Pope Names Women for 1st Time to Vatican Posts; One Is to Synod of Bishops,Other to Vatican Court

Pope Francis has appointed two women to Vatican posts previously held only by men, giving women more empowerment in the male-dominated Holy See, the Reuters website reports today (February 7, 2021). 

He appointed Nathalie Becquart, a French member of the Xaviere Missionary Sisters, yesterday as co-undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, a department that prepares major meetings of world bishops. 

The previous day, Francis named Italian magistrate Catia Summaria as the first woman Promoter of Justice in the Vatican's Court of Appeals.

The pope still adamantly rejects allowing women priests in the Roman Catholic Church, although he did say he is considering the conduciveness of allowing women deacons in the near future.

Supreme Court Rules Cal. Churches Can Open; Gov. Newsom's Closing Dictate Violates Const.

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday lifted California's ban on indoor church services during the COVID-19 pandemic, ruling that Gov. Gavin Newsom's strict orders violate the Constitution's protection for the free exercise of religion, the LA Times website reports today (February 6, 2021).

The justices, in a 6-3 decision, granted an appeal from a south San Diego church that has repeatedly challenged the state restrictions on church services. 

The ruling overturned decisions by  federal judges in San Diego and San Bernardino, and the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco, which had upheld the state's orders. 

Biden Speaks at 2021 National Prayer Breakfast; Rips Extremism,White Supremacy,US Terrorism

 President Joe Biden spoke at the 2021 National Prayer Breakfast yesterday, using the occasion to condemn "political extremism"and call on Americans to unite as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, the Christian Post website reports today (February 5, 2021).

Biden -- the first Roman Catholic to serve as president of the U.S. since John F. Kennedy in 1963 -- delivered a speech at the annual breakfast that took place virtually this year because of COVID-19.

In his speech, the president weighed in on the "violent assault on the U.S. Capitol... an assault on our democracy, on our Capitol, a violent attack that threatened lives and took lives."

Biden added, "We know now we must confront and defeat political extremism, white supremacy, and domestic terrorism."

Denmark May Need to Give Rel.Sermons to Govt.; Due to Radical Islamic Groups Backing Terrorism

 Christian leaders in Denmark say a proposed law would require leaders of all faiths to translate their sermons into Danish and submit them to the government, the CBN News website reports today (February 4, 2021).

The new measure is primarily aimed at radical Islamic groups, but it will also affect churches. It is scheduled to be reviewed this month at the Danish Parliament. 

The country has a population of more than 270,000 Muslims, and most of the sermons in the mosques are preached in Arabic. 

Pope Praises Cath.Church in US as Courageous; Church Must Not Be Divided, But Have 1 Heart

"The church in the United States is a church that has been courageous -- the history it has and the saints -- and has  done so much," Pope Francis said during an interview with journalists from Catholic News Service (CNS) on February 1 at the Vatican, according to the RNS website. 

The audience marked the 100th anniversary of the news agency, which is an arm of the United States . Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

"A divided church is not the church," the pope told the CNS reporters. He made a distinction between unity and uniformity, calling for a church of "unity with differences, but one heart."

Fauci Says Vaccine Use to Get Better Fast; Biden's 200M More Doses Allows 300M Shots by Summer

 Dr. Anthony Fauci said today (February 2, 2021) that vaccine distribution to fight the coronavirus in the U,S, will "get better very quickly," according to t he CNN website. 

With the Biden administration's recent purchase of 200 million additional doses, the president says this will now be enough doses to fully vaccinate 300 million people by the end of the summer -- almost the entire U.S. population.

Meanwhile, Japan is planning to extend its state of emergency as case numbers rise. The president says the country's 2020 Olympics -- postponed from last year -- are set for Japan this summer, and will go on no matter what.

Tony Bennett Says He Has Alzheimer's Disease; Iconic Singer 1st Diagnosed with Disease in 2016

Tony Bennett and his family today (February 1, 2021) revealed that he has been battling Alzheimer's disease, according to The Hollywood Reporter website. 

The 94-year-old iconic singer was first diagnosed with  Alzheimer's in 2016.  

The popular singer can still recognize family members, but he is still not always sure where he is or what is happening around him, hus wife, Susan Crow, said.