Crux Now

Beginning fight against abuse charges, Pell says he'll plead 'not guilty'

Australian Cardinal George Pell made his first court appearance in Melbourne early on Wednesday, fighting to clear his name from what police have described as 'multiple' complaints of 'historical sexual offenses.' In the brief hearing, Pell's lawyer said he would "maintain his innocence" and the next hearing was set for Oct. 6.

Sister of martyred French priest says he's now a 'brother to all'

One year ago today, 85-year-old French Father Jacques Hamel was brutally slain while saying Mass in his small parish in Normandy. Today, his sister says Hamel has become a "brother to all," and also stubbornly professes hope, both for Christian/Muslim coexistence in France and even for newly elected French President Emanuelle Macron, who will be at Hamel's anniversary Mass.

Vatican: Jerusalem needs “internationally guaranteed” special status
- Crux Staff
- July 26, 2017
A Vatican diplomat has told the UN Security Council the historical status quo of the holy sites in the Holy Land is “a matter of profound sensitivities,” and reminded them that Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Israel sparked a crisis by unilaterally installing metal detectors at the Temple Mount, leading to Muslims accusing the Jewish state of trying to expand control at the site under the guise of security.
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Churchgoers adjusting to consolidated parishes
- Michael Gagne, Republican-American
- July 26, 2017
Churchgoers are getting used to the new reality of “All Saints — Todos Los Santos” parish in Waterbury, Connecticut. Formed by the merger of four parishes, the new entity is part of a restructuring plan being implemented by the Archdiocese of Hartford.
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These nuns offer their blindness for the salvation of the world
- Barbara Bustamante
- July 26, 2017
A religious order made up of blind sisters has as its mission, according to its constitutions, to offer to God “the privation of sight for those who do not know the truth yet so that they may come to God, the light of the world.”
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Christians need time to rebuild trust before return to Mosul region
- Dale Gavlak
- July 26, 2017
Although Iraqi forces declared victory over Islamic State fighters in Mosul early in July, the region remains unstable, leaving Christians uncertain about their future in their historic homeland. Christians are calling on the international community, along with the Iraqi government, to help them and other citizens from religious minority backgrounds.
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Ex-priest at center of clergy sex abuse scandal to be released
- Associated Press
- July 26, 2017
Paul Shanley, one of the most infamous pedophile priests is about to be released from prison. He has served his sentence and has been found not to be a sexually dangerous person. He will be on probation for 10 years and can have no contact with anyone under the age of 16. However, his victims are not satisfied with these terms.
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Explosive device detonated outside Mexican bishops’ offices
- David Agren
- July 25, 2017
No one was injured by an explosive outside the headquarters of the Mexican bishops’ conference. The bishops’ offices occupy a busy strip across the street from the sanctuary of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The area is swarmed by pilgrims and tourists during the daytime and is transited by commuters in rush hour.
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Pope's hospital says there was hope to save Charlie Gard if time had allowed
- Inés San Martín
- July 25, 2017
A day after the parents of 11-month-old Charlie Gard decided to drop their legal fight to save their son, saying ‘time has run out,’ a Vatican-sponsored hospital that had offered an experimental treatment acknowledged that they had “probably arrived too late.”
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Key ally of Philippines president introduces bills allowing for divorce, same-sex unions
- Crux Staff
- July 25, 2017
The Philippines is the only country in the world — except for the Vatican — to have no divorce law. That could change after the Speaker of the House introduced legislation to allow for “quick dissolution” of marriage.
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Can anything burst Pope’s media bubble? Nah, probably not

July 23, 2017

Next March will mark the five-year anniversary of Francis’s papacy, and one interesting question is whether the broad media love affair with Francis will still be in place when that moment comes. John Allen says “probably yes,” because by now the positive narrative surrounding Francis has become so entrenched as to be basically impervious to reconsideration.

Nun ministering to transgender women gets thumbs-up from Pope

July 25, 2017

Despite theoretically slowing down over the summer months, Pope Francis remains one of those figures basically incapable of “down time.” Among other things, he seems to be catching up on correspondence, including sending encouraging notes to an Argentine nun who ministers to transgender women in the pope’s native country.