Polish priest apologizes for defending disgraced priest (AP) A popular Polish priest apologized Tuesday for a sermon in which he defended a bishop accused of covering up for pedophile priests. His sermon, delivered to a congregation including the justice minister and other top politicians, was later condemned by government officials. Father Tadeusz Rydzyk insisted that he had not intended to hurt victims or downplay the church’s role in the “sin and crime of pedophilia”…
The Pope blesses business plans (The New York Times) It may seem an unusual pairing: big businesses and Pope Francis, a pontiff who has repeatedly criticized capitalism in scathing terms. But they announced a new partnership today, the latest sign of the growing influence of environmental, social and governance, or E.S.G., practices in business…
Pope: Catholics can receive indulgence for Guadalupe devotion (CNS) With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive a plenary indulgence Dec. 11 and 12 for their Marian devotion if they follow certain conditions…
With pews emptied, a Catholic researcher asks, ‘What if they never come back?’ (RNS) Dan Cellucci, CEO of the Catholic Leadership Institute, a lay group that helps bishops and parish priests sustain their parishes, is in a good position to understand what was at stake for Catholics during the COVID-19 pandemic. CLI is constantly gathering data on the Catholic Church’s depressive trend, especially in the West, in Mass attendance and the number of parishioners. “This pandemic has led to the acceleration of so many trend lines we were already on,” Cellucci told Religion News Service in a phone interview from CLI’s offices in Wayne, Pennsylvania, on Friday (Dec. 4)…
Therapy dog becomes essential worker at Catholic school (CNS) The newest employee at Christ the Teacher Catholic School is a boss’s dream. All he requires are a bed in his office, a few trips outside during the day, and some scratching behind the ears. Meet Dewey, the year-and-a-half-old golden doodle who has become a fixture around Christ the Teacher in Glasgow. Dewey is principal Steve Adams’ pet, but he’s become much more than that over the past few months. A trained therapy dog, he has become a fixture at Christ the Teacher…
