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Catholic News Agency
Tennessee’s new pro-life legislation ‘designed to stand up to court challenges’

by Kate Scanlon Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 27, 2020 / 06:01 am MT (CNA).- Tennessee’s new pro-life legislation is “designed to stand up to court challenges,” State Rep. Susan Lynn (R), a sponsor of the bill, said Thursday. Speaking during an interview on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly Friday, Lynn said that …
Pope Francis on feast of Saints Peter and Paul: ‘Only prayer unlocks chains’

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jun 29, 2020 / 05:30 am MT (CNA).- On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Pope Francis urged Christians to pray for one another and for unity, saying “only prayer unlocks chains.” “What would happen if we prayed more and complained less?” …
Judge rules New York churches can reopen in line with businesses

By Matt Hadro Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 26, 2020 / 02:00 pm MT (CNA).- A federal judge on Friday ruled that New York must allow indoor and outdoor religious services in the same way it would allow mass outdoor protests, or indoor shopping malls. Judge Gary Sharpe of the Northern …
Scientists confirm Italian crucifix is oldest wooden statue in Europe

By Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Jun 26, 2020 / 08:30 am MT (CNA).- Scientists confirmed this month that a crucifix in the Italian city of Lucca is the oldest wooden statue in Europe. A radiocarbon dating study conducted by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics in Florence dated the 8-foot …
Sentenced to 30 years for murder, a Catholic inmate will profess poverty, chastity, and obedience

CNA Staff, Jun 27, 2020 / 03:00 am MT (CNA).- An Italian prisoner, sentenced to 30 years for murder, will make vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience on Saturday, in the presence of his bishop. Luigi*, 40, wanted to be a priest when he was young, according to Avvenire, the …
Coronavirus relief must benefit private schools equitably, US Education Department says

CNA Staff, Jun 26, 2020 / 06:01 pm MT (CNA).- Federal coronavirus aid to private schools is now enforceable by law, the U.S. Department of Education has said, following concerns that Catholic and other non-public schools were being excluded from sufficient epidemic relief funds to support protective equipment for students …
Catholic Church in Germany lost a record number of members last year

CNA Staff, Jun 26, 2020 / 07:30 am MT (CNA).- A record number of Catholics formally left the Church in Germany in 2019, according to official figures released Friday. The statistics issued June 26 showed that 272,771 people exited the Catholic Church last year, a significant increase on the 2018 …
Catholic priest ‘thoroughly surprised’ to have asteroid named after him

CNA Staff, Jun 26, 2020 / 05:00 am MT (CNA).- Somewhere between Mars and Jupiter there is a hunk of rock that now bears the name of a living English Catholic priest. Fr. Christopher Corbally said Wednesday that he was “thoroughly surprised” when he heard asteroid 119248 had been named …
San Juan Capistrano Mission relocates St. Junipero Serra statues for protection

CNA Staff, Jun 25, 2020 / 04:34 pm MT (CNA).- Two statues of St. Junipero Serra have been moved from a Catholic mission and church in southern California amid fears of vandalism as protests around the state continue to topple statues. The Mission San Juan Capistrano and its neighboring church …
Don’t deport Haitians during pandemic, Miami archbishop appeals

CNA Staff, Jun 25, 2020 / 11:48 am MT (CNA).- Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski has called for a moratorium on the United States’ deportation of Haitians during the coronavirus pandemic, warning that Haiti’s healthcare system is not prepared to manage a widespread coronavirus outbreak. “An ongoing surge of infection could …