TCA Podcast, – “Conversations with Consequences,” Episode 84 – Edward Pentin on the Mccarrick Report & 5 Things with Father Bill! Dr. Grazie Christie discusses the long-awaited McCarrick Report with Edward Pentin, Senior Vatican reporter for the National Catholic Register. Edward breaks down what the report exposes and offers some advice on where we, as a Church, go from here. We also revisit with Bishop-elect Bill Byrne with a look at 5 Things with Father Bill just in time for the Advent season. Father Roger Landry also offers an inspiring homily to prepare us for this Sunday’s Gospel. https://thecatholicassociation.org/podcast/ep-84-edward-pentin-on-the-mccarrick-report-5-things-with-father-bill/ ___________________________________________________________ 1. Vatican butler convicted in Benedict XVI leaks case dies, By Associated Press, November 25, 2020 Paolo Gabriele, the Vatican butler who was convicted of stealing and leaking Pope Benedict XVI’s private papers in 2012, has died. He was 54. Vatican News, the Holy See’s media portal, said Gabriele died Tuesday after a long, undisclosed illness. Gabriele’s case kicked off the first of two “Vatileaks” scandals, exposing the internal tumult and turf wars in the Holy See and allegations of corruption and wrongdoing at the highest levels of the Catholic Church. https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/11/vatican-butler-convicted-in-benedict-xvi-leaks-case-dies/ ___________________________________________________________ 2. D.C. cardinal says Church, Biden have common ground on immigration, race relations, By Elise Ann Allen, Crux, November 25, 2020 Speaking of the recent election of Joe Biden as president of the United States, Cardinal-designate Wilton Gregory, who will get his red hat from Pope Francis Saturday, has said that while the new administration certainly poses challenges for the Catholic Church, he believes there are also many points of convergence, including the fight against racism … While abortion and respect for life in its beginning and ending stages “are areas where we may find clear divergence of opinions,” Gregory said he also sees several points of commonality with the incoming Biden administration, including “A better respect for the dignity of our immigrant community, the cessation of capital punishment,” and “the pursuit of racial and social justice issues.” https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/11/d-c-cardinal-says-church-biden-have-common-ground-on-immigration-race-relations/ ___________________________________________________________ 3. Chinese Patriotic Association announces ordination of new bishop, By Catholic News Agency, November 24, 2020, 8:00 AM The Chinese Patriotic Association announced Monday the ordination of a new bishop of Qingdao. The episcopal ordination of Thomas Chen Tianhao, 陈天浩, took place on Nov. 23 in Qingdao Cathedral with the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association Chairman Bishop Fang Xingyao presiding, according to a statement and photos on the association’s website. Chen, 58, had previously served as the president of the Patriotic Association of Qingdao in Shandong Province in 1998 and as a National Patriotic Association Standing Committee member since 2010. He was ordained a priest in 1989 after studying at a seminary in Shandong. In 2019, Chen led a Shandong Province standing committee meeting to “study the spirit” of a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping in which the achievements of the United Front Work Department were celebrated, according to Chinese Patriotic Association. The Vatican did not announce the appointment of a bishop of Qingdao prior to this ordination, and has not responded to CNA’s request for comment on the ceremony. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/chinese-patriotic-association-announces-ordination-of-new-bishop-41073 ___________________________________________________________ 4. Massachusetts governor must decide whether to veto bill expanding abortion access, By Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency, November 24, 2020, 4:01 PM A measure expanding abortion access in Massachusetts has passed both the state house and senate, and could prompt a veto from the governor. On Nov. 18, the state senate passed amendment 180 by a vote of 33-7, according to The Herald News; the amendment would allow for some abortions until the point of birth. Legislators had inserted amendments into house and senate budget bills that would effectively implement the “Roe Act,” a bill proposed in 2019 to legalize abortion in the state in the event Roe v. Wade were overturned by the Supreme Court. The amendments would allow for abortions up until the point of birth in the event of a lethal fetal anomaly. They would also allow for minors as young as 16 years old to have an abortion without parental consent. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/massachusetts-governor-must-decide-whether-to-veto-bill-expanding-abortion-access-59183 ___________________________________________________________ 5. Analysis: Archbishop Gregory says he won’t deny Biden communion. How will Catholics respond?, By JD Flynn, Catholic News Agency, November 24, 2020, 4:25 PM Washington’s archbishop, who will be made a cardinal this weekend, told a journalist Tuesday that in his diocese, he will not deny Holy Communion to a politician who has pledged to enshrine access to abortion in federal law and permit federal funding of abortions. That politician is President-elect Joe Biden. Archbishop Wilton Gregory’s comment is sure to raise questions about the Church’s pro-life witness. But for some Catholics, the remark might also raise questions about the sincerity of U.S. bishops on the topic of ecclesial reform. In 2004, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then head of the Church’s doctrinal office, told U.S. bishops in a memo that a Catholic politician “consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws” is engaged in “manifest” and “formal cooperation” in grave sin. In such a case, the politician’s “pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist,” Ratzinger wrote. If the Catholic perseveres in grave sin and still presents himself for Holy Communion, “the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-archbishop-gregory-says-he-wont-deny-biden-communion-how-will-catholics-respond-51669 ___________________________________________________________ 6. Pope Francis advances sainthood causes of priests with early and late vocations, By Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency, November 24, 2020, 9:00 AM Pope Francis advanced Tuesday the sainthood causes of several men and women, including two Italian priests of the 20th century — one who was ordained at age 23 and another who was ordained at 65. Venerable Fr. Mario Ciceri knew his vocation from a very young age and died after an accident at just 44 years old. Servant of God Fr. Alfonso Ugolini was ordained after a lifetime dedicated to helping the poor and disaffected of his district, and lived to be 91 years old. The pope decreed that the sainthood causes could advance to the next stage after a Nov. 23 audience with Bishop Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, who will be made a cardinal on Saturday. Among the causes promoted was also that of Fr. Juan Elias Medina and 126 companions, who were killed during the Spanish Civil War. Declared martyrs, they will now be beatified. Venerable Mario Ciceri will also now be declared blessed, after Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to his intercession. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-advances-sainthood-causes-of-priests-with-early-and-late-vocations-16255 ___________________________________________________________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. |