News
U.S. Dominicans praying, ‘agonizing’ for Iraqi Dominicans, villagers
Dominican Sister Attracta Kelly in Adrian, Michigan, has been able to speak a few times with the superior of a group of Iraqi Dominicans and knows how desperate their situation is since they escaped Islamicists in northern Iraq.
Federal court says accommodation process on HHS mandate ‘a subterfuge’
A U.S. District Court Aug. 13 ruled in favor of a Baptist-run college in its fight against the federal contraceptive mandate and the directive that nonprofit employers who are not exempt from the mandate but who object to it must authorize a third party to provide contraceptive coverage to employees.
Special U.S. collection urged to help those suffering in Middle East
The president of the U.S. bishops' conference Aug. 19 asked Catholic bishops across the country to take up a special collection for humanitarian needs and pastoral support for Christians and other victims of violence in the Middle East.
Pope talks of airstrikes in Iraq, and possible Philadelphia visit
On the plane back to Rome from his trip to Korea, Pope Francis said force can be justified to stop "unjust aggressors" such as Islamic State militants in northeastern Iraq, but he declined to endorse U.S. military airstrikes against the militants. He also said he would travel to Iraq if necessary -- and he spoke at length about other travel plans including possibly to Philadelphia next year.
Prelates call for international action to liberate Iraq
Pope Francis' personal envoy to the suffering people of Iraq joined the Chaldean Catholic patriarch in launching an appeal to the international community Aug. 18, pleading for help to liberate villages controlled by the Islamic State terrorists and to provide the displaced with international protection.
Iraqi Christians arrive in Jordan with tearful tales of desperation
The first Iraqi Christians fleeing Islamic State militants reached the safety of Jordan, helped by King Abdullah II and Catholic aid groups.
‘We need actions, not words’ to stop militants, says Chaldean leader
As the heart-rending images of Christians and Yezidis fleeing for their lives continue to pour in from Iraq, the Vatican called on Muslim leaders to condemn the "barbarity" and "unspeakable criminal acts" of Islamic State militants in Iraq.
Charity, forgiveness keys to Korean reunification, says pope
God's promise to restore unity and prosperity to "a people dispersed by disaster and division ... is inseparably tied to a command: the command to return to God and wholeheartedly obey his law," Pope Francis told Korean Catholics during a Mass for peace and reconciliation at Seoul's Myongdong Cathedral Aug. 18.
Regional gathering offers seminarians source of ‘affirmation, support’
About 120 men, nearly all of the seminarians for the seven dioceses that make up the province of Louisville, met for a first-of-its-kind gathering Aug. 11-13 at Barren River State Park in Kentucky.
Religious congregations urged to evolve to serve changing church, world
Religious congregations must evolve to meet the needs of a changing society and church, Sister Carol Zinn, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, told members of the organization during its annual assembly Aug. 12-15 in Nashville.