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August 2018

August 7

Indonesia's Lombok hit by another powerful earthquake

August 7, 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia – At least 91 people have been confirmed dead after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Indonesia's Lombok Island on Aug. 5 a week after another powerful quake killed more than a dozen people.

Chilean bishops address failures in handling sexual abuse of minors

August 7, 2018

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chile's bishops acknowledged they had "failed to fulfill our duty by not listening, believing, attending or accompanying the victims of grave sins" after a five-day meeting to discuss the clergy sexual abuse crisis rocking the country.

Euthanasia film strikes a raw human nerve

August 7, 2018

OTTAWA – Kevin Dunn first met Aurelia in the Netherlands at a conference on euthanasia for young people.

Church leaders call for internal investigation on claims against Archbishop McCarrick

August 7, 2018

WASHINGTON – U.S. Catholic church leaders have been calling for an internal investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick and urging such an inquiry be spearheaded by laypeople.

Brazil church leaders speak against decriminalization of abortion

August 7, 2018

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Representatives of the Brazilian bishops' conference argued in front of the country's Supreme Court against the decriminalization of abortion.

Catholic hospitals help Indonesia quake victims in Lombok

August 7, 2018

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNS) -- Catholic hospitals in Indonesia have sent medical teams to treat hundreds of people injured by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the tourist island of Lombok near Bali Aug. 5.

Toronto young adult ministry spreads its wings

August 7, 2018

Samantha Rossi had just graduated from university in 2017 when she began to feel apprehensive about what she wanted to do next.

August 8

Pope thanks Chilean bishops for steps taken to address sex abuse scandal

August 8, 2018

VATICAN CITY – After the bishops of Chile issued a formal apology for failing to listen to clerical abuse victims and drew up national guidelines for responding to abuse allegations, Pope Francis sent them a handwritten letter of thanks.

Can a doctor-assisted death be ‘natural’ and ‘suicide’?

August 8, 2018

Whenever a doctor assists in a suicide in Ontario by injecting a patient with chemicals to stop the heart, it is recorded on the death certificate as a natural death.

Don't fall for idolatry when difficulties arise, Pope says

August 8, 2018

VATICAN – Like the ancient Israelites, Christians today also can fall into the temptation of creating their own idols when difficulties and uncertainties arise, Pope Francis said.

Catholic Church offers to mediate violent Zimbabwe election dispute

August 8, 2018

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The church in Zimbabwe said it is prepared to mediate between government and opposition leaders after six people were killed in violence that followed a disputed presidential election.

Knights' donations, volunteer hours and members keep growing, CEO says

August 8, 2018

BALTIMORE – In an opening address Aug. 7 at the 136th annual Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention, the organizations' CEO, Carl Anderson, spoke of the charitable works of the Knights, their ongoing pro-life commitment and pledge to support persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria.

Catholic youth release open letter on McCarrick, call for independent investigation

August 8, 2018

WASHINGTON – A group of young Catholic writers, intellectuals, and activists released an open letter Aug. 8 calling for an independent investigation into the alleged crimes of Archbishop Theodore McCarrick. The letter also calls Catholic leaders to recommit themselves to the Church’s teaching on sexuality.

August 9

Crisis is call to new understanding of priesthood, accountability, abuse expert says

August 9, 2018

VATICAN – A Jesuit priest who has been on the frontline of advocating for survivors of clerical sexual abuse and developing detailed programs to prevent abuse said the crisis unfolding, again, in the United States is a summons to a new way of envisioning the church and taking responsibility for it.

Timeline on Archbishop McCarrick's life, ministry, abuse claims made against him

August 9, 2018

ROME – Here is a timeline of key events in the life of Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick since his ordination as a priest for the Archdiocese of New York 60 years ago. It includes information on his episcopal appointments to dioceses and archdioceses and covers allegations of abuse that have been lodged against him.

After a century, Marian shrine in Alberta still draws thousands

August 9, 2018

SKARO, Alberta (CNS) -- It's easy to drive by the stone grotto at the Skaro shrine for those who don't know its history.

Vatican makes progress on pushing treatment of children with HIV

August 9, 2018

AMSTERDAM – An initiative to identify and properly treat children living with HIV has gained new momentum as international organizations and pharmaceutical companies respond to a Vatican push to look past profit to doing the right thing.

Filipino Catholic media urged to confront 'fake news'

August 9, 2018

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Filipinos working in the church's social communication ministry need a lot of prayer and a "sense of mission" to be able "to combat fake news" and work for peace, a gathering in Davao City was told this week.

Argentina Senate votes down abortion decriminalization bill

August 9, 2018

MEXICO CITY – The Argentine Senate voted against a bill that would have decriminalized abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

The Register Archives: Canada held a special place for Pius X

August 9, 2018

Pope Pius X died on Aug. 20, 1914, just as the First World War was breaking out across Europe. Born in a small Italian village in 1835, Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto rose through the Church ranks and was elected pope in 1903. During his 11-year reign, he was conservative when it came to Church doctrine, but was also known for reforming Church hierarchy and for his devotion to the Eucharist. He was canonized in 1954. Upon his death, Register editor Fr. A. E. Burke (right) penned the obituary in the newspaper, then known as The Catholic Register and Canadian Extension. In an excerpt from that story appearing Aug. 27, 1914, Burke reported on the Pope’s final moments and recounts a meeting he once had with him: