AP: Catholic dioceses amassed U.S. aid while sitting on billions (AP) As the pandemic began to unfold, scores of Catholic dioceses across the U.S. received aid through the Paycheck Protection Program while sitting on well over $10 billion in cash, short-term investments or other available funds, an Associated Press investigation has found. And despite the broad economic downturn, these assets have grown in many dioceses. Yet even with that financial safety net, the 112 dioceses that shared their financial statements, along with the churches and schools they oversee, collected at least $1.5 billion in taxpayer-backed aid. A majority of these dioceses reported enough money on hand to cover at least six months of operating expenses, even without any new income…
Michigan nuns shown at Trump rallies not in communion with Catholic Church (NCR) It turns out that the much photographed five nuns in full habit, some holding Trump campaign signs, at that rally aren’t nuns at all, at least nuns that are in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. “The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary are not, at present, in full communion with the Catholic Church and thus have no canonical standing within the Church,” a spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, told NCR via email…
Indian families to be caned for embracing Christianity (UCANews) A village court in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has ordered families who converted to Christianity to be caned, fined and excommunicated from the community. Three Korwa tribal families from Khala village of Dhurki in Garhwa district embraced Christianity on Jan. 22, according to media reports…
Deacon says he forgives teenagers who attacked him (WREG) A 73-year-old clergyman who was attacked and carjacked outside his Orange Mound church says he forgives the teenagers who did it. Walter Bolton has been deacon at St. John Catholic Church on Lamar near Kimball for 13 years. He said Tuesday was the first time he’s had any trouble there. Bolton said the attack happened as he was leaving the rectory next door to the church at around 3 p.m…
Pope: Patience is a key virtue of religious life (CNS) Christian hope is rooted in the knowledge that God is patient with all his children, even when they stray from the path set before them, Pope Francis told consecrated men and women. Celebrating the World Day for Consecrated Life Feb. 2, the pope told women and men religious that God’s love is “not weighed in the balance of our human calculations, but unstintingly gives us the courage to start anew.” “This is the reason for our hope: that God never tires of waiting for us,” he said. “When we turn away, he comes looking for us; when we fall, he lifts us to our feet; when we return to him after losing our way, he waits for us with open arms…”
