OSV News

Harris and the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, were expected to share a multi-tiered dais with New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the event's host, and other church, political, business and social luminaries at the 79th Dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, reportedly plans to spend the time campaigning.

The Ohio bishops said, "Throughout our nation's history, Catholic immigrants have come to our shores seeking freedom to worship and raise their families." They quoted Pope Pius XII's 1952 apostolic constitution, "Exsul Familia Nazarethana," in which the pope observed, "Indeed, there never has been a period during which the church has not been active on behalf of migrants, exiles and refugees."

"We are deeply devastated by the flood," Auxiliary Bishop John Bakeni of Maiduguri said in a statement sent to OSV News Sept. 18. "Our hearts go out to the families who have tragically lost their loved ones, homes and livelihoods in this calamity."

A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers gathered Sept. 18 to call for the immediate release from prison of prominent Hong Kong Catholic, philanthropist and media mogul Jimmy Lai, who is facing a trial on what they called bogus charges.

The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, plans to reduce the total number of its 160 parishes by 51% following a Sept. 10 announcement of final decisions on closures and mergers. Father Bryan Zielenieski, vicar for renewal and development, said in the news conference 118 churches would remain open in the Western New York diocese. He said 79 of those would be parishes and 39 would be secondary worship sites (or churches whose functions are restricted).

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, "voiced his profound pain over the catastrophe affecting nearly 3,000 Lebanese citizens, some of whom have died and others who remain in critical condition following an Israeli attack involving the detonation of pager devices."

As the Emmaus Community for the poor investigates accusations of sexual abuse against its once-iconic, now disgraced, founder Abbé Pierre, the case made international headlines as Pope Francis commented on it while on his return voyage to Rome from Asia last week. A few days later, the French national daily Le Monde published an editorial by the president of the French bishops' conference, which urged the Vatican to cooperate in an investigation.

The IEC in Quito concluded with such a procession Sept. 14 and with a closing Eucharistic celebration Sept. 15 with presider Cardinal Baltazar Porras Cardozo, retired archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, and pontifical legate for the congress. On both occasions, as well as in several moments of the congress, the need to take care of the Earth — our "common home" — was emphasized. The message was especially timely as South America faces some of the most serious wildfires in its history.

The Diocese of Chiclayo denied the accusations of a coverup, saying in a Sept. 10 statement the victims were personally attended to by the then-bishop, Cardinal Robert Prevost — now prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — in April 2022. Their accusations and the findings of a local investigation, the diocese said, were sent to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which investigates accusations of clerical sexual abuse, in July 2022. The Vatican investigation found insufficient evidence, according to the diocese.
 

The next time former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face off before a huge audience, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan likely will sit between them as host and Catholic comic Jim Gaffigan will serve as master of ceremonies. The four are expected to share a multi-tiered dais with political, business, social and church luminaries at the 79th Dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation. 

Referencing the evening's theme, "Faith over Fear" taken from Mark 5:36, Bishop John P. Dolan of Phoenix told OSV News that during such a politically tense year, Christians — and Catholics in particular — can't forget that God is bigger than political outcomes. Instead, we should recall Christ's words that "fear is useless," the bishop said.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde has opened a new, onsite counseling facility to provide ongoing community healing and support following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
 

The Polish bishops' conference expressed sympathy and prayers and appeals for funds after weekend flooding wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe.

Father Peter Sanen Nguyen Van Hieu, head of Caritas in Hai Phong Diocese, said fishermen, farmers, those who have lost their homes and people with HIV will face significant challenges in the coming months.

As the superior general of the Sacred Heart order appealed to Polish authorities to ensure an arrested Polish priest's "dignity" is "respected," defenders have accused the country's government of using Father Michal Olszewski as a political prisoner and urged the Catholic Church to speak up on his behalf.

Amid an unprecedented U.S. presidential election cycle, Catholic voters should reflect on fostering key principles of Catholic social teaching — such as respect for human life, solidarity and the common good — through dialogue and civic engagement, panelists said at a discussion event Sept. 11 hosted by the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University.

Perseverance, fortitude, grit and calm in the face of a storm often accompany the description of prominent athletes. At the funeral Mass of deceased brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Sept. 9 at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Media, however, it was their wives who emulated the aforementioned attributes as they took turns giving words of remembrance for their fallen husbands.

A coalition of Western Apache people, along with other Native American and non-Indigenous supporters, under the banner of the non-profit Apache Stronghold, asked the U.S. Supreme Court Sept. 11 to protect their sacred site at Oak Flat, Arizona, from destruction by a copper mining giant after a federal appeals court rejected their request.
 

Through a quarter-century as a Catholic maritime minister, Father Bill Reynolds, 73, has conducted three burials at sea, presided at countless Masses aboard ship, accompanied families dealing with a medical crisis, and provided a spiritual presence for passengers and crew members alike.

The first two days of presentations of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, contrasted the hardships currently faced by many people in different parts of the world with the prophetic responses that the church can provide in times of crisis.