Tag Archives: Catholic Church

The New York Times reports: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo agreed to a provisional settlement of $150 million with more than 800 victims of sexual abuse, a lawyer for dozens of the accusers said, bringing one of New York’s most embattled and scandal-plagued dioceses closer to resolving years of legal wrangling. Bishop Michael W. Fisher of Buffalo said in …

CNN reports: A cardinal convicted of financial crimes by the Vatican is claiming he can take part in the forthcoming conclave despite being listed as a “non-elector.” Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once one of the most powerful figures in the Vatican, was ordered by Pope Francis in 2020 to resign the “rights and privileges” of a cardinal after he became …

NBC News reports: A solemn procession of patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, canons and other priests chanted the names of the saints in Latin as they carried Pope Francis to St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of his funeral. He will now lie in state for three days, and the first of tens of thousands of mourners began filing in to pay their …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis’ funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals. Cardinals met at the Vatican to schedule Pope Francis’ funeral and burial, planning the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church …

“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public …

“It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. He was unlike any who came before him. Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him. For decades, he served the most vulnerable across Argentina and his …

Via press release from the Vatican: At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the …

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports: Paul Scouten, 39, of East Cortland Street in Fayetteville, was arrested by Arkansas State Police at his home Thursday in connection with distributing, possessing or viewing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, according to Washington County Detention Center records. Scouten remained at the Washington County jail Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond. He is …

Los Angeles’s NBC affiliate reports: A Catholic priest serving at a church in Downey was arrested after being accused of raping a minor, LA County records showed Tuesday. Fr. Jaime Arriaga, 41, was removed from ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Downey after the allegation surfaced, the LA Archdiocese confirmed Tuesday. “The archdiocese has a long-standing commitment to …

The Associated Press reports: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says it’s ending a half-century of partnerships with the federal government to serve refugees and children, saying the “heartbreaking” decision follows the Trump administration’s abrupt halt to funding for refugee resettlement. The break will inevitably result in fewer services than what Catholic agencies were able to offer in the past …

The New York Times reports: Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington and the highest American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church to be accused of sexually abusing minors and seminarians — a charge that stripped him of his ministry, his place in the College of Cardinals and his priesthood, reducing him to the status of a layman — …

Catholic site The Pillar reports: Joseph Strickland invited priests this month to join a “prayerful community” of fraternity, while criticizing Pope Francis for apparently failing “to reject the siren call of sodomy.” The invitation came in a letter distributed by the former Bishop of Tyler, Texas — given to priests who attended a March 19 gathering of Catholics at Trump’s …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis made his first public appearance in five weeks before being discharged Sunday from the hospital, where he survived a severe case of pneumonia that twice threatened his life and raised the prospect of a papal resignation or funeral. The 88-year-old pontiff offered a Sunday blessing from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where a huge crowd gathered …

NPR reports: Pope Francis experienced further respiratory trouble and went on noninvasive ventilation on Monday, the Vatican said, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church battles double pneumonia in the hospital. The pope suffered two episodes of acute respiratory crisis, with a “significant accumulation” of mucus in his lungs and bronchial spasms, the Vatican said in a statement. It …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis had a good night’s rest early Monday after apparently overcoming a setback in his recovery from pneumonia: He is stable, off mechanical ventilation and shows no sign of new infection following a respiratory crisis late last week. “The pope rested well all night,” the Vatican said in its update from Gemelli hospital, where Francis …

“The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred, and all people have inherent dignity and worth. As Catholic bishops and organizations that provide health care and social services on behalf of the Church, we firmly believe that all people have the right to those necessities needed to live, found a family and flourish. As you address reconciliation priorities, we …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis suffered an “isolated breathing crisis” on Friday, the Vatican said in a statement. The development marks a setback in the 88-year-old pontiff’s two-week long battle against double pneumonia. “This afternoon … the Holy Father experienced an isolated bronchospasm crisis,” said the latest update about Francis’ condition. The pope also had “an episode of vomiting with …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia Wednesday, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others kept up the steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Francis remained in critical condition but the Holy See machinery ground on, with the announcement of new bishops and a new church fundraising initiative. The Vatican …

Reuters reports: Pope Francis, in critical condition battling double pneumonia, had a “tranquil” night, was alert and had rested after a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said on Sunday. “The night was tranquil, the pope rested,” the Vatican said in a one-sentence update on Sunday without providing further information. The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on …

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said. Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update. …