Vandals deface Catholic church with pro-abortion graffiti (The Washington Times) A Catholic church in Boulder County, Colorado, was vandalized Sunday with pro-abortion graffiti in what police described as a “bias motivated” crime, the latest in a surge of national anti-Catholic attacks. Worshipers arrived for Mass at St. Louis Catholic Church in Louisville “to find abortion graffiti defacing the church sign, sanctuary entry doors, garden sign, and the walls surrounding the building,” the local police department said Monday in a statement…
Mexico’s Supreme Court rules abortion not a crime (AP) Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that it is unconstitutional to punish abortion, unanimously annulling several provisions of a law from Coahuila — a state on the Texas border — that had made abortion a criminal act…
Trump “surprised” he didn’t get more of the Catholic vote (RNS) In another sign Donald Trump is eyeing a run to regain the White House, the former president and his religious advisers announced the launch of a national faith advisory board on Thursday (Sept. 2), apparently aimed at reinvigorating his conservative Christian base…
USCCB launches initiative to address polarization in society (CNS) Polarization across society has prompted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to launch an initiative that looks to bring people together to serve the common good. Called “Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics,” the initiative is designed to “move forward the kind of conversations that we need to be having to overcome our divisions,” said Jill Rauh, director of education and outreach in the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, which is coordinating the effort…
Metropolitan says belief in Real Presence unites Catholics, Orthodox (CNA) A Russian Orthodox leader said on Monday that belief in Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist unites Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers despite their divisions. Delivering the opening catechesis at the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, on Sept. 6, Metropolitan Hilarion outlined the Eastern Orthodox understanding of the Eucharist. “The Catholics and the Orthodox are not united in the Eucharist, but they are united in the conviction that in the Eucharistic bread and wine after their consecration we have not just the symbolic presence of Christ, but his full and real presence,” said the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate…
Reports: Spanish bishop stepped down over relationship with writer (Crux) When Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Spanish bishop for “strictly personal reasons” two weeks ago, speculation was rampant as to why, with several news sites claiming the pontiff had fired him for his support of the independence of Catalonia. Yet, according to several reports coming from Spain this week, the former bishop of Solsona, Xavier Novell, 52, “freely” resigned to the episcopacy for a woman, who works as a psychologist and author of erotic novels…
