SCOTUS sides with California churches (CNS) The Supreme Court Dec. 3 said federal judges should take another look at pandemic limits on California churches in light of the high court’s recent decision to lift similar restrictions on congregations in New York. For now, the unsigned order leaves the state restrictions on indoor worship in place, but it sends the challenge, issued by the California’s Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, an apostolic Christian church in Pasadena, back to a lower court. This court will likely stop the state’s governor from prohibiting most indoor religious services…
Bosnia’s archbishop hospitalized with coronavirus (Reuters) The Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Bosnia, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, has been taken to hospital after contracting COVID-19, hospital officials said on Thursday. The health officials could not provide detail about Puljic’s medical condition. But an official in his Vrhbosna Archdiocese in Sarajevo said that Puljic had mild symptoms of the illness and was in a stable condition …
Pope: disabled must have access to sacraments, parish life (CNA) People with disabilities must have access to the sacraments and, as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active participants in the life of their Catholic parish, Pope Francis said Thursday. “Before all else, I strongly reaffirm the right of persons with disabilities to receive the sacraments, like all other members of the Church,” he said in a message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dec. 3…
USAID supporting Catholic religious during pandemic (Vatican News) Funds granted by the US government’s foreign aid agency support 2 Rome-based Catholic organizations that assist the poor amid the Covid-19 pandemic. They are the Community of Saint Egidio and the International Union of Superiors General, whose Executive Secretary speaks of the reality faced by so many religious during the crisis…
“Christmas star” to appear for first time in 800 years (KSAT-TV) As Christmas nears, astronomers are urging citizens to look to the sky in a few weeks to witness something not seen in almost 800 years. From Earth’s viewpoint, Jupiter and Saturn are getting very close to one another and will look like a double planet when they appear to nearly collide on Dec. 21 — the date of the winter solstice — forming a rare phenomenon known as a “Christmas star” …
