April 21, 2023

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 Archdiocese of Boston is responding to the Satanic Temple’s “SatanCon” event in Boston with scheduled eucharistic adoration, Catholic devotions, and “intense prayer.” “SatanCon,” as the Satanic Temple calls the event, is sold out and is being held from Friday to Sunday, April 28–30, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place to celebrate the organization’s history and values. The Satanic Temple, which, according to its website, denies the existence of God and Satan, is a political activist group known for protesting religious symbolism in public spaces and mocking Christianity. The archdiocese is offering parishes prayer cards while encouraging the recitation of the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254141/call-to-intense-prayer-boston-archdiocese-responds-to-satanic-temples-conference A 5-year-old boy was reportedly beheaded when Islamists attacked a village in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria, leaving dozens of people dead. In the April 15 attack, the killers descended on Runji village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of southern Kaduna State, leaving 33 people dead, among them 14 children. The 33 victims of the attack on Runji village were reportedly buried in a mass grave amid distressing scenes. In another attack on April 12, nine people were killed, four were injured, and five homes were damaged during an attack on Tanjei village in the area. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254147/5-year-old-beheaded-33-killed-in-nigeria-christian-foundation-calls-for-action Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves this week signed into law several pieces of pro-life and pro-family legislation, including the expansion of tax credits for pro-life pregnancy centers and adoption expenses. In an April 19 press release announcing the new laws, Reeves said they ar