Pope Francis Counsellor sues Catholic school over same-sex marriage policy
An Indiana guidance counsellor has filed a lawsuit against an Indianapolis Catholic school which placed her on administrative leave after she contracted a same-sex marriage, and did not renew her contract when it expired.
Shelly Fitzgerald, who worked at Roncalli High School for 15 years, filed suit in federal court on last Monday against the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the high school. She civilly married another woman in 2014.
According to the Indianapolis Star, after her civil marriage was brought to the school’s attention, Fitzgerald was asked to resign of her own accord, dissolve the civil marriage, or to maintain discretion about the situation until her contract expired.
Trial of bishop charged with raping nun to begin
The trial of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur, who was charged with rape in April, will begin on November in Kottayam. He has been accused of raping a nun repeatedly over the course of two years, and he denies the allegations.
The nun who has accused Bishop Mulakkal of rape has complained against him to the Kerala women’s commission, saying he is harassing her and others through social media videos.
“In some videos on YouTube, the photographs of the victim is used, which will reveal the identity. The videos are intended to disrespect, abuse, intimidate and influence the witness, victim and the investigation team. This is a violation of the bail conditions laid down by the Kerala High Court,” she wrote in her complaint.
Francis appoints Nobel prize winner to Vatican science academy
Pope Francis has appointed Frances Arnold, a Nobel-winning chemical engineer from the US, to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Arnold (63) is the Linus Pauling professor of chemical engineering, biochemistry and bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology and director of its bioengineering centre. Her appointment to the papal think tank was announced by the Vatican on October 24.
Born in Pittsburgh, Arnold was the co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering use of the directed evolution of enzymes.
The results of her work include more environmentally friendly methods for manufacturing chemical substances, such as pharmaceuticals, and the production of renewable fuels, according to www.nobelprize.org.
Polish bishops ask for JPII to be named Church doctor
The Polish Bishops’ Conference has asked Pope Francis to name St John Paul II a patron of Europe and doctor of the Church.
Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, president of the Polish Bishops Conference, sent the request to the Pope on October 22 – the feast day of John Paul II.
Hong Kong prelates call for inquiry into police brutality
Amid continued controversy surrounding large-scale political protests in Hong Kong and fears of a crackdown by the Communist Chinese government, Catholic leaders are echoing protesters’ calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality.
“I ask the Lord to move the government of the special administrative region to respond to the public opinion, and set up an ‘Independent Commission of inquiry’ so that the community can begin with the truth and begin the path of real reconciliation,” Hong Kong Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, a supporter of the protest movement, wrote on Facebook.
“During a gathering last Saturday, I am so moved by our young faithful who expressed their views on our Church’s participation in the society.”