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A Catholic archdiocese in Nigeria on Wednesday announced the death of a priest who was kidnapped in March. The Archdiocese of Kaduna said on May 11 that Father Joseph Akete Bako died more than a month after he was seized on March 8. The 48 year old Bako was kidnapped by bandits following an attack on St. John’s Catholic Parish, where he served as pastor. The archdiocesan chancellor asked all people to “Kindly continue to pray for his peaceful repose, and for the consolation of the bereaved Christian community in the Archdiocese of Kaduna.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251215/catholic-archdiocese-announces-death-of-kidnapped-priest-in-nigeria
Cardinal Joseph Zen, an outspoken advocate for Catholics in Hong Kong, has been released on bail after his arrest by Chinese authorities yesterday. Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, was arrested on May 11 and released on bail hours later from Chai Wan Police Station on Hong Kong island. Zen is believed to have been detained in his role as a trustee of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped pro-democracy protesters to pay their legal fees. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said in a statement on Thursday that it was “extremely concerned” about “Cardinal Joseph Zen’s incident.” The Vatican also issued a brief statement on May 11 expressing concern at the reports of Zen’s arrest.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251213/catholic-diocese-of-hong-kong-extremely-concerned-about-cardinal-joseph-zen-s-incident
An expansive abortion bill that would declare abortion a human right, undercut existing state pro-life laws, and force objecting doctors to perform abortions, again failed to pass the US Senate on Wednesday. The Women’s Health Protection Act failed by a 49-51 largely party line vote. While leading Catholic bishops have called on Congress to stop pushing abortion, President Joe Biden called on voters to support candidates in favor of abortion rights in upcoming Senate races and pledged to sign the bill into law.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251211/us-senate-again-refuses-to-to-pass-federal-abortion-law-bishops-relieved-biden-adamant
Today, the Church celebrates Saints Nereus and Achilleus, as well as Saint Pancras. Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers and bodyguards of the emperor who were martyred at the end of the first century after becoming Christian and leaving their military posts. They were said to have been baptized by Saint Peter himself. Saint Pancras, or Pancratius, was a Syrian boy of pagan origin who went to Rome and was converted to Christianity. He was beheaded in 304 at the age of 14 during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-nereus-and-achilleus-st-pancras-458
The Church also honors Saint Epiphanius of Salamis, an early monk, bishop and Church Father known for his extensive learning and defense of Catholic teachings in the fourth century.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-epiphanius-of-salamis-691