Priest in India to face trial on charges of hate speech (CNA) A Catholic priest in India will face trial for allegations of hate speech during an interreligious meeting last year.  Father George Ponnaiah is a priest of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai, in southern India. The accusations against him stem from a meeting in July 2021 against coronavirus restrictions on worship and the construction of new churches.  During the meeting, Ponnaiah allegedly made comments against the local government and leaders of India’s ruling, pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party. He was arrested several days later and released on bail…

Pope mourns victims of Bronx fire (CNS) Pope Francis issued condolences to families of those killed in an Jan. 9 apartment building blaze in the Bronx that killed 17 people, including eight children. Initially, city officials said the death toll was 19 people and nine children, but they revised this figure the afternoon of Jan. 10…

Vermont priest faces possible suspension by bishop for defying vaccination policy (VTDigger) Windsor County pastor is fighting a Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese call for Covid-19 vaccinations, masks and other pandemic precautions for the state’s largest religious denomination. “Being more of the ilk of a patriot,” the Rev. Peter Williams said in a recent YouTube video, “I balk at any incursion into my rights as a human being and certainly a U.S. citizen…”

Pope to install new lectors, catechists (CNS) At his celebration of Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God Jan. 23, Pope Francis will formally install new catechists and lectors — ministries open to women. The Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, which coordinates the annual celebration, said the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica will include “the conferral of the ministries of lector and catechist…”

Italian bishop bans unvaccinated from distributing Communion (Crux) A bishop in the southern Italian region of Campania is making waves for his recent decision to ban priests, religious, and lay people who have not been vaccinated from distributing Communion at Mass in a bid to curb Italy’s rising infection rate…

Head of Serbian Orthodox Church has COVID (AP) The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije has tested positive for COVID-19, the church said on Tuesday, amid a surge in infections in the country and elsewhere in the Balkan region. Porfirije has developed “very mild symptoms of the virus infection” and remains in home isolation, said the statement. It added that Porfirije is carrying out administrative duties entirely without problems…