2018 Religion & Beliefs Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2018 Religion & Beliefs Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 16 Jan Trump Proclaims Religious Freedom Day: President Donald J. Trump proclaimed January 16, 2018, as Religious Freedom Day, celebrating the country's diverse faiths and commemorating the 232nd anniversary of a state law protecting religious liberty.
- 31 Mar LDS Church Leadership Changes: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes historic leadership appointments, elevating Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. These appointments mark the first Latin American and Asian-American men in this top leadership position.
- 28 Apr Beatification of Hanna Chrzanowska: Cardinal Angelo Amato, representing Pope Francis, beatified Hanna Chrzanowska in Krakow, Poland. Chrzanowska was a dedicated humanitarian who worked tirelessly for the homeless and sick, and had previously collaborated with Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II).
- 18 May Chilean Catholic Bishops Offer Mass Resignation: After Pope Francis accused 34 Roman Catholic bishops of Chile of destroying evidence about sexual crimes, all of the bishops offered to resign, marking a significant moment in the church's handling of sexual abuse allegations.
- 26 Aug Pope Francis in Dublin: Pope Francis celebrated Sunday Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park for the World Meeting of Families, continuing the Catholic Church's global outreach and emphasis on family values.
- 14 Sep Russian Orthodox Church Freezes Relations with Constantinople: The Russian Orthodox Church suspended its relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople due to disagreements over ecclesiastical influence in Ukraine, reflecting ongoing religious and geopolitical tensions.
- 11 Oct Orthodox Church Schism Between Constantinople and Moscow: In October 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople granted autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, leading to a significant schism with the Russian Orthodox Church, which opposed the move. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 14 Oct Pope Francis canonizes Oscar Romero and others: On October 14, 2018, Pope Francis canonized Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, recognizing him as a martyr for the Catholic faith. Romero was assassinated in 1980 for opposing military repression during El Salvador's civil war. This canonization was significant for Latin American Catholics, who view him as a hero. source: time.com
- 12 Dec Pope Francis Removes Cardinals Accused of Child Sex Abuse Cover-up: Pope Francis took decisive action by removing two high-ranking prelates, George Pell from Australia and Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa from Chile, from the Council of Cardinal Advisers. Both men were accused of covering up child sexual abuse scandals. Additionally, Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, former Archbishop of Kinshasa, resigned from the Council.
- 15 Dec Ukraine Establishes Independent Orthodox Church: In a significant religious and political move, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko declared the establishment of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, creating a new branch of Eastern Orthodox Christianity independent from the Russian Orthodox Church.
- 25 Dec Pope Francis's compassionate Christmas message: On December 25, 2018, Pope Francis delivered his traditional Christmas message, emphasizing themes of peace and compassion. His address addressed global conflicts and the need for solidarity among nations. source: reuters.com
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