Catholic News
- Educating a child takes a village, Pope says (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis strongly encouraged the work of the African Education Compact in a June 1 address, using language that will be familiar to Americans. “To educate a child, it takes a whole village,” he said. The Pope recalled that he had launched the African Education Compact in 2019 “to emphasize that community dimension of education that has always been part of your millenary educational tradition.” The Pope went on to say: “We look at Africa with great confidence, because it has everything it needs to be a continent capable of charting future paths.” - Vatican questions transfer of funds from Pontifical Mission Societies (AP)
The Vatican is investigating the transfer of $17 million from the Pontifical Mission Societies to a non-profit investment fund, the Associated Press has revealed. The US-based Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) raises money for papal charities. But $17 from that fund was transferred to Missio Corp., a private equity fund set up and administered by Father Andrew Small, who was director of the PMS. Missio Corp. then made low-interest loans to church-administered agricultural programs in developing countries. Father Small explains that he was able to raise funds more readily for the development programs—apparently because of donors’ skepticism about Vatican financial management. But his critics say that, although the transfers were legal and approved by the PMS board, the funds were not used for the stated purpose of the PMS: to support charities chosen by the Pontiff. The Vatican’s concern is reflected in the fact that the staff and board of the PMS have been replaced, and the organization’s bylaws rewritten. Father Small, an English Oblate of Mary Immaculate, is now the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. - Indian bishop, acquitted of rape charge in civil court, resigns (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, 59, as bishop of Jullundur, India. Appointed by Pope Francis in 2013, Bishop Mulakkal was arrested in 2018 on charges of raping a nun and stepped aside from his duties. He was acquitted in 2022 and met with the Pope in February. - Archbishop Cordileone thanks priests for 'clandestine' Masses during lockdown (LifeSite News)
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco has praised priests who “found ways to celebrate Mass for your people—even clandestinely” during the Covid lockdown. The archbishop made his remark during ordination ceremonies for priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in Denton, Nebraska. Noting that many members of the fraternity skirted lockdown regulations, he said: “I am grateful to you for that, and proud of you for doing so.” - 222 churches, 115 villages burned down in Indian state, tribal forum says (The Statesman (Kolkata))
The eastern Indian state of Manipur (map) is 41% Hindu, 41% Christian, 8% Muslim, and 8% Sanamahi. Violence has erupted there between the predominantly Hindu Meitei people and the predominantly Christian Kuki (Pillar coverage). - Entrusting Ukraine to Mary, Pope praises youth from Ukraine, Russia who 'live as brothers' (CWN)
At the conclusion of his May 31 general audience, Pope Francis paid tribute to Russian and Ukrainian young people who are living together for two years under the auspices of Rondine Cittadella della Pace. - At Marian shrines, Synod is entrusted to Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession (CWN)
On May 31, the Feast the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the upcoming assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October was entrusted to the Blessed Mother’s intercession at Marian shrines around the world. - Cardinal Tobin suggests faithful voluntarily eschew gun ownership (Crux)
Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has suggested that Catholics should “voluntarily set aside our rights” to own firearms. “I honestly believe it is the best thing we can do to change the culture of violence that threatens us today,” the cardinal said. - Ukrainian Catholic leader: Bishops are creating 'broad international coalition in support of Ukraine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, made his remarks following a meeting of church’s Permanent Synod of Bishops in Wroclaw, Poland. - Brazil's Lula, Pope Francis discuss Ukraine war in phone call (Reuters)
During the conversation, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva invited Pope Francis to visit Brazil. The Pontiff said he would consider the invitation. - Nevada governor signs pro-abortion legislation (The Jurist)
Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Catholic and Republican who describes himself as pro-life, has signed legislation that forbids agencies from assisting other states in investigations of out-of-state abortions that take place in Nevada. The legislation also forbids state licensing boards from disciplining abortionists. Gov. Lombardo said that he was respecting the will of voters, who approved a pro-abortion referendum in 1990. Nevada Right to Life, which opposed the legislation, nicknamed it the “Abortion Traffickers Protection Act.” - Pope points Latin American entrepreneurs toward 'culture of encounter' (Vatican News)
Speaking on June 1 to members of the Latin American Business Council, Pope Francis said: “A culture of encounter expresses the search for the common good, and thus contributes to dispel shadows.” - EEOC files suit against Virginia company for discrimination, retaliation against Christian (US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suit against Triple Canopy, a Virginia-based private security company, alleging that it discriminated against a Christian who believes that men must wear beards. The EEOC alleges that Triple Canopy “subjected [the employee] to intolerable work conditions that resulted in his discharge.” - Australian indigenous leader at the Vatican for week-long visit (Vatican News)
Aboriginal artist and educator Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann met briefly with Pope Francis on May 31. Ungunmerr-Baumann also met with officials of the Synod of Bishops and the Dicastery for Culture and Education. - Pittsburgh bishop: cancel 'Pride Mass' (Daily Signal)
Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh has called for the cancellation of a “Pride Mass” scheduled to take place June 11 at a Duquesne University chapel. Responding to complaints about the event—which had been advertised as a function of St. Mary Magdalene parish—by saying that neither he nor Duquesne’s president Ken Gormley “knew anything about the Mass until calls came in to our respective offices over the holiday weekend.” He said that “the Church cannot support behavior that goes against God’s law.” At the same time Bishop Zubik stressed that both he and Pope Francis “have strongly encouraged welcoming, listening and accompanying those in LGBTQ communities.” The bishop charged that many of the complaints that he had received “used condemning and threatening, and some might say hateful, language not in keeping with Christian charity.” - Vatican newspaper draws attention to indigenous protests in Brazil (CWN)
With the headline “In difesa della propria terra” [In defense of their own land], L’Osservatore Romano devoted prominent front-page coverage in its May 31 edition to protests by indigenous people against Brazilian legislation that would limit their land rights. - New leadership for Pontifical Academy for Latin (CWN)
Pope Francis has named a new president and secretary of the Pontifical Academy for Latin (website). - June papal prayer intention: for the abolition of torture (Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network)
The Pope’s June prayer intention, disseminated by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer), is “Let us pray that the international community may commit itself concretely to abolish torture, guaranteeing support to victims and their families.” - New Vatican document offers guidance for use of social media [News Analysis] (CWN)
News analysis by Phil Lawler - Pope, in interview, describes unborn child as 'a living being, I'm not saying a person' (CWN)
In a brief but wide-ranging interview with Julio Vaqueiro of Telemundo, Pope Francis discussed migration, reflected on ecclesial reform, recalled his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and spoke about the prevalence of abuse in families when he was asked whether there is a link between celibacy and sexual abuse. - More...