News briefs from across the country and around the world

By OSV News - OSVNews

Experts hope for progress on health care, disability ministry and Hispanic Catholics at U.S. bishops' June meeting

WASHINGTON (OSV News) | Ahead of a U.S. bishops' meeting in June, pastoral experts told OSV News they are looking forward to progress on issues impacting health care, Hispanic Catholics and persons with disabilities. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather in Orlando, Florida June 14-16 for their customary Spring Plenary Assembly. USCCB president Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, will address the bishops, as will Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the U.S. Amid prayer and dialogue sessions, the bishops are expected to survey a number of topics, including the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival and 2024 National Eucharistic Congress, the upcoming World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, and updates on two pastoral statements — one on ministry to persons with disabilities, the other on Hispanic Catholics — and revisions to the USCCB's Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

New head of bishops' anti-racism committee praises investigations into racist histories, champions Black Catholic saint causes

CHICAGO (OSV News) | Ahead of the U.S. bishops' meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 14-16, Bishop Joseph N. Perry said that new investigations by church institutions into their involvement with slavery and Indian boarding schools are "very healthy" and aid a collective examination of conscience. Bishop Perry was named chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism May 10, 2023. An auxiliary bishop of Chicago, he succeeded Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky, who served two terms as the committee's chairman. While society fights racism through the courts and public policy, the bishops' work has emphasized racism as a sin and the need for personal conversion, he said. "The whole push for this ad hoc committee is evangelization — evangelization toward a deeper understanding and empathy with human dignity, broadly across the board," he said.

Pope creates ecclesiastical province of Las Vegas, names Bishop Thomas metropolitan archbishop

WASHINGTON (OSV News) | Pope Francis has created the ecclesiastical province of Las Vegas, comprised of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas and the suffragan dioceses of Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City. He also named Las Vegas Bishop George L. Thomas the first metropolitan archbishop of Las Vegas. Archbishop Thomas, who turned 73 May 19, was appointed the third bishop of Las Vegas Feb. 28, 2018. The establishment of the new province and the appointment of the metropolitan archbishop were publicized in Washington May 30 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Knights' film on chaplain's faith, heroism traces how his remains were returned home 70 years after his death

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (OSV News) | A short documentary just released by the Knights of Columbus highlights the life, ministry and selfless service of Father Emil Kapaun, a U.S. Army chaplain who died May 23, 1951, while ministering to prisoners of war during the Korean War. The 15-minute film titled "The Magazine and the Miracle: Finding Father Kapaun" also traces the journey of Father Kapaun's mortal remains from a shallow grave in the prisoner-of-war camp where he died, to an unmarked tomb in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu's Punchbowl Crater in 1954, to their eventual return to his home Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, and final resting place in a tomb at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, there in 2021. "Father Kapaun's heroism, selfless service to his country, and devotion to Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith were a daily inspiration to his fellow soldiers during World War II and the Korean War," said a Knights news release. His sainthood cause was formally opened in 1993, giving him the title "Servant of God." His case is being reviewed by the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The film can be viewed at https://www.kofc.org/en/documentary/father-kapaun/index.html.

Experts hail U.S. surgeon general's social media warning for youth mental health

WASHINGTON (OSV News) | For parents still wondering if social media can be harmful to their children's mental health, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy had a warning May 23: "We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis — one that we must urgently address." The "Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health" reveals almost 95% of young people ages 13-17 use social media an average of 3.5 hours a day. This doubles "the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety ... body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls." Christopher McKenna, a digital security expert, founder of Protect Young Eyes, and a keynote speaker at the 2022 National Catholic Education Association conference, praised the HHS' policy suggestions, which include policymakers strengthening safety and privacy standards; greater transparency by tech companies; parental instruction to kids about responsible online behavior; limiting of online time by children; and prioritization by researchers to establish social media standards and evaluation. Jessica Heldman, a child rights professor at the University of San Diego and a member of its Children's Advocacy Institute, said Big Tech companies must nonetheless be held responsible for the harm done to youth. "This advisory emphasizes what is truly at stake, and it dispels any notion that social media platforms are somehow so different from other products that they should be allowed to operate with impunity."

Pope Francis says situation at U.S.-Mexico border is 'serious problem'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) | Pope Francis called the migration crisis between Mexico and the United States a "serious problem" and praised a U.S. bishop working along the border during an interview with Telemundo journalist Julio Vaqueiro broadcast May 25. The pope was shown photos of a baby wrapped in a blanket and placed inside a suitcase to be taken across the Rio Grande into the United States. "It's a serious problem there," the pope said in response. "On the other side (of the border) there is a great man, Bishop Seitz" of El Paso, Texas. "This bishop feels (the problem)," Pope Francis said. "The problem of migrants is serious, it's serious there and it's serious here," he said about Europe, particularly "along the Libyan coast." The pope said Zelenskyy asked for his help in returning Ukrainian children who have been taken into Russia and told the pope to "not dream much about mediations" during their May 13 meeting. In response to a question on abortion, Pope Francis said that a fetus is a "living being." On abuse, the pope said that priestly celibacy "has nothing to do" with the sexual abuse of minors by the clergy, since, he said, abuse is committed at high rates within families and schools by married persons too.

Shia LaBeouf: 'I fell in love with Christ' to portray Padre Pio on screen

ROME (OSV News) | A film making its U.S. debut recounts the life of a beloved 20th-century saint — and the movie's star told OSV News he "fell in love with Christ" to prepare for the part. Actor Shia LaBeouf portrays St. Pio of Pietrelcina in the new drama "Padre Pio," which premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and is being released in U.S. theaters and on demand June 2. Directed by Abel Ferrara, the movie traces a pivotal period in the life of St. (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina, when the 33-year-old Capuchin Franciscan priest — bearing the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ — begins what would become his lifelong ministry in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, just after World War I. The film's plot links Italy's often violent postwar struggles with Padre Pio's own spiritual wrestlings, revealing how compassion, courage and holiness give hope in the triumph of good over evil. The story arc resonated with LaBeouf, whose preparation for the film led to his embrace of the Catholic faith after battling the demons of celebrity life. In the face of suffering and evil, LaBeouf said he now looks to Padre Pio as a role model for strength, wisdom and courage. "He suffered in patience, silence and solitude. He didn't complain about it," said LaBeouf. "The deeper I got into Pio, the more I realized the right way to suffer. His life was instructive."

Cardinal blesses new 'life sculpture' installed on grounds of Theological College in Washington

WASHINGTON (OSV News) | Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington blessed a new sculpture, "Advent," May 17 on the grounds of Theological College, the national diocesan seminary of The Catholic University of America in Washington. The sculpture, already being referred to as the "national life monument" and "national life sculpture," is the third in a series of sculptures by Toronto sculptor Timothy Schmalz. One, "Angels Unawares," visually represents immigrants and refugees throughout history. After an initial stop in 2020 on the grounds of the Catholic University of America as part of a nationwide tour, it moved to its permanent home on the university's campus in 2021. The other sculpture, "The Home Coming," displays the different dimensions of homelessness. It was installed last year on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which adjoins Catholic University's campus. "Advent" is, in large part, a bronze sculpture of the Virgin Mary with rich, flowing lines. But unmistakably present is concave mirrored stainless steel to represent Mary's womb — and visible inside that womb is the embryonic Christ Child. The sculpture is "an expression of the beauty of life," said Father Daniel Moore, provincial superior of the U.S. Province of the Society of St. Sulpice, whose priests run Theological College.