Angelus News | July 12, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 14

NATION
■ Let Rupnik’s art be,
Vatican leader says in
Atlanta
Dr. Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican’s
Dicastery for Communication, defended
the continued use of art by Father Mark
Rupnik during the Catholic Media Conference
in Atlanta June 21.
Ruffini was asked about his department’s
regular practice of posting Rupnik’s
art on the Vatican News website and
social media.
Opinion over how to treat Rupnik’s
distinctive mosaics, which are found at
more than 200 Catholic centers worldwide,
has been divided since sexual
abuse allegations against the priest were
made public in December 2022. Rupnik
is accused of sexually and spiritually
abusing between 20 to 40 women and is
currently under canonical investigation.
“As Christian[s], we are asked not to
judge,” Ruffini said, later adding, “There
are things we don’t understand.”
“Do you think that if I put away a photo
of an art from ... our website, I will be
more close to the victims? Do you think
so?” Ruffini asked journalists. When an
answer was given in the affirmative, Ruffini
responded, “I think you’re wrong.”
■ An ecumenical land
trade in Oklahoma
A 74-acre property in Shawnee, Oklahoma,
is returning to the Benedictine
monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey in a unique
expression of ecumenism.
Originally founded in 1875 as a high
school, St. Gregory’s University filed for
bankruptcy in 2017 and became the
Green Campus for Oklahoma Baptist
University (OBU).
Now, St. Gregory’s Abbey will receive
the property in exchange for two parcels
of farmland, the abbey announced June
7, the fruit of two years of dialogue with
OBU.
“While we are honored to have stewarded
this gift for the past several years,
we are thrilled that the historic heritage
of the Green Campus will go back to
the abbey. It is fitting and right,” OBU
president Heath Thomas said.
■ Catholic radio icon
Al Kresta dies
Al Kresta, famed Catholic radio host and
founder of Ave Maria Radio, died June 15
at the age of 72.
Raised Catholic, Kresta became an
evangelical Protestant while a student at
Michigan State University. He began his
long career in radio hosting a show for
evangelicals, but returned to his Catholic
faith in 1992 after hosting a priest on his
program.
In 1997, Kresta helped found Ave Maria
Communications, which later became a
major affiliate of EWTN. He hosted the
popular daily show “Kresta in the Afternoon,”
which was carried on hundreds Al Kresta | OSV NEWS/AVE MARIA RADIO
of radio stations nationwide.
“Aside from his goodness, his greatness as a father, husband, and friend, his
passing will be a massive loss to the Catholic cause,” Matthew Bunson, vice
president and editorial director of EWTN, said.
Kresta is survived by his wife, Sally, as well as five children and many grandchildren.
A legend gets her due — Gretchen R. Crowe, editor in chief of OSV News and president of the Catholic
Media Association (left) presented Ana Rodriguez-Soto (right), recently retired editor of the Florida Catholic’s
Miami edition, with the 2024 St. Francis de Sales Award, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to
Catholic journalism.” Rodriguez-Soto worked for 40 years as a journalist for the Archdiocese of Miami’s English
and Spanish news publications. “I’m just so grateful that I was able to have a job that wasn’t a job, that was
really kind of the love of my life — family aside,” she said in her acceptance speech. | OSV NEWS/BOB ROLLER
July 12, 2024 • ANGELUS • 5