Confirmed: Biden to meet with Pope Francis this month (NCR) Pope Francis will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the Vatican on Oct. 29, the White House confirmed on Oct. 14. The much-anticipated meeting will mark the first time Biden, only the nation’s second Catholic president, has met Pope Francis since assuming office in January…
Court again lets Texas ban abortions (AP) Texas can continue banning most abortions after a federal appeals court rejected the Biden administration’s latest attempt to stop a novel law that has become the nation’s biggest curb to abortion in nearly 50 years. The decision Thursday could push the law closer to returning to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has already once allowed the restrictions to take effect without ruling on its constitutionality. The Texas law bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant…
Catholic churches vandalized in Seattle (KING-TV) The Archdiocese of Seattle believes churches in the city were targeted by vandals in response to unmarked graves found at a Catholic boarding school in Canada over the summer. Saint James Cathedral was vandalized in July, Saint Benedict in August and Saint Edward Church overnight Sunday…
France’s bishops will uphold confession seal (CNA) The spokeswoman for France’s bishops’ conference clarified Wednesday that the country’s Catholic leaders do not intend to compromise on the Church’s teaching that the confessional seal is sacrosanct. “One cannot change the canon law for France as it is international. A priest who today would violate the secrecy of the confession would be excommunicated,” Karine Dalle, the communications director of the French bishops’ conference (CEF), told Solène Tadié of the National Catholic Register on Oct. 13…
Post-COVID formation for priests in England and Wales (Vatican News) “Emerging from Covid for the better” framed a 2-day conference for people responsible for the ongoing formation of priests in England and Wales…
