Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church

Paralleling trends elsewhere, at Harvard University more young people than ever are joining the Catholic Church.

France’s highest constitutional authority has carved out conscience protections for Catholic institutions and pharmacists, which was welcomed by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris.

The Vatican has confirmed to parents in the Archdiocese of Hamburg that the Vatican document “Male and Female He Created Them” remains the authoritative guide for sex education.

Aid to the Church in Need has launched a petition that urges international leaders to take action to end religious persecution.

Baptisms significantly fall in Ireland, a German bishop resigns, Asian churches rally after Indonesia earthquake, and more in this week’s Catholic world news roundup.

The bishop of Lourdes announced that the SSPX no longer has authorization at the shrine to celebrate the Mass or the sacraments, although individuals are free to come and pray privately.

“My role is to ensure that the shrine welcomes everyone, especially those who are suffering,” Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said.

The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales urged world leaders to enforce religious freedom standards in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 12 pilgrims were returning from the Marian shrine at Medjugorje when their coach left the M3 motorway in eastern Hungary in the early hours of Sunday.

Rising to a height of over 180 feet from ground level, the statue of Our Lady of Mercy exceeds in height the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil and the Christ the King statue in Poland.