The Rev. Andrew Brunson, an evangelical Presbyterian pastor who had been jailed by Turkish authorities for nearly two years, returned to U.S. soil Oct. 13 after being freed the day before by Turkey.
National News
Baltimore Archdiocese, Catholic Charities Help Launch Parish ID in City
This generation of immigrants to Baltimore will continue to find a haven in the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Wuerl Resigns Amid Papal Praise, Will Stay as Interim Administrator
After months of speculation, Pope Francis on Oct.12 accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl amid the Archdiocese of Washington’s “Season of Healing,” called by the archbishop in response to the “confusion, disappointment and disunity,” over clerical sexual abuse.
Florida Dioceses Offer Prayers for Those in Hurricane’s Path
When Hurricane Michael made landfall Oct. 10 in Florida’s panhandle area with sustained winds clocked at 155 mph, at least least two dioceses offered prayers for those in the Category 4 storm’s path.
Texas Dioceses to Release Names of Clergy Credibly Accused of Abuse
In an action to be more transparent, the 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas will release the names of clergy who were credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor, according to an Oct. 10 statement issued by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops in Austin.
Justice Kavanaugh Takes His Place on the Supreme Court
New Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Oct. 8 he has no “bitterness” over a contentious confirmation process that ultimately ended with a Senate vote Oct. 6 to confirm him for the seat on the high court left vacant by the July 31 retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.
President of Panama Talks WYD Plans with NY Prelates
While in New York for the U.N. General Assembly session, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela expressed great enthusiasm for next January’s World Youth Day in Panama City at a meeting with New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, at the cardinal’s residence in Manhattan Sept. 29.
Archbishop Chaput to Miss Week Two at Synod for Funeral Mass in Philly
One of the most closely watched American delegates at this month’s major gathering of bishops at the Vatican will not be participating in this week’s deliberations.
Courage Founder Pushed Bishops to Resist Zero Tolerance on Abuse
Amid this summer’s wave of sexual abuse scandals, the Catholic apostolate Courage lauded its founder, Father John Harvey, who died in 2010, for his work with priests who “experienced same sex attractions and were striving to live chaste celibate lives.”
Pope orders ‘thorough study’ of Vatican archives on ex-Cardinal McCarrick
John L. Allen Jr. and Ines San Martin ROME (Crux) – Pope Francis has ordered that an investigation by the Archdiocese of New York into sex abuse allegations against ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick be combined with a “thorough study of the entire documentation present in the archives of the dicasteries and offices of the Holy See” […]