News
Syrian Christian leader warns of impending Islamic State assault
NICOSIA, Cyprus (CNS) -- A prominent Syrian Christian political leader has warned of an impending assault on the northeastern province of Hassake amid reports that thousands of Islamist fighters are preparing to take control of the predominantly Christian and Kurdish area.
New York mayor excited about possible visit by pope to NYC
UPDATED - NEW YORK (CNS) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said it would be an "extraordinary moment for our city and an extraordinary honor" if Pope Francis visited the Big Apple in September 2015, when the World Meeting of Families takes place in Philadelphia.
Archbishop Chaput says pope will visit Philadelphia in September 2015
"Pope Francis has told me that he is coming" to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year, Archbishop Charles Chaput said July 24, even though the Philadelphia Archdiocese still has not received official confirmation from the Vatican.
Obama administration says it plans opt-out alternative on mandate
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Obama administration has filed a brief with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver indicating it plans to develop an alternative for Catholic and other religious nonprofit employers to opt out of providing federally mandated contraceptives they object to including in their employee health care coverage.
Catholic mask: Italian bishops try to reveal truth behind mafia’s faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The godfather who stands up for a child's baptism one day and spends the rest of the week running a brutal crime ring unfortunately is not the stuff of movies.
Agency’s plan to house migrants from border called ‘right thing’ to do
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- After news broke July 17 that Catholic Charities of Baltimore planned to house unaccompanied immigrant children at a Baltimore-area facility, executive director William J. McCarthy said the first response he received was positive: an email praising the agency's decision with a pledge of $200 in support.
Holy Land priests on both sides try to help parishioners confront war
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Two priests on either side of the Gaza border are trying to help their small communities confront the realities of war. Both priests spoke of their material powerlessness against the weapons of war, but of the importance of their spiritual presence for their community.
Vatican revising canon law on abuse penalties, cardinal says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Church law has procedures and penalties for effectively dealing with allegations of clerical sexual abuse, but the Vatican is working to revise a section of the Code of Canon Law to make those norms and procedures clearer and, therefore, more effective, said the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
Free from ordeal in Sudan, woman condemned for apostasy meets pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Meeting a Sudanese woman who risked execution for not renouncing her Catholic faith, Pope Francis thanked Meriam Ibrahim for her steadfast witness to Christ.
Stop targeting civilians, archbishop tells Israelis, Gaza fighters
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council urged the Israeli military and fighters in the Gaza Strip to stop targeting civilian areas.