Archbishop issues statement on Serra statue: ‘What is happening to our society?’ (Archdiocese of San Francisco) What is happening to our society? A renewed national movement to heal memories and correct the injustices of racism and police brutality in our country has been hijacked by some into a movement of violence, looting and vandalism. The toppling and defacing of statues in Golden Gate Park, including that of St. Junipero Serra, have become the latest example. The memorialization of historic figures merits an honest and fair discussion as to how and to whom such honor should be given. But here, there was no such rational discussion; it was mob rule, a troubling phenomenon that seems to be repeating itself throughout the country…

After brief visit to Germany, Benedict will return to Vatican Monday (AFP Former pope Benedict XVI will return to the Vatican on Monday from Germany, where he is visiting his sick brother, the Regensburg bishopric said. “Return trip is planned for Monday,” said the bishopric in the Bavarian city on its website, giving no further details. Benedict’s trip to Germany on Thursday was his first voyage out of Italy since his shock resignation in 2013…

Black Catholics: words not enough as church decries racism (AP) Black Roman Catholics are hearing their church’s leaders calling for racial justice once again after the killing of George Floyd, but this time they’re demanding not just words but action. As protests against racism and police brutality continue nationwide, there are rising calls for huge new investment in Catholic schools serving Black communities; a commitment to teach the complex history of Black Catholics; and a mobilization to combat racism with the same zeal the church shows in opposing abortion…

Catholic mental health clinicians see reasons for hope in pandemic challenges (The Criterion) Three mental health clinicians who work out of a Catholic understanding of the human person recently spoke with The Criterion about how the pandemic and the gradual reopening of society poses psychological and emotional challenges for many people. At the same time, they pointed to signs of hope that can be gained by the wisdom of the Catholic faith and its time-tested spiritual treasures…

As churches reopen, Catholics weigh mixed blessings of online worship (The Wall Street Journal) Catholic Church leaders are grappling with how to manage what promises to be a long transition to normalcy from lockdown, encouraging their followers to return to in-person worship while recognizing the continuing health risks from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus…

Fathers and sons serving God together: deacon dads and deacon-priest offspring (National Catholic Register) a dad who is a permanent deacon and his son who is a priest or permanent or transitional deacon have a special spiritual bond…

Bernice King: the pope and my father, united in the same dream (Vatican News) On Friday, the African American community celebrated Juneteenth, the day that recalls the end of slavery.  L’Osservatore Romano and Vatican News interviewed Bernice Albertine King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. regarding her dedication to equality, the culture of peace and the value of nonviolence. A passionate human rights activist like her father, and president of the King Center in Atlanta, Bernice Albertine feels there is a strong sense of harmony between her father and Pope Francis whom she met with twice in 2018…