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
-
The Archdiocese of Washington has dropped its mask mandate for its schools, following an outcry from parents. The policy change applies only to schools located in Maryland, because the District of Columbia still has a mandatory indoor masking order. Masks are also now optional at schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Italy’s constitutional court has blocked a move to decriminalize physician-assisted suicide in the country. In its decision, the court said the referendum in question had inadequate protections for the weak and vulnerable. The Italian bishops’ conference praised the decision.
A verdict is expected next month in the trial of a Christian member of parliament in Finland. The woman is on trial after tweeting a Bible verse, and publishing a pamphlet about human sexuality. The state prosecutor said the statements were likely to cause intolerance toward people with same-sex attraction.
Today is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Order of Servites. The seven men lived in Florence in the thirteenth century and received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.