Pope Francis adds abuse survivor to papal commission (NCR) Pope Francis has added a Chilean clergy abuse survivor known for vocally criticizing Catholic Church officials over their mishandling of abuse cases as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Juan Carlos Cruz will join 15 of the other previous members of the commission, whose terms were all renewed for one year. A survivor known for using Twitter and media appearances to point out powerful prelates not reporting abuse cases, Cruz was originally suggested as a possible commission member in 2014 but had his nomination blocked then by two Chilean cardinals…
Albany’s Hubbard to be investigated under new norms promulgated by pope (CNA) An anonymous plaintiff last week filed a lawsuit against former Albany bishop Howard Hubbard, alleging that Hubbard molested him in 1977, soon after his installation as bishop. The diocese of Albany confirmed to CNA on Wednesday that Hubbard will be investigated according to Vos estis lux mundi, the procedure for investigating abuse accusations against bishops that Pope Francis promulgated in May 2019. Also named in the suit are the diocese of Albany and St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Clifton Park, New York, north of the city…
Holy Land Franciscans concerned about Good Friday collection (CNS) During this year of COVID-19 lockdowns and lack of international pilgrimages, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has had to adjust its funding priorities and trim its budgeting, and difficult though that has been, Father Ramzi Sidawi fears the worst is still to come…
Manila vows to defy Holy Week ban (UCANews) Manila Archdiocese has issued a pastoral letter saying it will defy a government ban on religious services in churches in the Philippine capital and nearby provinces following a recent surge in coronavirus cases. However, it said it would tighten limits on the number of people allowed in a church for Mass and other services…
