Pope defends Iraq trip (The New York Times) Pope Francis, lamenting that he felt like he was in “prison” under lockdown in the Vatican, said on Monday that he had wrestled with his decision to visit Iraq in the midst of a pandemic but ultimately chose put in God’s hands the fate of the Iraqis who gathered in crowded churches, often without masks, to see him. “This is one of the things that most made me think ‘maybe, maybe,’” Francis, who is vaccinated, said during a news conference on the papal plane returning from Baghdad. “I thought about it a lot, I prayed a lot over this…”
Deacon health expert: Masses following CDC guidelines are safe (CNS) With parishes across California resuming their liturgical lives, Massgoers should be reassured about the level of risk going to church entails. “It is extremely safe to attend Mass indoors following common sense precautions as recommended by the CDC,” Dr. Timothy Flanigan said. Flanigan, professor of medicine and of health services, policy and practice at Brown University, member of the university’s Division of Infectious Diseases and a Catholic deacon, helped author guidelines published by the Thomistic Institute on safely celebrating Mass during the pandemic…
SCOTUS: Government officials can be personally liable for religious liberty violations (CNA) The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that government officials can be held personally liable for religious freedom violations. In Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, the court ruled 8-1 that a college student who was restricted from evangelizing on a public college campus could sue school officials for nominal damages, due to an alleged violation of his religious freedom. Justice Clarence Thomas authored the majority opinion, while Chief Justice John Roberts was the lone dissenter…
Brazilian priest suffering ‘psychotic episode’ robs shops (Crux) A priest was arrested in Brazil after robbing two grocery stores and a pharmacy during an hour-long crime spree. Twenty-seven-year-old Father Elizeu Lisboa Moreira had allegedly stopped his psychiatric treatment three weeks ago and claimed that he didn’t know what he was doing. The robberies took place in the city of Passo Fundo, in Rio Grande do Sul State…
Can St. Joseph help sell your house? (CNS) St. Joseph has long been understood as a patron of the home, but when it comes to burying his statue, don’t, said Father Donald Calloway, author of “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.” He said the practice “concerns” him. “Statues, unlike medals, are not made to be buried,” said the priest, who is a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and lives in Steubenville, Ohio. “Statues represent a person, and are meant to be venerated above ground, not buried in the ground.” He also cautioned against burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down…
