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Archive for the ‘Local Church’ Category

the two entrance doors to the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes, adorned with mosaics of former Jesuit Marko Ivan Rupnik Photo: Lourdes Sanctuary

Local Church•Persecuted Christians

This Is How Religious Persecution Has Increased in Nicaragua So Far in 2025, with the Government’s Insults to the Vatican

Since 2019, 11,763 processions have been banned or supressed by Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua. Since then, harassment and restrictions on religious freedom have prevented public religious demonstrations, such as processions or the open-air Via Crucis during Holy Week. In 2024, 4,800 processions were cancelled.

Causes of Saints•Local Church

Sale of relics of Blessed Carlo Acustis: Italian prosecutor’s office investigates one month before his canonization

Under Catholic Church law, the sale of first- and second-class relics is strictly forbidden. First-class relics—such as body parts or hair from a saint—are considered sacred and cannot be bought or sold under any circumstances. Only donations, properly authorized, are permitted. Even second-class relics, which include items used or worn by a saint, are subject to similar restrictions.

Local Church

Result of the German Synodal Way? Half a million Catholics leave the Church, official figures show

Additionally, while the number of people formally leaving the Church remains high, there is a clear downward trend. In 2024, 321,611 individuals officially left Catholicism, compared to 402,694 the year before and an all-time high of 500,000 in 2022. The latter figure was strongly influenced by a high-profile report on clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, which triggered widespread disillusionment.