ZENIT English News Agency

09/18/2026

⛪⚖️ German Benedictine monk Anselm Grün has denied allegations that he helped an abusive priest return to ministry, as victims call for a broader investigation into how the case was handled.

The controversy has renewed questions about accountability, institutional responsibility and the procedures used when clergy accused of abuse seek to return to pastoral activity. Grün has rejected the claims concerning his involvement, while those affected are asking for further scrutiny.

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According to the fourth annual report of the Independent Commission for the Investigation of Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, Grün became involved in the case of a priest from that archdiocese during the early 1990s. The priest had sexually abused a 16-year-old and admitted his guilt d...

09/18/2026

🇺🇸⛪ As the 2026 midterm elections approach, U.S. Catholic bishops are encouraging priests to help the faithful put faith before politics.

New formation resources for priests and deacons focus on “faithful citizenship,” presenting Catholic social teaching as a framework for forming consciences and participating responsibly in public life. The materials do not endorse candidates, parties or specific electoral choices, but emphasize principles such as human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity and social justice.

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The initiative emerged from conversations among bishops after some requested more guidance for clergy on how to address the subject with their congregations.

09/18/2026

🎙️🇨🇮 Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop of Abidjan, speaks with ZENIT about the Church and the challenges facing society in Ivory Coast.

In this interview, the cardinal offers his perspective on faith, the mission of the Church and the realities experienced by Catholics in his country, providing a closer look at a vibrant African Church and its role in accompanying its people.

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After actively participating in the 2023 and 2024 Synods, he was created a Cardinal by Pope Francis in December 2024, prior to participating in his first Conclave in May 2025. His six years at the helm of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast also provided a privileged perspective on the Church in...

09/17/2026

🤖🇨🇳 Anthropic says it has uncovered a large-scale AI-generated influence campaign targeting Chinese dissidents, raising new concerns about the use of artificial intelligence to produce and spread defamatory content.

The case highlights how generative AI can be used not only to create information at scale, but also to amplify coordinated campaigns against individuals. It adds another dimension to the growing debate over disinformation, digital repression and the safeguards needed as AI tools become increasingly powerful.

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China misused Claude to target dissidents, religious minorities, and journalists

09/17/2026

🇵🇰✝️ A Christian teenager in Pakistan was beaten after intervening to protect women, in a case that has drawn attention to the vulnerability faced by members of religious minorities in the country.

The incident raises concerns about violence, personal safety and the challenges Christians can encounter in their daily lives. His decision to step in and defend others has also brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding Pakistan’s Christian community.

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Masih was rushed to the hospital and later referred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital due to the severity of his condition. An official medical certificate was issued confirming severe injuries across multiple parts of his body.

09/17/2026

🙏🇺🇸 When fear makes attending Mass difficult, the Church is responding pastorally. The Archbishop of Indianapolis has granted a dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation to migrants who fear serious consequences when leaving their homes.

The measure seeks to accompany Catholics facing circumstances that may prevent them from participating safely in Sunday worship. It also highlights the Church’s pastoral response to communities experiencing uncertainty and fear.

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The decree, issued September 4, is an unusually concrete pastoral response to an atmosphere of anxiety surrounding the intensified immigration crackdown in the United States

09/17/2026

⚖️⛪ Catholic religious communities and the Archdiocese of Chicago have obtained temporary protection from provisions of Illinois’ assisted-suicide law.

A federal judge’s order applies specifically to the Catholic plaintiffs challenging the law, including the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and the Little Sisters of the Poor. The case centers on whether religious health-care providers can be required to facilitate or refer patients for a practice they oppose on conscience grounds. The legal dispute is still ongoing.

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The September 11 order by U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama does not suspend the law throughout Illinois. It applies specifically to the Catholic parties who challenged it: Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, and the Little Siste...

09/17/2026

⛪🔎 Excavations and restoration work at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem are revealing surprising new findings about one of Christianity’s most sacred places.

The work is offering researchers a closer look at the complex history preserved beneath and around the basilica, traditionally associated with the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Archaeology and restoration are bringing to light details that can help deepen our understanding of a site visited by Christian pilgrims for centuries.

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The first research results are collected in the volume "Hagia Polis Project. Excavations at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Volume I. Project and Methodology". A project in which collaboration between Communities and researchers becomes a valuable instrument of knowledge but also a symbol of a conc...

09/17/2026

"The Pastoral Constitution also offers a concise definition of the “common good”, recalling that it consists of “the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfilment" Pope's General Audience, September 16, 2026, on the Human Community

Read complete here ➡ https://zenit.org/3spy

09/17/2026

🇺🇸⛪ The United States has received more Vatican permissions to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass than any other country, according to a document from the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

The figures offer a closer look at how permissions have been granted following the restrictions introduced in recent years. The document provides new data on where requests have been approved and places the United States at the center of the broader discussion surrounding the celebration of the traditional liturgy.

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Of the 34 decrees recorded for 2025, 29 renewed existing permissions for a further two years. In several cases, a single decree covered more than one parish within the same diocese. The remaining authorizations concerned new or otherwise distinct permissions, although the published index does not pr...