Portugal’s bishops announce child sex abuse commission (AP) Portugal’s Roman Catholic Church said on Thursday it would create an independent commission to investigate historical child sexual abuse allegedly committed by members of the clergy following pressure from prominent congregants to lift a veil of silence around the issue…

Pope meets with poor in Assisi (AP) Pope Francis traveled to the hilltop town of his namesake for the fifth time in his pontificate on Friday to mark the Catholic Church’s world day of the poor and to hear first-hand from the neediest about their plight and hopes. In one of his first outings in Italy since the coronavirus pandemic, Francis took his time greeting schoolchildren and some of the 500 people brought by Catholic charity groups to Assisi to participate in the pope’s visit…

Vigil for Astroworld victims (CNA) When a parishioner suggested that a local Catholic church in Houston, Texas, hold a prayer vigil for the victims of the Astroworld music festival stampede victims, the pastor took immediate action. “It’s important that the Church be in the mix and engaging people to have faith in God and to turn to God in joys, as well as in sorrows,” Father Paul Felix, the pastor of the Church of the Annunciation, told CNA…

Day of fasting in Lincoln following sex abuse report (CNA) The Catholic Diocese in Lincoln has declared a day of fasting for its priests in response to a report that identified hundreds of cases of church sex abuse in Nebraska since the 1930s. A message sent to Lincoln-area parishioners said Bishop James Conley proclaimed Friday as a day of fasting and abstinence “in reparation for offenses” highlighted in the report by the Nebraska Attorney General’s office…

Slovakia rejects law restricting access to abortion (AP) Slovakia’s parliament on Thursday narrowly rejected proposed legislation that would have tightened access to abortion in the European Union country. The bill was rejected by one vote, as 67 of the 134 lawmakers present in the 150-seat house voted in favor of it. A similar proposal to restrict abortion was rejected a year ago, also by one vote…

Meet the Navy veteran who became a Sister of Life (CNA) Sister Maris Stella once served her country. Now, she’s dedicating her life to serving God. “I served in the Navy and I tasted many of the good things that this world had to offer,” Sister Maris Stella of the Sisters of Life told CNA. “But I knew my heart was made for something more…”