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.
Italian city tied to Russia by a revered Saint feels the sting of the war
Bari, a port city located in Puglia, is a privileged place of contact between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, due to the presence of a large Orthodox community. Additionally its cathedral houses relics of St. Nicholas, particularly venerated in Russia and in the entire Orthodox world, which is abundantly represented in all its diversity in the Apulian city. In recent days, the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine has particularly shocked the local Orthodox population, part of which has been closely linked to the Russian community in recent years. Questioned by The New York Times, some explain that they intend to support Ukraine, and others that they support Patriarch Kirill and Vladimir Putin despite everything. Others, deeply affected by the conflict taking place more than 1000 km from their homes, ask for a miracle from St. Nicholas.
The New York Times, English
The Ukrainian Orthodox who distance themselves from the clergy of Moscow
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a trauma for the vast majority of Ukrainians, including for the Orthodox who remained attached to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. "With 300 years of existence, the latter is the majority in terms of the number of parishes in Ukraine," says France 24. However the proximity to the Kremlin of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has disoriented these Ukrainian faithful. The spokesman of this branch of Orthodoxy in Ukraine recognizes that lying is a “sin” and “this invasion is an act of treachery, which has broken any form of trust.” Another priest interviewed for the article, does not want to take sides and he answers with these words: "I can't carry a weapon, my only weapon is prayer."
France 24, French
German Synod: Bishop Bätzing wants to speed up reform
The "resistance" against the reforms in the Church is no longer tenable. This is what the Bishop of Limburg and President of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, said at their Plenary Assembly. After the publication of the report on sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, it has become "unbearable for a number of Catholic Christians" to remain in the Church, he stressed. In order to stop these departures, the Church must therefore "move forward, show changes,"
Katholisch.de, German
A look back at Catholic Charities' service to New Yorkers during the pandemic
Archbishop Kevin Sullivan is the Archdiocese of New York's Coordinator of Catholic Charities. He has been active in New York’s Catholic community since 1970, holding leadership positions in local churches and co-founding several neighborhood development groups. He tells NYN Media how the organization has weathered the pandemic. When asked about COVID-19's effect on children, he explains that "as the schools were closed, we couldn't do [our enrichment activities for children] in schools, but we did thousands of phone calls to youth and families to stay connected.” Similarly, during the pandemic, New York charities also built permanent, affordable housing. A successful transition, then, for the diocese's charities, which have "moved towards a hybrid type of work environment."
NYN Media, English
Young Catholics say they need church leaders to listen, engage them more
"We have to be willing to walk outside the doors of the church buildings and meet them outside during the ordinary circumstances of their lives.” These are the words of Josh Noem regarding "generation Zs." Noem is the host of an evangelism website and a contributor to a new study in the United States which reveals that this younger generation no longer practices their faith like the previous ones. More than half of the 1,630 young people between the ages of 13 and 25 surveyed confessed to a distrust of the Church's words, or discomfort within the communities. Pastors and educators must make drastic changes to their ministry style if they want to reach them, Noem explained. “This is going to be a very disruptive time for the Church, but I also believe it’s going to be very fruitful,” he concluded.
Catholic News Service, English
