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
-
Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life, has been dismissed from the priesthood by the Vatican. In a statement addressed to Church leaders and posted on his organization’s website Saturday, Pavone vowed to continue his ministry despite his dismissal from the clerical state. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, wrote in a letter on December 13 that Pavone had been dismissed from the clerical state for “blasphemous communications on social media” and “persistent disobedience of the lawful instructions of his diocesan bishop.” Pavone contends that he was not properly informed of the Vatican’s decision, and has vowed to take legal action and make a direct appeal to his supporters. An outspoken supporter of former president Donald Trump, Pavone served on official Trump campaign outreach positions in 2016 and was originally a co-chair of Trump’s 2020 pro-life coalition as well as an advisory board member of Catholics for Trump. Canon law forbids clerics from having an active role in political parties unless they receive the permission of their bishop. Pavone hosted the show “Defending Life” on EWTN for many years until the bishop of Amarillo, Texas, revoked Pavone’s permission to appear on the network
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253110/frank-pavone-cancels-mass-after-vatican-dismisses-him-from-priesthood
Pope Francis celebrated his 86th birthday on Saturday with the Missionaries of Charity, honoring three people who care for “the poorest of the poor” with the Mother Teresa Award. On December 17, the pope presented Gian Piero, Father Hanna Jallouf, and Silvano Pedrollo with the award and a message of gratitude. On his birthday, Pope Francis prayed for the intercession of St. Teresa of Calcutta, whom he canonized as a saint in 2016. “May Mother Teresa help us from heaven to live poverty with simplicity and prayer, so that we can help others,” he said.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253103/pope-francis-honors-people-who-care-for-poorest-of-the-poor-on-his-86th-birthday
The diocesan phase of the beatification processes of 140 priests and laymen murdered in Spain during the religious persecution of the 1930s was concluded today. Among the candidates is the priest who hid the body of Saint Isidore so that it would not be desecrated. There are three causes for beatification: one covering 61 diocesan priests from Madrid, another for 71 laypeople, and a third for eight members of the Catholic Association of Propagandists, all of whom were murdered during the religious genocide unleashed during the Second Spanish Republic and civil war. The religious persecution of those years “was the bloodiest suffered by the Church in our country, although not the greatest in history; yes, perhaps the most intense,” according to an auxiliary bishop of Madrid, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino. These causes are promoted by the Archdiocese of Madrid, the Diocese of Getafe, the Catholic Association of Propagandists, Catholic Action of Madrid, and Catholic Action of Getafe.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253100/another-140-spanish-laymen-priests-martyred-for-their-faith-considered-for-beatification
Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Pope Urban V. he is perhaps best known for his decision to return the papacy to Rome and end the Avignon exile of the popes.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-pope-urban-v-89