All articles tagged with #priest
In Tubarão, Brazil, Fr. Carlos Henrique Fernandes interrupted Mass at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi to comfort Marcos, an elderly man who had just learned his grandson had died by suicide. Fernandes then gave Marcos Communion as well. The moment, captured on video, went viral, drawing both praise for compassion and criticism over interrupting the liturgy.
Longtime Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus pastor Very Rev. John T. Howren, V.F., died at 61 from flu-related complications (pneumonia) while hospitalized in Mexico City; he had served as pastor since 2020 after being ordained in 1996, and funeral plans will be announced.
The Ugandan military has confirmed it is holding Catholic priest Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, who went missing nearly two weeks ago and was previously reported kidnapped by the army, accusing him of involvement in 'violent subversive activities.' The church and opposition figures criticize the detention amid concerns over enforced disappearances and political repression in Uganda, especially with upcoming elections.
A retired priest from Louisiana has pleaded guilty to charges of rape and kidnapping. The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a religious figure in such serious crimes. The plea marks a significant development in the legal proceedings against the former priest.
Former Iowa priest Father Leo Riley has pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual abuse stemming from alleged incidents involving altar boys at Resurrection School in Dubuque during the 1980s. Riley, who was arrested in Florida, denies the allegations and is demanding a speedy trial. The Archdiocese of Dubuque has opened an internal investigation into the new claims.
A Florida priest, Father Fidel Rodriguez, is accused of biting a woman during a dispute over Communion bread at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The incident occurred after the woman claimed she had completed the necessary steps to receive Communion, which the priest disputed. The altercation escalated when the woman tried to grab Communion bread, leading the priest to bite her arm. The case is under review by the State Attorney’s Office.
A priest in Florida bit a woman's hand during a physical altercation over Holy Communion at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The woman, who was not prepared for Communion, forcefully grabbed the sacred hosts, leading the priest to bite her hand to prevent desecration. The Diocese of Orlando stated the priest was trying to protect the Holy Communion and does not condone physical altercations. An investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed yet.
A Florida priest, Rev. Fidel Rodriguez, is accused of biting a woman during a dispute over Communion at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in St. Cloud. The woman, who had not completed the required Confession, forcefully grabbed Communion hosts, leading to a struggle where Rodriguez bit her hand to protect the sanctity of the Eucharist. Police are investigating the incident, and Rodriguez could face battery charges.
A priest in St. Cloud, Florida, was arrested for allegedly biting a woman during a dispute over communion at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The woman claimed she was denied communion despite completing the necessary steps, leading to an altercation where the priest bit her arm. The priest defended his actions, stating he was protecting the sacrament and acted in self-defense. The state will decide whether to charge him with battery.
A Florida priest allegedly bit a churchgoer during a Sunday Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud after she attempted to receive Holy Communion improperly. The incident, which the priest claims was an act of defending the sacrament, is under investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department. No arrests have been made, and no criminal charges have been filed.
A Florida priest at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is accused of biting a woman during Communion after she allegedly tried to grab Communion bread without following the necessary steps. The priest claims he acted in self-defense to protect the sacrament. The state will determine if the priest will face battery charges.
A suspect was arrested after stabbing a priest during a livestream in Wakeley, Australia, with a "number" of other people also injured; the incident was captured on video and the injured individuals are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
A Michigan priest, David Rosenberg, has been convicted of embezzling approximately $780,000 from retired priests while serving as the director of the Lansing Catholic Diocese’s St. Francis Retreat Center. The stolen funds were given to his charitable foundation, FaithFirst. Rosenberg faces prison time on multiple charges and is set to be sentenced on March 18. The Diocese of Lansing has expressed prayers for the victims and their families, and Rosenberg has been ordered to refrain from public ministry.
A Michigan priest, David Rosenberg, was found guilty of embezzling over $830,000 from three retired priests who lived at the Lansing Catholic Diocese's St. Francis Retreat Center from 2018-20. He used the money to fund his charitable foundation, FaithFirst. Rosenberg was convicted of multiple felony charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in March. The Diocese of Lansing stated that Rosenberg was not accused of stealing money from any diocesan entities and that he was ordered to refrain from public ministry when first charged in 2022.
A 76-year-old priest and his sister were found dead in Palm Bay, Florida, after a police shootout with a suspect, 24-year-old Brandon Kapas, who had been involved in a domestic disturbance during a family birthday party. The suspect, who had an arsenal of weapons and ammunition in his car, engaged in an exchange of gunfire with police, resulting in the deaths of the priest, Robert Hoeffner, and his sister, Sally Hoeffner, as well as the suspect himself. The police officers involved in the shootout have since recovered, and the relationship between the shooter and the victims remains unknown.