Archbishop diagnosed with cancer
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, the former president of the US bishops’ conference, has been diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer. The archbishop (pictured) made the announcement on July 10 in The Record, the archdiocesan newspaper.
Archbishop Kurtz, who is 72, explained that the cancer was discovered while he was undergoing a series of medical tests after experiencing “some health issues” in recent months. He said he “will take part in a treatment plan that includes immunotherapy and chemotherapy. At the end of the treatment, he will have surgery to have his bladder and prostate removed.
Pro-lifers deplore online censorship
Pro-life leaders have told a White House summit they are facing censorship from social media sites. At an event to discuss social media, Lila Rose, head of the campaign group Live Action, said the organisation had been banned from advertising on Twitter for four years, and banned entirely from Pinterest.
Another group, the Susan B Anthony List, said that Facebook had removed its ads. In one case, Facebook then reversed the
decision and apologised.
Cary Solomon, director of the pro-life film Unplanned, said that the movie had been “directly, monetarily hurt” by online censorship. Twitter temporarily removed its account, while Google categorised the film as “propaganda” and YouTube removed a documentary about the film.
From Crystal Cathedral to Christ Cathedral
The Diocese of Orange was making final preparations for the inauguration of Christ Cathedral, which was planned for Wednesday July 17, as the Catholic Herald went to press.
The cathedral has undergone a seven-year, $77 million (£62 million) renovation process. The building was originally built as a “Crystal Cathedral” by a Protestant community which has since filed for bankruptcy. The building is constructed from more than 10,000 panes of glass.
The Catholic News Agency reports that Tony Jennison, vice president of philanthropy for the diocese, said the building was now “completely different” from its previous incarnation, “other than the outside façade”.
Bishops ask Maduro to step down
Venezuela’s bishops have called for President Nicolas Maduro (pictured) to resign, saying that his regime is “illegitimate”. Last year’s presidential election, which Maduro won, was widely criticised for serious irregularities, including by the US and the EU.
In a statement released at the end of their general assembly, the bishops wrote: “In the face of the reality of an illegitimate and failed government, Venezuela is crying out for a change of direction, a return to the Constitution. That change demands the departure of the one exercising power illegitimately and the election in the shortest possible time of a new president of the republic.”
‘Leftist’ bishop accused by lay Catholics
An archbishop has been accused of aiding the “leftist infiltration” of the Church in a clash over economic policy. The criticism of Archbishop Geremias Steinmetz comes in a letter to the nuncio Archbishop Giovanni D’Aniello, and according to Crux is signed by “trade associations that represent building companies, metal industries, growers, retailers and professional associations of physicians and engineers” in the city of Londrina.
The associations allege that Archbishop Steinmetz has been too close to left-wing movements and liberation theology. Steinmetz told Crux that he felt he was only following Church teaching.
Doctor challenges dismissal over transgender pronouns
A doctor is challenging the government after being sacked for refusing to use the “preferred pronouns” of transgender patients. Dr David Mackereth was working for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) when he told his manager he could not refer to a man as “she” if that man identified as a woman.
Dr Mackereth told an employment tribunal last week that his manager had effectively asked him to make “an abstract ideological pledge to any six foot tall bearded man as ‘madam’ ”.
The DWP argues that Dr Mackereth’s position makes him unable to perform his job. But he says that this discriminates against him as a Christian believer, and that the government is in breach of equalities law.
Bones found in Orlandi probe
Police have made a possible breakthrough in the case of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared 36 years ago, after two sets of bones were found near a site where she was rumoured to have been buried.
Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican employee, vanished in 1983 in mysterious circumstances. There has been much speculation about criminal gangs being responsible.
The bones will be examined by forensic experts.
First Asian Master
The Dominicans have elected the first Asian Master General in the order’s 800-year history. Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner, who was born in the Philippines and is a former member of the International Theological Commission, said the order was called to help the “new evangelisation”.
Church helps publicise NFP app
Church officials are supporting an app which helps women to practise Natural Family Planning, according to recent reports. The Femm app (pictured) helps women to get pregnant – or to avoid pregnancy if they have a good reason to avoid another child. It “appears to be the first ideologically aligned fertility tracking app”, according to the Guardian.
In a talk last year, co-sponsored by the Holy See, which took place at a UN event, Femm’s chief executive Anna Halpine explained how doctors helped women at a camp for displaced people in Nigeria.
Armed groups not keeping to peace deal, bishop says
Armed groups are threatening the fragile peace in the Central African Republic, the country’s bishops have said. Bishop Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia of Bossangoa, the president of the bishops’ conference, told the Catholic News Agency: “The government is keeping its part of the bargain in this current peace agreement, but the armed group leaders are not really eager to implement their own part of the obligations.”
A deal was signed in February to attempt to bring an end to fighting between militias claiming to represent Muslims and Christians respectively. The bishops have emerged as leaders of the mediation process.
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