Catholic News

• Barcelona cardinal writes pastoral letter on sanctity and love (Archdiocese of Barcelona)
  Cardinal Juan José Omella’s pastoral letter was read in parishes as Spain issued an arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
• A growing share of Americans say it's not necessary to believe in God to be moral (Pew Research Center)
  56% of Americans now say it is not necessary to believe in God “to be moral and have good values.” 49% of Catholics surveyed agree with the statement, with a sharp divergence between white, non-Hispanic Catholics (57% agree) and Hispanic Catholics (38% agree).
• English bishop: pray for conversion of lawmakers who would ban prayer vigils outside abortion clinics (Catholic Herald)
  Bishop Philip Egan made his comment on his Twitter account.
• UN official: 66 million people have been forcibly displaced (UN Security Council)
  “Millions of severely traumatized children, deprived of education and their lives blighted by atrocities, faced an uncertain future,” according to the High Commissioner for Refugees. L’Osservatore Romano (11/4 Italian edition) devoted front-page coverage to this story.
• Resignations and appointments (11/3) (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the bishop of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas (Mexico) for reasons of age and appointed a successor. The Pope also appointed a bishop to a diocese in the Dominican Republic.
• Papal audiences (11/3) (Vatican Press Office)
  The Pontiff received the apostolic nuncio to Slovenia.
• Cardinal Rai to visit Saudi Arabia in 'historic' first for a Christian leader (AsiaNews)
  Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai (al-Rahi) is Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.
• Pope prays at Vatican Crypt for deceased Pontiffs, faithful departed (Vatican Press Office)
  
• Pope celebrates Mass for prelates who died in past year (Vatican Press Office)
  “Today’s celebration once more sets before us the reality of death,” the Holy Father said in his homily. “It renews our sorrow for the loss of those who were dear and good to us. Yet, more importantly, the liturgy increases our hope for them and for ourselves.”
• Pro-Lifers applaud confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett (CNA)
  The nominee, who faced questions about her Catholic faith during Senate confirmation hearings, was confirmed to the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in a 55-43 vote.
• The Pope's words at the Angelus prayer (11/1, full text) (Vatican Press Office)
  
• German Lutheran leader: Reformation was 'act of liberation,' 'spiritual renewal' (World Council of Churches)
  
• President of US Conference of Catholic Bishops responds to terror attack in New York City (USCCB)
  ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 8.
• US bishops' spokesman sets standards for tax policy (USCCB)
  Bishop Frank Dewane, who chairs the US bishops’ domestic-policy committee, said that any acceptable tax-reform plan should fulfill several criteria: providing for the poor, strengthening families, maintaining progressive tax rates, providing adequate revenue for government services, avoiding cuts in poverty programs, and offering incentives for charitable donations.
• New GOP tax bill would allow '529 Plans' for parochial school tuition (Religion Clause)
  The bill also allows parents to set up 529 Plans on behalf of unborn children.
• Aung San Suu Kyi visits Myanmar region torn by Rohingya conflict (AP)
  Pope Francis is scheduled to make an apostolic journey to Myanmar and Bangladesh from November 26 to December 2.
• Catalonia crisis: Sacked ministers held in Spanish jails (BBC)
  
• 'Ecumenical Mass' cannot be arranged: German Cardinal Woelki (Catholic Herald)
  Cardinal Rainier Woelki of Cologne dismissed reports that Vatican officials are planning an ecumenical celebration of the Eucharist: a rite that would allow Protestants and Catholics to worship together. The cardinal said that because Catholics and Protestants differ on the “central issues” involving the Eucharist, there could be no common ground for such a ceremony.
• Italian cardinal: inappropriate to keep ashes of deceased relative at home (ANSA)
  Cardinal Giuseppe Betori of Florence deplored the increasingly common practice of keeping the ashes of a cremated relative in the home. Speaking on the feast of All Souls, the Italian cardinal said that the practice is contrary to the “inalienable dignity of the human person.” Cremated remains should be kept in a sacred place such as a cemetery, not scattered, he said.
• Mass formally opens canonization cause for Chief Black Elk (CNS)
  Black Elk (1863-1950), a member of the Lakota people, converted to Catholicism in 1904.
• More...