1. Pope Francis: Disabled people must have access to the sacraments, Catholic parish life, By Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, December 3, 2020, 6:05 AM
People with disabilities must have access to the sacraments and, as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active participants in the life of their Catholic parish, Pope Francis said Thursday.
“Before all else, I strongly reaffirm the right of persons with disabilities to receive the sacraments, like all other members of the Church,” he said in a message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Dec. 3.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-disabled-must-have-access-to-the-sacraments-parish-life-52850
___________________________________________________________
2. Long Island Diocese’s Deadline for Abuse Claims Faces Opposition, Window for abuse victims to come forward should coincide with New York law, creditors’ lawyer says, By Soma Biswas and Peg Brickley, The Wall Street Journal, December 2, 2020, 5:59 PM
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., is trying to shut the gates on sexual abuse claims too soon, lawyers for the diocese’s creditors say.
The Long Island diocese, which filed for bankruptcy in October to halt hundreds of lawsuits from victims of alleged sexual abuse by clergy, recently asked to set a Feb. 17, 2021, deadline for victims to assert claims.
Lawyers for Rockville Centre’s unsecured creditors committee argued in court papers filed Monday that the deadline ought to be Aug. 14, 2021, the same date set by New York state law.
Last year, the state passed the Child Victims Act, opening a one-year window during which people who say they were abused as children can sue perpetrators, no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. The one-year window was set to expire this summer, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the period to Aug. 14, 2021, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/long-island-dioceses-deadline-for-abuse-claims-faces-opposition-11606949958?
___________________________________________________________
3. Switzerland’s Catholic Bishops Lament Record Exodus from Church in 2019, By Catholic News Agency, December 2, 2020
Bishops in Switzerland lamented Wednesday a record exodus of Catholics from the Church in 2019.
In a statement after their virtual plenary assembly Dec. 2, the bishops acknowledged new figures showing that last year saw the highest annual number of “church exits” on record.
…
The new figures, released Nov. 19, revealed that the Catholic Church lost 31,772 members in 2019, equivalent to 1.1% of the total membership of the Catholic Church in Switzerland.
https://www.ncregister.com/news/switzerland-s-catholic-bishops-lament-record-exodus-from-church-in-2019-yy0fp8rm
___________________________________________________________
4. Pope Francis Prays for Victims of Islamist Attack in Nigeria that Left 30 Beheaded, By Catholic News Agency, December 2, 2020
Pope Francis said Wednesday that he was praying for Nigeria following a massacre of at least 110 farmers in which Islamist militants beheaded an estimated 30 people.
“I want to assure my prayers for Nigeria, where blood has unfortunately been spilled once more in a terrorist massacre,” the pope said at the end of his general audience Dec. 2.
“Last Saturday, in the northeast of the country, more than 100 farmers were brutally killed. May God welcome them in His peace and comfort their families, and convert the hearts of those who commit similar atrocities which gravely offend His name.”
The Nov. 28 attack in Borno State is the most violent direct attack against civilians in Nigeria this year, according to Edward Kallon, the United Nations’ Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.
https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-francis-prays-for-victims-of-islamist-attack-in-nigeria-that-left-30-beheaded
___________________________________________________________
5. NYC mayor de Blasio defends decision not to pay for coronavirus testing at private schools, By Catholic News Agency, December 2, 2020, 2:20 PM
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is defending his decision not to extend state funding for on-site coronavirus testing to students in Catholic schools, as he fights a court mandate that the state department of education provide testing to both private and public school students.
“We believe the law is clear that it is not the city’s obligation to provide the actual testing service,” de Blasio told the New York Post Dec. 1.
“Our obligation right now is to continue the process of having New York City public schools be open and healthy and safe.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/nyc-mayor-de-blasio-defends-decision-not-to-pay-for-coronavirus-testing-at-private-schools-38766
___________________________________________________________TCA Media Monitoring provides a snapshot from national newspapers and major Catholic press outlets of coverage regarding significant Catholic Church news and current issues with which the Catholic Church is traditionally or prominently engaged. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Catholic Association. |
