European court rules Vatican cannot be sued (CNN) The Vatican cannot be sued in European courts because it is a sovereign state, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Tuesday in dismissing a suit from survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. It was the ECHR’s first case to deal with the immunity of the Holy See, the court said…
Alabama archbishop has COVID (AP) The top Roman Catholic church official for south Alabama, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, tested positive for COVID-19 and is quarantining at home, the church said Tuesday. While Rodi’s flu-like symptoms were mild, everyone who came in close contact with him has been notified, according to a statement by the Archdiocese of Mobile. The church’s main downtown office was closed…
Pope appoints new master of liturgical ceremonies (CNS) Pope Francis named Msgr. Diego Giovanni Ravelli, who has served as an official of the papal almoner’s office since 2013, as the new master of papal liturgical ceremonies, the Vatican said. Ravelli will succeed Bishop-designate Guido Marini who, after serving as papal master of ceremonies since 2007, was appointed bishop of the northern Italian diocese of Tortona…
Appeals court temporarily reinstates Texas abortion law (CNS) A U.S. court of appeals temporarily stayed the recent injunction on the Texas abortion law while it reviews the state’s request to reinstate the ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The ruling was issued the evening of Oct. 8 in one-page order by a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…
Trend: more women becoming consecrated virgins (CNS) There are now seven consecrated virgins in the Detroit archdiocese, who are part of a worldwide movement of women choosing to live a radical, ancient vocation as brides of Christ in the world. Their small, but growing, presence in the archdiocese mirrors something of a trend seen nationwide, said Judith Stegman, president of the U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins, based in Lansing, Michigan…
