Pope’s almsgiver in Ukraine, speaks with journalists (Vatican News) “I am not a diplomat. I came here with the logic of the Gospel. That’s what Jesus would do. He was always on the side of the people who were suffering. The Holy Father also uses this logic of the Gospel.”  This is what the Pope’s official Almoner or almsgiver, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski told reporters on Thursday in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where he is expressing the closeness of Pope Francis for the suffering people…

Russian: Current situation “like the atheist Soviet Union” (CNS) A Catholic professor said Russia’s clergy fear arrest if they question the war against Ukraine and warned the church now faced a “new era of silence.” “Prayers for an immediate cease-fire are being said in parishes — but priests can no longer speak publicly,” said the lay Catholic, who asked not to be named. “We are back in a situation very like the atheist Soviet Union, when a priest must turn up the radio or TV so as not to be overheard by the special services. They’re explaining they don’t want to say anything that could harm the Catholic community, or see them thrown in jail with their churches closed…”

Florida church vandalism: Statues restored, suspects charged (CNA) When Holy Family Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida, learned that three people were arrested as suspects in a vandalism incident involving defacement of their statues that depict the Holy Family, the response was a call for prayer. “Let us pray for them,” the church said in a statement. The three suspects were arrested March 5 for writing “Hail Satan” and other vulgar images on a group of three statues honoring the Holy Family outside the church on Feb. 23. Freeman Yardley, 24, Promise Yardley, 18, and Blessing Yardley, 22, were each charged with criminal mischief to church/other place of worship, which is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. It is not clear if the three suspects are related…

Man gets 80 years for death of woman at Indianapolis Catholic church (AP) A man was sentenced Thursday to 80 years in prison for the death of woman who was found strangled and stabbed inside an Indianapolis church, prosecutors said Tuesday. Robert Burks was found guilty after a one-day trial in the slaying of Julie Morey…

Philadelphia launches innovative priest-in-residence program (CatholicPhilly) Arcadia at Limerick Pointe, a unique senior living community in the Philadelphia suburbs with a groundbreaking Catholic affiliation, is proud to welcome its first Priest in Residency, Father John Gibbons. Arcadia is the only full-service retirement community the greater Philadelphia area that has such a program…