Happy Friday! As always, here’s your weekly roundup.
First, here’s a nice summary of this week’s election news. In short, Republicans took control of the Senate and won governorships in several states that had previously re-elected President Obama.
The Archdiocese of Chicago released abuse files of 36 priests from the Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review. Chicago Cardinal Francis George vowed to clean the slate before he retires and Bishop Blase Cupich assumes office later this month.
After last month’s wild and crazy Synod on the Family, some have proposed conservative Catholics formally split from the church. But that schism is easier said than done, according to David Gibson of Religion News Service.
Brittany Maynard, the terminally ill 29-year-old who recently announced her decision to end her life died Monday. A Vatican bioethics official denounced the decision, saying, "This woman (took her own life) thinking she would die with dignity, but this is the error."
On Thursday, a 2-1 ruling from the Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld same-sex marriage bans in four states.
In ebola news, New York Bishop Salvatore Matano has banned priests from traveling to West Africa.
And in other ebola news, here’s a map of the Africa without ebola.
And now for the papal rapid fire roundup:
This week, Pope Francis:
- Suggested no-cost annulments.
- Announced plans to venerate the Shroud of Turin.
- Got a scarf and a poncho.
- Has 99 problems.
Before you go, we've got a question for you. Is it OK to be a cafeteria Catholic? Please read this article and take our survey.
