World News
Pope too felt ‘caged’ during lockdown, but ‘took life as it came’
Pope Francis reflected on the COVID-19 restrictions and said that receiving the COVID vaccine, when available, was "the ethical option because you are playing with your health, life, but you also are playing with the lives of others."
Pope amends canon law so women can minister as lectors, acolytes
Recognizing "the gifts of each baptized person" -- women and men -- Pope Francis changed canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes and not under "temporary designation," as is current practice.
Pope says he was ‘astonished’ by violence at Capitol
The pope urged government leaders "and the entire population to maintain a high sense of responsibility in order to soothe tempers, promote national reconciliation and protect the democratic values rooted in American society."
Sweden’s pandemic reality check a ‘time of conversion,’ cardinal says
At the start of the pandemic, while countries enforced lockdowns and social distancing, the Swedish government took a more relaxed approach. Now with a high death rate, leaders realize they did not "do what we were supposed to do."
Central African Republic bishops warn of food shortages, insecurity
As rebels have seized two-thirds of the country, the conflict risked "turning into a nationwide hunt for innocent people, based solely on their ethnicity or political affiliation."
Canadian provinces close churches to contain pandemic
As they did last spring, churches and all places of worship again will close or enact restrictions imposed by four Canadian provinces in an effort to stop a new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 claims lives of over 200 priests in Italy since start of pandemic
Already four priests have died since the start of 2021, and the toll amounted to one death every day and a half since the pandemic began, a newspaper reported Jan. 6. Many were in active ministry.
Assault on U.S. Capitol shocks the world
Religious leaders around the world said the attack was driven by "divisive populist politics (that) have unleashed forces that threaten the foundations of democracy" and "are of serious international concern."
In British lockdown, English churches open, Scottish churches closed
In a third lockdown to contain the spread of a highly infectious variant of COVID-19, the Catholic bishops of Scotland denounced the new measure as "arbitrary and unfair."
French archbishop, others protest proposal to rein in religious extremism
The head of the French bishops' conference said a proposed law designed to rein in extremist militancy would place religions and religious believers under particular surveillance.