Daily News

Morning must-reads

December 5

Vatican commission says ‘no’ to women deacons

Based on unity & theology of Sacrament of Holy Orders

Pope Leo nixes commission for donations to Holy See

Created by Francis 'ad experimentum' for three years

Broglio rips Trump war against Venezuelan drug trade

'The end never justifies the means, which must be moral'

Dioceses, schools face $800M pension fund shortfall

Fund hit by 2008 financial crisis, collapsing demographics

Discalced Carmelites to mark year of St. John of Cross

300th anniv. of canonization, 100th as a doctor of Church

Loyola Maryland profs: Literature is white supremacist

English Dept. plans 'anti-racist teaching' in all courses

December 4

Leo’s first apostolic journey yields real-world results

Strengthens ties with Orthodox, makes timely peace appeal

EU court pushes gay marriage on all member states

In ruling on recognizing such status across all countries

Alabama vicar general laicized following allegation

Woman detailed encounters, support, NDA for $273K

Catholics form coalition opposed to death penalty

Amid execution surge in 16 states, drop in public support

Syriac Catholic bishops request resignation of patriarch

Younan, age 81, attempts to gain Pope Leo’s support

Caritas disappointed in UN climate-change conf. flop

Calls doomed fossil fuel phase-out roadmap 'a glaring hole'

December 3

Papal plane interview addresses conclave, peace talks

And spirituality, U.S.-Venezuela war, hope for Africa trip

SCOTUS hears case of NJ faith-based pregnancy center

Challenging odd state subpoena demanding donor info

Gaza priest: Amid fragile truce, 2M people have nothing

Asks prayers, material support as Christmas approaches

Beijing tightens political direction in Catholic theology

Focus on sinicization of Catholic liturgy & sacred music

Spanish police arrest two breakaway Poor Clare nuns

For alleged illegal sale of historical-heritage artwork

Austrian nuns who escaped nursing home reject deal

Which asked cessation of all social-media/media hype

December 2

Pope celebrates Mass for 150,000 at Beirut Waterfront

'Lebanon, be a prophetic sign of peace for whole Levant'

Leo invites all Christians to Jerusalem for 2033 anniv.

Marking 2,000 years since death and Resurrection of Jesus

Holy See posts better-than-expected financial report

Whether the progress is sustainable is an open question

USCCB announces $3.5M in CCHD grants for 2026

All 'community development' or 'economic development'

Fed. appeals court sides with NY pregnancy centers

Stops AG James from shutting them over pill reversal

Bethlehem plans joyous Christmas to offer Hope

After harm of COVID closures and two years of Israel war

December 1

Leo XIV, Ecumenical Patriarch sign joint declaration

To work to restore full communion, common Easter date

Pope: Nicaea says Christ is the Son of God among us

We must 'rediscover in Christ the face of God the Father'

Lebanon: Leo is first pope to pray at St. Charbel's tomb

Which is visited daily by thousands, including Muslims

American devotion to St. Charbel continues to grow

Many U.S. churches offer monthly healing Masses

Pope: Erdogan talks focused on Gaza and Ukraine

Says they agree on key points and Turkey has peace role

Leo makes 7 continent-crossing episcopal nominations

Latest is first non-European bishop for Mainz, Germany

November 25

Pope Leo, in first trip abroad, heads to Turkey, Lebanon

To mark Nicaea anniv., visit Christian parishes & shrines

Nigeria: Gunmen attack Catholic school, kidnap 303

Fifty so far have escaped; military-led search underway

Statutes finalized for new German 'synodal conference'

Its inaugural meeting is scheduled for November 2026

DDF issues document 'Una caro: In Praise of Monogamy'

On marriage as 'exclusive union and mutual belonging'

Newman Guide adds elementary, high, grad schools

For 75,000 families/year online, plus new print version

Greenville, SC, has become traditional faith haven

Several thriving parishes shape growing Catholic 'hub'

November 24

Pope issues apostolic letter on 1700th anniv. of Nicaea

'In Unitate Fidei' emphasizes importance of Nicene Creed

Catholic aid worker: Sanctions only harming N. Koreans

Are causing new levels of deprivation among the poor

Indianapolis: 16,000 teens take part in 'Pope Leo LIVE'

Nat'l Catholic Youth Conf. features 45-min. video call

Sisters Adorers dedicate lives to praying for priests

ICKSP's female branch now boasts 71, at 9 convents

Leo: Avoid 'false mercy' in marriage annulment process

Theology, law, pastoral care must link in harmonious way

PP closes flagship abortion center in NYC amid change

T. Newman: Margaret Sanger Ctr. is on 'ash-heap of history'

November 21

Israeli settlers again attack West Bank Christian town

Even U.S. ambassador has decried attacks, to no avail

U.S. dioceses face Christian Brothers pension crisis

Will require payments in millions to get back on track

One-third of UK's Catholic priests are Anglican converts

About 700 clergy & religious, including 16 former bishops

Jerusalem cardinal: ‘Life has changed little in Gaza’

Main difference has been 'the end of blanket bombing'

V.P. Vance: Border security is a 'humanitarian' act

Says Church allows gov'ts to work for 'our own people'

College Newman Centers report surge in conversions

Priests say students are searching for meaning, clarity

November 20

UK high court: Religious ed in Northern Ireland unlawful

Not approached in 'objective, critical and pluralist manner'

Report: 2,211 anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe, 2024

Rise in personal attacks, sharp spike in arson attacks

Charlotte bishop grants immigrants Mass dispensation

Calls for day of prayer and fasting amid ICE crackdown

Synod on Synodality reports drop female diaconate idea

Also, the liturgy group is not addressing TLM restrictions

Survey finds Australian clergy happy and flourishing

Feedback similar to studies of priests in France and U.S.

'Open Door' discusses 'Catholics & the American Polity'

New book edited by Pieter Vree and Thomas Storck

November 19

Homeland Security urges clergy to 'reach out' to ICE

To arrange detainees' access to Communion, services

Abp. Coakley praises gov for commuting death sentence

Says Okla. case's 'particularly troubling details' gave pause

Eminent liturgist Bux counters Cupich’s TLM assertions

In open letter published by Vatican’s news website

Cdl. Zuppi: 'Christendom is over, but not Christianity'

Exhorts bishops to renew commitment to evangelization

Bishops of Sudan, S. Sudan lament ongoing conflicts

Exacerbated by floods as devastating as the violence

U.S. pregnancy centers served 1M new patients in 2024

Provided over $452M in medical care, services, & goods

November 18

Pope urges parishes to invest in liturgical formation

For 'fruitful participation' in liturgy 'sober in its solemnity'

New York pastors report leap in adult conversions

Parishes report doubling, tripling of OCIA attendees

Detroit archdiocese opens restructure due to shrinkage

Fewer than half of its 900,000 Catholics frequent Mass

Two more German dioceses reject schools document

Shepherds of Cologne & Regensburg call out 'agenda'

Pizzaballa to Christians: Make pilgrimage to Holy Land

Assures that 'the war is over' & a trip 'is absolutely safe'

Archaeologists identify hill site of Gospel exorcism

Where Christ cast Legion of demons into herd of pigs

November 17

Leo poised to grant exemptions to Traditionis custodes

UK nuncio: He'll ask DDW to okay bishops' 2-year requests

France recalls victims of 2015 Islamist terrorist attacks

Bells of Notre-Dame Cathedral, churches toll for five mins.

‘Liturgy wars’ claim altar rail in suburban N.C. parish

Pastor claims he's getting ahead of expected changes

Pakistan: Priest & layman liberate Christian slaves

Pay 'businessmen' $1,700 to free 3 families from bondage

Gallup: Only 49% of Americans consider faith important

Chasing 36% figure on attitude in 38 other rich nations

Denver archdiocese, Catholic schools petition SCOTUS

Over access to state universal free preschool program

November 14

German bishops, Vatican VIPs discuss German synod

Curia's side includes Fernández, Koch, Parolin, & Roche

Broglio sees disconnect with pewsitters on immigration

Polls hint 'silent majority' of Catholics favor crackdown

CatholicVote issues report on immigration enforcement

Advocates balancing charity with greater common good

More killings add to ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria

Watchdog urges U.S. to move on to firm, targeted action

Aid to the Church in Need’s 'Red Week' starts tomorrow

Famed edifices lit in red to highlight religious persecution

Texas Christian U. to end gender, race studies depts.

Driven by low enrollment, probable donor pressure

November 13

USCCB opposes ‘indiscriminate mass deportation'

Issues 'special message' on immigration from Nov. meetup

U.S. bishops ban trans procedures at Cath. hospitals

Meanwhile, Episcopalians, Presbyterians reassure LGBTs

Beatification advances for priest of U.S.-Mex. border

Richard Thomas SJ ministered to poorest, from 1964-2006

Roman Rota rules against ‘credibly accused’ clergy lists

And in favor of U.S. priest suing rel. order for defamation

Alleged apparitions of Jesus in France ‘not supernatural’

DDF declares on claims by alleged visionary from 1970s

Only 21 of 39 dioceses have emerged from bankruptcy

Since start in 2004; messy business with $4.4B in payouts