Brazil Archives

Brazilian cardinal says it’s time to move ‘from conservation to mission’

August 14, 2017

When the Latin American bishops gathered in the Brazilian town of Aparecida in 2007 to plan a pastoral strategy for the continent, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was a chief architect of the document. Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of São Paulo, Brazil, says they still haven’t lived up to its vision, saying it’s time to shift from “maintenance” to “mission.”

On Amoris guidelines, Brazil bishops leave sacraments open for some divorced and remarried

Brazil’s bishops do not explicitly assert that remarried people could receive communion in some cases. Instead, they clearly say that a discernment process “is not simply a return to the sacramental life, which is not always possible.” However, their document ponders “limited cases” where mitigating circumstances “may attenuate or even annul” the moral responsibility of people in irregular unions.

Brazilian archbishop robbed at his residence

Criminals stole scented oils, pocket money, a cross, and cell phone from a Brazilian archbishop outside of his residence. During a moment of distraction, a deacon was able to hide away in the bathroom, where he called the police. Once the robbers realized he was missing, they fled.

Facebook restores Catholic pages after their accidental removal
- Catholic News Service, Church in the US
- July 20, 2017
At least 25 Catholic Facebook pages in Portuguese and English, with many followers, were unpublished without warning between the night of July 17 and the next morning. The pages have since been restored, and Facebook has apologized for their accidental removal.
READ MORE
Pope: Caring for creation means caring for your brother and sister
- Catholic News Agency, Vatican
- July 15, 2017
In a message to participants in an international congress about his 2015 environmental encyclical “Laudato Si” and the challenges of those dwelling in large cities, Pope Francis said these challenges need to be met with “three Rs:” Respect, responsibility and relationship.
READ MORE
Archbishop: Brazil trying to undo protections for indigenous peoples
- Catholic News Service, Global Church
- July 15, 2017
Since Brazilian President Michel Temer took office August 31, he has surrounded himself with ministers with strong links to the cattle ranchers and soy farmers, who oppose steps taken by previous governments to implement demarcation of indigenous lands. On July 13, the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Global Witness released a report citing Brazil as the country with the highest number of murders of environmental and land defenders in 2016.
READ MORE