Catholic News

• Holy See reiterates, broadens calls for disarmament (Vatican News)
  Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, addressed the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament. He “said that while the importance of disarmament was particularly evident for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, it applied just as strongly to increased military competition in outer space, in cyberspace and artificial intelligence.”
• China's new measures on clergy ignore Vatican agreement (UCANews)
  “The Communist government in China has promulgated a new set of rules for religious clergy to be implemented in two months, but they ignore the Sino-Vatican agreement on bishop appointments by asking people to elect their bishops democratically,” according to the report.
• 'We're generals without armies, and the civil authorities know it': 28 bishops speak confidentially about challenges (First Things)
  “The most sensitive matter in my various interviews involved bishops’ attitudes toward Pope Francis,” said Francis X. Maier. “All of the men I spoke with expressed a sincere fidelity to the Holy Father. But many also voiced an equally vigorous frustration with what they see as his ambiguous comments and behavior. . . . When pressed, none of the bishops I queried could report a single diocesan seminarian inspired to pursue priestly life by the current Pope.”
• Vancouver archbishop asks health officials to reconsider public worship ban (The B.C. Catholic)
  “While we respect the measures taken by government to protect the health of British Columbians, we want to be assured that the orders are being fairly applied to all sectors of the population,” said Archbishop J. Michael Miller. “Specifically, we seek to understand why gathering for worship in limited numbers with safety precautions is not allowed, while bars, restaurants, and gyms remain open.”
• Equality Act will discriminate against people of faith, US bishops warn (USCCB)
  “Rather than affirm human dignity in ways that meaningfully exceed existing practical protections, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith,” five bishops who chair USCCB committees warned in a February 23 letter. “It would also inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans of any faith or none.” The Act (H.R. 5), sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), has 224 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
• Senators denounce Amazon's removal of transgender-critical book (CNA)
  The book is Ryan Anderson’s When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. (See also “Prepare to be cancelled.”)
• In Pakistan, 2 Christian evangelists charged with committing blasphemy (International Christian Concern)
  “The two Christians are being accused of making derogatory remarks against Islam, the Quran, and offending the religious sentiments of a Muslim” while preaching at a Lahore city park, according to the report.
• Damascus archbishop sees Syria as sinking ship (CNEWA)
  “950,000 families [are] living with death,” said Archbishop Samir Nassar. “More than 200,000 people have disappeared.”
• Biden administration withdraws from transgender athlete case (AP)
  The Trump administration had supported female runners—referred to as “cisgender” in the wire story—who argued “they have been deprived of wins, state titles and athletic opportunities by being forced to compete against two transgender sprinters.”
• In Zambia, thieves steal tabernacle with Holy Eucharist (Vatican News)
  The theft took place in Kitwe, the second-largest city in the southern African nation (map).
• Bishops urge Sri Lankan government to release report on 2019 Easter bombings (National Catholic Register)
  The 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings killed 269 people and injured over 500.
• Brazilian priest who 'concelebrated' Mass with Protestant minister removed as pastor (CNA)
  Bishop Vicente Costa of Jundiaí has referred the case to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in accord with norms published in 2010.
• Reporter: Persecution of Laotian Christians is largely ignored (UCANews)
  The Southeast Asian nation of 7.4 million (map), a Communist state, is 53% Buddhist and 3% Christian, with 42% adhering to ethnic religions. “Laos’ Christians are among Asia’s most persecuted religious minorities, and the Vatican has largely ignored their plight,” writes James Lovelock.
• Religious sisters join pro-democracy protests in Myanmar (Vatican News)
  “We surely understand that without demonstrating, the military dictatorship will never end,” said one anonymous sister. “That is why we support the protesters as much as we can.”
• US bishops, debt-relief advocacy network ask President Biden to back global Covid aid (Jubilee USA Network)
  “The Catholic bishops and Jubilee USA are urging both short-term solutions to resolve the current crisis and long-term solutions to prevent the next one,” said Eric LeCompte, executive director of the Jubilee USA Network. “We need more aid and debt relief now for developing countries. We need a bankruptcy process, better trade agreements and to stop tax avoidance and corruption to prevent the next crisis.”
• Man shoots at woman at Seattle Catholic services headquarters, takes own life (Q13FOX)
  “Mercifully, no one else was harmed, and all of the staff were able to safely leave the building,” said Archbishop Paul Etienne.
• Cardinal prays on CNN program marking 500,000 Covid deaths in US (CNS)
  “Let us now open our hearts to recall those who have died from the coronavirus,” Cardinal Wilton Gregory prayed. “Strengthen those families and friends who remain behind, to comfort one another and to wipe the tears from our eyes. . . .”
• Vatican budget projects $60 million deficit (CWN)
  The Vatican budget for 2021 anticipates a deficit of €49 million ($60 million), with revenues of €260 million ($316 million) failing to match expenses of €310 million ($376 million).
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