Angelus News | November 13-20, 2020 | Vol. 5 No. 28

WORLD
‘Deplorable’ terrorist attacks rattle Europe
Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017.
UK: Former PM warns
over church closures
Another strict lockdown was issued
this month by Prime Minister Boris
Johnson in the United Kingdom,
where coronavirus (COVID-19) cases
are on the rise.
But some members of Parliament,
including Johnson’s own predecessor,
Theresa May, expressed worry about
the consequences of banning public
worship.
“My concern is that the government
today making it illegal to conduct an
act of public worship, for the best of
intentions, sets a precedent that could
be misused for a government of the
future for the worst of intentions,” said
May, who is Anglican, during a Nov. 4
debate on new lockdown restrictions.
Despite similar concerns from other
members of Parliament, the House of
Commons approved the new lockdown
the same day by a vote of 516
to 38.
Likewise, the Catholic bishops of
England said in a statement they
have “profound misgivings” about
the restrictions, but urged Catholics
to make use of churches for private
prayer and stated that the restrictions
are not an attack on religious belief,
but a lack of understanding about the
importance of faith.
WIKIMEDIA/HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
A pair of deadly attacks in Europe, including one inside a Catholic church, are
being investigated as acts of Islamic terrorism.
On Oct. 29, a 21-year-old Tunisian man with a knife entered the Basilica of
Notre-Dame de Nice and killed three people before Mass, one of them “virtually
beheaded,” according to French authorities. The man had just come from the
Italian island of Lampedusa, where he had arrived as a migrant last month. He
was arrested by police after the attack.
Days later on Nov. 3, at least five people were killed and 17 injured in a shooting
spree in Vienna, Austria.
The gunman started his attack outside a synagogue moved across six different
locations before police shot and killed the attacker. The gunman had previously
been jailed in April 2019 for trying to join ISIS in Syria, according to the BBC.
“I entrust to God’s mercy the people who have tragically passed away,” said Pope
Francis at his Nov. 4 General Audience, “and I express my spiritual closeness to
their families and to all those who suffer as a result of these deplorable events.”
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE/TODD HABINGER, THE LEAVEN
THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
After the Nov. 28 consistory the College of Cardinals will have 128 electors.
ELECTORS BY REGION
U.S. & Canada
13
24
COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST ELECTORS
Italy
Latin America
A graphic shows the breakdown of electors in the College of Cardinals after the Nov. 28
consistory, where Pope Francis will create 13 new cardinals.
Africa: Retired cardinal kidnapped and released
53
Europe
An elderly cardinal in Cameroon was released by kidnappers less than 24 hours
after he was taken by gunmen from a separatist militia.
The kidnapping of Cardinal Christian Tumi, archbishop emeritus of Douala,
came amid growing conflict between the English- and the French-speaking parts
of Cameroon.
“Glory be to God. Cardinal Tumi has been freed by the separatist fighters. He is
fine and in good health,” Bishop George Nkuo of the Kumbo Diocese announced
on the afternoon of Nov. 6. The cardinal also told the current archbishop of
Douala, Archbishop Samuel Kleba, that he was questioned but not tortured,
according to La Croix Africa.
Taken with Cardinal Tumi was also Fon Sehm Mbinglo I, local leader of the Nso
people, who was still in captivity as of press time.
18
Africa
Oceania
16
United States Spain Canada Brazil France
22 9 6 4 4 4
Source: Catholic News Service
©2020 Catholic News Service
4
Asia
4 • ANGELUS • November 13-20, 2020