Bioethicist calls for religious exemptions for vaccine (CNA) As workplaces have begun to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, some Catholic institutions insist that conscience exemptions are necessary. In addition, priests should be allowed to support Catholics who conscientiously refuse COVID-19 vaccines, says one bioethicist…

Global liturgy commission director criticizes Francis over Latin Mass restrictions (NCR) The priest who heads a Catholic Church commission that prepares English translations of liturgical texts has attacked Pope Francis’ recent decision to reimpose restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass “as full of errors and generalizations” in a series of new social media posts. Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, executive director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, has shared articles, essays and videos critical of Francis on his Facebook page and has “liked” comments from people angry about Traditionis Custodes, the apostolic letter the pope issued on July 16 that curtails use of the pre-Vatican II liturgy…

Publisher severs ties  with David Haas amid new allegations (CNA) A top publisher of hymns will stop publishing works by David Haas after receiving additional allegations of sexual misconduct against the embattled Catholic composer. “We have suspended our publishing and sponsorship relationship with Mr. Haas and have also removed his music, books, and recordings from our catalog and website,” said a letter from Alec Harris, president of GIA Publications…

Canada petition demands Church’s charitable status be suspended (CBC) Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for the Catholic Church’s charitable status to be suspended over its response on the residential school file. It follows statements from individual jurisdictions considering other action, such as removing subsidies or ending property tax exemptions for the Catholic Church…

Priest sentenced to 7 years for stealing parish money (NJ.com) A Catholic priest who admitted to transferring nearly $517,000 of parish funds into his personal bank account had been sentenced to seven years in state prison, church officials said Tuesday.

Louisiana eucharistic boat procession prepares to sail (CNS) The annual Fête-Dieu du Teche in the Diocese of Lafayette is a “time for all of us to renew our faith,” following the example of the first Acadians who were “led by their faith” when they came to Louisiana, said Lafayette Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel. The 40-mile eucharistic procession by boat and on foot along the Bayou Teche is now in its seventh year. It always takes place on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15…

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