Catholic News

• Pope Francis discussed 'clarity of conscience,' liberation theology with Jesuits in Panama (La Civiltà Cattolica)
  La Civiltà Cattolica has published the transcript of the Pope’s wide-ranging conversation with 30 Central American Jesuits, a conversation that took place on January 26 during his apostolic journey to Panama.
• Cardinal Müller says Pope surrounded by bad advisers (LifeSite News)
  In a new interview with Der Spiegel, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, says that Pope Francis has become unfortunately “dependent” on aides who are guided by “base motives.” The former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says: “Unfortunately, he is surrounded by people who have little understanding of theology and of the Church’s social teaching, but who do not wish to abandon the centuries-old mentality of the courtier.”
• In Register symposium, prelates offer candid thoughts on Vatican abuse summit (CWN)
  Prominent prelates have offered unusually blunt comments on the prospect for next week’s Vatican “summit” on sexual abuse, in a symposium published by the National Catholic Register.
• Open your eyes to see the suffering of the people, Venezuelan bishop tells Maduro (CNA)
  “For several years the Venezuelan people have been asking for a change in the social-political and even economic orientation” of the nation, said Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristóbal. “The Church has insisted that it is the people who must be listened to.”
• Colombian bishops call on Marxist guerrillas to abandon their weapons (Fides)
  Over 175,000 civilians have lost their lives in the Colombian conflict, which began in 1964. The National Liberation Army (ELN) continues to wage war despite a 2017 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
• Spain's justice minister asks bishops to hand over information on sex abuse cases (AP)
  “The Spanish Episcopal Conference replied that it has already provided information about known cases to the Vatican and Spanish judicial authorities,” according to the report.
• Indian prelate decries imprisonment of Missionary of Charity (Indian Catholic Matters)
  Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, discusses a recent visit with Sister Concelia Baxla, who has been charged with child trafficking.
• 'Rebuilding community in Europe' is theme of EU bishops' election statement (COMECE)
  The 2019 European Parliament election will take place on May 23-26.
• Vatican, Oriental Orthodox churches hold week-long dialogue on marriage (Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch)
  The Oriental Orthodox churches ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451). The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches has met annually since 2004.
• Vatican nuncio in France under investigation for 'sexual assault' (Le Monde (French))
  
• As elections approach, Nigerian prelate calls on police to be unbiased (Vanguard)
  The 2019 Nigerian general election will take place on February 16. The nation of 204 million is the most populous in Africa; Nigeria is 50% Muslim and 40% Christian, with 10% retaining indigenous beliefs.
• Miracles reported in Egyptian hometown of Coptic Martyrs (Christian Post)
  In a book on the lives of the 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by the Islamic State in 2015—The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs—author Martin Mosebach reports that “everybody is talking about miracles” in the hometown of most of the victims.
• Vatican tribunal official among New Jersey priests accused of abuse (La Croix)
  Msgr. Joseph Punderson, who has served on the tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura since 1993, has been named among the priests of the Trenton, New Jersey diocese who have been “credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor,” and suspended from ministry.
• Seminar on euthanasia marks anniversary of meeting between Pope Francis, Moscow Patriarch (AsiaNews)
  In February 2016, Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church signed an historic joint declaration.
• Pope recalls 100th anniversary of Italo-Albanian eparchy (Vatican News)
  President Ilir Meta of Albania, a Muslim, traveled to Italy and attended the Mass commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Eparchy of Lungro. The Italo-Albanian Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) is among the Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with the Holy See.
• Malawi prelate urges religious to avoid partisanship as election violence rises (Nyasa Times)
  “Catholicism is thicker than politics,” said the administrator of the Diocese of Dedza, Malawi. “We must unite in preaching the rightful teachings of God.” The southeastern African nation of 19.8 million (map) is 27% Protestant, 18% Catholic, and 12% Muslim.
• Vatican, Italy agree to standards for academic credentials (Vatican News)
  The Vatican has signed a new agreement with the government of Italy, providing standards for the mutual recognition of academic credentials issued by institutions of higher education.
• Catholics, Muslims march for peace between Pakistan, India (Fides)
  Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw of Lahore (Pakistan) spoke at the conclusion of the gathering.
• Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Farrell as Camerlengo of Holy Roman Church (CWN)
  Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the prefect of the dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life, has been named camerlengo by Pope Francis.
• In leaked letter to 'Mr. Maduro,' Pope Francis reiterates call for peace (CNA)
  Pope Francis wrote Nicolás Maduro following his request for papal mediation in the Venezuelan crisis. In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AP, the Pontiff said that he is not yet prepared to intervene. He has indicated that he would only mediate at the request of both parties to the conflict.
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