Miracle may be attributed to late Tennessee priest’s intercession (CNS) As Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, presided at a memorial Mass and reentombment of the body of Father Patrick Ryan at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, a possible miracle attributable to the Chattanooga priest may already be in the works. Father Ryan was pastor of the downtown Chattanooga parish when he ministered to yellow fever victims, then died of the disease himself in 1878, just a day short of his 34th birthday…
Priest says bishop asked him to steer clear of politics (Wisconsin State Journal) Cross Plains priest known for his vocal advocacy of conservative Catholic teachings and suspicion of the U.S. government, including when it comes to its guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic, says he’s been counseled by top Madison Diocese officials to avoid publicly veering into politics. Father Richard (Rick) Heilman of St. Mary of Pine Bluff Catholic Church has been a regular on the Catholic podcast “U.S. Grace Force,” where the host and his guests often criticize or spread misinformation about government attempts to control the pandemic…
Judge sides with Catholic school over guidance counselor’s firing (CNS) A federal judge sided with an Indianapolis archdiocesan high school and the Indianapolis Archdiocese in a lawsuit filed against them by a former guidance counselor whose contract was not renewed because of her same-sex marriage. U.S. District Judge Richard Young for the Southern District of Indiana said complaints by Lynn Starkey, the longtime employee of Roncalli High School, did not stand up to the principle of ministerial exception that protects a religious school’s hiring and firing practices from government intrusion…
New Mexico diocese to sell off properties in online auction (AP) The Archdiocese of Santa Fe will be auctioning nearly 140 parcels of property next month as it seeks to settle a raft of sex abuse claims. Church officials announced Aug. 10 that an online auction will begin Sept. 21. Opening bids will start as low as $500 for vacant pieces of property that are spread throughout three counties in central New Mexico. Another auction is planned for November…
German archbishop to name minister for gays (CNS) Archbishop Heiner Koch is to appoint a pastoral minister as a contact person for gays, the Berlin Archdiocese announced. The German Catholic news agency KNA reported Archbishop Koch made the pledge when he met with representatives of the Lesbian and Gay Association of Berlin-Brandenburg, with the archbishop saying this was important so that the marginalization and discrimination of the LBGTQ community could be addressed in the church without fear…
Molly Seidel loves running “more than just about anything” (CNS) Molly Seidel, the most decorated runner in the University of Notre Dame’s history, became just the third American woman to medal in the Olympic Marathon when she took bronze in the women’s event in Tokyo Aug. 6. Afterward, Seidel told reporters that she felt “a bit overcome” and cried “a little bit” after her win. “This is the day you dream of your entire life. This is what it means to be an athlete,” she said…
