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The Vatican will dedicate a new statue of the patron saint of Korea, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, in Saint Peter’s Basilica this Saturday. Born in 1821, Tae-gŏn was the first native Korean priest and one of the country’s earliest martyrs. The statue of the Korean martyr was proposed by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, a Korean prelate and prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, and approved by Pope Francis, according to the Holy See’s news arm, Vatican News. The pope has pointed to Tae-gŏn’s missionary zeal as a model for all Christians to follow. The statue’s dedication will take place on September 16, the anniversary of Tae-gŏn’s beheading by the Korean Joseon Dynasty. To see a picture of the new statue, visit catholic news agency dot com.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255339/statue-of-korea-s-patron-saint-to-be-permanently-installed-at-st-peter-s-basilica
Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández, who is poised to take up his position as the head of the Vatican’s chief doctrinal office in the coming days, has signaled an openness to theological debates, saying they help deepen the Church’s understanding of the Gospel. The 61-year-old Argentine theologian also criticized bishops — both “progressive” and those from “traditionalist groups” — who think they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father,” warning that are on a road to “heresy” and “schism.” For more from Fernández interview, visit catholic news agency dot com.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255343/new-doctrine-chief-welcomes-debate-but-warns-bishops-about-schism-risks
The Swiss Bishops’ Conference on Sunday revealed an ongoing Vatican-ordered investigation into the handling of sexual abuse allegations by Church officials, with the inquiry expected to run until at least the end of the year. The conference said in a statement on Monday that allegations had been made in May of this year “against several emeriti and acting members of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference” as well as against “other clerics in their handling of sexual abuse cases.” Swiss Church authorities forwarded the allegations to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome. Several weeks later the dicastery “ordered a preliminary canonical investigation into the matter,” appointing Swiss Diocese of Chur Bishop Joseph Bonnemain to lead the inquiry. The primary purpose of the investigation, the announcement said, is “the accusations of covering up cases of abuse.” The criminal allegations of sexual abuse, the statement said, are handled by secular authorities and have been reported to them.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255334/vatican-investigating-swiss-bishops-handling-of-sex-abuse-cases
Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Apollinaris Franco, a Spanish Franciscan who was sent to Japan to head the Japanese Franciscan mission in 1614, the year that the new Japanese shogun had instituted a nationwide ban on Christianity and declared being a Christian a capital offense. Franco evangelized covertly until he was arrested in 1617 and thrown into prison in Nagasaki along with other priests and laymen, for five years to await his execution. The conditions in the prison were exceedingly harsh in an attempt to force the prisoners to reject the faith. Apollinaris ministered to the other prisoners and converted some of the jailers through his example and teaching. On September 12, 1622, he was burned at the stake along with other Franciscans and Jesuits.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-apollinaris-franco-592