A German bishop has assumed political sponsorship for an Iranian woman sentenced to death. She was arrested following protests, allegedly for transporting injured people. Reports indicate she was beaten and held in solitary confinement before her sentence was announced. The bishop stated he cannot accept this injustice and believes attempting to help is necessary, even if the outcome is uncertain. This marks his fifth such sponsorship, following previous efforts for other Iranian detainees since 2022. The case highlights the severe persecution faced by Christians and others in the region, where legal protections are often ignored.
Translated from DeutschAlso reported by 2 outlets
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Rynco Maekawa on UnsplashPersecuted church
A political dispute has erupted in Spain regarding a 1934 Christ statue in Felanitx, Mallorca. Critics argue the raised right arm resembles a fascist salute rather than a blessing, prompting the socialist-led central government to consider removing the monument. The initiative seeks to list the statue as an offensive historical object, requiring expert reviews and hearings. While the proposal’s supporters claim the design was altered by Falangist sympathizers, the Balearic regional government, the Diocese of Mallorca, and the local municipality defend the statue. They assert it predates the Spanish Civil War and Franco dictatorship, holding no political significance and representing important cultural heritage. (katholisch.de)
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Heiner Wilmer, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, expressed deep shock over the high-speed train collision near Madrid. He offered condolences to victims' families and thanked local pastoral and emergency workers. The Spanish Bishops' Conference urged parishes to pray for the deceased and injured. Toledo Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves visited the crash site to offer support and opened diocesan facilities for aid. Authorities reported at least 64 deaths and 80 injuries, with 50 seriously hurt, following the Wednesday morning accident south of Madrid.
Following a shooting attack on a funeral in a village in Jordan, which killed eight people and injured forty, German Catholic bishops called for solidarity. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki stated that terrorism is unjustifiable and demanded better protection for church facilities. The attack occurred in a governorate in Jordan. The King of Jordan condemned the act as terrorism and promised severe retaliation. Local religious leaders and officials also denounced the violence, emphasizing that it contradicts religious teachings and aims to divide society. The victims were identified as martyrs by the royal family.
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A labor court in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, scheduled a hearing for April 14, 2027, after mediation failed in the dispute between Martina Müller and an evangelical hospice provider. Müller, a local AfD politician, was fired in August for running in elections despite warnings from her employer, mission:lebenshaus gGmbH in Jever. The church organization argued that her candidacy violated core Christian values, citing the state's classification of the AfD as right-wing extremist. Müller contests the termination and seeks the removal of a prior warning from her personnel file. The court will decide on the validity of the dismissal if no settlement is reached.
Ahead of Israel's parliamentary election, many Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories are considering emigration due to worsening conditions. Ralf Rothenbusch of the German Association of the Holy Land states that hope is low under the current right-wing coalition. Jesuit Father David Neuhaus notes the diverse and complex situation of Christians, who face discrimination, economic hardship, and violence from extremist settlers in the West Bank. Sharbel Yaqub highlights lost trust in the state following the October 7 attacks. Despite some civic engagement, many believe the election outcome will not significantly improve their security or rights.
Vatican authorities denied entry to St. Peter's Basilica for traditionalist pilgrims during the 'Ad Petri Sedem' pilgrimage in October. The request for a procession and prayer inside the basilica was rejected by the State Secretariat, citing insufficient specificity in the application. While a Mass in the pre-conciliar rite was held at Santa Maria Maggiore, the group could not enter St. Peter's. This decision follows a previous year's event led by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, which some viewed as overly triumphalist. Joseph Shaw of Una Voce International clarified that the rejection was due to procedural issues, not a ban on prayer, though the outcome caused frustration among supporters of the traditional liturgy.
Several US Catholic bishops have distanced themselves from the White House after a prayer meeting with President Donald Trump was used for political promotion. Denver Archbishop James R. Golka stated he never intended to endorse the Republican president, while Bishop William Joensen expressed regret for being naive. The bishops claim they were asked to support Trump without their knowledge and that video footage was published without permission. This controversy arises just before the midterm elections on November 3. The White House defended the interaction, highlighting Trump's record on religious rights, but the church leaders insist their participation was strictly spiritual and not political.
Representatives of various religions are meeting in Assisi, Italy, for an international peace conference. Pope Leo XIV called for prayers for peace in Rome but will not attend the event in person due to a recent lung operation. The gathering, held under the theme of disarmed peace, marks the 40th anniversary of the first such initiative by Pope John Paul II. Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I is the highest-ranking Christian leader present. German Bishop Heiner Wilmer and Thomas Rachel, the German government's envoy for religious freedom, also attend. The participants plan to issue a peace appeal to the world, emphasizing the need to counter violence and the misuse of religious names.
The Polish bishops' conference condemned two abortion law proposals passed by the Sejm in Poland. Speaking in Zakopane, the bishops argued that the parliamentary debate itself signaled societal approval of abortions, which they described as morally indifferent. They urged respect for unborn life and called for concrete support for women in difficult situations. One bill would allow abortions in cases of severe fetal abnormalities, a rule previously struck down by the constitutional court. The other seeks to decriminalize assistance with illegal abortions. President Karol Nawrocki is expected to veto the measures, as a supermajority to override him is unlikely. Poland currently maintains one of Europe's strictest abortion laws.
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