Yesterday, began with a bit of excitment as our Vatican correspondent Joshua McElwee informed us that Pope Francis was sending letter to Chile about the sex abuse scandal there. Our afternoon and evening got busy when the text of the acutal letter was published. Josh filed this story (very late in Rome): In letter to Chileans, Francis decries church's 'culture of abuse and cover-up'. With Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta dispatched to Chile for the second time in three months to look into the local church's handling of abuse you know this is a developing story. Stay tuned to NCR for more reporting.
As the Chile-Pope-abuse story was unfolding, NCR staff writer Brian Roewe saw a notice that sex abuse attorney Jeff Anderson had scheduled a press confernce in St. Paul, Minnesota, for yesterday afternoon, Roewe received a note from a source saying "you will want to tune in for the historical moment." The resulting story was $210 million settlement announced in St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese bankruptcy case. We updated that story three times yesterday, so you better check out the latest version to make sure you've seen the full story.
That, too, is a developing story that Roew will be following, so please stay tuned to NCR. Anticipating the historic nature of the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese settlement, we mined the resources of BishopsAccountability.org and put togehter this little backgrounder: List of Catholic dioceses and orders that filed for bankruptcy and other major settlements
Canberra, Australia -- On Wednesday, the Catholic bishops conference and religious orders joined a federal government redress plan for ictims of child sexual abuse in Australian institutions. Thursday the Anglican Church, Salvation Army, Scouts Australia and the Young Men's Christian Association, better known as YMCA, committed to join the plan. 80 percent of Australia's 60,000 known abuse victims were now covered by the plan.
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Other news we're following right now:
- Fifteen killed in Nicaragua protests Pro-government groups have opened fire on marchers in Nicaragua, witnesses say, killing at least 15 as more than a month of violence in the country continues.
- A deacon's personal account of parenting a transgender child. Transgender and Catholic: A parent’s perspective
- U.S. Thwarted in Bid to Change U.N. Human Rights Council’s Approach to Israel Some diplomats fear the United States might now exit the council.
- Baptist church removing Jesus statue it deems too 'Catholic'
And some recommneded reading:
- Montreal, Canada -- Global Sisters Report sent reporter Dana Wacker to cover the meeting of Canadian Religious Conference. The message they heard: Rethink what Catholic religious life can be. Accept the changed climate of religious life and find new ways to move forward in equal alliance with laypeople.
- Ottawa, Canada -- As part of its attempts to bring healing and reconcilaiton to Indigenous children who suffered abuse in residential schools the federal government is seeking a Catholic coalition's help securing a papal apology – but it’s not likely to help
- Fr. Charles Curran offers this reflection: Canonization is right for Óscar Romero, a true Christian martyr
- Michael Sean Winters takes a look at Matthew Stewart's important essay in the June issue of Atlantic Monthly, "The Birth of a New Aristocracy" (online as "The 9.9 Percent Is the New American Aristocracy"). Read Winter's Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Have you been inspired by Pope Francis' exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate ("Rejoice and Be Glad") to join the journey of 'small holiness', NCR and Celebration have the resources to help:
- Start your day inspired with daily Scripture reflections. Join NCR's sister publication, Celebration, for Daily Bread, a series of short reflections written by four authors who meet regularly to share the readings.
- Or reflect on Pencil Preaching by Pat Marrin. Every morning Pat Marrin breaks open the Word with a pencil sketch and a short meditation.
