October 21, 2021

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - The archbishop of Vaduz, Liechtenstein, announced this week that his archdiocese won’t take part in the Synod on Synodality, saying that it would run “the risk of becoming ideological.” Vaduz is one of the smallest archdioceses in the world, with fewer than 40,000 Catholics. The archbishop said his archdiocese is small enough that, quote, “All those who wish to do so can enter into dialogue with one another, listen to one another, and maintain personal communication about suggestions, wishes, and ideas in everyday Church life.” The Synod on Synodality is a two-year, worldwide consultative process that Pope Francis launched this month, and in which all dioceses in the world have been asked to participate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249340/catholic-leader-says-his-archdiocese-won-t-take-part-in-synodal-process-citing-ideological-risk Pope Francis has shared a letter written by a clerical sexual abuse survivor with candidates preparing for the Catholic priesthood. The anonymous abuse victim wrote that she was sharing her story because she would like to see “loving truth” win out. The letter reads, in part, “God has called you to be his instrument among men. You have a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY! A responsibility that is not a burden, but a GIFT! Please treat it according to the example of Jesus... with HUMILITY and LOVE!” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249339/pope-francis-wants-seminarians-to-read-this-letter-from-a-clerical-abuse-survivor A Kansas City-area Baptist megachurch has reached a $150,000 settlement with the county over coronavirus restrictions. Abundant Life Baptist Church filed a lawsuit against Jackson County, Missouri over a year ago, arguing that the county’s coronavirus restrictions treated places of worship more harshly than secular institutions such as retail sto