mutual respect

Ex-Sistine Chapel Choir director & manager convicted

Plus a third; guilty of embezzlement, abuse of office

Murders mount in Haiti; bishops plead for peace

Total number of killings there this year is over 5,000

Europe's bishops to EU: Fight anti-Christian hate

Need an appointee same as Jews and Muslims have

Pelosi flaunts disobedience of Archbp. Cordileone

Still takes Communion; 'that’s his problem, not mine'

December 10

Head of Latin Church in Syria is cautiously optimistic

Was assured Christians will remain part of Syrian society

DC archdiocese addresses multi-million dollar deficit

Finance woes ballooned after McCarrick scandal in 2018

Nigerian diocese graduates first female catechists

Alongside 36 men; training center was founded in 1964

U.S. bishops ask Biden to spare fed. death row prisoners

Say he could commute their sentences and spare 40 lives

Pope raps Mafia at audience with Sicilian theologians

Says Sicily's beauty is menaced by mob 'corruption'

Dead Sea Scrolls on exhibit at Reagan Fndn. in Calif.

Bits so fragile they're allowed in light only 3 mo./5 yrs

December 9

Pope creates 21 new cardinals, including Leo of Toronto

Urges them to follow Jesus & resist 'seduction of power'

Vatican organizing LGBT pilgrimage for Holy Year

Plan includes Mass in main church of Jesuit order, Il Gesù

Notre-Dame de Paris officially reopens at ceremony

Consecration of new main altar took place on Sunday

Religious sisters face gov't pressure to leave Nicaragua

Activist: Whether foreign or nationals, they have no choice

Bishops & priests join free online mental-health conf.

Divine Fulfillment Conference to be held Dec. 27–29

Swiss chapel offers Q & A with AI avatar of Jesus

Topics broached by users include the afterlife, suffering

December 6

Appeals court allows Idaho ‘abortion trafficking’ law

Law applies also to giving abortion-inducing drug to minor

Sen. Hawley to feds: Retain files on pro-life convictions

After reports of workers illegally destroying records

Historic Christian village in south Lebanon destroyed

Hezbollah hides in Christian areas, aiming for extinction

Will next U.S. nuncio be the current nuncio to Russia?

With peace as priority, d’Aniello’s experience is a plus

Beatification of Archbishop Sheen seen as inevitable

Despite roadblocks, due to 'growing devotion' to him

U.S. Bible sales rose 22% in 2024, compared to 2023

During same time, print book sales overall rose just 1%

December 5

Supreme Court challenges 'trans' discrimination claims

In case on Tenn. ban of trans drugs/surgeries for minors

Pope on preaching: 'Never go over 10 minutes, ever!'

Suggests content of 'one idea, one invitation to action'

Republicans build case for defunding abortion giant

PP might be vulnerable re: its selling of baby body parts

Bible curriculum in Tex. public schools faces scrutiny

But education about religion is not unconstitutional

South Korean bishops urge president to apologize

For rashly imposing, then lifting, martial law this week

Will the Vatican ban TLM at end of Chartres pilgrimage?

French bishops' newspaper covers 'conformity' question

December 4

Britain is no longer a Christian country, says bishop

Assisted suicide vote means passing a point of no return

Cause of persecuted Christians is ignored worldwide

Due to unfolding economic & social upheavals, per ACN

Catholic lawyers warn Australian Catholic University

May lose religious designation if it fails to defend faith

El Salvador bishops urge president to keep mining ban

Fear victimization of the people, pollution from toxins

Leader of Ahmadiyya Muslims to again meet with Pope

Says, 'I think the pope is a close friend of the Muslim world'

Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square will recreate lagoon

Project of small northern Italian island town on the Adriatic