Baltimore
Vatican intervenes at US bishops’ plenary
The US bishops’ conference cancelled voting on two key proposals to deal with the abuse crisis after a last-minute intervention by the Congregation for Bishops. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston told bishops that the Holy See wanted them to delay any vote until after a Vatican summit on abuse in February.
The two proposals were an episcopal code of conduct and the formation of a commission that would review complaints against bishops. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago called for a special assembly in March to discuss the outcome of the Vatican summit and to vote on the proposals.
Buffalo, United States
Catholics vent anger at bishop through collection basket
Catholics in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, have left handwritten notes in the collection basket urging their bishop to resign. Two notes were leaked to CNN. One said: “We will resume our weekly offering when the bishop resigns or is removed.” A priest who asked to remain anonymous told the broadcaster: “My biggest concern is that it will be the slow death of the Church if he remains. People are leaving in droves.” Bishop Richard Malone has been strongly criticised for his handling of abuse allegations against priests. But in August he said: “The shepherd does not desert the flock.”
New York City
Parishioners receive training in case of armed attack
Parishioners in the Archdiocese of New York are undergoing training in case of an attempted shooting. Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the archdiocese, told the New York Post that officials were looking at security protocols following the attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 people dead. But he said a range of measures were already in place – including advice that priests ask police officers to coordinate their Mass-going to ensure every Mass is covered. “The pastors would do this privately, one on one … [The police officers] would not be serving in any particular role at the Mass other than attending.” In May parishioners at Our Lady of Pity on Staten Island attended a workshop where they were taught to use desks to block doors and run zig-zag patterns if fleeing an armed gunman.
Guam, United States
Church in Pacific island files for bankruptcy
The Archdiocese of Agaña, which covers the United States dependency of Guam (not shown on map), has filed for bankruptcy amid lawsuits from nearly 200 alleged victims of abuse. Archbishop Michael Byrnes said the bankruptcy would “bring the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims”. Parishes and schools will continue their operations after the bankruptcy has been filed. It is expected that there will be a notification process to allow all victims of clergy abuse to have their claims resolved “in a fair process”. Archbishop Byrnes’s predecessor, Archbishop Anthony Apuron, was removed from office after a canonical trial found him guilty of sexually abusing minors. He is appealing against the verdict.
Managua, Nicaragua
Cardinal defends bishop targeted by Ortega regime
Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes has defended an auxiliary bishop accused by Daniel Ortega’s regime of being a “coup leader”. A group of Catholic activists linked to the government said it had handed two petitions to the nuncio calling for Pope Francis to remove Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Báez of Managua. The group, called St Paul the Apostle, said it had amassed hundreds of thousands of signatures. The regime has accused the bishop of plotting a coup. Cardinal Brenes said he opposed the petitions and that the “intense” prayers of priests and lay people gave Báez strength.
Buenos Aires
It’s been a rough year, say bishops
Bishop Oscar Ojea, president of the Argentine bishops’ conference, has said 2018 has been a “very difficult year”, both for Argentina and the Church. As examples he listed the debate on abortion, a trend of mass apostasy, allegations of clerical abuse and “attacks against the person of the Pope, from inside and outside the Church, which lead to a scarce transmission of his message”. “It would seem that to say anything nice about [the Church] is not politically correct,” he said. He added that Church leaders had to be humble, to “listen in a new way to the heart of [the person] who is mad at the Church”.
London
More than 170 Religious ‘fighting slavery in Britain’
More than 170 members of religious orders are involved in the battle against slavery in Britain, a study has found. The Religious – 144 women and 28 men – accompany police during rescue operations, provide and help to run safehouses, and offer training and outreach, according to the study by the Arise Foundation, an anti-slavery charity. It noted that Religious had founded 22 anti-trafficking organisations. Most of the Religious were unpaid, it said. Theresa May, the prime minister, praised the “extraordinary contribution” of Religious sisters in a message to the charity’s chair and co-founder, John Studzinski. Luke de Pulford, director of the charity, said: “Women Religious are the unsung heroines of the anti-slavery movement.”
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Pakistani Christians fearful after Asia Bibi’s release
Christians in Pakistan are living in fear amid anger at the acquittal of Asia Bibi. Peter Jacob, of the human rights group Centre for Social Justice, told CNN that protesters (pictured) had interrogated passers-by about their religion and that Christians had been “taken out of their cars and beaten up”. A Catholic at St Joseph’s cathedral in Rawalpindi said that, while he was grateful for the backing of the army, which has been providing support to churches and schools, he was “haunted” by fear.
Jalandhar, India
Diocese not funding bishop’s defence
The diocese of Jalandhar has said it is not funding the defence of a bishop on trial for rape. Bishop Agnelo Gracias, who has taken over the diocese, said Bishop Franco Mulakkal’s brother would pay the legal fees. “His family is quite well off,” Bishop Gracias said.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra
Bishop ‘may have to abdicate as co-prince’
A bishop will have to abdicate as co-prince of Andorra if the country tries to legalise abortion, the Vatican has reportedly said. According to local media, a Vatican official telephoned Andorran prime minister Toni Martí to tell him that, if such a bill were passed, Archbishop Joan Enric Vives i Sicília (pictured, with Emmanuel Macron) could no longer serve as head of state. Under a centuries-old deal, the Bishop of Urgell and the French president serve as co-princes of the country, which is on the border between France and Spain. Laws from parliament still require their assent.
Asaba, Nigeria
Four priests kidnapped by gunmen are released
Four priests abducted by gunmen in Nigeria’s southern Delta state last week have been released. The clergy were abducted on their way to a meeting marking the 10th anniversary of their ordination. It is suspected their kidnappers were Fulani – Muslim herdsmen accused of committing genocide against Nigeria’s Christians. An unnamed priest told SaharaReporters.com that a ransom had been paid, but the state’s police chief denied this. A suspect has been arrested. One monitoring group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, said that 200 Christians were killed in attacks by Fulani herdsmen in October.
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