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World Youth Day begins today in Lisbon, Portugal. Pope Francis arrives on August 2 in the morning and returns to Rome on August 6 in the afternoon. Over the five days, some of the events he will attend are public while others will be more institutional or by invitation only. Follow all the action at Catholic News Agency dot com.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254921/8-unique-things-to-know-about-wyd2023-in-lisbon
Johnny Johnson, a Saint Louis-area man and convicted murderer, is scheduled to die this evening. Catholics in St. Louis and across Missouri — as well as Pope Francis himself — had advocated for a stay of Johnson’s execution, citing the Church’s teaching on the admissibility of the death penalty as well as arguments from Johnson’s attorneys that he is not mentally fit to understand his punishment. Johnson, 45, was convicted of first-degree murder for killing 6-year-old Casey Williamson in 2002. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as “inadmissible” and an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254955/update-missouri-death-row-inmate-to-be-executed-tuesday
Among Americans who donate to charity, religious charities and nonprofits are the most popular, with about 1 in 5 Americans giving to these groups over the last year, a consumer research firm reported. While some Americans say they never give to charity, many say they can’t donate because they don’t have money. Religious charities were the first choice of all generations except Gen Z. For Gen Z, religious charities fell in sixth place behind human rights, animal-related, children’s health causes, and environmental causes. About 15% of Gen Z said they gave to human rights groups. To learn more about the results of the survey, visit Catholic News Agency dot com.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254956/survey-religious-non-profits-lead-americans-charitable-choices-except-for-gen-z
Extremist Israeli groups have on several occasions in recent weeks attempted to storm the Melkite Catholic Church and Monastery of St. Elias in the northern port city of Haifa, Israel, prompting Christians to take measures to protect the holy site. After several attempts last week, intruders managed to infiltrate the outer courtyard of the monastery and disrupt the prayer session taking place, causing fear and anger among the Christian community. In an effort by the church to deter any future attacks, work began today to install an iron fence around the monastery. The monastery was founded by the Carmelites, who have been practicing their faith from Mt. Carmel in Haifa since the 12th century. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was just named a cardinal by Pope Francis and serves as the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, has raised concerns that Christians are increasingly enduring persecution in the Holy Land.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254952/israeli-extremists-attempt-to-storm-catholic-church-in-northern-israel
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Alphonsus Liguori, a doctor of the Church who is widely known for his contribution to moral theology and his great kindness. A man of great culture and a lawyer, he resigned the practice of law to become a priest in 1726, founding the Redemptorists, a preaching order. He was a great moral theologian and his famous book, “Moral Theology”, was published in 1748. Thirty years later, he was appointed bishop, and he retired in 1775. He died just over 10 years later in 1787, and was canonized in 1839.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-alphonsus-liguori-550