Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church

USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio speaks at the bishops’ spring meeting, Thursday, June 13, 2024. / Credit: USCCB

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 11, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Archbishop Timothy Broglio’s leadership of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) comes to an end Nov. 11 after a three-year term.

Broglio, the archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, was elected to the office of president in November 2022. In his time, the USCCB has defended religious freedom and the right to life, opposed gender ideology, defended migrants, and promoted international peace.

The USCCB voting guide continued to highlight abortion as its “preeminent priority” through the Broglio presidency. Because the conference represents the Church in Washington, D.C., this led to tension with the presidency of Joe Biden, which overlapped with Broglio’s tenure.

When Biden told an EWTN reporter that “not all” of the Catholic bishops oppose tax funds for abortion, Broglio responded in 2023: “The Catholic bishops of the United States are united in our commitment to life and will continue to work as one body in Christ to make abortion unthinkable.”

The USCCB declined to deny Biden Communion over his abortion support. It sued the administration when it passed regulations to force employers, including religious groups, to accommodate women who are procuring an abortion. Enforcement was blocked by a judge.

During his time, the bishops also fought against an anti-discrimination rule. As president of the USCCB, Broglio frequently criticized gender ideology, saying efforts to change one’s gender are incompatible with Church teaching.

The USCCB issued annual religious freedom reports. Under Biden, the conference focused on issues related to abortion and gender. Under President Donald Trump, the bishops expressed more concerns over immigration policy jeopardizing religious freedom.

In this year’s report, the USCCB referenced Annunciation House, an El Paso, Texas-based nonprofit that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tried to shut down for “alien harboring” — an allegation they are contesting in the state Supreme Court.

The USCCB also sued the Trump administration over the decision to strip funding for refugee resettlements. The USCCB ultimately phased out its migration programs, which had been receiving more than $100 million annually under Biden.

Broglio said in June that “enforcement alone” is not the solution to immigration issues. He said: “The mass arrest and removal of our neighbors, friends, and family members on the basis of immigration status alone, particularly in ways that are arbitrary or without due process, represent a profound social crisis before which no person of goodwill can remain silent.”

The USCCB issued immigration reform guidelines in January, which said “a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good.”

Broglio repeatedly encouraged the U.S. government to promote peace internationally, such as in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The archbishop has also criticized the U.S. Army’s decision to cancel certain religious contracts, which he said is straining the archdiocese’s ability to minister to Catholics in the armed forces.

As Broglio’s term comes to an end, the bishops are set to decide the next conference president from a slate of 10 candidates on Nov. 11. The election takes place at the Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore.

Cardinal Gerhard Müller. / Credit: La Sacristía de la Vendée

Madrid, Spain, Nov 11, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, called for overcoming ideological divisions within the Catholic Church in a Spanish-language interview on the “Sacristy of the Vendé” YouTube channel in which he reflects on the “instrumentalization” of abuse cases.

Held last July, the interview was released this week after the coordinator of the priests’ YouTube discussion group, Father Francisco José Delgado, was acquitted of charges of “inciting hatred” against the Holy See, interfering in the Vatican’s investigation into the Sodality of Christian Life, and damaging the “good reputation” of layman José Enrique Escardó, one of the main proponents of the case against that apostolate.

Müller stated that, since its inception, the Catholic Church has experienced divisions “because of these false doctrines, heresies, or pagan ideologies” and thus proposed that “everyone has to be aware that one is following Jesus Christ and not ideologies.”

For the cardinal, within the Catholic Church it is not possible to define oneself as conservative, traditionalist, or progressive: “We must overcome these divisions that stem from the French Revolution, from the Jacobins. In the Parliament of that time, these right-wing and left-wing groups existed, but these are political and ideological concepts, not Christian ones.”

“We form one unity in Jesus Christ, one Christ, the head of the Church, and we are members of one body, one Lord, one God, one baptism, and one Eucharist. The sacraments are valid for everyone, and we are united in love, faith, and hope. This is the definition of the Church, not of an ideology or an NGO [nongovernmental organization].”

The exploitation of abuse cases

The prelate also addressed the issue of canonical processes stemming from accusations of sexual abuse and their exploitation both within and outside the Church. After acknowledging that victims “have every right to demand justice,” he stated that “justice cannot be demanded or achieved at the expense of the innocent.” To convict a person, he argued, “we need the certainty that he is guilty and also had a proper trial.”

“Alongside these real cases, we also have quite a few false accusations,” especially against deceased priests, noting that “some enemies of the Church exploit scandals, or non-scandals, when it comes to innocent people falsely accused, in order to damage the image of the Catholic priest.”

Faced with sweeping investigations into the entire Catholic Church, the cardinal advocated for examining individual cases “not indiscriminately against a group,” since, in his view, “this is also totalitarian thinking.”

In this regard, he added that the crime of abuse “has its cause in the morality or immorality of a person, not in the divine grace” of the sacrament of holy orders, in the case of priests. Otherwise, he pointed out, it would have to be said that “Jesus Christ is responsible for Judas’ betrayal.”

Delgado’s conversation with Müller also turned to the reality of martyrdom in 20th-century Spain and the Valley of the Fallen as a monument of reconciliation that the current Spanish government wants to redefine.

The Valley of the Fallen is a massive complex about 30 miles from Madrid inaugurated in 1959 and dedicated to the memory of those killed on both sides of the 1936–1939 Spanish Civil War. Among those buried there are a number of blesseds and servants of God martyred for the faith. During the war, the leftist side martyred thousands of clerics, religious, and laity. Some have been canonized and quite a few have been beatified.

The Valley of the Fallen was intended to be a place of national reconciliation and includes a basilica and monastery. However, as it was built by order of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, whose right-wing Nationalist side won the conflict, the current leftist government led by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party considers it to be in some way a monument to the Franco regime and wants to “resignify” it for other purposes.

For the cardinal, “reconciliation in society, in the Church, in any community is not possible if the events of the past are forgotten,” emphasizing that the martyrs “are the crown, the jewels of the Church.”

“They are martyrs of the Gospel, witnesses to the Resurrection, to the victory of the risen Jesus, and therefore they are the first ones to invite all of us to overcome the ideologies that divide communities and the Church,” he said.

“The state must not decide on the value of the lives of others or the thoughts or beliefs of others. The state must remove itself from the conscience of people. The state is not God in the world,” he added.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Scotland’s Catholic bishops and pro-life groups have raised alarms about the effects a proposed assisted suicide bill may have upon disabled and vulnerable people after a number of key amendments were rejected. / Credit: Reinhold Möller, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Edinburgh, Scotland, Nov 11, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Scotland’s Catholic bishops and pro-life groups have raised alarms about the effects a proposed assisted suicide bill may have upon disabled and vulnerable people after a number of key amendments were rejected.

Assisted suicide is currently illegal in Scotland, but if Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill becomes law, terminally ill adults will be given assistance to end their own lives.

After the committee considering the bill on Nov. 4 rejected several amendments to make the bill safer, the president of the Scottish bishops’ conference, Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, told CNA: “Almost [all of the] vulnerable groups in Scotland representing the disabled, elderly, and mentally ill are against the [bill] and continue to point out how it puts them at greater risk.”

One of the rejected amendments would have restricted eligibility to those with six months or less to live. Another proposal would have required people who are seeking an assisted death to be provided with a fully funded palliative care support plan. Both amendments were rejected, raising fears that the most vulnerable will suffer and those with nonterminal conditions will be able to access assisted suicide.

Expressing concerns about the bill, Keenan said: “It will also not exclude a person whose primary motivation for their request is among [the] following nonterminal conditions: eating disorders; intellectual disabilities, including but not limited to [Down] syndrome; mood disorders, including but not limited to depression; anxiety disorders; the receipt of any disability or sickness-related benefits, including but not limited to Adult Disability Payment, or any equivalent welfare payment; loneliness or social isolation; financial hardship or low income; feelings of being a burden to others; poor or unsuitable housing conditions; any other mental health condition or developmental disorder that is not a terminal illness.”

The Catholic Church teaches that assisted suicide is inherently immoral.

“Life is a gift to be protected, especially when threatened by sickness and death,” the Catholic bishops of England, Wales, and Scotland have said. “Palliative care, with expert pain relief and good human, spiritual, and pastoral support, is the right and best way to care for people towards the end of life.”

The definition of terminal illness in McArthur’s bill has been viewed as problematic, with the bill stating that it can be applied to people who have an “advanced and progressive disease, illness, or condition from which they are unable to recover and that can reasonably be expected to cause their premature death.” 

Paul Atkin, pro-life officer at the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, highlighted this danger, telling CNA: “The bill’s definition of ‘terminal illness’ is so vague that it could include people with conditions such as dementia or heart failure, who may live for years. The boundaries keep moving, and what starts as a choice for a few becomes an assumption for many.”

Atkin continued: “We should be honest: This law would put some lives at risk — not from disease, but from despair. True compassion means standing beside those who suffer, not offering to end their lives. Scotland can do better than that.”

Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Jeremy Balfour made a proposal to exclude individuals with nonterminal conditions from accessing assisted suicide. These conditions include intellectual disabilities, eating disorders, and feelings of being a burden. Again, this was rejected.

Speaking to CNA, Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, described the assisted suicide bill in Scotland as “a clear danger to people with disabilities.” 

“Many disabilities can quickly become ‘terminal’ if not managed properly. This remains the case whether done intentionally for people with disabilities who are actively seeking to end their own lives or through lack of access to medical assistance,” Robinson said.

“People with disabilities recognize the risk the McArthur’s bill poses to them, which is why major disability groups in Scotland, such as Inclusion Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance, and Disability Equality Scotland, do not support this bill.”

MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who is the first permanent wheelchair user in the Scottish Parliament, shared her own concerns about the rejected amendments upon disabled people. 

“The committee rejected placing timescales on prognosis. This means anyone with an illness that could result in their premature death is eligible. That’s me and thousands of disabled people and people with conditions like diabetes across Scotland. I don’t believe that is what Parliament intends. This is dangerous for disabled people and I will fight it all the way,” Duncan-Glancy said. 

McArthur’s bill is separate from the bill currently progressing through Parliament in London, which proposes the legalization of assisted suicide in England and Wales. 

Catholics in Scotland are asked to urge their local MSP to vote against the bill when it comes to the final debate at Stage 3.

Paul Badde. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

CNA Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 16:36 pm (CNA).

Paul Badde, author of many well-known books such as “Benedict Up Close,” “The Face of God,” and “The True Icon,” died early Monday morning at the age of 77 after a long illness. Badde was also a veteran contributor to EWTN and CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

Badde was born on March 10, 1948, in Schaag, Germany, a small village on the Lower Rhine. He studied philosophy and sociology in Freiburg as well as art history, history, and political science in Frankfurt. Before embarking on a journalistic career, Badde worked as a teacher for several years.

As a journalist, he was known for his work at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and later at Die Welt. Badde served for many years as a Jerusalem correspondent before moving to Rome. He was also one of the founding editors of Vatican Magazine.

As reported by Die Tagespost, Badde died in his beloved Manoppello in the Italian Abruzzo region. Paul and his wife, Ellen, had five children.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pro-life advocates participate in a prayer procession in Regensburg, Germany. / Credit: ADF International

Regensburg, Germany, Nov 7, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

The Bavarian city of Regensburg has withdrawn restrictions banning prayer vigils near an abortion clinic following court rulings that found the buffer zone violated constitutional freedoms, according to a report by CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

The Bavarian city lifted its 100-meter (328-foot) exclusion zone around abortion facilities on Oct. 24 after suffering setbacks before both the Regensburg Administrative Court and the Bavarian Administrative Court, according to a Nov. 6 press release from the international human rights organization.

The city established the buffer zone in summer 2025, effectively prohibiting prayer vigils held by the group Helpers for God’s Precious Children Germany in the immediate vicinity of the clinics, CNA Deutsch reported Nov. 7.

Courts counter claim of coercion

The Bavarian Administrative Court clarified in its ruling that Germany’s Pregnancy Conflict Law, amended at the end of 2024, does not permit blanket prohibition zones for expression of opinion or assemblies near abortion facilities.

The court found that the city failed to prove prayer participants were exerting impermissible coercion on women seeking abortions, as officials had claimed.

Felix Böllmann, director of advocacy at ADF International, characterized the outcome as “a clear commitment to the rule of law.”

“This victory protects peaceful protesters from partisan politics and prevents the misuse of amended legislation to suppress fundamental freedoms,” Böllmann said in the press release.

According to the legal organization, the city withdrew its restrictions because it likely would have lost the main proceedings. ADF International represented the prayer group in the case.

Persistent political pressure

The implementation of the buffer zone followed sustained political pressure on city officials, according to ADF International. A member of the German Parliament from the Social Democratic Party had reportedly urged municipal authorities to act against the prayer vigils.

The case marks the latest battle in Germany over peaceful pro-life witness near abortion facilities. In 2022, the Mannheim Administrative Court ruled in favor of prayer vigils organized by 40 Days for Life in Pforzheim after the city had banned the gatherings.

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg has been a prominent voice for life protection in Germany, regularly participating in Berlin’s annual March for Life.

Blessed Clemens August von Galen. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Münster/Domkapitular Gustav Albers (CC BY 2.5)

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 7, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed:

Apostolic nuncio to Germany: ‘Lion of Munster’ Cardinal von Galen should be canonized

The apostolic nuncio in Germany is calling for the swift canonization of Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen, widely known as the “Lion of Münster,” renowned for his courageous opposition to Nazi persecution. 

Archbishop Nikola Eterović made the appeal during a memorial Mass marking 20 years since the cardinal’s beatification by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Around 400 faithful gathered for the commemoration, which celebrated the life and witness of one of Germany’s most outspoken Catholic voices during the Third Reich. 

“May this grateful remembrance also become a prayer for a swift canonization of the revered cardinal,” Eterović said, according to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner. 

Von Galen served as bishop of Münster from 1933 to 1946, earning his nickname after delivering three powerful sermons in summer 1941 that condemned Nazi euthanasia programs and attacks on the Church. His fearless defense of human dignity and religious freedom made him a target of the regime, yet he continued advocating for the vulnerable until his death in March 1946, just weeks after being elevated to cardinal.

New Vatican envoy for South Korea is hoping for peace with North Korea

South Korea’s new ambassador to the Holy See has expressed hope to serve the Vatican’s efforts to achieve peace between North and South Korea. 

“I will do my best for peace on the Korean peninsula,” said Ambassador Stefano Shin Hyung-sik in an interview with UCA News. Shin, who was appointed on Oct. 29, also said he hopes a visit from Pope Leo XIV to South Korea during World Youth Day 2027 will be “a decisive diplomatic opportunity to revive the momentum for dialogue for peace on the Korean peninsula.” The event, he said, will not only serve as a gathering for the Church but also will be one “that can send a message of peace and solidarity to the world.”

Pope Leo receives credentials of Lebanon’s new ambassador to the Holy See

In a ceremony held at the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV accepted the credentials of Lebanon’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Fadi Assaf, reported ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. The meeting follows the pope’s recent audience with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and comes just weeks before the pontiff’s apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon, his first official visit to the region.

During his stay in Lebanon, the pope will deliver an address at the presidential palace in Baabda, visit the tomb of St. Charbel in Annaya, and meet clergy and consecrated persons at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.

The trip will also feature an interfaith gathering in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square and a youth encounter in front of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke.

Catholic Church in Pakistan celebrates 55th anniversary, opens theological college

The Catholic Church in Pakistan marked its 55th anniversary this week amid widespread Christian persecution in the Muslim-majority country. 

A thanksgiving and holy Communion service was celebrated by the moderator Bishop Azad Marshall alongside Multan Bishop Leo Paul to honor the occasion on Nov. 1, according to a Nov. 5 press release. The event also inaugurated the new St. Thomas Theological College in Khanewal.

Aleppo honors St. Ignatius Maloyan, saint of faith and loyalty

The Armenian Catholic community in Aleppo celebrated a thanksgiving Mass to honor the canonization of St. Ignatius Maloyan, bishop of Mardin, who was martyred during the Ottoman persecutions of 1915.

Presided over by Archbishop Boutros Marayati at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the service included the consecration of a new altar bearing the saint’s icon. Among the attendees were descendants of survivors of the Mardin massacres, whose ancestors perished alongside Maloyan, ACI MENA reported. 

Marayati described Maloyan as a “universal saint and a witness to faith,” recalling his refusal to renounce Christianity under threat of death. The bishop’s letter before martyrdom, read aloud during the Mass, emphasized loyalty to both faith and civic duty, urging his flock to remain steadfast and faithful. 

Many testimonies of miracles and healings attributed to Maloyan’s intercession continue to reach Church authorities in Lebanon and Armenia. 

Kenyan bishop offers spiritual comfort to landslide victims

Bishop Henry Juma Odonya of Kitale, Kenya, has offered his spiritual solidarity with victims of a landslide that has left more than 26 people dead in the neighboring Eldoret Diocese, ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, reported on Wednesday. 

“We pray for the Christians of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret and those from the Chesongoch Parish and other parts of Kenya who have lost their lives or property,” the bishop said during a Nov. 5 homily during the annual Peace Mass bringing together the dioceses of Eldoret, Lodwar, and Kitale. May the God of peace bless them and give them comfort during this time of trial. We offer prayers for our departed loved ones, particularly in November, a month dedicated to honoring the deceased.”

Indian Supreme Court orders state government response to anti-conversion law challenge

The Supreme Court in India has directed the Rajasthan state government to file a response to challenges raised against its stringent anti-conversion laws, according to a Nov. 4 report from UCA News. 

The move comes after a division bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta accepted the petitions of Christian journalist and activist John Dayal and M. Huzaifa, a researcher and rights defender, who both called the courts to suspend the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2025, which criminalizes religious conversion. “This law is a chilling example of how the state seeks to bypass the judiciary entirely,” Dayal said, according to the report.

Thousands of European scouts make a pilgrimage to France. / Credit: Illian Callé

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 7, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A total of 3,500 scouts and adult leaders from 13 European countries made a pilgrimage to the French town of Vézelay to “rebuild the kingdom of God with their own hands” and receive the strength of the Holy Spirit as they trekked along the roads of the Burgundy region.

The event marked the 50th edition of the historic pilgrimage, held Oct. 30–Nov. 2, and the theme for this year was “Called to an Apostolate of Beauty.”

Thousands of Rover Scouts (typically 18-26 years old) from all over Europe set out on the pilgrimage from eight different churches located about 25 miles from Vézelay, according to the Catholic scouting program Guides and Scouts of Europe’s website.

In 1976, barely a hundred young people participated in the first pilgrimage to Vézelay. Half a century later, this gathering of the Scouts of Europe has become an iconic event in the small Burgundy town.

The young pilgrims participated in Masses and camped outdoors as they passed through villages like Marigny, Cure, and Malassis, also inviting the locals to participate in the Masses.

For four days, the scouts hiked the roads in an atmosphere of silence, prayer, and fraternity, sharing the journey, Eucharistic adoration, community life, and listening to the advice of the leaders and chaplains on Christian commitment as they gathered around a campfire at night.

Coming to the event  from Switzerland, a youth named Grégoire told the Guides and Scouts of Europe that he experiences “something indescribable” every year and so he wanted to invite several friends to share the pilgrimage.

The scouts were able to visit the small town of Paray-le-Monial, where Jesus Christ revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque his Sacred Heart. In addition, on Oct. 30, 1,300 Rover Scouts gathered in front of the church in Anzy-le-Duc.

After four days of walking, the pilgrims arrived at St. Mary Magdalene Basilica in Vézelay to participate in the traditional vigil, followed by Eucharistic adoration, while several priests heard confessions by the pillars in the church.

Upon entering the basilica, the young Scouts of Europe knocked on the door of the church with their walking sticks, sang the “Kyrie des gueux” (“Poor hungry pilgrims begging for sustenance”), from a traditional song inspired by an old German military hymn “Wir zogen in das Feld,” composed in 1540. 

Finally, on Sunday, Nov. 2, Archbishop Pascal Wintzer of Sens-Auxerre sent the Rover Scouts out to bear witness to the strength they had received in Vézelay, even amid difficulties. “The Christian faith is not an insurance policy that protects us from life’s trials,” he exhorted during the closing Mass.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Then-Bishop of Verdun Jean-Paul Gusching speaks on the phone before the closing speech on the last day of the Conference des Eveques de France (French Bishops’ Conference), in Lourdes, southwestern France, on Nov. 8, 2022. / Credit: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

EWTN News, Nov 6, 2025 / 16:02 pm (CNA).

The Vatican has clarified that the resignation of Bishop Jean-Paul Gusching, former head of the Diocese of Verdun in eastern France, was prompted by reports of inappropriate relationships with women rather than solely by health concerns as initially stated at the end of September.

In a statement issued on Nov. 4, the apostolic nunciature in France said it had received “information concerning relationships toward women by Bishop Jean-Paul Gusching, then bishop of Verdun,” which was forwarded to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome.

According to the communiqué, despite the bishop’s “persistent denials” and the “fragmentary and contradictory” nature of the reports, he had pledged to the dicastery “to avoid in the future any behavior toward women that could be interpreted as contrary to his priestly commitments.”

However, “given the persistence of the situation,” Pope Leo XIV solicited and accepted his resignation, which took effect  Sept. 27. The nunciature clarified that the “health reasons publicly invoked by the prelate are only one element among others” that led to the Holy Father’s decision to accept the resignation.

As a precautionary measure, the Vatican has imposed on Gusching “a retired life in a place located outside both his diocese of origin, Amiens, and that of Verdun” and instructed him “to refrain from any liturgical celebrations and public pastoral activities.”

A preliminary canonical investigation has been opened, entrusted to Pontoise Emeritus Bishop Stanislas Lalanne, assisted by Archbishop Philippe Ballot, the metropolitan of Metz and apostolic administrator of Verdun.

The nunciature also confirmed that a report has been submitted to the civil authorities. 

In a message to the clergy and faithful of Verdun, Ballot expressed “his closeness and support to all those who will be legitimately hurt by this information,” emphasizing the Church’s duty to act transparently.

“Doing the work of truth is necessary in order to maintain the habitual trust between the faithful of Christ and those who have received the mission to be their pastors,” he wrote.

Gusching, 70, had announced his resignation in late September, citing “a concerning situation requiring appropriate medical care.” At that time, no reference was made to disciplinary measures.

The apostolic nunciature’s statement confirms that the resignation was in fact requested by the Holy See following ongoing concerns about the bishop’s conduct.

“Faithful to the received tradition, the Church recalls that priests — and therefore bishops first of all — are called to live in conformity with the commitments made at the time of their ordination,” Ballot wrote in his pastoral letter, issued from Lourdes where the French bishops are currently gathered for their autumn plenary assembly.

The case comes at a delicate time for the French episcopate, which has committed to addressing issues of clergy accountability with greater transparency, particularly since the publication of the 2021 report on sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.

The Church in France, long criticized for handling these issues discreetly, created the world-first National Canonical Criminal Court (TPCN) in 2022 to deal with canonical offenses.

Speaking to the regional newspaper L’Est Républicain, Gusching admitted having had a relationship for seven years, from around 2015 to 2022, which he described as consensual and with “a woman of age.”

Claiming that he is “not proud of it” and has made amends to the Holy See in this regard, he nonetheless denounced Rome’s handling of the affair as “disgusting” and claimed that “they want [his] head,” speaking of “jealousy” toward him in this case.

The canonical inquiry remains ongoing, and Church authorities have declined further comment “to preserve the serenity of the judicial process and in respect of the presumption of innocence,” the nunciature said.

The National Council of the Slovak Republic, the national Parliament of Slovakia, in Bratislava. / Credit: Peter Zelizňák via Wikimedia (Public domain)

EWTN News, Nov 6, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Bishops and educators have raised concerns about a major education overhaul signed into law by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, saying new funding rules could unfairly affect Catholic and private schools.

The changes include unified online registration of kids for a school year and compulsory pre-school education for 4-year-olds, and later for 3-year-olds. Less-qualified personnel will be allowed to teach to offset the shortage of teachers. Universities should reduce bureaucracy and adopt modern methods, including artificial intelligence, according to the changes.

Yet one of the main issues is the new financing of private and Church-run schools.

The Ministry of Education explained that such schools can receive full funding if they admit students in accordance with the new rules, provide free education, or clearly serve the public interest.

The Slovak Bishops’ Conference (KBS) will monitor the implementation of the changes. However, the conference said the education ministry did not take into account KBS’ numerous suggestions, the episcopate stated in September. Therefore, KBS was “fundamentally in conflict with the amendment to the School Act in the form in which it was submitted to Parliament.”

The Slovak Chamber of Teachers warned that the legislative process took place “without any professional discussion in a few hours, and not months.” However, it requires “high-quality, honest legislative and professional work.”

Former Minister of Education Ján Horecký, who was a principal at a Catholic school, said he thinks the effect on private and Church-run schools will be discriminatory and unfair. It will “reduce the availability of education” and “worsen conditions for children in the name of shifting decision-making about children from parents to the state.”

After the passing of the School Act, the principals of Catholic schools in the Košice Archdiocese went on a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of the World of Education. They attended the general audience with Pope Leo XIV. Auxiliary Bishop Marek Forgáč, who accompanied them, greeted the pontiff, saying they were “very encouraged” by the pope’s words.

It was important to be “with our supreme teacher, as we need to be formed and spiritually encouraged, too, to be a good example for those to whom we are sent — our pupils and students,” the bishop concluded.

Father Francisco José Delgado, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain. / Credit: Photo courtesy of “La Sacristía de la Vendée”

Madrid, Spain, Nov 6, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Father Francisco José Delgado, a priest of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain, and a member of the YouTube priests’ discussion group “The Sacristy of the Vendée,” has been declared innocent of the charge of “inciting hatred” against the Holy See, interfering in the investigation into the Sodality of Christian Life (SCV by its Latin acronym), and damaging the “good reputation” of layman José Enrique Escardó, one of the main promoters of proceedings against the SCV.

The Vendée is a region in France where priests refused to take the oath of loyalty to the revolutionary government hostile to the Catholic Church that had seized power in 1789. “The Sacristy of the Vendée” describes itself as “counterrevolutionary.” 

The verdict, announced on X Nov. 5 by the Spanish priest, closes the canonical penal investigation, which began in June 2024.

Months earlier, the Archdiocese of Toledo had received two complaints against the priest. In the first, dated Jan. 30, 2024, he was accused of “damaging the good name and slandering Mr. Escardó Stecjk, the alleged victim” of the SCV.

Two days later, on Feb. 1, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith officially notified the Archdiocese of Toledo of “its concern” regarding Delgado’s actions whom it accused of “interfering with the [Vatican’s] special mission to the Sodality of Christian Life.”

Based on both complaints, the archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro, opened an investigation in June 2024 and its report was submitted a month later.

Prior to these events, Cerro imposed precautionary measures on Delgado to “prevent any presence on social media or posts on social media and any type of written publication intended for dissemination.”

This decision stemmed from the controversy sparked by a comment about Pope Francis in the priests’ discussion group he coordinates. One of the participants, Father Gabriel Calvo Zarraute, spoke of praying for the pontiff “so that he may go to heaven as soon as possible.”

The ecclesiastical tribunal’s ruling, dated July 28, established that Delgado did not commit any of the canonical offenses of which he was accused.

Regarding Escardó’s good reputation, the tribunal stated that “the facts point to the complete opposite. That is to say, the one who has truly damaged the reputation of the Church and its priests is none other than Mr. Escardó.”

Furthermore, it is stated that “at no point has it been demonstrated that he was a victim of abuse,” “nor is it proven at any point that he felt revictimized,” and his attitude “is merely an excuse to defame and slander the Church.”

“We must give full credence to what Father Francisco José Delgado and the witnesses have declared, and not to what Mr. Escardó supposedly says and accuses,” the ruling stated.

Delgado didn’t impede the investigation into the SVC

Regarding the accusation made by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith of interfering in the investigation into the Sodality of Christian Life, the tribunal stated that “it is not proven that the comments and actions” of the priest from Toledo “impeded the special mission carried out by the Holy See,” which concluded with the dissolution of the Sodality of Christian Life.

This decision by the dicastery is in fact the main proof the tribunal’s recognition of Delgado’s innocence: “It is necessary that there be a complete impossibility of exercising the authority’s discretionary act, and in the present case, the resolution of the aforementioned dicastery with respect to the sodality proves the contrary.”

Delgado tried to correct the alleged joke about Pope Francis

When analyzing the accusation of “inciting aversion or hatred toward the Apostolic See,” the tribunal found that Calvo had made “a regrettable and inappropriate joke” during “The Sacristy of the Vendée” YouTube discussion.

The tribunal described how “Father Francisco José immediately and repeatedly attempted to divert the course of the discussion, fully aware of the seriousness of the statements,” and added that he was “fully aware of the implications of the supposed joke ... and tried to correct what had been said.”

Toledo Archdiocese issues statement

“We regret that the statement issued by the Archdiocese on February 28, 2024, may have generated erroneous interpretations that damaged the good name and reputation of Father Francisco José Delgado Martín,” states a Nov. 5  press release issued by the Archdiocese of Toledo.

“Likewise, we regret that the imposition of disciplinary measures, such as the prohibition on using media outlets or social media, has been interpreted as a condemnation imposed by the Archdiocese or the Holy See, which is categorically false,” the text clarifies.

The statement also highlights “the good attitude of Father Francisco José Delgado Martín who, since the aforementioned measures were imposed, has always shown obedience and scrupulous respect for the canonical process and his superiors, remaining in full ecclesial communion throughout the entire process.”

Finally, the text states that “once the sentence has been handed down and is final, in order to ensure the truth of the facts and reaffirm the commitment to justice to the affected party and to the Christian community, we consider that the good name and reputation of the Rev. Francisco José Delgado Martín as a priest of this particular Church of Toledo has been restored.”

‘The Sacristy of the Vendée’ returns to the internet

A few days before the verdict was announced, the priestly discussion group “The Sacristy of the Vendée” announced its return to the internet on Nov. 6 after months of intermittent broadcasts. The group released a video in which they decried “18 months of lies, hatred, silence, and darkness.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.