World News
In Ukraine, Eastern Catholic bishops discuss relations with Orthodox
The problem in Catholic-Orthodox relations is not the existence of Eastern-rite Catholics; the problem is that Christians are divided, said Bishop Dimitrios Salachas, the apostolic exarch of Greece.
Cardinal Pell calls for ‘no doctrinal back-flips’ at next family synod
Looking ahead to the October 2015 world Synod of Bishops on the family, Cardinal George Pell said the task for Catholics "over the next 12 months" is to explain "the necessity of conversion, the nature of the Mass," and "the purity of heart the Scriptures require of us to receive holy Communion."
English cardinal’s pastoral letter addresses themes discussed at synod
Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster asked Catholics to recognize the "real goodness" in the lives of many cohabiting couples and those who have divorced and civilly remarried.
‘Bludgeoned’ by all sides, family needs church for help, pope says
The family is under attack now more than ever because of today's culture of division that wants to break from and be free of all everlasting bonds and forms of solidarity, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis says Pope Benedict was a ‘great pope’
Retired Pope Benedict XVI is a perfect example of how intellectual knowledge and scientific curiosity do not lead a person further from God, but can strengthen their love for God and for his human creatures, Pope Francis said.
Church must reach out to gays, divorced, Philippine bishop says
The church must widen its reach to gays and divorced Catholics, said the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
Nun’s murderer says family’s forgiveness gave him ‘new life’
The man who served a prison term for the 1995 murder of a Franciscan Clarist nun said he experienced a "rebirth" during a visit by Sister Selmy, the younger sister of slain Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, while he was in prison.
Ottawa archbishop recalls words of St. John Paul II after shooting
Recalling the words of St. John Paul II, Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast called upon Canadians not to be afraid in the wake of the Oct. 22 shooting that left a Canadian soldier dead and forced lawmakers to barricade themselves inside their parliament offices.
Olive harvest at Garden of Gethsemane unites faithful with Christ
For Salim Badawi, a Greek Orthodox Palestinian from the West Bank village of Beit Jalla, the opportunity to help a group of Franciscan priests harvest olives in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives offers a sense of hope amid the adversaries his family has faced in their own olive groves.
Retired pope says interreligious dialogue no substitute for mission
Retired Pope Benedict XVI said dialogue with other religions is no substitute for spreading the Gospel to non-Christian cultures, and warned against relativistic ideas of religious truth as "lethal to faith." He also said the true motivation for missionary work is not to increase the church's size but to share the joy of knowing Christ.