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U.S.
Catholics pray as several arrested during Satanic group’s ‘black mass’
A Satanic group’s effort to conduct a “black mass” at the Kansas Statehouse March 28 turned violent, leading to arrests, while across the street the state’s Catholic archbishop led hundreds in peaceful prayer before the Eucharist for those who “seek to mock our merciful God.” Satanic Grotto founder and president Michael Stewart was taken into custody at the Capitol by Kansas Highway Patrol. Also arrested was counterprotestor Marcus Schroeder, whom Stewart struck in the face after Schroeder twice sought to grasp a piece of paper from Stewart’s hands, amid an apparent invocation of Satan in the Capitol rotunda. Two others were arrested that day as well. Ahead of the “black mass,” Stewart had boasted of having secured a consecrated host and an unspecified quantity of consecrated wine. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, sued for the return of the Eucharist, stating that all sacred species are the property of the Catholic Church. The case was dismissed March 20 following a hearing where Stewart and fellow defendant Travis L. Roberts, the Satanic Grotto’s vice president, admitted under oath they did not have the sacred species. Addressing Massgoers at Assumption Church across the street from the Capitol, Archbishop Naumann described Stewart’s event as “a sad day for Kansas, when our Capitol is being used for … Satanic worship that is intended to mock God, mock Jesus Christ, mock all people of faith, mock all Christians and in particular mock our Catholic faith. (OSV News)
Abp. Lucas of Omaha, Neb., retires; Bp. McGovern succeeds him
WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop George J. Lucas, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska, and has appointed Bishop Michael G. McGovern of Belleville, Illinois, as his successor. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington March 31 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. St. Louis native Archbishop Lucas has headed the Omaha Archdiocese since 2009. Archbishop McGovern, 60, has been Belleville’s bishop since 2020. Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin ordained him a priest for the Chicago Archdiocese on May 21, 1994, in Holy Name Cathedral. He was appointed bishop of Belleville in 2020. (OSV News)
WORLD
Pope clears way for three new saints, including first woman from Venezuela
Pope Francis has cleared the way for the canonizations of three blesseds. The Vatican announced March 31 that the pope authorized the decrees March 28. Blessed Carmen Rendíles Martínez, born in Caracas in 1903, is poised to become Venezuela’s first female saint. After her father’s death, she grew up helping her mother support the family and became active in her parish apostolate. She entered founded the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus of Venezuela, serving with humility in parishes and schools, especially among the poor. She was beatified in 2018. Blessed Ignatius Maloyan was born April 19, 1869, in Mardin, in present-day Turkey. During the Armenian genocide, he was arrested with dozens of Christians and tortured and executed, refusing to convert to Islam. He was beatified by St. John Paul II in 2001. Blessed Peter To Rot, born in 1912 in Rakunai, Papua New Guinea, was a lay catechist, husband and father. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, he continued his ministry despite growing restrictions. He was arrested in 1945 and killed. (CNS)
South Sudanese bishops warn of catastrophe as full-scale war threatens
Pope Francis appealed to South Sudan leaders to “lower the tension in the country” as Catholic bishops in Sudan and South Sudan expressed alarm at the escalating violence in the nation and warned of a catastrophe if full-scale war returns. “I am following the situation in South Sudan with concern,” the pope said in his Angelus address released March 30. “I renew my heartfelt appeal to all leaders to do their utmost to lower the tension in the country. We must put aside our differences and, with courage and responsibility, sit around a table and engage in constructive dialogue,” the pontiff said. “Only in this way will it be possible to alleviate the suffering of the beloved South Sudanese people and to build a future of peace and stability.” Fears of renewed war have been looming since early March, when the White Army, a Nuer ethnic youth militia, overran the national army units in Nasir County, Upper Nile state. (OSV News)
