Catholic New York

A statue of St. Junipero Serra that was toppled June 19 in Golden Gate Park and San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone are seen in this composite photo.

San Francisco Archbishop Leads Prayer, Blesses Site of Toppled Serra Statue

Several dozen people joined San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone as he led the rosary June 27 and recited the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel for protection from evil at the site of the now-toppled statue of St. Junipero Serra in the city’s Golden Gate Park. more

7/1/20

Montana resident Kendra Espinoza, a key plaintiff in a religious rights case involving school choice, poses for a photo in front of the U.S. Supreme Court with her daughters Sarah and Naomi Jan. 19. The court ruled June 30 that religious schools cannot be excluded from Montana’s school tax-credit program.

Court Says Tax Credit Program Can’t Exclude Religious Schools

In a 5-4 ruling June 30, the Supreme Court said the exclusion of religious schools in Montana’s state scholarship aid program violated the federal Constitution. more

By CAROL ZIMMERMANN | 7/1/20

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, the brother of retired Pope Benedict XVI, is pictured directing the Regensburg Choir in this file photo.

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, Retired Pope’s Brother, Dies at 96

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, a musician and retired Pope Benedict XVI’s elder brother, died July 1 at the age of 96. more

7/1/20

This is the cover of the updated “Directory for Catechesis.” The English version of the directory is still being translated.

Catechesis Directory Called ‘Fresh, Focused Tool’ That Will ‘Enhance’ Evangelization

The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis welcomed the Vatican’s updated “Directory for Catechesis,” saying it is exciting to have “a fresh and focused tool to enhance our evangelization efforts in catechesis.” more

6/28/20

The two newly ordained priests, Father Luis Silva and Father Roland Pereira, M.Id., receive the applause of the congregation at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Two Priests Ordained at Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral

Cardinal Dolan ordained two priests at a Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral this morning (June 26). The newly ordained are Father Luis Silva, who was ordained for the Archdiocese of New York, and Father Roland Pereira, M.Id., who was ordained for the Idente Missionaries. The Mass of Ordination was delayed for more than a month because of the coronavirus pandemic. more

6/26/20

God Listens to Everybody—Sinner, Saint, Victim, Killer, Pope Says

Everyone lives a life that is often inconsistent or a “contradiction” because people can be both a sinner and a saint, a victim and a tormentor, Pope Francis said. more

By CAROL GLATZ | 6/24/20

A vandalized statue of St. Junipero Serra in San Francisco is seen June 19. The Spanish Franciscan founded several missions in what is now California.

Racial Issues Need ‘Honest Discussion,’ Not Destruction, Says San Francisco Archbishop

San Francisco’s archbishop said June 20 the “toppling and defacing” of a statue of St. Junipero Serra and other statues in the city’s Golden Gate Park is the latest example of some people using the current movement against racial injustice as a reason for violence, looting and vandalism. more

6/23/20

Retired Pope Returns to Vatican After Visiting His Brother in Germany

Retired Pope Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican June 22, five days after flying to Germany to spend time with his ailing, 96-year-old brother. more

By CINDY WOODEN | 6/22/20

Archbishop Thomas J. Wenski of Miami is pictured at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10. He was appointed June 22 as acting chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty until the bishops’ November 2020 general assembly.

Archbishop Wenski Named Acting Chair of Bishops’ Religious Freedom Efforts

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami has been appointed the acting chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty. more

6/22/20

Catholics Urged to Pray, Reflect, Act to Safeguard Religious Freedom

The U.S. bishops are urging Catholics to “pray, reflect and take action” on religious liberty in the United States and abroad during Religious Freedom Week June 22-29. more

By LESLIE MILLER | 6/22/20

USCCB President ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Court’s LGBT Ruling

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said he is “deeply concerned” that by ruling federal law protects LGBT workers from discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court “has effectively redefined the legal meaning of ‘sex’ in our nation’s civil rights law.” more

6/18/20

DACA demonstrators hold signs outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Nov. 12, 2019.

Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Administration’s Plan to End DACA

In one of the most anticipated cases of the term, the Supreme Court June 18 ruled against efforts by the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. more

By CAROL ZIMMERMANN | 6/18/20

Seafarers who have spent months working onboard vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic arrive June 12 at Changi Airport in Singapore.

Pope Reaches Out to Seafarers Stuck on Ships or Without Work

As travel restrictions continue in the hope of slowing the spread of the coronavirus, Pope Francis offered his prayers and solidarity to those who work at sea and have either been prevented from going ashore or have not been able to work. more

By CINDY WOODEN | 6/17/20

Sharonell Fulton, a foster parent in Philadelphia, is pictured with a young woman and children in a May 23, 2018 photo. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other Catholic entities have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to protect Philadelphia’s faith-based foster care in a decision expected this June.

USCCB, Other Catholic Groups Urge Court to Protect Faith-Based Foster Care

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and a few Catholic Charities agencies have joined more than 30 other religious groups, states and a group of Congress members urging the Supreme Court to protect Philadelphia’s faith-based foster care. more

By CAROL ZIMMERMANN | 6/17/20

ADVOCATE—Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, who is the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee, addresses the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. Feb. 27.

USCCB Migration Chairman Says Senate Needs to Act on ‘Dreamer,’ TPS Bill

The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration has urged the U.S. Senate to take action and pass a bill to protect “Dreamers” and as well beneficiaries of the Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure programs. more

6/17/20

Christians Called to Intercede for, Not Condemn, Others, Pope Says

True believers do not condemn people for their sins or shortcomings but intercede on their behalf with God through prayer, Pope Francis said. more

By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES | 6/17/20

A mosaic of St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13, is seen on the grounds of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Washington, D.C. Pope Francis asked that the world’s Franciscans and devotees of St. Anthony of Padua be inspired by this 13th-century saint by being “restless” to hit the road and share God’s love through word and deed.

Holy Land Franciscans to Observe Popular St. Anthony Novena, June 13 Feast Online

The June 13 feast of St. Anthony of Padua and the novena, the nine days of prayer leading up to it, mark some of the busiest times at Washington, D.C.’s Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America—and any temple worldwide, for that matter, that observes his feast. more

By RHINA GUIDOS | 6/11/20

Bishop Frank Nubuasah of Gaborone, Botswana, is shown in this undated photo. In a letter dated June 4, Bishop Nubuasah recalled befriending George Floyd, the man at the center of worldwide demonstrations calling for an end to racial injustice.

Bishop From Botswana Writes Farewell Letter to Friend George Floyd

In a “farewell letter,” a bishop from Botswana recalled meeting and befriending George Floyd and his family on a visit to the United States. more

By GUNTHER SIMMERMACHER | 6/9/20

Sheen Center Livestream Talk, ‘Black Mothers and Their Sons’ on June 10

Actress and playwright Angela Polite will discuss her play, “Mary Speaks” and what it means to be an artist of faith and an artist of color at such a pivotal moment in history in the United States, in a livestream conversation with David Di Certo, interim executive director of the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in lower Manhattan Wednesday, June 10, at 3 p.m. more

6/9/20

Protesters in Minneapolis gather June 1. Demonstrations continue after a white police officer was caught on a bystander’s video May 25 pressing his knee into the neck of George Floyd, an African American, who later was declared dead at a hospital.

George Floyd’s Death Demands Examination of Conscience, Archbishop Hebda Says

Amid the turmoil following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda said the Catholic Church must proclaim the Gospel message of Jesus’ love for all people, as well as its teaching on the dignity of human life. more

By MARIA WIERING | 6/8/20