Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney
Photo: CNS Number of foreign-born clergy in Italy continues to rise
New data shows that in 2020, 8.3% of Italy’s diocesan and religious priests were not Italian, while the number of Italian priests who are missionaries in foreign countries has continued to fall.
Data from the Central Institute for the Support of Clergy, which is connected with the Italian bishops’ conference, found that the total number of priests in Italy in 2020 was 31,793.
The number is down 16.5% from 1990, with a fall of 11% in just the last decade. Meanwhile, the number of foreign-born priests serving in Italy has increased by more than tenfold in 30 years, from 204 in 1990 to 2,631 in 2020.
The average age of Italian priests has also increased slightly to 61.8, while the average age of non-Italian priests serving in Italy is 46.7.
Cuban priests call on authorities not to repress planned protests
A group of Cuban priests signed a letter addressed to the Cuban authorities Wednesday urging them not to use violence against marches protesting the island’s communist government which occurred on November 15.
“We don’t want to see police beating and mistreating their own people again. We don’t want blood spilled again. We don’t want to hear gunshots again. No, because that’s not the way that will take us to the Cuba that we need and that we all want,” the priests said in their letter.
“Those of us who signed this letter are Cubans, Catholic priests called to be shepherds of our people, we want only the good of our country, we want a Cuba where justice, freedom and peace reign,” they said.
Communist rule in Cuba was established soon after the conclusion of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, which ousted the authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista.
Sydney archbishop urges public opposition to euthanasia bill
The Archbishop of Sydney has urged the faithful to speak out against euthanasia as New South Wales considers legalising the practice.
The New South Wales parliament began debating the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 on November 12, less than a month after it was introduced by member Alex Greenwich.
“I strongly oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide because we shouldn’t be telling sick people by our laws that we think they would be better off dead or that we would be better off if they were dead,” said Archbishop Anthony Fisher in a letter to his archdiocese.
He said it was “very important” that people voice their opposition to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 during the public inquiry period, which ends November 22.
Spanish bill criminalising prayer near abortion clinics called a ‘danger to democracy’
An international 40 Days for Life director has said a bill proposed by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party that would criminalise “harassment” of women entering abortion clinics is a “threat to democracy”.
Tomislav Cunovic, director of 40 Days for Life for International Affairs, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish language sister news agency, that “it’s a fundamental right that people can go out on the street, meet and express their opinion”.
“This new law criminalises pro-life people who gather and pray peacefully in front of abortion clinics. This law interferes with these fundamental rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution of Spain and by international conventions, such as the European Convention on Human Rights,” he underlined.
The bill was introduced May 21 and seeks to criminalise the promotion, favouring, or participation in demonstrations near abortion clinics. Sanctions would include jail terms of three months to a year, or community service from 31 to 80 days or prohibit an individual from a particular location for between six months and three years.