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
-
Pope Francis in his Angelus address on Sunday honored an Italian missionary sister who was killed by Islamist terrorists in Mozambique. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on September 11, the pope said: “In this moment of prayer, it is dear to me to remember Sister Maria de Coppi, Combonian missionary, killed in Chipene, Mozambique, where she served with love for almost 60 years.” “May her witness give strength and courage to Christians and all the people of Mozambique.” Sister Maria de Coppi was shot and killed last week as terrorists ransacked and burned the Catholic mission where she served in Mozambique’s Diocese of Nacala. The Italian priests and sisters who served at the mission were able to evacuate 68 students who were living at the mission before the church, boarding houses, rectory, and school were destroyed in the five-hour attack on the night of September 6. Sister Maria was about to flee with the other missionaries when she turned back out of concern for the 12 female students who had stayed behind at the mission, according to the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252263/pope-francis-honors-nun-killed-by-islamist-terrorists-in-mozambique
A new report from the Religious Freedom Institute quantifies and analyzes the many reported incidents of violence against pro-life people and entities since May and offers recommendations for government officials on how to respond. The RFI concluded that conditions remain in place for more attacks against pro-life entities and people to occur in 2022 and into 2023. According to data compiled by CNA, at least 32 Catholic churches in the United States have been vandalized with a clear pro-abortion motive since the May leak, along with at least 50 pro-life pregnancy centers. Taking a broader view, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has tracked some 164 total attacks against Catholic entities across 37 states and the District of Columbia since May 2020. The report recommends that pro-life organizations devote more resources to security and security training for staff and volunteers, invest in relationships with law enforcement agencies, and step up their insurance.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252249/report-assesses-threats-to-religious-pro-life-americans-following-overturn-of-roe-v-wade
The political group CatholicVote is inviting Christians nationwide to pray a novena asking for Saint Michael’s intercession amid the growing number of attacks targeting churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in the United States. The novena will begin on September 20 and conclude on September 29, the feast of the archangels. Catholics who “pledge to pray” online will receive access to the novena prayers and an email reminder each day to pray.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252258/catholicvote-to-hold-saint-michael-novena-in-defense-of-churches-pregnancy-centers
Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Apollinaris Franco, a Spanish Franciscan who evangelized covertly in Japan in the 17th century and was burned at the stake by authorities in Nagasaki.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-apollinaris-franco-592