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The Court of Federal Appeals (Lewis F. Powell Courthouse) and the skyline of Richmond, Virginia, from the foot of the Virginia Capitol grounds, Richmond, Virginia. / Credit: Acroterion|Wikipedia|CC BY-SA 3.0Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 16, 2024 / 17:55 pm (CNA).A federal appeals court has blocked a West Virginia law titled the "Save Women's Sports Act" that prohibits biological males from competing in female sports in the state.The 2-1 decision was issued by a panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. The decision extends an already existing block on the law and sends the case back to a lower court for further consideration.This is the latest development in B.P.J v. West Virginia State Board of Education, a case in which a 13-year-old child who identifies as a girl is alleging that the West Virginia law violates Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination.The 13-year-old, who is a biological male named Becky Pepper-Jackson, is being represented by the AC...
Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz told CNA that his monumental Stations of the Cross to be installed on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida, is the fruit of nearly constant work over the last three years and is expected to draw thousands of visitors once completed this fall. / Credit: Timothy SchmalzAnn Arbor, Michigan, Apr 16, 2024 / 14:45 pm (CNA).Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz told CNA that his monumental Stations of the Cross to be installed on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida, is the fruit of nearly constant work over the last three years and is expected to draw thousands of visitors once completed this fall.The 2,000-seat shrine is the closest Catholic church to Disney World in Orlando and is already well known for its striking works of sacred art. In addition, the church's 17-acre tract features a spacious esplanade and rosary garden.&...
The popular chocolate Ferrero Rocher actually honors Our Lady of Lourdes. / Canva Stock ImagesCNA Staff, Apr 16, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Many know Ferrero Rocher for its popular hazelnut chocolates, but the company's tie to Our Lady of Lourdes is lesser known.Michele Ferrero, the company's founder and a devout Catholic, had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and wanted to honor her through his work. It is reported that he named his company "Rocher" after the rock grotto, the Rocher de Massabielle, which marks the location where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.In fact, "rocher" means "rock" in French. With this in mind, many point to the chocolate's crunchy coating and uneven gold wrapping as Ferrero's attempt to resemble this rock formation at Lourdes, which had a special meaning to the chocolatier. At the 50th anniversary of the founding of the company, Ferrero said: "The success of Ferrero we owe to Our Lady of Lourdes; without her we ...
"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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
