Catholic priest pepper-sprayed during confessions at Texas cathedral

null / Quisquilia/ShutterstockWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 15, 2024 / 15:45 pm (CNA).A Catholic priest who serves at St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Amarillo, Texas, was pepper-sprayed while hearing confessions last week, according to a statement from the parish. The parish said in a statement on Facebook that "someone dealing with mental health issues" sprayed rector Father Tony Neusch with the irritant while he was hearing confessions.Police are investigating the incident. It's unclear whether officers have identified a suspect at this time."I am okay and do not require medical attention," Neusch said in the statement.The cathedral has temporarily suspended its twice-a-week regular confessions, with priests only hearing confessions by appointment for the time being.Regular confessions will resume after the cathedral installs security cameras in the chapel, according to the statement. "I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but the safety of our confesso...

U.S. Supreme Court: Idaho can enforce ban on sex changes for children

"I'm proud to defend Idaho's law that ensures children are not subjected to these life-altering drugs and procedures," said Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador in reaction to the decision. / CRedit: AP Photo/Kyle Green, FileWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 15, 2024 / 18:45 pm (CNA).The United States Supreme Court awarded Idaho emergency relief that will allow the state to enforce its ban on doctors performing sex-change operations on children and providing them with sex-change drugs.In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that the lower appellate court had gone too far when it blocked Idaho from enforcing the law altogether. The decision, however, does not settle the question of whether the law is constitutional. The lower court had blocked the state from enforcing any part of the law in response to a lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the rules. The lawsuit is still ongoing, but the order had been preventing the law from going into effe...

A drone's-eye view of 7 glorious Catholic churches

New technologies can both enable and enhance the contemplation of beauty in church architecture. / Credit: ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 14, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).There are many beautiful churches in the world that combine impressive construction with splendid works of art. While some are on the more austere side, others contain so many details that it's a challenge for the human eye to take it all in.However, new technologies today allow us to contemplate from different angles, inside and outside, these stellar churches dedicated to the worship of God. Below are seven videos that in addition to giving you extraordinary views will enhance the way you see these churches.1. Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (France)According to the Lourdes Shrine website, the complex covers over 130 acres and includes 22 places of worship, including three basilicas. The first is a chapel that has the title of Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, built over the grotto where Our Lady of Lour...

Pope Francis: Sharing our encounter with Christ makes our encounters 'even more beautiful'

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after the recitation of the Regina Caeli prayer on April 14, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaRome Newsroom, Apr 14, 2024 / 10:56 am (CNA).Pope Francis expressed his concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East following Iran's missile attack Saturday against Israel, a concern he raised after imploring Christians to share their stories of encountering Christ, which he said would create a richer and more beautiful environment for all."I follow in prayer and with concern, even pain, the news that has arrived in the last few hours on the worsening of the situation in Israel due to the intervention by Iran," the pope said to all those gathered before him in St. Peter's Square on April 14."I make a heartfelt appeal to stop any action that could fuel a spiral of violence with the risk of dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict of war. No one should threaten the existence of others," he add...

First-year seminarians will unplug from technology starting in fall at Detroit seminary

Seminarians chat as they walk along the promenade in front of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Starting in the fall semester of 2024, first-year seminarians at Sacred Heart and seminaries across the country will undertake a "propaedeutic" year focused on personal, spiritual, and relationship growth, limiting the use of technology while spending more time in prayer and communion with others. / Credit: Photos by Marek Dziekonski | Special to Detroit CatholicDetroit, Mich., Apr 14, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).Starting in the fall, seminarians at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit are going to have more prayer time and less screen time.The sixth edition of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation, or PPF, which began to be implemented last year in seminaries across the country, mandates a "propaedeutic" (pro-pih-DOO-tic) year for all men first entering into seminary.Following this guidance, Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit will imp...

Pope Francis expresses sorrow as Sydney knife attack shocks Australia

Pope Francis speaks at the Vatican's Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNASydney, Australia, Apr 13, 2024 / 12:14 pm (CNA).Pope Francis has reacted with deep sorrow at news on Saturday from Australia, where a 40-year-old man armed with a large knife killed six people in a Sydney shopping center and injured several others, including a 9-month-old child. "Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the violent attack in Sydney, and he sends the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all affected by this senseless tragedy, especially those who are now mourning the loss of a loved one," read a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, on behalf of the pope. The Holy Father offered prayers for the deceased, the wounded, and the first responders, invoking divine blessings of consolation and strength for the nation.Daniel Ang, director of the Sydney Centre for Evangelization at the Catholic Archdiocese of...

Vatican sends letter to French embassy over tribunal decision in nun's dismissal case

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. / ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 13, 2024 / 14:41 pm (CNA).The Holy See on Saturday confirmed that it had sent a diplomatic letter to the French embassy over a French court ruling involving a Canadian cardinal's alleged wrongful dismissal of a nun.A French court in Lorient, in Brittany, earlier this month had fined Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, along with several other parties, for the October 2020 wrongful dismissal of Sabine Baudin de la Valette, whose religious name was Mother Marie Ferréol.Baudin de la Valette, 57, had reportedly lived in the French monastery since 1987 without any significant incidents, but in 2011 she denounced "serious abuses and facts" happening in the community. She was dismissed from the community after a visit from Ouellet. It was never made public what exactly the Vatican accused her of, though the former sister reportedly said the dismissal decree "accused her of having an evil spirit but gave no concre...

El Paso bishop criticizes Texas border efforts, laments 'anti-immigrant' rhetoric

Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso speaks at the "Responding to Changing Realities at the U.S. Border and Beyond" conference, hosted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic University of America on April 11, 2024. / Credit: Photo courtesy of The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 12, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso criticized a Texas law that increases the state's role in deterring illegal immigration to the United States and denounced "anti-immigrant" rhetoric that he said is rising in the country's two major political parties.Seitz, who chairs the Committee on Migration of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), commented on the Lone Star State's new law during an immigration conference jointly hosted by the Catholic University of America and the USCCB. The April 11 event was titled "Responding to Changing Realities at the U.S. Border and Beyond." SB 4...

Myanmar priest shot while celebrating Mass amid violent conflict 

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia. / Credit: ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 12, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).A Myanmar priest was shot this week while celebrating Mass in the state of Kachin, according to media reports, with the assault coming amid ongoing violent conflict between the military junta and resistance forces in the region. Masked assailants shot Father Paul Khwi Shane Aung as he celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Church in the town of Mohnyin in the northern region of Myanmar.The priest "was rushed to a hospital in Mohnyin and was later moved to a hospital in Myitkyina," according to UCA News.The reason for the attack is unknown and the shooters are reportedly still at large. Aung is listed on the Myitkyina Catholic Diocese's website as a priest in the Mohnyin Zone. He was ordained in 2013. In February, the aid group Christian Solidarity International warned of a rise in violence against the persecuted Christian mino...

Polish bishops launch 'day of prayer' for unborn after lawmakers advance pro-abortion bills

Jaroslaw Kaczynski (front, center), leader of the Law and Justice political party (PiS) in Poland, takes part in the voting on four draft projects on abortion rights at the Polish Parliament (SEJM) on April 12, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland. / Credit: Omar Marques/Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 12, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).Catholic bishops in Poland are asking the faithful to make Sunday a "day of prayer" for unborn children after the country's lawmakers advanced four pro-abortion bills in the heavily Catholic country on Friday."I warmly encourage you to make the coming Sunday a day of special prayer in defense of the unborn," Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the chair of the Polish Episcopal Conference, said in a statement."I ask that in all churches in Poland, at every holy Mass, we pray for this intention," Wojda said.Lawmakers on Friday advanced four pro-abortion bills to be considered by a special committee in the Sejm, which is Poland's lower legislative body. This was t...