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Catholic News Agency
Atlanta archdiocese to end Sunday Mass dispensation
by Joe Bukuras Atlanta, Ga., Apr 30, 2021 / 10:00 am America/Denver (CNA). This week the archdiocese of Atlanta announced an end date to the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. In a letter to parishioners in the archdiocese, Archbishop Hartmayer said that he “believes it is …
Pope Francis appoints new bishop of President Biden’s home diocese
by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 30, 2021 / 06:15 am America/Denver (CNA). Pope Francis appointed Friday a new bishop of Wilmington, the home diocese of President Joe Biden. The pope selected Msgr. William Koenig to lead the Diocese of Wilmington, which covers the state of Delaware and the Eastern …
Pope Francis praises Venezuela’s ‘doctor of the poor’ ahead of beatification
by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 30, 2021 / 05:00 am America/Denver (CNA). Pope Francis sent a video message for the beatification on Friday of José Gregorio Hernández, a Venezuelan doctor who served the poor during the Spanish flu pandemic. “The beatification of Dr. Hernández is a special blessing of …
USCCB has ‘nothing in the works’ on Biden and Communion
CNA Staff, Apr 29, 2021 / 13:58 pm America/Denver (CNA). Recent reports that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops may at their spring general assembly press pro-abortion Catholic politicians not to receive Communion are unfounded, and at best ignorant of ecclesial structure, a source close to the conference has told …
Pope Francis changes law to allow Vatican City court to judge cardinals, bishops
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Apr 30, 2021 / 07:00 am America/Denver (CNA). Pope Francis on Friday amended part of a law issued last year regulating Vatican City’s judicial system, now allowing the court of first instance to rule on criminal trials of bishops and cardinals. The law previously said …
How churches can respond to the COVID-19 mental health crisis
by Kate Scanlon Washington D.C., Apr 29, 2021 / 07:00 am America/Denver (CNA). With concerns that suicide rates are rising in communities of color during the pandemic, Catholic mental health workers say the Church can play a key role in response. Claire Shynett, coordinator of the Houston chapter of the …
Texas bill proposes longer waiting limit for divorce: a small step to strengthen marriage?
by Kevin J. Jones Austin, Texas, Apr 29, 2021 / 03:01 am America/Denver (CNA). A Texas legislator has again proposed extending the waiting limit on no-fault divorce, a proposal that has drawn support from the Texas Catholic Conference. The state Catholic conference told CNA April 27 that it supports the …
Scottish bishops’ leader laments ‘disturbing’ public worship ban in Ireland
CNA Staff, Apr 28, 2021 / 12:00 pm America/Denver (CNA). The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland on Wednesday deplored the Irish government’s “disturbing” public worship ban. In an April 28 statement on behalf of the Scottish bishops, Bishop Hugh Gilbert criticized new regulations on public worship, approved April …
In anti-corruption law, Pope Francis seeks to quash Vatican ‘envelope’ culture with ban on gifts over $50
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Apr 29, 2021 / 04:50 am America/Denver (CNA). As part of a sweeping new anti-corruption law, Pope Francis on Thursday declared that officials of the Roman Curia should no longer accept personal gifts with a monetary value over 40 euros (about $50). The new rule …
Pope Francis to launch rosary ‘marathon’ for end to pandemic
Vatican City, Apr 28, 2021 / 07:00 am America/Denver (CNA). Pope Francis on Saturday will lead a rosary to begin a month-long prayer marathon for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pope’s rosary will be broadcast live from the Gregorian Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica at 6 p.m. Rome …