The Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education called for an alliance between Catholic and non-Catholic educational institutions in order to confront the challenges stemming from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vatican
As Vatican Ponders China Deal, Expert Says It’s Brought ‘Little Fruit’
As the Vatican sits poised to renew its historic agreement with China on the appointment of bishops later this month, one of the Catholic Church’s leading experts on Chinese affairs has argued that while the desire for dialogue is understandable, there is still nothing to show for the deal two years later.
Pope Will Sign New Encyclical in Assisi Oct. 3
Pope Francis will travel to Assisi Oct. 3 to sign an encyclical on the social, political and economic obligations that flow from a belief that all people are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters to one another.
Analysis: Priest Baptism Story Offers Memo for Reformers — Look Before You Leap
Robert K. Merton, a famous American sociologist, was, by all accounts, a smart guy. Among other things, he popularized the expression “law of unintended consequences” to refer to situations when a person does something for one reason, but he or she finds that it produces all sorts of other unexpected results.
Pope Francis Calls for ‘Freeing’ the Virgin Mary From the Devotion of the Mafia
The Pontifical Academy has promoted a conference to officially launch the Department of Analysis and Study of Criminal and Mafia Phenomena. The scope of the interdisciplinary body is to stop the influence of the underworld on religious events and places dedicated to the Virgin, including the “detours” taken by some Marian processions in southern Italy to salute mafia bosses under house arrest.
Argentinian Seminary Closed After Defying Bishop’s ‘Communion on the Hand’ Order
A seminary located in the heart of Argentina’s famous Mendoza wine region was ordered closed by the local bishop following instructions from the Vatican after a revolt over COVID-19 safety measures.
Vatican Workers Who Meet Public Tested for COVID-19 Antibodies
Vatican employees and workers who have contact with the public are being tested for the antibodies for COVID-19, said the new director of the Vatican department of health and hygiene.
U.S. Data Group: China Hacked Computers of Vatican, Other Church Entities
China has been accused of hacking Vatican computers as well as those in the Diocese of Hong Kong and other Catholic organizations in May. The hacking appears to be an attempt to gain an advantage in talks between the Vatican and China, due to resume as early as this week, about a fresh deal on the appointment of bishops.
Analysis: For Baseball’s Opening Day, a Vatican Fantasy Draft
Tomorrow is Opening Day of the COVID-shortened Major League Baseball season, and, like all red-blooded Americans, that has me thinking about fantasy drafts. If you’ve never played before, the idea is simple: You and a bunch of other people draft players to form a team, then track their statistical performance throughout the season. Whichever team has the best stats, wins.
Vatican Releases Guide on How Leaders Must Handle Abuse Allegations
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a 17-page document offering a step-by-step guide for how bishops, religious superiors and canon lawyers are supposed to handle accusations of alleged abuse by clerics against minors.