Angelus News | October 25, 2019 | Vol. 4 No. 36

WORLD
GAGE SKIDMORE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
‘Wonder Woman’ to play
Catholic Holocaust hero
Israeli actress Gal Gadot will be playing a different
kind of Wonder Woman.
A new film will tell the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish
Catholic woman whose actions during World War II
saved thousands of Jewish lives. Sendler will be played
by Gadot, who is also co-producing the film with her
husband.
“As producers, we want to help bring stories that have
inspired us to life,” the couple explained to entertainment
news website Deadline.
Sendler received a permit to enter the Jewish ghetto
in Warsaw during the German occupation to inspect
sanitary conditions. She used the permit to smuggle
out thousands of Jewish children, who were placed in
Christian homes or other Catholic institutions to help
keep them safe.
The film’s release date has not yet been released.
Gal Gadot (left) and Irena Sendler.
Canada mulls canceling religion class
Believers in Canada fear new legislation may dismiss
religion from Quebec schools.
A new bill presented in Quebec’s legislature Oct. 1
seeks to abolish the Ministry of Education’s Religious
Affairs Committee and remove language from the
Education Act that promises “complementary services of
spiritual animation and community engagement,” and
requires schools to “facilitate the student’s spiritual development
in order to foster his or her development.”
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education
claimed in a statement to Catholic News Service (CNS)
Vatican police chief quits
As his lead bodyguard, Domenico Giani was often seen keeping close
watch on Pope Francis in public appearances.
The pope’s longtime chief of police has resigned his post
amid leaked details of an ongoing investigation of financial
wrongdoing in the Vatican.
Domenico Giani, who served as Vatican chief of police
since 2006, announced his resignation Oct. 14. His
resignation came after Vatican police raided offices in the
Secretariat of State Oct. 1. An Italian paper published a
leaked copy of a suspension order, which included photos
of the five people prohibited from re-entering the Vatican.
Although a press statement from the Holy See said he
“bears no personal responsibility in the unfolding of the
events,” Giani told Vatican Media that he “felt shame for
what happened and for the suffering of these people.”
“Having always said I was ready to sacrifice my life to
defend the pope’s, in the same spirit I made the decision to
resign,” he said.
Days after the resignation, Pope Francis paid a visit to
Giani’s house as a sign of appreciation for the former commander’s
20 years of service to three popes.
that the committee was being eliminated because its
“opinion has not been sought since 2007.” Former committee
chair Marie-Andree Roy, who stepped down in
2013, claims that the government had been ignoring the
work of the committee for the last few years.
“The committee made a significant contribution to the
establishment of the Ethics and Religious Culture program.
It has produced various very relevant studies on issues
related to religion in schools, but was generally met
with radio silence from the ministers,” Roy told CNS.
The legislation comes months after Quebec prohibited
all public servants from wearing religious symbols during
work hours.
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE/PAUL HARING
4 • ANGELUS • October 25, 2019