As part of the #GivingTuesday effort Dec. 1, area faithful were urged to direct their contributions to the #iGiveCatholic campaign.

The initiative - in which more than 40 dioceses and archdioceses in the United States participate - enables donors to put their money where their faith is by directly supporting Catholic parishes, schools and nonprofit ministries.

Several weeks ago, the archdiocese partnered with the independent Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) to launch #iGiveCatholic in the five-county Philadelphia region. The response was one of "overwhelming generosity," said Archbishop Nelson Pérez in a video message released Thursday evening, Dec. 3.

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A video of Sunday's live-streamed Mass shows two readers leaving the sanctuary after completing the readings when the mentally ill woman punched one of them twice in the face.

The attack was seemingly unprovoked.

The victim says the woman mumbled "something about respecting God" while hitting her.

Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia says the reader received immediate help from Cathedral staff members off camera, did not require medical attention and is "doing well".

The church contacted authorities immediately after the incident.

"We immediately followed up on it off-camera and it's important for us to do that because people are at home and continuing to participate in Mass," says Rev. Dennis Gill.

The incident was "very upsetting," he says.

"Parishioners attending in person were shocked as were so many that watch the 11 a.m. Mass live-streamed online."

According to Kenneth Gavin, chief communications officer for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the victim did not know the woman who attacked her, and "it is unclear what precipitated the assault."

He says "there are safety and security plans in place for the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and it is a safe place to visit and to worship."

His statement also encouraged people to "be assured that there are safety and security plans in place for the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

"We welcome all visitors and work to provide for their safety."

"Violence has no place in our world and every life is a precious gift from God."

"Please join me in praying for everyone involved in today's incident and for respect for our fellow brothers and sisters."

Police say after questioning the woman they have deferred assault charges because she is not mentally fit to face prosecution.

Source

• PENNLive
• DailyWire
• Catholic News Agency
• Philadelphia
• Image: PhillyVoice

The city says it has stopped using CSS because it does not place children with same-sex couples.

Last week one of the Philadelphia Councillors asked for the city's Public Health and Human Services to investigate Philadelphia's partnership with organisations that do not place foster children with LGBTQ people.

The councillor said refusing to place children with LGBTQ people is discriminatory.

For the same reasons, Bethany Christian Services are not allowed to place foster children either.

Both the Catholic Church and Bethany Christian Services have been targeted because they are seen to be violating city contract rules that forbid discrimination.

Philadelphia's fair practices ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, is included in all city contracts, the city's executive director of the Human Relations Commission says.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's chief communications officer, Kenneth Gavin, says CSS hopes the foster care partnership with the city will resume.

"Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognises the vital importance of the foster care program in our city and is proud to provide safe and nurturing foster environments to young people in need.

"We hope to continue our productive relationship with the City of Philadelphia to serve those among us in need."

Gavin says CSS is, "at its core, an institution founded on faith-based principles. The Catholic Church does not endorse same-sex unions based upon deeply held religious beliefs and principles.

"As such, CSS would not be able to consider foster care placement within the context of a same-sex union."

Nonetheless, Gavin says CSS provides foster care services to any young person in need of assistance regardless of background and without making inquiry as to their sexual identity or orientation.

"That's important to note as it is also a deeply held religious belief for us to provide care for all those in need with dignity, charity and respect."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• The Inquirer
• Image: Foster-Care-v2

He told parishioners and reporters that he was told the issue of clergy sex abuse was taken care of when he became archbishop seven years ago.

"Unfortunately I believed that and so my biggest apology today, and I did this last week at two other parishes, is to say I overlooked this. I should have investigated it more than I did," Nienstedt said.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is taking steps to reconcile the issue, Nienstedt said. The steps include releasing the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. Several parishioners said they were pleased Nienstedt addressed the issue but a few said they wished he would have done it sooner.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, meanwhile, announced on Sunday that it had placed another five priests on administrative leave, including one accused of sexual abuse.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput determined that there was a substantiated case of sexual abuse of a minor against a 58-year-old priest identified as Michael A. Chapman, according to a church statement. It gave no further details on the allegation.

Chapman was not immediately available for comment, a Reuters report said.

The other four suspended priests were determined to have violated standards of behavior and boundaries, the church said without elaborating. A church document defines one of the boundaries as pertaining to appropriate behavior with children.

The church said it had already reported the allegations against the men to the Philadelphia district attorney's office, and an archdiocese spokesman said he was not aware of any criminal charges against the men.

Sources

KARE
UPI
Reuters/Chicago Tribune
Image: Getty Images/Chicago Tribune