Pope renews commitment to fight abuse (CNS) After the Vatican released its extensive report on Theodore E. McCarrick, Pope Francis renewed the Catholic Church’s pledge to uproot the scourge of sexual abuse. Before concluding his weekly general audience Nov. 11, the pope made his first public statement on the release of the report regarding the “painful case” of the former cardinal. “I renew my closeness to all victims of every form of abuse and the church’s commitment to eradicate this evil,” he said…
Church leaders blame “culture of clericalism” for McCarrick scandal (Crux) Prominent leaders of the Catholic Church in America point to a “culture of clericalism” that led to laicized ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick rising through the ranks of the church despite decades-long accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse…
Christians, Muslims top list of faiths facing hostility (CNS) Christians top the list for countries where they face either governmental or social hostility, according to a new report issued Nov. 10 by the Pew Research Center. Christians have topped the list each year since Pew started collecting data in 2007. The number of countries where Christians face some form of hostility rose from 143 in 2017 to 145 in 2018, the latest year for which statistics are available. Christians were followed in order by Muslims, Jews, “others,” folk religions, Hindus, Buddhists and the religiously unaffiliated…
Texas bishop calls for prayer until election is “authenticated” (CNA) While the U.S. bishops’ conference congratulated presumptive President-Elect Joe Biden on the election results this weekend, the bishop of Fort Worth has called for prayer, saying the vote tallies are not yet official. “This is still a time for prudence and patience as the results of the presidential election have not been officially authenticated,” Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth stated on Nov. 8. He called on Catholics to pray for peace if the results are challenged in court…
Catholic museum moves into the original Wendy’s restaurant (The Columbus Dispatch) After more than a year of being closed, the Jubilee Museum and Catholic Cultural Center in Columbus will reopen in a new location in the spring. The Catholic museum, founded in 1998 by a priest, will reopen in about six months in the Catholic Foundation building, 257 E. Broad St., Downtown, said Diocesan Chancellor Deacon Thomas Berg. The museum, a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, houses numerous artifacts of religious life locally and globally. The building itself is historic as well, as it housed the first Wendy’s restaurant location and its corporate headquarters…
