News
Jerusalem patriarch: Don’t punish all Gaza Palestinians because of Hamas
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- It is impossible for Israeli military to target Hamas missiles without hitting civilians in the Gaza Strip, said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem.
Courage speaker traces roots of today’s sexual expression
Helen Alvare believes in taking Pope Francis at his word, in meeting people where they are and proposing the church as a healer. She sees the wisdom of sharing with people her own brokenness and struggles.
Expulsion of Christians a ‘crime against humanity,’ Iraqi bishop says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Backed up by death threats and property seizures, the expulsion of the entire Christian community from Mosul is "religious cleansing," said Chaldean Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona of Mosul.
Rwanda genocide survivor tells story of prayer and forgiveness
Immaculée Ilibagiza told participants of the Courage/EnCourage Conference that if she could forgive the ones who massacred almost a million of her countrymen including all of her family, they could forgive the ones who trespass against them, too.
People with same-sex attraction take Courage at conference
Archbishop Charles Chaput preached at the opening Mass for the three-day international meeting at Villanova for about 350 men and women with same-sex attraction. They learned, spoke and prayed about chastity.
Plight of unaccompanied minors at forefront of Mass in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and several other bishops and priests from Southern California concelebrated Mass July 20 to honor immigrants and focus attention on the humanitarian crisis of tens of thousands unaccompanied migrant children surging across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Papal puzzler: Leo XIII anonymously published riddles in Latin
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Going by the pseudonym "X," Pope Leo XIII anonymously crafted poetic puzzles in Latin for a Roman periodical at the turn of the 19th century.
Executive order prohibits firing of gays by U.S. government, contractors
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President Barack Obama's executive order of July 21 has installed workplace rules forbidding the firing of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people by the federal government and federal contractors -- a key provision in a congressional bill opposed by the U.S. Catholic bishops.
Inside prison walls, volunteers change inmates’ lives and their own
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- The letter still touches and inspires Laura Kazlas. She received the letter several weeks after she felt "very strongly urged by the Holy Spirit" to have the children she taught in a religious education program make Christmas cards for the inmates at a nearby correctional facility.
Pope names U.S. bishops’ top ecumenical officer to advise Vatican council
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Among the new members and consultants Pope Francis named to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is Father John W. Crossin, the executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.