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News from Saint John and Beyond

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    News from Saint John and Beyond
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- "True Shepherds Don't Live For Themselves" – In Atlanta, "A Call To Action"
  
  Always slated to be American Catholicism's Main Event of 2020 – yet now, an even more poignant and notable one amid the pandemic that's robbed it of a congregation – from Atlanta's empty Cathedral of...
- Same "Mother"... Different Church
  
  Fifty days into a Stateside Church in lockdown, this first of May brings the latest edition of a ritual as old as American Catholicism itself. A practice employed both in hours of celebration and...
- On Easter Day, "This Is A Different 'Contagion'"
  
  Again, Buona Pasqua – Happy Easter – to one and all, especially those among us seeking its light, joy and hope all the more this year. A couple hundred feet, but really a world away from its usual...
- On A Unique Easter Night, "Be Strong, For With God Nothing Is Lost!"
  
  Surrexit Dominus Vere, Alleluia – Buona Pasqua a tutti! Happy Easter to all... yet even if the event and its message is the same, this time the feeling and the scene are all too different. Again from...
- For A Scattered Church, The "Supper" Awaits
  
  Even as the liturgical shutdown of most of the Western church approaches the one-month mark, in a particular way, this is the night when the hit really sinks in. With a disorienting Lent now...
- On Palm Sunday, "Life Is Of No Use If Not Used To Serve Others"
  
  It is a Palm Sunday – the beginning of a Week – like the Christian world has never seen: far from the usual teeming crowds, full choirs and vivid scenes, this time, the pandemic-induced lockdown of...
- From The Scribe's Desk
  
  Lest anyone hasn't heard it before, there's an old line in this business – indeed, both sides of it – about keeping things together with "Band-Aids and spit," or some variation thereof. As...

Catholic News Service
- Update: Racism seen 'at heart' of man's death at hands of Minneapolis police
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Eric Miller, Reuters By Julie Asher WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The racism "at the heart" of the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis "penetrates every...
- Louisiana bishop: 'People are losing their lives because of racism'
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The bishop who heads the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism said the May 25 death of George Floyd while in the...
- Vatican official says anti-religious bias was evident during lockdown
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Brady, PA Images via Reuters By VIENNA (CNS) -- As people spent more time online during the coronavirus lockdown, negative remarks and even the incitement of hatred based on...
- Pope thanks refugee center's efforts to help migrants
  
  IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to a Jesuit-run refugee center in Rome for its continued care for migrants and refugees...
- Update: Knights 'praying for years' for beatification, says Anderson
  
  IMAGE: CNS file photo By Kurt Jensen WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Father Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, may be an ideal prospective saint for the current age, said Carl A. Anderson...
- Latin American church workers: Pandemic turmoil increases child abuse
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Bruno Kelly, Reuters By Eduardo Campos Lima SAO PAULO (CNS) -- Catholic missionaries in Latin America say they have noticed disturbing signs of an increase in child abuse during the...
- Vatican seeks more help for Venezuelan refugees during pandemic
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Manuel Rueda By Manuel Rueda BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS) -- The Vatican's leading diplomat has warned that Venezuelan migrants and refugees are facing a "humanitarian disaster"...
National Catholic Register
- Dignitatis Humanae Institute Wins Right to Set Up Academy
  
  By Edward Pentin | COLLEPARDO, Italy — After a year of legal battles, plans to launch an academy to defend the Judeo-Christian foundations of Western civilization at a historic monastery south of...
- Some Experts Split From Fauci on Holy Communion Recommendation
  
  By Jonah McKeown/CNA. | DENVER, Colo. — As dioceses across the United States start to reopen public Masses, the scientist leading the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic...
- Religious Freedom in Jeopardy as China Passes New Hong Kong ‘Security Laws’
  
  By Jonah McKeown/CNA. | DENVER, Colo. — A Hong Kong cardinal told CNA that changes to Hong Kong’s status in China could threaten the religious freedom of Catholics and other religious...
- Unraveling the Complicated Life of Norma McCorvey
  
  By Steven D. Greydanus | “Her whole life was an attempt to tell her real story. That never really happened. I hope it can posthumously.” So laments Protestant minister Rob Schenck, a onetime...
- Who Was the Real Norma McCorvey?
  
  By The Editors | Was Norma McCorvey — the Jane Roe behind Roe v. Wade — manipulated and exploited? Was she used to advance a cause that wasn’t hers? It’s hard to say if exploitation was the intent of...
- St. Cloud Diocese Reaches Settlement on Abuse Claims, Will File for Bankruptcy
  
  By Catholic News Agency | ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota will pay $22.5 million into a trust for sexual abuse survivors, under a plan that involves filing for Chapter 11...
- Education Department: Transgender Athlete Policy Violates Title IX
  
  By Catholic News Agency | NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut high school sports policy allowing biologically male athletes to compete in female events is a Title IX violation, the Department of...
News from the Vatican
- Pope thanks refugee center’s efforts to help migrants
  
  Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to a Jesuit-run refugee center in Rome for its continued care for migrants and refugees fleeing war, persecution and hunger.
- Vatican official says anti-religious bias was evident during lockdown
  
  As people spent more time online during the coronavirus lockdown, negative remarks and even the incitement of hatred based on national, cultural or religious identity increased, a Vatican...
- Vatican City promotes summer camp for employees’ families
  
  After months of quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Vatican will open its gardens and several buildings to the children of its lay employees for summer camps in July.
- World’s Marian shrines to join pope’s Saturday rosary for COVID-19 pandemic
  
  On Saturday, Pope Francis will be praying a rosary to implore Mary’s intercession and protection amid the pandemic.
- Faith, not efficiency, is heart of church’s mission, Cardinal Tagle says
  
  Pope Francis's recent message to the pontifical mission societies is a reminder that the church's primary mission is to proclaim the Gospel, not run institutions with businesslike efficiency, said...