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Cost of US sex-abuse scandal tops $5 billion (Crux) Editor's Note: The latest study of the clerical sex-abuse crisis in the US has found that American dioceses and religious orders have paid more than $5 billion to resolve abuse cases.
The study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), covering abuse charges that have been filed in the past 20 years, puts the overall cost of the scandal a just over $5 billion, including legal fees.
The study finds that the number of sex-abuse complaints has dropped, with only 3% of the cases involving incidents that occurred after 2000. More than 90% of the cases covered in the study dated back to before 1989; in many such cases the alleged perpetrator was already deceased.
The CARA study confirmed that 80% of the abuse complaints involved male victims, with a vast majority (80%) involving adolescent or teenage boys.
Pope injured in household fall (AP) Editor's Note: Pope injured his arm in a household fall on January 16— the second such accident in recent weeks.
The Vatican reported that the Pope’s right arm was badly bruised, but not broken. His arm was immobilized in a sling “as a precautionary measure.”
Pope Francis fell in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence, the Vatican disclosed. He had suffered a similar fall on December 7, when he stumbled into a nightstand, resulting in a visible bruise on his jaw.
The 88-year-old Pontiff regularly uses a walker at home. He moves around the Vatican in a wheelchair, due to the deteriorating condition of his knees.
Cuban prisoner release a hopeful sign: Cardinal Parolin (CNA) Editor's Note: The Vatican’s Secretary of State said that Cuba’s decision to release over 500 prisoners at the start of the Jubilee Year is “a sign of great hope.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin added that the decision of US President Joe Biden to commute the death sentences of 37 convicted felons was a welcome response to the Jubilee. Regarding the Cuban prisoner release, he told a Vatican News interviews: “It is significant that Havana authorities linked this decision directly to Pope Francis’ appeal.” Cuba began releasing prisoners immediately after Biden announced he would change the American designation of Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism.
1 in 7 Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, discrimination (Open Doors International) Editor's Note: One in seven Christians worldwide face “very high or extreme levels” of persecution or discrimination, according to Open Doors International, which advocates on behalf of persecuted Christians.
The organization estimates that 4,476 Christians were murdered on account of their faith in 2024, and 7,679 churches and other Christian properties were attacked.
The ten nations with the highest levels of persecution, according to its World Watch List 2025, are North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
God ‘has become a nomad with the Gitano people,’ Pope writes in message (Vatican Press Office) Editor's Note: In a message for the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Gitano people in Spain, Pope Francis wrote that “God is a pilgrim in history with humanity and has become a nomad with the Gitano people.”
The Pontiff asked the Gitanos (known elsewhere as Roma, Romani, or Gypsies) to walk with their bishops and to evangelize. “Now is the time to proclaim, with the strength of the Lord Jesus, the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and who offers us his salvation and his friendship,” the Pope wrote, as he recalled the example of Gitanos who have been beatified.
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Pope issues bonus to Vatican employees with large families (Katholisch) Editor's Note: Pope Francis has decided that lay Vatican employees with three or more children will receive a monthly bonus of €300, to be paid until the children are adults.
The Pope also has decided to lengthen the paid leave that employees are given when a child is born: from three days to five.
The allowances for children are a partial response to complaints from Vatican lay workers, who have said they are being asked to bear a disproportionate share of the Vatican’s cost-cutting efforts.
‘The moral purpose of the economy is to support the flourishing of families,’ bishops tell congressional leaders (USCCB) Editor's Note: Emphasizing that “the moral purpose of the economy is to support the flourishing of families,” the chairmen of five committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have weighed in on congressional negotiations on the federal budget.
In a January 13 letter to congressional committee leaders, the bishops offered suggestions under ten headings:
- Protect human life and dignity
- Care for the poor
- Family formation and strengthening
- Progressivity of the tax code
- Adequate revenue for the sake of the common good
- Avoid cuts to poverty programs to finance tax reform
- Incentivize charitable giving and development
- Support parental choice in education
- Inclusion of immigrant and mixed-status families
- Energy and environment
“We appreciate the competing priorities and difficult decisions you will have to contend with in the days ahead,” the bishops added. “We urge you to seek the common good, uplift those who are most vulnerable among us, and commit to authentic dialogue with one another.”
Kidnapping of Nigerian priests declined in 2024 (Crux) Editor's Note: Although 11 priests and religious were kidnapped in Nigeria during the year 2024, that number was actually down sharply from the 25 kidnapped in 2023.
However, a study by Aid to the Church in Need found that Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous countries for Catholic clergy and religious. Only Haiti— where 18 priests were kidnapped last year— is more dangerous.
The study showed that 50 priests and religious were victims of violence worldwide in 2024, with 13 murdered and 37 kidnapped.
Holy Land bishops welcome ceasefire agreement (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem) Editor's Note: The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“We hope that this ceasefire will mark an important end to the violence that has caused immeasurable suffering,” the bishops stated. “It is a necessary step to halt the destruction and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of countless families affected by the conflict.”
The bishops also urged “political leaders and the international community to develop a clear and just political vision for the post-war period. A future built on dignity, security and freedom for all peoples is a prerequisite for true and lasting peace.”
Cardinal Parolin hails strong Vatican-Jordan ties (Jordan Times) Editor's Note: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s Secretary of State, has concluded a visit to Jordan, during which he characterized relations between the Vatican and Jordan as “excellent” and praised King Abdullah II for promoting interfaith harmony and welcoming refugees.
“The large number of refugees living in Jordan shows that he [King Abdullah] is concerned about people in neighboring countries, such as Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, who have found safe refuge here,” Cardinal Parolin said in an interview.
While in Jordan, Cardinal Parolin consecrated the Church of the Baptism of the Lord at the site of the Lord’s Baptism, on land donated by King Abdullah II.
Survey finds greater American concern for religious freedom (Becket Fund) Editor's Note: Americans have a growing appreciation for the importance of religious freedom, according to a new study.
The Religious Freedom Index, issued by the Becket Fund, shows the highest level of concern about religious freedom in the six-year history of the study. The survey found that 80% of respondents believe that private businesses and organizations should be free to set policies in accordance with their religious beliefs, and 70% believe that religious organizations should not be required to fund coverage for abortions.
“Even in a time of deep division, most Americans still believe religion—and the freedom to practice it—is crucial to overcoming our disagreements,” said Mark Rienzi, president of Becket.
Bomb damages church in southeastern Italy (GoFasano) Editor's Note: A bomb recently damaged the exterior of a church in the southeastern Italian city of Fasano, according to a local online newspaper.
“Unknown persons detonated a paper bomb, causing significant damage” to the Church of St. Anthony the Abbot, according to the report. “The wall, already defaced previously by a vandalistic writing made with spray paint, is now further damaged.”
The attack took place on Christmas Eve, leading the local reporter to comment:
An incomprehensible gesture that affects the cultural and architectural heritage of the community. Not even Christmas Eve, a universal symbol of peace and respect, was spared from this act of vandalism.
Quality of Catholic education, healthcare is winning respect of Muslims, Cameroon bishop says (Aid to the Church in Need) Editor's Note: In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Bruno Ateba, SAC, of Maroua-Mokolo discussed his ministry in northern Cameroon (map).
The influence of the Islamist terrorist organization Boko Harom is waning, said Bishop Ateba, though he still needs soldiers to escort him to some remote parishes.
In an area in which Muslims are 95% of the population, “the Muslims control everything: trade, transport, politics,” he said. “We try to provide a witness. The Muslims respect us because of our works.”
“Muslims send their children to our schools because they appreciate the discipline and the good education,” he continued. “The Muslim children are often the best in the catechetics course! At home, they recite the Our Father and the Hail Mary, and the parents don’t have a problem with that.”
“It’s the same thing for our big health center, managed by the Missionary Sisters of Jesus Christ,” he continued. “Many Muslim women go there, because in the state hospitals, they would also be examined by men, which is inconceivable to them. They also appreciate the welcome and the quality of treatment with us.”
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