September 12, 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 Vatican will dedicate a new statue of the patron saint of Korea, Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, in Saint Peter’s Basilica this Saturday. Born in 1821, Tae-gŏn was the first native Korean priest and one of the country’s earliest martyrs. The statue of the Korean martyr was proposed by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, a Korean prelate and prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, and approved by Pope Francis, according to the Holy See’s news arm, Vatican News. The pope has pointed to Tae-gŏn’s missionary zeal as a model for all Christians to follow. The statue’s dedication will take place on September 16, the anniversary of Tae-gŏn’s beheading by the Korean Joseon Dynasty. To see a picture of the new statue, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255339/statue-of-korea-s-patron-saint-to-be-permanently-installed-at-st-peter-s-basilica Cardinal-elect Víctor Manuel Fernández, who is poised to take up his position as the head of the Vatican’s chief doctrinal office in the coming days, has signaled an openness to theological debates, saying they help deepen the Church’s understanding of the Gospel. The 61-year-old Argentine theologian also criticized bishops — both “progressive” and those from “traditionalist groups” — who think they have a “special gift of the Holy Spirit to judge the doctrine of the Holy Father,” warning that are on a road to “heresy” and “schism.” For more from Fernández interview, visit catholic news agency dot com. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255343/new-doctrine-chief-welcomes-debate-but-warns-bishops-about-schism-risks The Swiss Bishops’ Conference on Sunday revealed an ongoing Vatican-ordered investigation into the handling of sexual abuse allegations by Church officials, with the inquiry expected to run until at least the end of th