Women who say they were tricked into servitude for Opus Dei to meet in Argentina

Buenos Aires will on Tuesday host the first-ever international gathering of former Opus Dei members who say they were tricked and trafficked into domestic servitude as minors – allegations that have drawn scrutiny of the powerful, secretive Catholic group. 

Pope Leo XIV privately urged organisers to convene the conference, the Guardian has learned.

Forty-three women in Argentina say they were lured to Opus Dei schools as children and teenagers under promises of receiving an education. 

Instead, they say they were forced into working up to 12-hour days, cooking and cleaning for the elite male members, without pay.

They say they faced extreme levels of control, with their letters censored, family visits discouraged, and the reading of anything other than children’s books or religious texts banned. 

When the women eventually escaped, they say they were left without money, clothes or qualifications.

After hearing the women’s testimonies, federal prosecutors in Argentina launched an investigation, accusing senior leaders of Opus Dei in South America of overseeing the exploitation and trafficking of girls, adolescents and women between 1972 and 2015.

Sebastián Sal, the lawyer representing the 43 women in the trafficking case, said the case had been held up in recent months because two witnesses, who are part of Opus Dei, have delayed their testimonies.

Although the Holy See has not formally responded to the complaint, it is believed to have contributed to Pope Francis’s decision in 2022 to revise Opus Dei’s standing and curtail some of its long-held privileges. 

The Vatican, under Pope Leo, is reviewing revised statutes for Opus Dei.

A source with knowledge of the case, who asked not to be named to speak freely about the conference, said Leo had encouraged the organisers to hold the event. 

They believe the pontiff could make a formal statement after the conference, which is being hosted by Ending Clergy Abuse, a global network of human rights defenders and survivors. 

A spokesperson for the Vatican said he could neither confirm nor deny the reporting.

Paula Bistagnino, an Argentine investigative journalist whose reporting and book Te Serviré helped bring widespread attention to the allegations of trafficking and servitude involving Opus Dei, said that with the Vatican preparing to decide on Opus Dei’s new statutes, it was essential that the pope and church authorities “listen to the victims of Opus Dei”.

“It is time for the world to listen to them and for justice to be done,” Bistagnino added.

Opus Dei, which has a presence in more than 70 countries, said it categorically denied the accusations in Argentina. 

A spokesperson added that it strongly shared the aim of “eradicating abuses within the Catholic church and throughout society, now following the guidance of Pope Leo”.

Sal claimed Opus Dei’s exploitation of “young teenagers and women from very poor, rural families” was still happening. He said any announcement from the Vatican could send a clear sign to the Argentine courts to move forward with their investigation.

Claudia Carrero, one of the 43 claimants, will attend the conference on Tuesday. She said she was taken to an Opus Dei school at age 13 in 1979 after being promised training in hotel management. 

“They did not take me there to study, but to work,” she said. “I had no control over anything in my life. I had to ask for permission to call my parents, all our mail was read, we were not allowed to go out alone.”

Carrero said she hoped the conference “prompts concrete institutional changes within the church”, adding she had heard similar accounts from women in Mexico, Italy, Poland, Spain, Ireland, Peru and Chile: “All of us lived the same experiences, identical ones. That is no coincidence.”

Sal said many of the women were anxious about sharing their testimony. “They’re afraid, but they want people to know what happened to them,” he said.

Carrero added. “I hope the Vatican listens carefully and takes the necessary measures so that no one else suffers what we suffered.”

Czech prosecutor seeks justice for cardinal persecuted by Nazis and communists

The District Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prague 1 has filed a proposal to judicially rehabilitate Cardinal Josef Beran, the former archbishop of Prague who was persecuted during the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

The move, confirmed in an official notification dated Dec. 8, follows a months-long review of archival materials by the police’s Office for the Documentation and the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism. 

The proposal has now been submitted to the District Court for Prague 1 under the country’s 1990 law on judicial rehabilitation.

Beran’s beatification process is currently underway.

As a priest, Josef Beran (1888–1969) suffered in the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau before becoming archbishop of Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia, after World War II. When the communists took over, he refused to pledge loyalty to the atheist regime. 

He was not jailed but was interned in several locations, a confinement that included complete isolation from the outside world and a loss of privacy.

When he was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1965, he was allowed to travel to Rome. Yet he was unable to return. The prelate spent the rest of his life in exile, visiting compatriots in Europe and the U.S.

“We are very happy for the news but do not have further information,” the press office of the Czech Bishops’ Conference told CNA. Beran’s family also did not have any more information.

“Anyone can submit a motion to the public prosecutor’s office to correct an injustice,” lawyer Lubomír Müller explained to a press agency.

Müller, who has successfully handled similar cases for persecuted clergy, filed the initial motion in May. He acted upon a formal request from Jan Kratochvil, the director of the Museum of Czech, Slovak, and Ruthenian Exile of the 20th Century in Brno. 

The request specifically cited Beran’s illegal internment from 1951 to 1965.

Last year, the regional court in Hradec Králové rehabilitated priest Josef Toufar for his illegal arrest and prosecution at the beginning of the communist regime. 

Toufar was tortured to death, and his beatification process is now underway as well. The museum’s request also noted Müller’s work in rehabilitating Jesuit priest Father František Lízna.

Therefore, “the official ruling that the internment of Josef Beran was illegal may also come,” Jaroslav Šebek, a historian at the Czech Academy of Sciences, told CNA.

Beran also spoke at the Second Vatican Council about religious freedom and proposed a new view of Jan Hus, the rector of Charles University in Prague who was burned at the stake in 1415. The communists in Czechoslovakia tried to portray Hus as a rebel and the “first communist.” 

However, Beran opted for “a more conciliatory view of this personality of ... European spiritual history so that the views of Archbishop Beran and [the late] Pope John Paul II aligned,” Šebek noted at a recent conference in Rome.

He quoted part of the cardinal’s speech in which he lamented that authorities in the past had at times imposed faith: “Secular power, even if it wants to serve the Catholic Church, or at least pretends to do so, in reality, by such acts, causes a permanent, hidden wound in the nation’s heart. This trauma hindered the progress of spiritual life and it provided cheap material for objections to the enemies of the Church.”

Beran is believed to have been the only Czech prelate buried in St. Peter’s Basilica before his body was moved to the Czech Republic in 2018.

51 priests accused of sexual misconduct in Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan AG says

The Michigan Attorney General's Office has issued the fifth of what will eventually be seven detailed reports on the topic of Catholic church clergy abuse in the state, this time focusing on the Diocese of Grand Rapids. 

The report, released Monday, is a compilation of allegations of sexual misconduct against either children or adults since 1950 in that region. 

The most recent report, issued in December 2024, looked into investigations at the Diocese of Lansing. 

The Saginaw and Detroit reports have yet to be released. 

The Most Reverend David John Walkowiak, who was named bishop of the Grand Rapids diocese in 2013, also gave a video statement and a press conference Monday to discuss the report.

"I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies," Walkowiak said to the victim survivors of these cases. "I am sorry that a church leader in whom you placed your trust misused his power and abused you."

Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids

There are seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan, which provide administration and support services to Catholic parishes and schools on a regional level. 

Each region is led by a bishop or archbishop. The Diocese of Grand Rapids is based in Western Michigan, and includes Muskegon, Kent and Ionia counties. 

The Michigan Department of Attorney General and Michigan State Police started working on this effort in 2018, compiling documents found during search warrants and information submitted via a tip line. 

There have been millions of paper and electronic documents reviewed, a full-time victim advocate assigned to support those who were identified as victims, and so far, 11 criminal charges filed in nine cases. 

All seven dioceses have cooperated with the AG's investigation, state officials said. 

"It is our intent to share what was learned during the investigation as to ensure that any past failure to report sexual abuse will never happen again," the state AG's office said. 

The report includes names of the individuals, dates they were ordained to ministry, dates when they worked in the diocese of Grand Rapids, descriptions of the inappropriate conduct that was under investigation, excerpts from official documents or letters on the incidents, and dates (where applicable) of removal from ministry or their death.  

Of the 51 individuals named in the Grand Rapids report, 37 of them are known or presumed to be dead. 

Of the 14 who are living or presumed to be living, "none are in active ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids." Walkowiak said in response to potential transfers, any clergy who were assigned to Grand Rapids but seeking to work in ministry elsewhere would need to get a letter from the bishop's office that they were in good standing, and with that, he does not expect any.

None of the criminal sexual assault cases filed as a result of the statewide review have been from the Grand Rapids area. 

There are time limits as to when someone can pursue criminal charges. This is normally six years from the date of the offense or the victim's 18th birthday. 

The AG's office said state law now allows criminal charges to be filed at any time over first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges.

In cases in the Catholic church review where criminal charges did not result, the AG's office said the reasons could include the clergy person having already died, the statute of limitations expired, the conduct did not violate Michigan law or the victim decided not to pursue criminal charges.   

Walkowiak said the vast majority of the listed investigations involved activity that took place before 1979. 

He also explained the steps that the U.S. bishops invoked in 2002, which include immediately reporting misconduct involving children to local authorities. 

In addition, anyone who is working with children on behalf of the Catholic church in the United States now must comply with background check and training requirements.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and six other defendants liable for $54.2 million

A jury voted on Friday evening in favor of more than 1,100 employees who lost some or all of their benefits after the St. Clare’s Hospital pension fund collapsed in 2019.

As WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief Jesse Taylor reports, it signals the end of a long journey for some pensioners.

Standing outside of a courtroom in the Schenectady County courthouse, Mary Hartshorne and Anne Hotaling reflected on the moment they heard the jury rule that all seven defendants in the case were found liable.

Hotaling, who worked at the Schenectady hospital for 29 years before it closed its doors in 2008, said the ruling makes the pensioners whole, but is still not enough.

“(It) does not account for the eight-and-a-half-years of pain and suffering, having to sell my home of 32 years, Mary having to sell her home,” Hotaling said.

“And losing our time, our livelihood, our dreams, our time with our family, what we wanted to do with our retirement. It's all gone,” Hartshorne said.

The verdict means that the defendants in the case – former Bishop Howard Hubbard, former Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Rev. David LeFort, Robert Perry, Joseph Pofit, the St. Clare’s Corporation, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany – owe the pensioners $54.2 million in restitution.

Attorneys from the New York State Attorney General’s Office and AARP Foundation represented the pensioners in the case.

AARP Foundation Vice President of Litigation Louis Lopez said the jury found the diocese liable through respondeat superior – a legal theory that holds an employer responsible for the wrongful acts of an employee.

“The jury found that Father LeFort, Bishop Hubbard, Bishop Scharfenberger and Joseph Pofit; when they acted, they acted on behalf of the diocese and therefore the diocese is liable,” Lopez said.

The jury also ruled in favor of applying punitive damages on top of the $54 million judgment.

Jurors are set to meet this week to determine just how much the defendants will have to pay.

“The defendants will be able to introduce evidence of their financial condition, so that the jury can take that into account when assessing punitive damages, and we will have an opportunity to cross examine those defendants again,” Lopez said.

Lopez said that process should only take a few days.

“It depends on the availability of the defendant witnesses and their evidence that they intend to put on,” Lopez said.

The verdict comes as the Albany Diocese moves through the bankruptcy process and as hundreds of people have filed separate lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at the hands of its clergy.

On Friday morning before a verdict was reached, Bishop Mark O’Connell, who took over as the diocese’s new leader earlier this month, said the religious institution would make amends if it was found liable.

“If we are liable, then we will do what we can to make amends, given that they are one creditor as a group among many people accusing the Diocese of Albany. And that is what bankruptcy is. We obviously cannot pay a billion dollars, right, so that’s what Chapter 11 is all about, it's to figure out what is fair and since you have a bankruptcy judge and mediators it's not up to us. We will do what we are required to do,” O’Connell said.

After the verdict, the diocese issued a statement saying, in part, “We are still very much aware of the hurt felt by the St. Clare’s pensioners who cared for the sick and the poor throughout the long history of St. Clare’s hospital.”  And the church vowed not to “turn our backs to the pensioners.”

Hartshorne, who worked at the hospital for 28 years, said she feels betrayed.

“Seriously. And now we know why and who and there will be payment,” Hartshorne said.

Appeal in Tipperary village where parish priest has been acting as sacristan

An urgent notice has been shared in Emly calling for the formation of a Sacristy Team to help care for the church at weekends.

When Covid-19 struck the country, sacristan Jimmy White (RIP) retired, and Fr Bernie Moloney volunteered to take on the role of church sacristan.

Now, six years later, another change is needed, with plans to draw together a team of parishioners to look after the church at weekends.

The proposal is to form a team of six volunteers, men and women, which would make the work easier for everyone involved.

With a team of that size, each person would be on duty for one month in six.

If a volunteer was not available on a particular weekend, another team member who was free could cover, as happens with the existing teams at the church.

Volunteers would be required to come to the church 30 minutes before Sunday Mass and stay on for 10 minutes after Mass.

A checklist of the many small jobs to be done would be displayed in the sacristy to guide those on duty.

Anyone willing to be involved is asked to give their name to any of the priests or a member of the Pastoral Team this week.

Filipino activist priests file plunder complaint against VP Duterte

Two Filipino activist priests joined a group of complainants in filing a plunder complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, who is accused of misusing around $10.4 million in confidential funds.

Friday’s plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman is the biggest case filed against Duterte after her impeachment case was blocked by the Supreme Court on July 25.

The complainants want the Ombudsman to investigate Duterte for plunder and other crimes, and to endorse its findings to the House of Representatives for the filing of a new impeachment case in 2026. They also want the agency to immediately suspend the Vice President and other respondents while the case is being investigated.

Duterte, 47, is facing corruption charges in the context of her fallout with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and her possible presidential run in 2028, a prospect that has alarmed leaders of the Catholic Church.

The eight complainants against Duterte included Father Flavie Villanueva, a missionary priest of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), and Father Robert Reyes, a priest of the Diocese of Cubao. The six others included peace and women’s rights advocates as well as youth leaders.

Villanueva, a self-confessed former drug addict, is a human rights advocate who staunchly criticized former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Reyes is a media-savvy activist priest who has condemned corruption in the government and the Church for decades.

Like hundreds of Filipino bishops and priests, both Villanueva and Reyes belong to the Clergy for Good Governance, a group that has called for reforms in the Philippine government.

The Catholic Church is one of the leading voices against corruption in the Philippines, a former Spanish colony, as both Marcos and Duterte are accused of stealing public funds. 

The Church, in fact, led nationwide rallies called the Trillion Peso March on September 21 and November 30, a show of force in a country where faith often mixes with politics.

During the filing of the plunder complaint, it was the SVD priest who represented the complainants in an interview with reporters.

Villanueva said they are filing the complaint “to show that accountability is happening,” as he emphasized that “confidential funds are public funds.” Addressing the Vice President, Villanueva said, “If Sara Duterte is not hiding anything, she should face this.”

The priest also refuted a comment that their camp is “angry” at Duterte. “We are angry at those who manipulate others, we are angry at lies, we are angry at those who distort the truth. There is no politics here,” he said.

“As a priest and as a member of the Church, the truth has always been enshrined in the Gospel, and that is why I am here,” Villanueva said.

In their 58-page complaint, the complainants stated that the case involves Duterte and former and current employees of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte previously headed.

It was filed “because of the illegal, dubious, and anomalous use of the confidential funds entrusted to her and her office in 2022 and 2023 as Vice President in the amount of ₱500 million ($8.46 million), and Secretary of the Department of Education in the amount of ₱112.5 million ($1.9 million), the details of which were exposed, disclosed, and became evident during the congressional budget deliberations in 2024.”

The Vice President, however, dismissed the plunder complaint as “another fishing expedition” that aims “to weaponize any accusation” against her.

“I urge our countrymen to be critical and not just give in to the slander. This is not about finding the truth — it is about covering up the looting of the public treasury for which no one has been held accountable,” said Duterte, referring to alleged corruption by the Marcos government.

Duterte made another swipe at the President, alluding to his government’s alleged inability to curb inflation. “Let us continue to be strong in the face of the economic collapse and the relentless rise in the prices of goods. Let us continue to pray for peace,” she said.

Former Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, a Catholic, convicted in landmark national security trial

Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted in a landmark national security trial in the city’s court on Monday, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Three government-vetted judges found Lai, a 78-year-old practicing Catholic, guilty of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious articles. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Lai was arrested in August 2020 under a Beijing-imposed national security law that was implemented following massive anti-government protests in 2019. 

During his five years in custody, much of it in solitary confinement, Lai has been convicted of several lesser offenses and appears to have grown more frail and thinner.

Lai’s trial, conducted without a jury, has been closely monitored by the U.S., Britain, the European Union and political observers as a barometer of media freedom and judicial independence in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Court said Lai spent years plotting against Beijing

Reading from an 855-page verdict, Judge Esther Toh said that Lai had extended a “constant invitation” to the U.S. to help bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.

Lai’s lawyers admitted during the trial that he had called for sanctions before the law took effect, but insisted he dropped these calls to comply with the law.

But the judges ruled that Lai had never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party, “continuing though in a less explicit way.”

Toh said the court was satisfied that Lai was the mastermind of the conspiracies and that Lai’s evidence was at times contradictory and unreliable. 

The judges ruled that the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that Lai’s only intent, both before and after the security law, was to seek the downfall of the ruling Communist Party even at the sacrifice of the people of China and Hong Kong.

“This was the ultimate aim of the conspiracies and secessionist publications,” they wrote.

Among the attendees were Lai’s wife and son, and Hong Kong’s Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen. Lai pressed his lips and nodded to his family before being escorted out of the courtroom by guards.

His verdict is also a test for Beijing’s diplomatic ties. U.S. President Donald Trump said he has raised the case with China, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has made it a priority to secure the release of Lai, who is a British citizen.

Lai could face life in prison

The founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be sentenced on a later day.

The collusion charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Hearings were set to begin Jan. 12 for Lai and other defendants in the case to argue for a shorter sentence.

The Apple Daily, a vocal critic of the Hong Kong government and Beijing, was forced to shut in 2021 after police raided its newsroom and arrested its senior journalists, with authorities freezing its assets.

During Lai’s 156-day trial, prosecutors accused him of conspiring with senior executives of Apple Daily and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions or blockades and engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China.

The prosecution also accused Lai of making such requests, highlighting his meetings with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July 2019 at the height of the protests.

It also presented 161 publications, including Apple Daily articles, to the court as evidence, as well as social media posts and text messages.

Lai testified for 52 days in his own defense, arguing that he had not called for foreign sanctions after the sweeping security law was imposed in June 2020.

His legal team also argued for freedom of expression.

Health concerns raised during marathon trial

As the trial progressed, Lai’s health appeared to be deteriorating.

Lai’s lawyers in August told the court that he suffered from heart palpitations. After the verdict, lawyer, Robert Pang, said his client is in okay spirits as the legal team studies the verdict.

Before the verdict, his daughter Claire told The Associated Press that her father has become weaker and lost some of his nails and teeth. She also said he suffered from infections for months, along with constant back pain, diabetes, heart issues and high blood pressure.

“His spirit is strong but his body is failing,” she said.

Hong Kong’s government said no abnormalities were found during a medical examination that followed Lai’s complaint of heart problems. It added this month that the medical services provided to him were adequate.

Hong Kong leader John Lee said Lai harmed the fundamental interests of the country, calling his intentions malicious.

Steve Li, chief superintendent of Hong Kong police’s National Security Department, disputed claims of Lai’s worsening health outside the court building.

“Lai’s conviction is justice served,” he told reporters.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China expressed firm opposition to the vilification of the city’s judiciary by “certain countries,” urging those countries to respect the city’s legal system.

Before sunrise, dozens of residents queued outside the court building to secure a courtroom seat.

Former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung arrived at 5 a.m., saying she wanted to know about Lai’s condition after reports of his health.

She said she felt the process was being rushed since the verdict date was announced only last Friday, but added, “I’m relieved that this case can at least conclude soon.”

Rights groups, including global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International, criticized the verdict.

“It is not an individual who has been on trial — it is press freedom itself, and with this verdict that has been shattered,” said Reporters Without Borders’ director general Thibaut Bruttin.

In 2022, Lai was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison over separate fraud charges involving lease violations, in addition to other cases related to the 2019 protests.

Names of 51 priests included in report of sexual abuse accusations at Grand Rapids diocese

A report of abuse allegations at a diocese includes 51 priests.

Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel on Monday released a report detailing allegations of sexual abuse and other misconducts that took place in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, established in 1882, dating back to Jan. 1, 1950 discovered through victim interviews, police investigations, open-source media, diocese documents seized and includes the names of 51 priests, 38 of which were ordained at the Diocese of Grand Rapids, according to Nessel's office.

“Accountability does not end with criminal prosecution,” Nessel said. “Accountability includes transparency, acknowledgement and a commitment to believing in and supporting victims. No matter how much time has passed, survivors deserve to be heard, and by releasing these reports, we hope to honor the courage of victims and ensure their experiences are no longer hidden.”

Many of the allegations will not see criminal prosecution either because of the statue of limitations, the accused priest is dead, the conduct did not violate Michigan law or because the victim involved didn't want to pursue criminal charges.

The report comes after an investigation into seven other Michigan dioceses and October 2018 search warrants where 220 boxes of paper documents and more than 3.5 million digital documents were seized. 

Nessel's office has already released reports regarding the Diocese of Gaylord, Diocese of Kalamazoo and the Diocese of Lansing.

So far, criminal charges in 11 cases statewide were filed and nine ended in convictions, delivering justice for 38 survivors. None of those cases were related to accusations at the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

“This report is only possible through the victims who came forward and the dedicated work of the Michigan State Police and members of my office as part of the Clergy Abuse Investigation,” Nessel said. “I am incredibly grateful for their commitment on these difficult cases.”

Nessel's office noted that the Diocese of Grand Rapids willingly agreed to provide reports of abuse to the Department of the Attorney General and their cooperation was "instrumental" to the report

For Grand Rapids, Nessel's investigation resulted in 105 tips from their tip line and 27 of those were directly from the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

Information can be shared via the investigation hotline at 844-324-3374.

For more information on the Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information, visit the department’s website.

New details about priest assigned to Shreveport following animal cruelty conviction in Arkansas

Rev. Charles Thessing, a Catholic priest who will begin a new assignment in the Diocese of Shreveport on Jan. 1, pleaded guilty last week to two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty in West Memphis, Ark.

Thessing was originally charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, a Class D felony offense. Aggravated cruelty requires evidence the defendant tortured the animals.

According to Kerry Facello, the director of the West Memphis Animal Shelter, Thessing was arrested after her team responded to a tip in February that he was trapping and drowning cats. 

Facello says they found multiple traps on his property, a large tub of water, and two dead cats in his trash can. 

Facello says Thessing would place the cats, trapped in their cage, under water and leave them there for a "few hours." He would then return and remove the trap from the tub, Facello said. 

When Thessing pleaded guilty, he was not sentenced to jail, but he was forced to pay a $3,000 fine, which included court costs and a restitution payment to the West Memphis Animal Shelter.

According to Fox 13 in Memphis, at the time Thessing was arrested, he was serving as the lead priest at St. Mark's Catholic Church in West Memphis and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville, Ark. He was removed from his posts while the case was pending.

According to a publication of the Catholic Church, Thessing has been appointed to begin a new assignment in the Diocese of Shreveport. There is no information on what the assignment will be. He will remain incardinated in the Diocese of Little Rock.

Tracie Stroud, the Shreveport Diocese communications director, said, "We have no comment at this time, but we understand the public's concerns."

Man admits leaving animal carcasses outside churches in English forest

A 47-year-old man has admitted harassing Christians by dumping animal carcasses outside churches in and around an English forest.

Benjamin Lewis admitted seven offences relating to incidents in which dead deer and lambs were left at churches in the New Forest in Hampshire earlier this year.

Lewis pleaded guilty to five counts of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress and two counts of theft of lambs.

The court heard Lewis intended to “cause hostility” with Christians or people he perceived to be Christians.

The defendant, of Totton, Southampton, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he appeared at Southampton crown court on Monday. He was remanded in custody before his sentencing in February.

In May, police said the incidents had been distressing for the people who found the animals and had caused widespread concern.

The New Forest district commander, Ch Insp Scott Johnson, said: “These disturbing incidents have been upsetting for those who discovered them, and will be concerning for our wider community.

“We have been conducting both uniformed and plainclothes patrols and inquiries. If you see our officers while on their travels, please come over and speak to them. They’ll be on hand for you to share any information, raise any concerns and ask questions.”

The offences took place between 5 February and 30 April. The court was told they related to incidents at locations including Christ church in Colbury, St Peter’s in Bramshaw, St Theresa’s in Totton, and Christ church in Emery Down.

Details of what Lewis did were not given in court but in April a dead lamb was found hung outside St Theresa’s in Totton. That evening, another carcass was found on a road sign nearby.

At the time, Hampshire police confirmed a dead lamb was also found at St Peter’s church on 14 April.

Lewis’s offences relate only to this year and there is no suggestion he has been involved in any other crimes of a similar nature.

But there have been incidents involving carcasses being left at churches and other spots for several years. Some local people have blamed satanists.

Last year, a former police officer, Chris White, told the Guardian how a rotting deer’s head with an upside-down cross next to it was found on a memorial stone in the New Forest.

White, who worked at Shappen Stores in Burley village, removed the object after a member of the public came into his shop to report it in May 2024.

He said: “People are quite appalled because children were walking by, because it was a rotting head after all.”

White said the village had historical links with witchcraft as it was home to Sybil Leek, who was called “Britain’s most famous witch” in the 1950s.

Midlands Campaign Urges Church To Explain McGregor Wedding Decision

The Zero Tolerance Midlands Campaign is calling on the Catholic Church to explain its decision to allow Conor McGregor to marry in a prestigious church building.

In a letter to Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan the Mullingar group says the decision caused distress to victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

McGregor was found liable in a civil court for sexual violence and has not publicly apologised or shown remorse.

They believe granting access to a sacred space is inconsistent with the Church’s stated commitments to justice, repentance, and protecting the vulnerable.

Hazel Behan, Co Founder of Eist says silence risks further lack of trust in the churches moral leadership.

Approval secured as Derrybeg church rebuild moves to next phase

Plans are advancing for the rebuild of Teach Pobail Mhuire in Derrybeg, which was destroyed by a fire earlier this year.

A firm of architects with a long-standing reputation for Church designs is to be appointed after formal approval was received from Raphoe Diocese headquarters in recent days.

In the early hours of Easter Monday, April 21, a fire broke out and gutted the 53-year-old Church. Seven units of firefighters battled the flames, leaving parishioners heartbroken.

A series of fundraisers were launched in the immediate aftermath of the fire as locals rallied around. The balance of the fundraising account, Ciste Mhuire, stands at €466,630.

Gaoth Dobhair parish priest Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh has confirmed that an insurance claim will now be prepared and this will be the main source of funding for the new Church.

Masses in the parish have been held at St Colmcille’s Church in Cnoc Fola, St Patrick’s Church in Meenawell and the Church of the Sacred Heart in Dunlewey - but significant headway has made on a rebuild of the gutted Teach Pobail Mhuire.

The octagonal Church, officially opened in 1972, was one of the largest in the Raphoe Diocese.

Last week, the necessary approval from the Bishop’s office was given to the parish to move forward with the plans and Fr Ó Fearraigh thanked the Diocesan Administration, Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, for his assistance.

“This approval allows us to move forward to the next phase of our building project,” Fr Ó Fearraigh said.

“It marks an important milestone in our journey to provide a new place of worship for our community. I want to thank you all most sincerely for your prayers, your support, and the patience you have shown throughout the process so far.”

Once the final terms of the contract are signed, Mullarkey Pedersen Architects will be appointed as architects for the project - an appointment that is endorsed by the Raphoe Diocese. 

The Diocesan Building Commission is where the Church’s authority and permission as regards the development of the new Church will come from.

Fr Ó Fearraigh said: “Mullarkey Pedersen Architects are widely respected for their thoughtful and innovative approach to church design, and they have shown, time and again, a deep understanding and strong experience in ecclesiastical architecture.”

A public consultation was held and a draft report has been received from MacDara Hosty Consulting.

The majority of respondents were very happy with the shape and layout of Teach Pobail Mhuire.

Most felt that, if the shape and layout of the new church were similar to the former Teach Pobail Mhuire, they would be content with that, while a sizeable number asked for a small, suitable prayer space - a quiet place for personal prayer which would be suitable for Holy Hours, Adoration and weekday Masses with smaller congregations.

Some others asked that an appropriate space be provided and connected to the main Church for children and young people to allow users fully take part in the celebration of Mass.

There was a strong emphasis that the new building must meet standards, including: proper internal toilets, an effective heating system, full accessibility for people with disabilities and older parishioners, suitable wheelchair access, and strong energy efficiency.

The parish has asked that local contractors be involved as much as possible, “subject always to the usual quality, procurement, and financial considerations”.

Fr Ó Fearraigh added: “As we move forward, we do so with hope, and we look forward to working closely with Mullarkey Pedersen Architects as we shape the vision for the future of Teach Pobail Mhuire. Their task will be to design and deliver a modern place of worship, Teach Pobail Mhuire, an inspiring, practical, and welcoming sacred space; a spiritual home that will serve our parish community for generations to come.”

Christmas tree and nativity scene inaugurated in St. Peter’s Square

The Vatican’s Christmas tree and nativity scene were lit up and officially inaugurated in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, 15 December, by Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governatorate of the Vatican City State.

“Today, in this square that embraces the world, the Nativity scene and the Christmas tree are not merely Christmas decorations, but signs of communion, calls to peace and to the care of creation, and invitations to universal fraternity, which St. Francis placed above all else and which became the hallmark of his charism,” she said, remembering how next year will be 800th anniversary of the death of the Saint of Assisi, who began the tradition of nativity scenes in 1223.

Religious and civil representatives from the dioceses that donated the elements were present and spoke at the inauguration event, and earlier in the day had had the chance to meet with Pope Leo XIV.

The Vatican Gendarmerie’s band, as well as different choirs and bands from the dioceses, performed traditional Christmas songs and dances.

The nativity scene and the tree will remain on display until the end of the Christmas season, which coincides with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

The diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno in southern Italy developed the nativity scene, and was represented by its Bishop Giuseppe Giudice. 

The Christmas tree instead came from the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone, in northern Italy, and the Bishop, Ivo Muser, was also present.

Archbishop Emilio Nappa and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, both secretaries-general of the Governatorate, also participated in the inauguration event.

The Vatican inaugurates the Christmas tree and nativity scene in St. Peter's Square

The nativity scene

The nativity scene is set on a 17 by 12-meter rectangle (56 feet by 39 feet), with a 7.70-meter height (25 feet). 

It features many traditional architectural and cultural elements from the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area, as well as nods to certain saints and religious figures important to the region, such as St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) and the Servants of God, Father Enrico Smaldone and Alfonso Russo.

It also includes symbols that highlight the food and wine heritage of the area. 

The paving shows ancient Roman roads in stone slabs, and life-size shepherds and animal figures have been anchored to it.

The Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is a European spruce and came from the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone. 

It measures 25 meters (82 feet) and weighs around 8000 kilograms (over 17000 pounds) and was a gift from the municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo in northern Italy.  

In addition to the main tree, 40 other smaller trees will also be brought to the Vatican and will be used to decorate offices, public places and buildings in the Holy See. 

At the end of the Christmas period, essential oils will be extracted from the branches of the tree, while the rest of the wood will be recycled by an association, in keeping with the principle of respect for creation.

South Korea raids Unification Church headquarters over bribery case

South Korean police raided the headquarters of the Unification Church on Monday and named its leader as a suspect in the bribery of several high-profile politicians.

The church, known for its mass weddings, is at the center of a mounting scandal in South Korea over alleged payments to lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties.

Prosecutors raided the church’s headquarters in Seoul on Monday as well as the imposing countryside residence of leader Han Hak-ja, who is already on trial for allegedly offering bribes to the former first lady.

The Unification Church said it had “no comment” on the raid.

However, its president said last week that the church felt “deeply responsible for having caused concern to the public” and acknowledged “its failure to detect misconduct within the organization at an early stage.”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has strongly criticized what he described as “political interference by religion,” without directly naming the church.

He asked officials last week to see whether there were grounds to “dissolve religious groups that interfere in politics.”

Members of Lee’s own Democratic Party have been implicated in the scandal.

Oceans minister Chun Jae-soo resigned last week after being accused of having received 30 million won ($20,500) in cash, as well as two luxury watches, from church officials between 2018 and 2020.

Chun called the claims "completely false" and said he had offered to resign to avoid hurting the work of his ministry and Lee's government.

Local media reports had quoted unidentified sources as saying that a former Unification Church official told prosecutors about payments to members of parliament from Lee's Democratic Party, including Chun.

Chun said last week that he would use all legal means to hold accountable “false reports and malicious distortions."

Chun said it was the “right thing to do" to step down to focus on addressing the allegations, which he said were “absurd” and “absolutely groundless.”

Lee had accepted Chun's resignation, Lee's office said on Thursday afternoon.

Church leader Han, also known to her followers as “holy mother,” was arrested in September on charges of bribing South Korea’s former first lady with gifts, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace.

The 82-year-old leader also faces graft charges over cash payments to a lawmaker linked to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yoon was arrested this year on insurrection charges, which he denies.

Bishops invite Pope Leo XIV to Poland

The Polish Bishops' Conference visited Pope Leo XIV last week. 

During their Audience with the Holy Father they presented him with a letter inviting him to Poland.

The President of the Archbishop Wojda, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda SAC, said: "the Pope received us with great kindness" and "took a keen interest in various matters...He said that he had visited Poland many times, that Poland is very close to his heart, and that he was happy that we could talk together," Archbishop Wojda noted.

"I presented the Holy Father with a letter inviting him to Poland," said the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, adding that such invitations had already been extended by the former and current Presidents of the Republic of Poland and by some bishops. 

Archbishop Wojda emphasised that he told the Pope that 2027 was particularly timely because it marks the 150th anniversary of the apparitions in Gietrzwałd. 

The Pope replied that he already has a lot of things on his calendar in 2026 and 2027, but that he will take it into consideration.

Archbishop Wojda said that Pope Leo XIV asked which pope had last visited Poland. He was told that Pope Francis had visited during World Youth Day in 2016.

Archbishop Wojda thanked the Holy Father for appointing Cardinal Dominik Duka OP, now of blessed memory, as legate for the 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk. 

Unfortunately, Cardinal Duka was unable to attend the celebrations due to hospitalisation, but his homily was read out.

The President of the Polish Bishops' Conference said that the bishops had informed the Pope about the preparations of the Commission of Independent Experts to investigate the issue of sexual abuse. 

"The Holy Father already knew about this because he had been informed," he added.

He noted that at the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave the bishops his blessing.

Archbishop Józef Kupny, Deputy President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, reported to the Holy Father on the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Polish bishops' Letter to the German bishops, which took place in Wrocław. 

"The Holy Father listened to my report with great interest," said Archbishop Kupny. He added that he had brought with him a facsimile of Cardinal Bolesław Kominek's manuscript and the response of the German bishops and handed them over to the Holy Father. "These documents will remain in Rome permanently and will serve as a reminder of what happened 60 years ago in Wrocław," he said.

Archbishop Kupny admitted that this is a very important issue, because "we are divided... We all need to reach out. We need to reach out not only to Germans, now that relations are more tense, but also to Ukrainians, to our loved ones in our families, to our political opponents, and to those who think differently than we do," he said.

During an audience with Pope Leo XIV, the Secretary General of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Bishop Marek Marczak, spoke about the current activities of the Polish Episcopate and its relations with the Polish State. 

"I felt obliged to tell the Holy Father about these areas of our activity, about what the Polish Bishops' Conference is currently working on, what documents it is preparing, but also about our relations with the Polish state, including the tensions that exist in these relations," he noted. "The Holy Father, through his diplomatic service, is aware of many of these issues, so many matters were close to his heart, he knew about them and asked for details."

Bishop Marczak said the Holy Father is familiar with the realities of Poland. "I think he is interested in visiting Poland... We discussed the prospects and the need for such a visit, as well as the Holy Father's role as a symbol of unity in the Church, and the Church's role as a symbol of reconciliation for all mankind. His presence in Poland is certainly expected and needed. We are counting on this visit."

Confusion over whether survivors of mother and baby homes face hiked rents after redress payouts

Survivors of mother and baby homes are being hurt by a lack of clarity around whether redress payments impact their housing supports, says Councillor Jesslyn Henry, of the Social Democrats.

At December’s monthly meeting of Dublin City Council, Henry raised her concerns in a motion, seconded by her party colleague Councillor Noelle Brown.

Means tests for social-welfare payments often exclude one-off compensation payouts, the motion said. 

“But there is no published guidance in relation to housing supports and one-off payments to survivors of Mother and Baby Homes as part of the redress scheme,” it says.

“This lack of clarity is causing stress and confusion for survivors accessing housing supports through city councils and county councils,” Henry’s motion said.

Council tenants – and people who get the HAP housing subsidy to rent in the private sector – pay a differential rent, a percentage of their income. So an increase in income can lead to an increase in rent.

Henry called on Dublin City Council to write to the Minister for Housing to request a directive be issued to all councils around Ireland, clarifying the matter.

Brown was born in the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork. She never met her birth mother, who died nine years before Brown began efforts to track her down.

Henry was born in St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home on the Navan Road in Dublin.

The confusion around the impact on housing supports is typical of schemes for survivors established by the government, says Brown.

At the meeting, the council’s chief executive, Richard Shakespeare, said Dublin City Council’s position is that such payments “should not be classified as income and should be considered as a payment that is once-off and outside the regular pattern of a person's income”.

His team would prepare a note for the Lord Mayor to send to the Department of Housing, to request it issue a directive clarifying the matter, he said.

Does the department intend to do that? 

A spokesperson for the department said on Thursday said that local authorities may already decide to disregard one-off payments, which are outside of the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.

They pointed to the department’s policy on social housing supports, which says that in general terms.

“While the Mother and Baby Institution Payment Scheme is not specifically mentioned, it would fall under this category,” said the spokesperson.

The department has not responded to a follow-up question, asking if they would explicitly add the redress payments to the list of acceptable one-off payments to ensure there is no possible confusion.

A terrible history

Ireland has a “terrible history of incarceration”, Henry told the council meeting. “Women who did nothing wrong but to be pregnant out of wedlock.”

Survivors have finally been recognised with the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, she said. 

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 was established “for the purpose of the making of payments and the making available without charge of health services” to survivors, the Oireachtas website says. 

And to “provide for the making by such persons of applications for such payments and services”.

But some survivors now face challenges because councils are unsure if they should be charged greater rents because of the payouts, Henry said.

The legislation is clear that such payments are tax-exempt.

But nowhere is it explicit that the redress payments shouldn’t impact housing supports, Henry said.

Brown said that it’s not the only compensation scheme for survivors set up by the government that has been undermined by confusion. 

The enhanced medical card for survivors is another example, she said.

This is a lifelong, non-means tested card entitling holders to free GP services, approved prescriptions, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, home nursing, physiotherapy and counselling, among other services. 

For many survivors, she says, these cards proved “absolutely worthless” because they are not widely known and accepted. 

People tried to use them and ended up in public spaces having to explain what the card was, she says.

“They had to go into all their personal details in public, violating their privacy, says Brown. “Then they would ring the HSE and go, ‘I can't use my card because nobody knows what it is’.”

Often staff in the HSE hadn't a clue what the card was either, she says.

“So, it's following on from that. You’ve put a redress scheme in place, and you haven't thought about the impact on housing supports,” she says.

The redress scheme had a rocky start, says Brown, as it began by excluding 40 percent of survivors – 28,000 people.

This exclusion occurred because the eligibility criteria for the payments requires a child to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution, as then-Minister for Children, the Green Party TD Roderic O’Gorman said in January. 

Then, “For survivors, mostly older people who managed to navigate a difficult online process to apply, they were forced to sign a waiver in order to receive payment,” Brown said at the council meeting.

Signing that waiver means that survivors agree not to take any further action against the state related to your experience.

Brown has communicated directly with people who have been impacted by the housing-support confusion, she says.

Already, these payments are paltry, she says. “I mean, €5,000 for the loss of your child through forced adoption or death, and no records of burial a lot of the time.”

Survivors have started to say that they wish they'd never applied for their redress, she says. “Which is appalling.”

Henry’s own mother hasn’t bothered applying, Henry said by phone last week. 

Her mother asked her, “What’s the point?”, she says.

It would take months to get documentation together, she said to Henry.

While it’s sad, Henry says she also completely understands her mother’s decision. “And if my mam's not doing it, how many other people aren’t doing it?”

Sean Ross Abbey: One survivor recalls the Mother and Baby Home

The recent disclosures about Sean Ross Abbey don’t shock “Josie,” (a pseudonym), they instead bring back the absence she has carried for decades,“I still live with that loss every day,” she says.

With new revelations coming to light, Josie’s experience underscores a stark reality: the story of the Mother and Baby Homes remains unfinished, and the call for responsibility grows louder.

Sean Ross Abbey, in Tipperary, was one of the country’s Mother and Baby Homes, where unmarried mothers and their children were sent for decades.

Josie was sent there in 1962 and spent 89 days in the institution, part of a generation whose experiences have only recently come under renewed scrutiny.

Throughout her time in the Roscrea Mother and Baby home, Josie experienced judgement, identity erasure and an overall dehumanising ordeal.

Josie, who is now 80 years old, recounts her time in the Mother and Baby home; “I don’t like to think about it too much.”

The experience itself isn’t all that haunts her.

“I lost my child in that place,” says Josie.

Josie was one of the women forced to endure one of Ireland’s darkest chapters, a time that cruelly took her baby from her.

The location of her child is something Josie still does not know, and isn’t sure if she ever will, “I probably won’t ever know what happened to him.”

“He was taken from the room the moment I gave birth; I never heard him cry or make a sound. They told me he died, but they could never seem to tell me where he was buried.”

The pain of that day has never left Josie. 

Decades later, the memory of her child’s absence still shapes her life. 

“Some very dark times followed after this experience. It took me a long time to come to terms with what had happened.

“I was blessed with two sons after this experience, but I always wonder what could’ve been if my firstborn had been given a chance.”

“I will never be over it”.

Josie’s story is one of countless others, it was memories like her’s that filled Sean Ross Abbey recently. 

A candlelight vigil brought survivors and supporters together to remember those lost, as the demand for accountability gets louder.

The vigil was arranged to honour the 1,090 babies and 23 young girls whose deaths have never been publicly accounted for.

Survivors of the former Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home in Roscrea planned this poignant event to remember those who died at the facility. 

The candlelit vigil took place on Thursday November 20, on World Children’s Day.

“While this event is an act of remembrance, it is also a call for truth and action,” the survivors said.

“Most of these children have never been found. Their mothers are now elderly, and many fear they will die without ever knowing where their babies are buried.”

Survivors continue to urge the government to locate and recover the remains of the 1,090 babies who died at Sean Ross Abbey.

The event featured 1,090 tea lights to represent each baby and 23 pillar candles for the young girls who also lost their lives. 

Organisers said they were planning “a peaceful and dignified act of remembrance for those who were silenced and forgotten.”

The hope for the event was that people across Ireland and abroad would light candles in their windows at 5pm that evening in solidarity with those gathering at Sean Ross Abbey. 

Supporters were invited to share photos of their candles on social media using the hashtags #JusticeForThe1090 and #SeanRossAbbeyBabies.

Schools and community groups were encouraged to take part in their own way by lighting candles, holding a moment of silence, or creating small displays of remembrance.

The Candlelight Tribute served as both a memorial and a message.

“The children of Sean Ross Abbey must be found, and Ireland must finally give them the dignity of being named, recognised, and remembered” the organisers said.

The continuing developments of these stories show a country that is still struggling with the horrific past of the Mother and Baby Homes.

The people of Ireland refuse to forget about these innocent young lives, and accountability is demanded.

Porras incident puts Vatican’s balancing act in Venezuela to the test

A few days after Pope Leo XIV warned against potential American military action in Venezuela, the Venezuelan regime barred a local cardinal with a Vatican passport from leaving the country, raising questions about whether the Vatican will respond more forcefully to the Maduro regime.

Cardinal Porras’ detention has exposed a long-running tension in Vatican diplomacy: the attempt to advocate for peace in Venezuela without seeming blind to the human rights’ abuses fueling Venezuela’s crisis. 

The Holy See has long prioritized protecting clergy and preserving its role as mediator, opting for quiet diplomacy instead of public confrontation.

But that restraint has often made papal calls for dialogue and Leo’s criticism of an American threat seem detached from the humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses on the ground.

The treatment of Porras now raises the question of whether the Holy See must change course and show that it can speak with greater moral clarity while still safeguarding the Church’s presence and keeping open the diplomatic channels vital to any future agreement to end the country’s crisis.

During a Dec. 2 press conference returning from his trip to Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo was asked about his opinion on an American military threat on Venezuela. 

He said in response that “it is better to seek dialogue, maybe pressure, including economic pressure, but looking for another way to bring about change.”

Just eight days later, Cardinal Baltazar Porras, who holds a Vatican passport, was stopped at Simón Bolívar Airport near Caracas as he tried to board a flight. 

Venezuelan officials informed him he appeared as “deceased” in the passport system, refused to return his documents, and forced him to sign a declaration that he was banned from traveling indefinitely due to “non-compliance with travel regulations.”

Sources close to Porras, the 81-year-old archbishop emeritus of Caracas, told The Pillar that he was detained for more than two hours, threatened with arrest, and subjected to a security check including drug-sniffing dogs. 

Authorities ultimately annulled his Venezuelan passport, leaving him stranded in the airport’s baggage claim area.

It is effectively unheard of for any country to allow a holder of one of its diplomatic passports to be prevented from leaving a state without issuing at least a formal and public protest. But the Vatican has not yet made a public statement on the incident.

Pope Leo has been notably cautious in his words and gestures toward the Venezuelan regime, echoing the approach of his predecessor.

In his Dec. 2 press conference, he acknowledged the country’s right to self-defense and the legitimacy of economic sanctions, while criticizing American military threats.

“On the one hand, it seems there has been a telephone conversation between the two presidents; on the other hand, there is this danger, this possibility, that there could be an action, an operation, including an invasion of Venezuelan territory,” he added.

“At the level of the bishops’ conference and with the nuncio, we are trying to find a way to calm the situation, seeking above all the good of the people, because in these situations it is the people who suffer, not the authorities,” the pope said.

On Nov. 4, the pope was also asked about the situation in one of his brief weekly press conferences outside of Castel Gandolfo. 

He responded, “A country has the right to have a military to defend peace, to build peace… In this case, however, it seems a bit different, with the tension increasing.”

“I think that with violence, we don’t win,” the pope said. “The important thing is to seek dialogue, to try in a fair way to find solutions to the problems that may exist in any country.”

While it would not be expected for a pope to support direct military action in this circumstance, Leo’s comments on Venezuela might easily be received as tone deaf in Latin America, especially in light of the recent treatment of Porras.

The pope’s statements risk emphasizing the threat posed by Trump’s potential military action while remaining silent about the abuses of a regime responsible for one of the largest humanitarian crises in the Western Hemisphere.

One of the biggest criticisms of Pope Francis in Latin America was the way he handled the region’s three socialist dictatorships: Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

Francis remained largely silent about the dictatorships’ human rights violations, and even showed signs of friendship with the regimes, especially in the case of Cuba.

This silence allowed the Church to operate with greater freedom in the cases of Cuba and Venezuela. 

But it also led to disillusionment for many Catholics in these countries, who had expected a prophetic voice from a pope so deeply invested in social issues such as global peace, the environment, and the plight of migrants.

While Francis spoke about the crisis in Venezuela, he mostly made ambiguous appeals for peace without speaking boldly of human rights violations in the country. 

He received dictator Nicolás Maduro in an audience in 2016 yet repeatedly refused to receive members of the Venezuelan opposition.

Pope Leo’s lengthy experience in Latin America has prompted speculation about whether he will depart from Francis’ timid posture on the Latin American dictatorships.

There has been some indication that the pope may be interested in a shift from his predecessor’s approach.

Pope Leo received a group of Nicaraguan exiled bishops in an audience in October and then Bishop Rolando Álvarez separately in November.

And Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin gave an unusually scathing rebuke of the Venezuelan regime in a homily during a thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of two Venezuelan saints in October.

Both were welcome signs by those who had hoped for a different approach to the region’s three dictatorships.

At the same time, Leo’s recent comments on Venezuela echo Francis’ cautious stance, creating uncertainty about what approach the new pope is hoping to take.

The Holy See’s challenge is a delicate one: it must avoid provoking the Venezuelan regime into targeting local clergy while still speaking out on human rights abuses.

The balancing act is further complicated by the fact that the Church remains the only institution in Venezuela with widespread social legitimacy among all political actors, making it a key player in potential negotiations. 

Reuters recently reported that Maduro may consider leaving the country under a deal granting him full amnesty, a process in which the Church could act as a trusted guarantor.

Still, the pope has been outspoken in condemning the war in Gaza, despite the consequences that could bring for Christians on both sides of the Gaza strip. 

The relatively timid comments on Venezuela leave many in the country feeling that the Vatican is engaging in “both-sideism,” implicitly assigning at least some responsibility for the crisis to the country’s opposition.

If the Vatican wants to show support for human rights and democracy in Venezuela, it could do so through symbolic gestures rather than major public statements.

One possibility would be receiving a delegation of the Venezuelan opposition in an audience, something that Pope Francis never did.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado recently escaped Venezuela to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. She says she intends to return to Venezuela, but is expected to make a few stops in Europe and the U.S. before doing so.

Sources close to Machado told The Pillar that Italian PM Giorgia Meloni has invited her to Rome for a meeting.

If Machado is already planning to be in town, Pope Leo XIV would send a powerful signal of support if he were also to meet her at the Apostolic Palace.

And not doing so would send an equally telling message about the Vatican’s stance.

Unification Church Issues Public Apology

The Unification Church's South Korean affiliate issued a public video apology and pledged to remain politically neutral amid allegations that money and valuables were provided to lawmakers across party lines.

Song Yong-cheon, president of the Korean Association of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, said in a video released Thursday that he "deeply" apologized for causing public disappointment and concern.

Song said the organization "never had any plan or intention" at an institutional level to collude with political authorities or support a specific party for private benefit. 

He added that the group's mission is focused on harmony among families, society and humanity, rather than partisan politics.

At the same time, Song sought to separate the organization from allegations involving former World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho, describing the conduct raised in recent court testimony as an "individual deviation." 

However, he said the organization bears responsibility for failing to identify and prevent such actions.

"We will take this incident as a lesson," Song said, adding that restoring public trust and integrity would become a top priority.

The group announced three reform steps: maintaining political neutrality, strengthening financial transparency and governance, and placing public interest and social responsibility at the center of its activities. 

It was the first public apology by the association's president since investigations began into alleged bribery linked to the group.

Yoon has been indicted and detained by a special counsel team led by Min Jung-ki on allegations that he delivered money and valuables to Kim Keon-hee - the wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol - while seeking favors related to the organization's interests, according to the report. 

Suspicion widened after Yoon testified in court that he also supported politicians affiliated with the opposition Democratic Party.

'Bandits' kidnap worshippers during church service in Nigeria

Armed men have kidnapped at least 13 people from a church in Nigeria's central Kogi state - the second such attack in as many weeks.

The attackers stormed into Evangelical Church Winning All in the mainly rural farming district of Aaaaz-Kiri during Sunday morning service, opening fire then abducting some of the congregants.

Five of the gunmen were killed, according to Kogi state's information commissioner Kingley Fanwo, but he said others managed to escape despite being wounded.

Officials describe the assailants as "bandits" - a term used locally for criminal gangs who typically kidnap people for ransom.

Only two weeks ago, gunmen raided a church in the nearby town of Ejiba, kidnapping a pastor, his wife and several church members.

They are still being held, despite efforts by security agencies to secure their release, local residents say.

"The security onslaught in neighbouring Niger and Kwara states is pushing the bandits more towards Kogi state," Fanwo told the BBC.

These latest incidents underline Nigeria's persistent insecurity, particularly in parts of the north-western and central regions, where armed criminal gangs have carried out a wave of mass abductions, attacks on villages and assaults on places of worship in recent weeks.

The biggest of these saw more than 250 children and 12 members of staff reportedly kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic School in in Papiri, Niger state, at the end of November.

The Nigerian government had claimed that jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (Iswap) were to blame in most cases, but this has been disputed by analysts who tell the BBC they were committed by criminal gangs.

In recent weeks, President Bola Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to step up intelligence-led operations to curb kidnappings, and approved the deployment of extra troops and police to known hotspots.

Authorities also say joint military and police task forces have recorded successes in dismantling some armed groups. 

Yet the attacks continue largely unabated, especially in rural communities where security presence is thin and response times are slow.

Cork priests fear their flock will abandon church due to traffic issues with new development

A new housing development, recently given the green light by Cork City Council, could bring an end to weddings and funerals at an important church in the Douglas and Rochestown area, parish representatives have warned.

Clerics in Douglas said that potential traffic issues as a result of the proposed development – near a busy roundabout that provides direct access to St Patrick’s Church – could see parishioners turning away from the prominent place of worship when it comes to attending Mass, as well as organising major religious celebrations.

'A time of great hope': Former engineer is looking forward to his first Christmas as a priest

As families look ahead to Christmas reunions, late nights out, and a visit from Santa Claus, this Christmas will be very different for one Waterford priest.

Fr Stuart McGovern was ordained for the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore on November 23, just four weeks from one of the busiest times in the liturgical calendar.

The 52-year-old will spend Christmas in the parish of Tramore and Carbally not far from Waterford City before moving to his first appointment as a curate in Lismore in the new year.

“It is very exciting to have my first Christmas as a priest and it is a great time of hope. That has been a big part of it for me — hope,” Fr McGovern told the Irish Examiner.

“If I was to say what probably inspired me most in my life was that I have a cousin, Fr Martin McGowan, who is a missionary priest in Zambia and I spent time with him and I saw the work he was doing and the hope he was bringing to people and I experienced the Church at work in a phenomenal way over in Zambia.”

Prior to his decision to enter the priesthood, Stuart lived in Wicklow and worked in the telecommunications industry with Ericsson as a mechanical engineer, having studied in Trinity College.

He spent time in Australia and travelled through Europe and the US, as well as Africa, before running his own home maintenance business for almost 20 years.

He describes experiencing a call to religious life which strengthened as the years went by as he sought a peace which he felt was eluding him.

He recalls always having a strong faith as a child but he describes the death of his dad, when Stuart was just 15, as a turning point in his life.

“After he died, the following years, I lost a bit of trust — I didn’t really believe that God had my best interests in mind.”

But he “always had an unsettling feeling and I longed for the peace I had known”.

I had lost that deeper peace and joy that I had known when I was younger and was practicing my faith. That always bothered me and I was probably in my late 20s when I got to a point where I felt there was something more.

He had a long-term girlfriend and was working with Ericsson but felt “a deep desire for more than what the world had to offer”.

He continued: “I struggled for a long time with it and there wasn’t just a moment where I dropped everything because I resisted. Following Jesus Christ is a more difficult journey.”

He says his journey has given him meaning and purpose that he didn’t feel “when I was just living for myself”.

He added: “I spent long enough before wondering but, once I made my mind up, I never really had too many doubts after that. This was where I was meant to be.”

He spent two years in St Patrick’s College in Maynooth where he undertook philosophical studies.

He followed up with three years of theological studies in Rome before being ordained a deacon for the Waterford and Lismore diocese in April.

He returned from Rome to Ireland in June and has since been ministering in the Ballybricken and St John’s parishes in Waterford.

His move to Waterford came about after meeting with the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan, during a trip to Medjugorje in 2019. 

He was trying to decide at the time which diocese to apply to and was impressed by events happening in the Waterford and Lismore diocese, leading to him applying to be a priest in the diocese.

“It seemed to be a good fit and it felt right for me,” he recalls.

More than 60 clergy joined Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, who celebrated the ordination of Fr Stuart McGovern — marking what the diocese called 'a significant moment in the life of the local Church'. Picture: John Power

During the weekend of his ordination, more than 20 men from across the country visited St Patrick’s College for its ‘Come and See’ discernment weekend, hosted by the Council for Vocations of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and supported by the Knights of Saint Columbanus.

His ordination also took place just days ahead of the launch of a new book edited by Bishop Cullinan, Priesthood in Ireland Today.

Bishop Cullinan led Fr Stuart’s ordination in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford City.

Reflecting on how things have changed even in the short few years since he began his training to be a priest in 2019, he says: “The tide is turning a little bit — certainly when I was in Maynooth, the numbers were very low but at the moment there are well over 30 there.”

“I think there is definitely a searching for something more going on and people are really starting to realise that depending on the world and everything in the world does not fulfil the deep yearning in us for the spiritual life —and it doesn’t give too much hope either. People are looking for something more substantial.”

Proud family and friends, including his mother and three siblings, were joined by more than 60 clergy marking what the diocese called “a significant moment in the life of the local Church”.

In his sermon, Bishop Cullinan said: “This is the day the Lord has made — a day of joy for Stuart’s family, his parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and also his wider family: The people of this diocese of Waterford and Lismore, whom he will now serve.

Stuart is a believer. He trusts God. He is willing to commit his life to Jesus in the priesthood — and that takes courage. 

Following the ceremony, Bishop Cullinan said that an occasion such as Fr Stuart’s ordination brings hope to the Catholic Church.

He described the ordination as a joyful and hopeful moment for the diocese, of Waterford and Lismore and a strong sign of ongoing vocations within the Church in Ireland today.

Housing charity denies knowing about staff asking contractors to work on their own homes

The housing charity Peter McVerry Trust has denied knowledge of complaints from contractors about being asked to perform work on trust employees’ homes — but acknowledged it had previously rented a property from an employee.

In a wide-ranging update for the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, the charity said it had been leasing a property from a current employee, but insisted that the rent paid had been set “at market value”.

The arrangement was terminated in May of last year, the trust said, in the wake of a spectacular collapse in its finances in the summer of 2023 which saw its new chief executive stand down having brought the matter to light.

The entire board of the charity was reconstituted.

The update follows the charity's appearance at the PAC three weeks ago, a fraught meeting in which it was revealed that the trust had spent €350,000 installing a driveway and peacock enclosure at a Co Kildare property where its former chief executive Pat Doyle held his headquarters during the covid pandemic.

In light of that revelation, the PAC had queried whether or not complaints had been received from contractors about being requested to perform works at employees’ residences at the expense of the trust itself — a suggestion the charity rejected.

"No. The witnesses are not aware of any reports of complaints from contractors of PMVT regarding being asked to undertake work on behalf of personal employees at their own homes and paid for by PMVT,” the organisation said in its update.

It clarified further that there is “no record” of any severance payment having been paid to Mr Doyle, who left the charity after 18 years at the helm in May 2023, though the trust did likewise confirm that Mr Doyle had remained on the payroll and had been paid an additional two months’ salary from that date as part of “an extensive handover to the incoming CEO”.

Asked why a €350,000 payment made to the trust’s subsidiary Assisi House had not appeared in the 2023 financial statements, the charity said the sum had been recorded as “an impairment”, which was eventually repaid.

That €350,000 had been initially transferred from Assisi House to New Directions, a private company delivering counselling services which the PAC heard had been where Mr Doyle had planned to work when he left the trust itself.

Regarding the transfer of multiple properties from the trust to the State in part-redemption of a €15m bailout the charity received in the wake of its financial collapse, the trust told the committee that all told 54 assets were to be transferred, some 31 of them in Dublin.

Elsewhere, Limerick City and County Council will take ownership of nine of the properties, with the local authorities in Kildare and Roscommon taking three apiece.