Current Catholic Issues (2024)

This topic is a continuation of Current Catholic Issues (2023)

Senior Vatican official makes case for a married Catholic priesthood (Reuters)

The Roman Catholic Church should "seriously think" about allowing priests to marry, a senior Vatican official and advisor to Pope Francis said in an interview published on Sunday. "This is probably the first time I'm saying it publicly and it will sound heretical to some people," Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, who is also adjunct secretary in the Vatican's doctrinal office, told the Times of Malta. Pope Francis has ruled out any chance that he would change the Roman Catholic rule requiring priests to be celibate. But it is not a formal doctrine of the Church and so it could be changed by a future pope... Scicluna, perhaps best known for his investigations of sexual abuse crimes, noted that priests were allowed to marry in the first millennium of the Church's history and that marriage is allowed today in the Eastern rite of the Catholic Church. "If it were up to me, I would revise the requirement that priests have to be celibate," he said. "Experience has shown me that this is something we need to seriously think about." Scicluna, 64, said the Church had "lost many great priests because they chose marriage". He said "there is a place" for celibacy in the Church but that it also had to take into consideration that a priest sometimes falls in love. He then has to choose "between her and the priesthood and some priests cope with that by secretly engaging in sentimental relationships"...

The Church had "lost many great priests because they chose marriage". How very true. And at a time when there is a great shortage of priests, many of these men would still be willing to put their commitment and experience at the service of the Church if only we were willing to give them that opening. Already there are hundreds (if not thousands) of former Anglican priests who have been re-ordained as married Roman Catholic priests, to say nothing of the Eastern Catholic Church which has always ordained married priests, in both cases working happily alongside celibate priests, so it is difficult to see what the genuine objections to married clergy might be.

Catholic Bishop in Cameroon Prohibits Predecessor from Celebrating Holy Mass in Public (ACI Africa)

Bishop Emmanuel B. Bushu, who retired from the pastoral care of Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Buea in December 2019, has been prohibited from celebrating or concelebrating Holy Mass in public in the Cameroonian Episcopal See without the “explicit permission” of his successor...

Not that I think this is a great issue for the global Church, but I post it as a few weeks ago there was some indignation by one poster on LT that a US bishop, Bishop Strickland, had been prevented from celebrating mass in his former diocese. This incident from Cameroon shows that it is not unprecedented, and when one looks at the reasons explicitly given by the current bishop of Buea, there are certainly parallels with Bishop Strickland, except that Bishop Strickland's "deep opposition" appears to be with the pope more than with diocesan affairs.

Bishop Bibi cites “deep opposition and interference” as some of the reasons behind his two decisions. “From the very beginning of my mission in the Diocese of Buea … I have had to live through the unhappy reality of deep opposition and interference from you, that has even led you to the screen media to make this opposition public,” he states... "The present state of affairs indicates a total absence of communion between us, which makes you ready to align yourself with persons and groups that seek to bring down my administration”...

Nigeria Leads Countries with Most Christian Murders, Kidnappings of Clergy (ACI Africa)

The Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, has compiled a report that places Nigeria ahead of all countries in the world that experienced most kidnappings of Clergy and the killing of Christians in 2023...

Nicaragua frees a jailed Catholic bishop and 18 priests, hands them to the Vatican (NPR)

Nicaragua's government said Sunday it released a prominent Catholic bishop and 18 other clergy members imprisoned in a crackdown by President Daniel Ortega and handed them over to Vatican authorities. Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition and Catholic Church by Ortega. He had accused them of supporting massive 2018 civic protests that he claimed were a plot to overthrow him. The government said in a press statement the releases were part of negotiations with the Vatican aimed at "making possible their trip to the Vatican." In the past, imprisoned priests have been quickly flown to Rome. Ortega's government said those released Sunday also included Bishop Isidoro Mora...

A beautiful quote from Franciscan Fr Richard Rohr:

Having faith doesn’t have to do with being perfect. It has to do with staying in relationship, “hanging in there,” holding on to union as tightly as God holds on to us. It’s not a matter of being correct but of being connected.

Black Catholic History is for Everyone, Catholic Educator Says (ACI Africa)

A Catholic educator from Texas says teaching students about Black Catholic saints and other holy men and women of color “gives not only representation, but new role models for all of our students.” “Being Catholic is an overarching, cross-racial identity. There is no outgroup in the Catholic Church,” said Kaye Crawford, who founded the site Black Catholic History in 2021. February is Black History Month, and the Church also celebrates Black Catholic History month every November... she emphasized the importance of presenting to students a diverse range of Catholic role models, such as the African Pope Victor I, who is believed to have been the first pope to celebrate the liturgy and write Church documents in Latin rather than Greek. “The history and the wisdom of Black Catholic theologians is too beautiful to miss,” Crawford said, adding that the faithful examples of Black Catholics can draw people into the Catholic faith, including those of other faiths... “If the lessons in the classroom are overwhelmingly Eurocentric, what does that say to the child of color? And then what does that say to the Anglo child about what Catholic identity looks like?”...

Vienna's St Stephen's Cathedral has put out this year's Fastentuch that will cover the main altar throughout Lent. This year's Tuch is by Gottfried Helnwein. The central panel shows the Turin shroud with the head down, and side panels show skulls. It is supposed to depict Christ descending into the realm of the dead. The Cathedral pastor pointed out that the art project was paid for by sponsors and not from the general church budget.

https://www.kleinezeitung.at/kultur/kunst/18102732/fastentuch-mit-totenkopf-heln... (Article in German)

New York archdiocese calls funeral for trans activist at cathedral ‘scandalous’ (Guardian)

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New York City has condemned a funeral service for the transgender activist Cecilia Gentili at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral after congregants cheered her for being celebrated as “the mother of all whores”... The archdiocese condemned the funeral, saying some mourners behaved scandalously at the service... The archdiocese released a statement on Saturday saying it had “no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way”... Shortly before the service was held, the archdiocese called it a routine event... But Salvo said “the cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral mass”, per the Times. Yet some mourners then exhibited “scandalous behavior”, the church said in its statement. The church said it did not take issue with Gentili’s identity. But the church objected to the actions of some of the mourners, including some who cheered loudly when Gentili was hailed as “Santa Cecilia, la madre de todas las putas” – which is Spanish for “Saint Cecilia, the mother of all whores”... the archdiocese spokesperson Joseph Zwilling told the Times that “a funeral is one of the corporal works of mercy”...

A funeral is indeed "one of the corporal works of mercy”, and it's important to note that the criticism is not directed at the cathedral for holding the funeral, but at the behaviour of some of the mourners.

Report: Cardinal Calls for ‘Permanent’ Dialogue with Freemasons (National Catholic Register)

A cardinal taking part in a “historic” closed-door meeting on Friday between the heads of Italy’s Freemasonic lodges and senior Catholic Church leaders has called for a “permanent” dialogue to be opened with the secretive organization, despite masonry being long condemned by the Church. A 1983 document from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith stated Masonic principles “have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church.” And last November, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reaffirmed that stance, quoting the 1983 document that “active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry.” Addressing the Milan meeting on the theme The Catholic Church and Freemasonry, Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmiero, 85, reportedly said he believed “an evolution in mutual understanding” had taken place between masonry and the Church over the past 50 years. “Things have moved on, and I hope these meetings don’t stop there,” said the retired Italian prelate, according to Il Messaggero, quoting sources present at the meeting that was closed to the press...

Ordained after Assassination Attempt, Bishop in South Sudan Lauds "The Pact of Catacombs" on 2nd Episcopal Anniversary (ACI Africa)

On his second Episcopal anniversary, Bishop Christian Carlassare of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek in South Sudan has reflected on “The Pact of Catacombs”, a November 1965 document that a section of Catholic Bishops participating in the Second Vatican Council signed to express their personal commitments to the ideals of the Council. In his homily during the Monday, March 25 celebration, the Bishop whose Episcopal Consecration was delayed after he was shot in both legs on 26 April 2021 highlighted the 12 commitments of the Bishop signatories, lauding their particular focus on evangelical poverty and a simple lifestyle. “We sign this not to be better than the others, to show off, but really to find a very evangelical way to be Bishops, and also to hold the Church to that evangelical spirit,” Bishop Carlassare said, recalling the spirit of the Bishop signatories of the document that is also known as the Pact of the Servant and Poor Church. The Bishops, initially 42, “pledged to live according to the ordinary manner of their people in terms of housing, food, means of transport, and related matters,” the Local Ordinary of Rumbek Diocese said, highlighting the first of the 12 commitments. The Catholic Bishop signatories, who later increased to 500 resolved to “definitively renounce the appearance and reality of riches, especially regarding to our manner of dress (rich material, loud colours) and symbols made of precious materials (they should in reality be evangelical signs) ... Neither gold nor silver.” They also renounced the possession of “real estate, goods, bank accounts etc. in our own names; if it should be necessary to have them, we will place everything in the name of the diocese, or of charitable and social works”...

It's good to see a current bishop drawing attention to this important document, the Pact of the Catacombs. I had the privilege of meeting the last of the original signatories, Bishop Luigi Bettazzi, before his recent death, and I also have the privilege of knowing Bishop Carlassare who now reminds us of the importance of the principles enshrined in the pact.

Sudan Civil War Leaves No Seminarians and Almost No Catholic Church (ACI Africa)

The third Sudanese civil war has terribly affected the entire country but especially the local Catholic Church, which — according to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) — has no seminarians and has practically disappeared from the country... This tragic situation has reduced the presence of the Catholic Church in Sudan “to almost nothing,” according to the pontifical foundation. Kinga Schierstaedt, head of ACN projects in Sudan, noted that before the war, Catholics represented only 5% of the population. The Catholic Church “was tolerated and could run some hospitals and schools, although it wasn’t allowed to openly proclaim the faith,” he said. More than 90% of the Sudanese population professes Sunni Islam as a religion... ACN explained that the Sudanese people have always considered the Church as a “safe haven” and that when the war broke out many took refuge in churches. However, many missionaries and religious communities have been forced to leave the country, so parishes, hospitals, and schools have stopped functioning... Meanwhile, the bishop of Khartoum, Michael Didi, has not been able to return to the city, and the bishop of El Obeid, Tombe Trile, now lives in the cathedral because his house was partially destroyed...

Archbishop Didi has based himself in Port Sudan. As far as I know the auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum is still active in the Pastoral Region of Kosti, near the South Sudan border, but the situation is of course fluid and I might be wrong. The Cardinal Emeritus is in exile in South Sudan.

Pope Francis names Filipino priest an auxiliary bishop of Sacramento (CNA)

Pope Francis has named Father Reynaldo Bersabal as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento, California. The Vatican announced on Saturday that the priest ordained in the Philippines and incardinated into the Sacramento Diocese in 2004 will be consecrated as a bishop... “Bishop-elect Rey came as an immigrant priest bringing the rich cultural heritage of the Filipino people,” {Bishop Jaime Soto of the Diocese of Sacramento} continued. “He became part of a presbyterate and people that is a global Catholic kaleidoscope of faith and charity radiating the historic credal customs from Portugal, Italy, Ireland, China, Poland, Africa, and more. Bishop-elect Rey has learned a lot and given much during his 25 years as a priest in Sacramento”...

Another sign of the changing face of the Church in the USA, and indeed in the Global North in general.

Far-right supporters barred from roles in German Church (Tablet)

A firm rejection of far-right ideology by Germany’s bishops has led to populists being expelled from Church committees, and prompted calls for clear political guidelines for even voluntary posts in Catholic associations. Several bishops have cited their conference's February statement “Ethnic nationalism and Christianity are incompatible” to condemn the growth of the far-right... “Whoever represents a party that defames, insults, harasses or denies people the right to asylum because of their origin, language, religion or culture and thus assaults their human dignity is not acceptable in Church service,” said Trier’s vicar general Fr Ulrich von Plettenberg. He cited the anti-Hitler resistance as an inspiration for his decision, which he later said had drawn praise but also led to some departures in protest from the Church... The Diocese of Münster has declared “extremists” cannot serve on its parish councils, and several national Catholic associations, including a youth union, women’s leagues and business federations, have declared populists unwanted. “The Gospel is not apolitical. Thinking it's only about heaven or hell is wrong,” said Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg. Archbishop Stefan Heße of Hamburg said: “We cannot stand idly by as a party … tries to abolish democracy using the means of democracy”... Archbishop Heiner Koch defended the Church's outspoken stand. “We in Germany have experienced what it means when you react too late or not at all,” he said...

Most Priests in Sierra Leone Are Sons of Muslims, Bishop Says (National Catholic Register)

Bishop Natale Paganelli, 66, arrived as a Xaverian missionary in 2005 in Sierra Leone. In an interview with the Catholic magazine Omnes posted April 25, he noted that the majority of Catholic priests in that African country are sons of Muslims. “Most priests are sons of Muslims. Why? Because of the schools,” explained the prelate of Italian origin... “When the Xaverians arrived they used a very interesting strategy. Since there were almost no schools in the country’s north, they began to establish them, first primary schools, then secondary schools. Evangelization came through the schools,” he continued. Regarding Muslims who study in Catholic schools, Bishop Paganelli explained that “the majority of them, attending our schools, which have a lot of prestige, thanks be to God, come into contact with Christianity, with priests, and at a certain point they ask for baptism and take a catechumenal course at the same school. Generally, there is no opposition from parents”. In fact, he noted, “we say that there is very good religious tolerance in Sierra Leone. This is one of the most beautiful things that we can export to the world, not only diamonds, gold, other minerals.” The “only serious problem” he has had, the prelate explained, has been with the Muslim tribal chiefs, “because they wanted Catholic schools in each village, but I could not build a Catholic school in each village, it was impossible; there were already 400, a very large number”...