Catholic News

• Theme of Pope's general audience: 'as we forgive those who trespass against us' (Vatican News)
  Pope Francis devoted most of his 2018 Wednesday general audiences to the sacraments and the commandments (April 11 —November 28) and the Lord’s Prayer (beginning December 5). In his 2019 audiences, most recently on April 24 (video), he has continued to reflect on the Our Father.
• Curia reforms put priority on evangelization, synodality, cardinals say (CNS)
  Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai has also said that decentralization will be an important focus of the new apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia.
• US church membership down sharply in past 2 decades (Gallup)
  In a new survey, 50% of Americans say they belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque (down from 70% in 1999), and 77% say they are affiliated with a particular religion (down from 90%). “Twenty years ago, 76% of Catholics belonged to a church; now, 63% do.”
• On feast of St. George, Pope gives rosaries to young people (Vatican News)
  On his name day, the Pope gave 6,000 rosaries to young people from Milan who were on pilgrimage in Rome.
• 'No one should be permitted to finance' terrorism, leading Vatican diplomat emphasizes (Holy See Mission)
  Addressing the UN Security Council at a recent meeting, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said that “it is indispensable that effective measures be adopted to prevent terrorism in all its forms, including by draining and cutting off its financing resources.” He cautioned that counter-terrorism measures should not “inhibit the capacity of non-governmental and charitable organizations to provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable groups or persons.”
• In pastoral letter to youth, Ukrainian Catholic leader decries Russian aggression (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
  “Today our freedom is being preserved before the Russian aggressor by those fighting in the eastern part of Ukraine at great cost and personal sacrifice,” said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in reference to the War in Donbass. “We have no right to stab them in the back.”
• Sri Lanka cardinal presides over common funeral service for Easter Sunday victims (Archdiocese of Colombo)
  The funeral service and collective burial took place at St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo, the site of one of the bombings.
• Bishops urge: Count all people in the Census, 'regardless of their citizenship' (USCCB)
  Two of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committee chairmen issued this statement as the Supreme Court began to consider a case involving the constitutionality of the Trump administration’s proposal to add a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census.
• Outspoken bishop leaves Nicaragua (Crux)
  Bishop Silvio Baez, a Managua auxiliary, has left Nicaragua, having been summoned to Rome by Pope Francis. Bishop Baez, an outspoken critic of the Ortega government, who has received multiple death threats, said that he is leaving the country reluctantly. It is not clear how long he will be expected to stay in Rome, not what duties, if any, he will be given there.
• Sri Lanka's Christian leaders call for restraint, investigation after bombings (Vatican News)
  The president of the bishops’ conference “expressed disappointment with the government in dealing with the crisis,” according to the report. “In his opinion, despite warnings about the impending attacks, the country’s intelligence has failed.”
• Journalist offers an inside view of Venezuela on the brink of collapse (National Catholic Register)
  The Venezuelan military raided the home of Cody Weddell (a contributor to Catholic News Service), detained him, and deported him.
• Federal court: Catholic charity must place foster children with same-sex couples (CNA)
  A federal appeals court has ruled that Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia must agree to place foster children with same-sex couples. City funding for the Catholic agency was cut in accordance with a new non-discrimination rule in Philadelphia. The ruling endangers the future of the agency, at a time when hundreds of foster children are waiting for placement.
• Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lanka Easter bombings (CNA)
  
• Vatican updates schedule for Pope's visit to Romania, May 31--June 2 (Vatican Press Office)
  
• Christians in Mosul celebrate Easter, pray for return of those who fled (La Croix)
  “Before ISIS took over the [Iraqi] city, there were more than 15,000 Christians in Mosul,” according to the report. “However, in spite of the defeat of the jihadists, only about 30 [Christian] families have returned to the city.”
• Philippine president's drug war 'biggest lie' in the last 3 years, says bishop (ABS-CBN News)
  Earlier this month, the prelate, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, blasted the nation’s president for calling his mother a “whore.”
• Texas bishop emphasizes truths of faith, call to holiness for seminarians (National Catholic Register)
  Bishop Joseph Strickland was appointed bishop of Tyler, Texas, in 2012. A priest of the diocese, he previously served as its vicar general.
• Easter prayer in Aleppo in memory of bishops missing for 6 years (AsiaNews)
  In April 2013, the Syriac Orthodox and Greek Orthodox archbishops of Aleppo were abducted while negotiating the release of kidnapped priests.
• Pope exchanges greetings with the Chief Rabbi of Rome (Vatican News)
  Pope Francis wished Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni a joyous Passover: “May the God of mercy accompany you with his blessing and grant you peace and harmony.” The Chief Rabbi, in turn, offered “cordial wishes for [Easter] joy, serenity and health, for consolidation and beneficial relations of friendship and collaboration. May your prayers for good be heard.”
• Christ's Resurrection is 'most shocking event in human history,' Pope Francis tells pilgrims (Zenit)
  During his Easter Monday Regina Coeli address (video), the Pope reflected on Matthew 28:8-15, the Gospel of the day.
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