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Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Massachusetts in the 1970s. This is the first time the ex-prelate has been criminally charged since accusations of longstanding sexual misconduct by him first came to light three years ago. The 91-year-old faces three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14. He has not been arrested, and he is scheduled to appear in court August 26th. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The U-S House has passed spending bills that would allow funding of abortions both in the United States and abroad. One bill excludes the Hyde Amendment, a federal policy which bars funding of most elective abortions in Medicaid. The bill also excludes an amendment which encourages state and local governments to uphold conscience protections in health care. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas have spoken out against the spending bills. The bishops said the funding of abortion and violation of conscience rights are grave abuses of human rights.
The Catholic health care network Ascension will require coronavirus vaccination for its employees, physicians, volunteers and vendors. The network promised some exemptions to the mandate for people with health problems or religious exemptions. Tens of thousands of its employees have already been vaccinated, but the network said it wants to do more to overcome the pandemic.
Today is the feast of Saint Peter Chrysologus. Peter was a fifth-century Italian bishop known for testifying to Christ's full humanity and divinity, during a period of doctrinal confusion in the Church. He is a Doctor of the Church.