Archbishop Fulton Sheen Spanish Cardinal faces investigation after marriage sermon
Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Valencia, Spain, has been placed under investigation by regional authorities following a raft of complaints from gay rights activists and socialist groups against a sermon he gave in defence of traditional marriage.
The cardinal, in the course of his sermon, said: “We have legislation contrary to the family, the acts of political and social forces, to which are added movements and acts by the gay empire, by ideologies such as radical feminism, or the most insidious of all, gender ideology.”
Complainants allege that the prelate is guilty of “inciting hatred” under a law that carries a four-year term of imprisonment. The case has been met with a petition from tens of thousands of Spaniards who support Cardinal Llovera and his right to free speech.
Family of Archbishop Fulton Sheen begin legal action for remains transfer
The family of the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen has launched a legal action at New York’s Supreme Court to have the famed prelate’s body transferred from St Patrick’s Cathedral in the city to his native Diocese of Peoria in Illinois.
The action was taken after St Patrick’s initial refusal for such a move, which was requested as part of the archbishop’s beatification process and in line with his family’s earlier wishes. The beatification process was subsequently suspended as a result of the refusal.
St Patrick’s contends that Archbishop Sheen, famed for his evangelisation on US radio and television in the 1950s, wished to be buried in the cathedral crypt, a claim his family disputes.
An offer by St Patrick’s to allow a temporary transfer in time for the prelate’s beatification ceremony was turned down by Peoria.
Christian group sues ISIS funders
A US charitable group which assists refugees is suing a Kuwaiti sheikh and two banks in that country for damages amid claims they financed the activities of so-called Islamic State in persecuting Christians in Syria and Iraq.
The St Francis of Assisi group alleges that sheikh Hajjaj al-Ajmi together with the Kuwait Finance House and Kuveyt-Turk Participation Bank are involved in terror financing, with the sheikh actively involved in sourcing donations for ISIS and other groups on Twitter.
The St Francis of Assisi group stated: “To successfully plan, fund, and carry out the killings… ISIS relies upon an open, notorious, well-known and formalised system of terrorist financing which incentivises and incites the killings and displacement of the Assyrian Christians.”
Bishop recants communist disavowal
A Catholic bishop in China under house arrest for four years since his public renunciation of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) has reversed his decision, according to reports from the country. Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daquin caused uproar in 2012 when, during his elevation Mass, he publicly voiced his loyalty to Rome and quit the CPA. The authorities moved at once to detain the prelate and later placed him under house arrest. Now it appears that Bishop Thaddeus has recanted and, in a blog post, has praised the CPA.
Sympathy at death of Jo Cox MP
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have expressed their sympathy to the family of Jo Cox MP following her violent death in her constituency. “We are profoundly saddened and shocked at the death of Jo Cox. Our society has lost a dedicated public servant. Her life touched the lives of so many others and we share the deep sense of loss at her passing. Tonight, the Catholic community throughout England and Wales will be praying for Jo, her husband Brendan and their family.”