- House passes Equality Act in 224-206 vote (AP)
“Rather than affirm human dignity in ways that meaningfully exceed existing practical protections, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith,” five bishops who chair USCCB committees warned in a February 23 letter. “It would also inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans of any faith or none.” - Bishops defend property after Spain claims irregularities in registration (CNS)
“In a 3,000-page report published Feb. 16, the government said the 34,961 assets registered before the law was modified in 2015 had included many nonreligious assets, including residential buildings, garages, farms and vineyards,” according to the report. “The report gives the Church until 2023 to provide proof of ownership of the assets.” - EU bishops' commission 'alarmed' by European Parliament's resolution on abortion in Poland (COMECE)
The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Poland for its protection of unborn children. - German bishops' leader: offer Communion to any Protestant who approaches (CNA)
Bishop Georg Bätzing, the president of the German Catholic bishops’ conference, has revealed that he administers Communion to any Protestant who has made the “personal decision of conscience” to approach the Eucharist. - Canadian bishops' agency to end 24 partnerships over moral concerns (CCCB)
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace – Caritas Canada conducted a joint review of the latter’s international partner organizations. - Mentally disabled person killed under Canada's 'assistance in dying' law (The B.C. Catholic)
“My whole problem with [the law] is, like, the government opened the door and, of course, people and physicians just make it wider,” the victim’s brother said. “He wasn’t terminally ill, he wasn’t suffering from any pain,” yet “authorities would not allow family members to intervene.” - Leading German bishop: Cologne cardinal's handling of abuse scandal is a 'disaster' (AP)
Cardinal Rainer Woelki has faced intense criticism for failing to publish an abuse report he had commissioned, and instead commissioning a new report. - Vietnam calls on religious leaders to halt in-person services (UCANews)
The Southeast Asian Communist nation of 98.7 million (map) is 50% Buddhist and 9% Christian, with 10% adhering to ethnic religions. - Papal visit will lead to increased respect for Christians, Iraqi archbishop believes (Aid to the Church in Need)
“People in Iraq know little about us,” said Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil. “We hope there will be more awareness that we are not guests but original inhabitants of the country.” - Vatican cardinal, charged with ignoring abuse, could test Vatican justice system (Crux)
Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who stepped down this week from his post at archpriest of St. Peter’s basilica, has been charged with ignoring sexual abuse at the Vatican’s own seminary. The charge of negligence against him could be pursued both as a canonical offense and as a crime under the Vatican’s civil code. - Australian bishops publish working document for upcoming plenary council (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)
In 2018, Pope Francis approved the Australian bishops’ request to convoke their first plenary council (definition) since 1937. - New Covid relief bill may permit taxpayer funding of abortion (National Committee for a Human Life Amendment)
“Unlike previous COVID relief bills, this bill appropriates billions of taxpayer dollars that are not subject to longstanding, bi-partisan pro-life protections that are needed to prevent this funding from paying for abortions,” according to the action alert. “The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is communicating to Congress its strong opposition to any taxpayer funding of abortion as part of this legislation, saying that the Hyde Amendment policy must be included before this bill moves forward.” - Papal preacher delivers first Lenten Sermon (Vatican News)
Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the pontifical household, delivered the first Lenten Sermon on January 26, beginning a weekly series on the theme: “Who do you say that I am?” In the first Friday sermon, the Capuchin preacher remarked on the “sober drunkenness” of the apostles—who were thought by cynics to be drunk on wine when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. - Boston College investigates prominent theologian after sexual assault allegation (National Catholic Reporter)
Richard Gaillardetz, a theology professor at Boston College and former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, has been accused of assaulting a graduate school classmate in 1987. - Removed from school, a Hindu teacher accuses the sister-principal of breaking anti-conversion law (AsiaNews)
The incident took place in Madhya Pradesh; the central Indian state (map) is 91% Hindu, 7% Muslim, and 0.3% Christian. - Holy See reiterates, broadens calls for disarmament (Vatican News)
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, addressed the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament. He “said that while the importance of disarmament was particularly evident for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, it applied just as strongly to increased military competition in outer space, in cyberspace and artificial intelligence.” - China's new measures on clergy ignore Vatican agreement (UCANews)
“The Communist government in China has promulgated a new set of rules for religious clergy to be implemented in two months, but they ignore the Sino-Vatican agreement on bishop appointments by asking people to elect their bishops democratically,” according to the report. - 'We're generals without armies, and the civil authorities know it': 28 bishops speak confidentially about challenges (First Things)
“The most sensitive matter in my various interviews involved bishops’ attitudes toward Pope Francis,” said Francis X. Maier. “All of the men I spoke with expressed a sincere fidelity to the Holy Father. But many also voiced an equally vigorous frustration with what they see as his ambiguous comments and behavior. . . . When pressed, none of the bishops I queried could report a single diocesan seminarian inspired to pursue priestly life by the current Pope.” - Vancouver archbishop asks health officials to reconsider public worship ban (The B.C. Catholic)
“While we respect the measures taken by government to protect the health of British Columbians, we want to be assured that the orders are being fairly applied to all sectors of the population,” said Archbishop J. Michael Miller. “Specifically, we seek to understand why gathering for worship in limited numbers with safety precautions is not allowed, while bars, restaurants, and gyms remain open.” - Equality Act will discriminate against people of faith, US bishops warn (USCCB)
“Rather than affirm human dignity in ways that meaningfully exceed existing practical protections, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith,” five bishops who chair USCCB committees warned in a February 23 letter. “It would also inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans of any faith or none.” The Act (H.R. 5), sponsored by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), has 224 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.