Every day, Aleteia offers a selection of articles written by the international press about the Church and the major issues that concern Catholics around the world. The opinions and views expressed in these articles are not those of the editors.
Rome & the World: nuns take migrants to Insta • Cardinal calls for change to LGBTQ teaching
Credit: Antoine Mekary | ALETEIA
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, told the German news agency KNA that he believes a "fundamental revision" of Catholic doctrine on homosexuality is necessary. "I believe that the sociological-scientific basis of this teaching is no longer true," he explained, reacting to the coming-out of 125 members of the Catholic Church in Germany - including several priests. Without specifying what changes he was referring to, the cardinal suggested that Pope Francis' "behavior" on the issue could open the door to future change. He deplored also the fact that someone could be fired from a Church ministry for being gay, saying the Church should be a "home" for them.
Reuters, English
2"Lebanon must no longer be a platform for external conflicts," plead the Maronite bishops
On Wednesday, the Maronite Bishops' Council met in the presence of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the linchpin of Vatican diplomacy. Against the backdrop of the diplomatic row between Lebanon and the Gulf states, the bishops expressed the "urgent" need for Lebanon to recall its neutrality "so that it will no longer be a platform for external conflicts.” As the country sinks deeper into crisis, the bishops also asked that the 2022 state budget give "priority to the availability of public services and those related to health and food needs.” They also thanked Archbishop Gallagher for bringing the issues that affect Lebanon to international attention.
L'Orient Le Jour, French
3Six elderly Canadian nuns receive eviction notice
In Quebec, six of seven auxiliary nuns live in an apartment in the Mont-Carmel Residence in south-central Montreal. The change in management of their building, bought by the private company LRM in December 2021, has earned them an eviction notice signed by a bailiff, effective no later than July 31, 2022. The company plans to turn the building into a "multigenerational complex" and remove the amenities dedicated to seniors. "People are crying. I see a lot of distress [...] It's contempt for the elderly. It's arrogance. It's savage capitalism," said Sister Suzanne, whose congregation has been in Quebec since 1949 and lives in working-class neighborhoods.
Présence Info, French.
4A Late Roman cemetery discovered in Gaza
A burial site dating from around 1600 years ago was discovered in Gaza, reports Terre Sainte magazine. Although local authorities had initially said in a statement published on January 31 that the discovery was that of a Roman tomb, an independent archeologist estimates that it may actually be more of a cemetery dating from the late Roman or early Byzantine era (fifth to seventh century AD). Additionally the expert said that there could be a Roman temple or Byzantine church nearby, judging by the excavations. New discoveries could then be expected soon.
Terre Sainte, French.
5Scalabrinian nuns have plan to fight prejudices against migrants
"To make public what the sisters are seeing in the streets": this is the ambition of the new project of the Scalabrinians, the nuns belonging to the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Saint Charles Borromeo. Founded in 1887 by the Italian priest Jean-Baptiste Scalabrini, the community works especially with migrants. This year, they decided to create an Instagram account (@missionariesclabriniane) to help "overcome prejudices about migrants."
"We are planning a series of actions to give migrants and refugees a voice," Sister Eleia Scariot tells Vatican News. "We want to ask them to talk about their experiences, about fleeing their country, about the war and hunger they have endured."
Vatican News, Italian.
