Catholic News

• Bishop declares: 'The dirty game in Nicaragua is over!' (Fides)
  “The peace we are looking for is not the peace of cemeteries, nor that of subjugated slaves,” said the bishop who serves as spokesman for Church-brokered talks between the government and opposition in Nicaragua. Daniel Ortega—the leftist Sandinista leader who overthrew the Somoza regime in 1979, and subsequently led Nicaragua from 1979-1990, and again since 2007—now faces significant student protests against his own repressive regime.
• Pope: 'foolish lie' to connect Islam with terrorism (Vatican Insider)
  Connecting terrorism with Islam is “a foolish lie,” Pope Francis said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
• Report: Pope concerned that Chilean bishops may have entrusted seminaries to 'priests suspected of active homosexuality' (L'Espresso)
  At the conclusion of the Pope’s meetings with Chilean bishops last week, the Vatican released a brief letter to Chile’s bishops. Il Sismografo—whose editorial director is a Chilean journalist who once worked for Vatican Radio—has published what purports to be the full text of a May 15 letter from the Pope to Chile’s bishops. In footnote 25, Pope Francis reportedly referred to “serious accusations against some bishops or superiors who are believed to have entrusted these educational institutions to priests suspected of active homosexuality.”
• Persecution of Church in China continues despite talk of a thaw (MercatorNet)
  “China is reluctant to sign an agreement with the Holy See on the selection and appointment of Catholic bishops,” said Father Bernardo Cervellera, editor of AsiaNews. “I do not consider this agreement as positive for the Church, because the regime would select the candidates. However, some in China regard it as dangerous for the government too ... The optimism transmitted to the media was part of a Vatican campaign aimed at persuading the Chinese side to sign the agreement.”
• Venezuelan bishops demand justice for tortured prisoners (Breitbart)
  Click here for the Spanish-language text of the statement. In its front-page coverage of developments in Venezuela, L’Osservatore Romano (5/23 Italian edition) highlighted President Trump’s new executive order and the condemnation of the recent Venezuelan election by 13 Latin American nations.
• Pope to meet more survivors of Chile's most infamous abuser priest (Crux)
  On June 1-3, Pope Francis will meet with seven priests and two laymen who were abused by Father Fernando Karadima.
• Pope prays for China, Ukraine (Vatican Press Office)
  “Dearest disciples of the Lord in China, the universal Church prays with you and for you, so that even amid difficulties you may continue to entrust yourselves to the will of God,” the Pope said at his May 23 general audience. “The help of Our Lady will not be lacking, and she will protect you with her mother’s love.” The Pope also told pilgrims, “I pray to the Lord ceaselessly that He may heal the wounds inflicted by war and bestow His peace upon the dear Ukrainian land.”
• Venezuela's Maduro expels US diplomats; EU ponders new sanctions (Agence France-Presse)
  L’Osservatore Romano (5/24 Italian edition) devoted prominent front-page coverage to this story.
• Juan Carlos Cruz: Pope Francis' words about gay Catholics are a model of welcome (America)
  Juan Carlos Cruz, who was abused by a priest, said in earlier remarks that the Pope had affirmed him in his homosexual identity.
• Indian cabinet minister responds to Delhi archbishop: minorities are not discriminated against (AsiaNews)
  Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi has asked Catholics to pray and fast on Fridays until next spring’s elections. “We are witnessing a turbulent political atmosphere which poses a threat to the democratic principles enshrined in our constitution and the secular fabric of our nation,” he said.
• Organization calls for Church role to protect human rights of Venezuelan detainees (Human Rights Watch)
  “Regional and European leaders should strongly press the Maduro government to allow independent figures, including Catholic Church representatives, to visit intelligence services detainees,” Human Rights Watch stated. “Detainees, who include many political prisoners, told relatives they were barricading themselves in a section of cellblocks and requesting mediation by independent figures, including the Catholic Church.”
• Chilean abuse victim: Pope said I should be happy as a homosexual (CNA)
  A Chilean sex-abuse victim has told the Italian media that Pope Francis affirmed him in his homosexual identity. Juan Carlos Cruz quoted the Pontiff as saying: “God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care.” The Pope said that “you have to be happy with who you are,” Cruz told reporters. The Vatican has not issued any statement to confirm or deny the report. Cruz said that the Pontiff made his remarks during a private meeting.
• Honduran diplomat's wife reports Cardinal Maradiaga led her into financial scam (National Catholic Register)
  The wife of a former Honduran ambassador to the Holy See tells the National Catholic Register that Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga steered her toward a financial adviser who took all her life savings. Cardinal Maradiaga, who already faces charges of financial misconduct, is chairman of the Council of Cardinals advising Pope Francis.
• Report: Pope toned down recent comments on Venezuela (L'Espresso)
  Sandro Magister reported that the Pope’s comments on Venezuela during his Sunday Regina Coeli address were more tame than the text provided to journalists beforehand.
• All 31 active Chilean bishops join in mass resignation (CWN)
  All 31 active members of the Chilean Catholic bishops’ conference have submitted their resignations to Pope Francis.
• Australian archbishop steps down following conviction for concealing abuse (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)
  In 2002, at the high point of the clerical abuse crisis in the United States, Archbishop Philip Wilson spoke with US bishops for three hours at their Dallas meeting. The US bishops’ spokesman at the time described the Australian prelate as “wise in matters of faith, skilled in diocesan leadership, and experienced in dealing with the scandal and the pain and misfortune that clerical crimes bring upon bishops, the people, and the Church.” Archbishop Wilson later served as president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference from 2006 to 2012.
• Providence College official puts restraining order on graduate who defended marriage (LifeSite News)
  An official at Providence College has obtained a restraining order to bar Michael Smalanskas, a recent graduate, from the Rhode Island campus. Smalanskas, who received threats after posting messages defending traditional marriage, had complained that the Catholic school failed to protect him—and in fact encouraged hostility. Kristine Goodwin, the vice president, of student affairs, said that Smalanskas himself was a threat, reporting that he “glared at me.”
• Resignations and appointments (5/24) (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis appointed an apostolic administrator for a Melkite eparchy (diocese) in Brazil.
• Heading for Korea, new papal nuncio hopes for North-South reconciliation (Vatican Press Office)
  
• Pope Francis grants indulgences for World Meeting of Families (Vatican News)
  The World Meeting of Families will take place in Dublin from August 21 to 26.
• More...