A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
-
California has lifted all capacity restrictions on religious gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled over the weekend that the state’s restrictions were too harsh. State guidelines still recommend all worship services be held outside, in counties with the most severe spread of COVID-19. The guidelines suggest indoor religious services be limited to 25 or 50 percent capacity. Masking and social distancing are required. Singing and chanting are permitted.
The Jesuit president of an all-boys high school in New York City has been removed, following allegations of sexual misconduct. The 59-year-old priest allegedly engaged in non-consensual sexual misconduct with several adults, including subordinates. A third-party investigator reviewed the allegations. The priest had been president since 2016.
And finally, Pope Francis praised Saint Teresa of Avila as an example of courage and spiritual motherhood, in a letter this week. The 16th-century Spanish mystic was declared the first female Doctor of the Church 50 years ago this week. Since then, three other female saints have been declared Doctors of the Church. Saint Teresa was a Carmelite and mystic.