- Pope, Grand Imam ask UN to declare World Day of Human Fraternity (Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue)
The Pontiff and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar have asked the United Nations to declare February 4, the anniversary of their Document on Human Fraternity, to be the World Day of Human Fraternity. The UN has declared or recognized numerous international days, and February 4 is currently World Cancer Day. - Reflecting on crèche and Christmas tree, Pope calls for 'effective decisions' to protect our common home (Vatican Press Office)
“Today’s meeting offers me the opportunity to renew my encouragement to your people, who last year suffered a devastating natural disaster, with the destruction of entire wooded areas,” the Pope said to members of delegations from Trentino and Veneto, who donated the Christmas tree and the Nativity display in St. Peter’s Square (video). “These are events that alarm us, they are warning signs that creation sends us, and that ask us to take effective decisions immediately for the protection of our common home.” - Mariology helps foster dialogue and fraternity among cultures, Pope tells pontifical academies (Vatican News)
Recalling the 60th anniversary of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, Pope Francis sent an Italian-language message to the pontifical academies on the occasion of their 24th annual joint session. He also announced the awarding of pontifical academy prizes to an art historian (Carme López Calderón) and a Mariologist (Father Ionuț-Catalin Blidar) and the awarding of a medal to the Croatian Mariological Institute. - We base our lives on Christ, not on appearances, Pope preaches at weekday Mass (Vatican News)
At a Mass celebrated in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae on December 5, Pope Francis preached on Matthew 7:21 and 24-27, the Gospel reading of the day. - Pope granted Buffalo bishop an early retirement, apostolic nunciature says in statement (Diocese of Buffalo)
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard Malone on December 4 and named Bishop Edward Scharfenberger the apostolic administrator of the troubled western New York diocese. - Diocese of Rochester confirms it requested Archbishop Sheen beatification delay (CNA)
On December 3, the Diocese of Peoria announced that the Vatican was postponing Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s beatification. Subsequently reporting linked the delay with a forthcoming report by New York’s attorney general on the handling of sex-abuse complaints by bishops in the state. - 'Welcome the stranger,' bishops exhort Irish Catholics (Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference)
The bishops called on “all Catholic parishes and communities to welcome and assist refugees in their local areas in light of the Gospel message.” Lamenting “the use of intolerant language in public and political discourse as well as the growing hostility towards migrants and refugees coming to Ireland,” the bishops added that “Christians, in their language and actions, are asked to lead by example and to welcome the stranger.” - 'The West is ignoring the plight of Christians in West Africa,' prelate says (Vatican News)
14 Christians were killed in a recent Islamist attack on a Protestant church in Burkina Faso (map). - Prelate calls for international pressure to end Yemen war (Vatican News)
The nation of 29 million, which has experienced a devastating civil war since 2015, is over 99% Muslim. - Man alleges he told St. John Paul about McCarrick abuse in 1988 (NJ.com)
The allegation was made in the second lawsuit involving the ex-cardinal that was filed in New Jersey this week. The plaintiff earlier filed a lawsuit in New York, alleging that the Archdiocese of New York was negligent in its supervision of McCarrick. - Cleveland priest arrested in child pornography probe (Akron Beacon Journal)
Father Robert McWilliams, 39, was ordained in 2017. - Video released for Pope's monthly prayer intention (YouTube (Vatican News))
The Pope’s December prayer intention is “that every country may determine to take the necessary measures to make the future of children, especially those who suffer, a priority.” In the video, Pope Francis comments, “Every child who is marginalized, abused, abandoned, without schooling, or without medical care, is a cry that rises up to God. In each of them is Christ, who came to our world as a defenseless child; it is Christ who looks at us through the eyes of each of these children.” - 'They looked the other way': dismissed abuse claim foreshadowed years of allegations against Bishop Bransfield (Washington Post)
Bishop Michael Bransfield was bishop of Wheeling-Charleston (West Virginia) from 2005 to 2018. - Council of Cardinals discusses draft apostolic constitution on the Curia (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis instituted the advisory Council of Cardinals in 2013. Meeting for the 32nd time, the group discussed “the relations between the Curia and the Episcopal Conferences and the presence of the lay faithful, men and women, in decision-making roles in the offices of the Curia and in other bodies of the Church.” - 14 slain in attack on Protestant church in Burkina Faso (AP)
The West African nation of 19.7 million (map) is 62% Muslim, 23% Catholic, 7% Protestant, and 8% animist. One of the nation’s bishops recently warned of an Islamist persecution there. - At UN climate talks, Catholics organizations work to provide 'moral perspective' (CNS)
In a message to participants in the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Pope Francis called on the world’s nations to act decisively to address climate change. - Vatican Secetary of State opens academic year at John Paul II Institute (Zenit)
“The constitution of the new Theological Institute for the Sciences of Marriage and the Family, decided by the Holy Father Francis, re-launches the timeliness of that inspiration and invites to elaborate and update its identity to correspond to the new exigencies of the theological culture and of the ecclesial mission,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin said. In 2017, Pope Francis gave the Institute a new name and focus. - Former Buffalo bishop: 'My decision to retire early was made freely and voluntarily' (Diocese of Buffalo)
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard Malone on December 4 and named Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany as apostolic administrator. - Poland's Solidarity union has 'played an inspiring role,' Pope says on 40th anniversary of its founding (Vatican Press Office)
The trade union, led by Lech Walesa, played an important role in the events leading to the fall of Communism in Poland (Encyclopaedia Britannica article). - New potential abuse payouts could surpass $4 billion (AP)
The brief report notes that “New York state opened its one-year window allowing sex abuse claims no matter how old, and already hundreds of lawsuits have been filed. A two-year window in New Jersey opens this week, then a three-year window in California opens in the new year that allows triple damages if the Church tried to cover up the abuse.”