News
Pope talks to priests about mercy, hearing confession
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Repeating his frequent call to go out into the world and meet people where they are, Pope Francis told Rome's priests that their ministry of mercy through the sacrament of penance, is especially needed by "people who have left the church because they don't want anyone to see their wounds."
Pope confesses to taking his late confessor’s cross
During an informal chat with Roman priests about the need to be merciful to their flocks, Pope Francis confessed to taking the rosary cross of his late confessor. Read the full story from the Associated Press here.
Uganda’s bishops reviewing country’s anti-gay law, says church official
CAIRO (CNS) -- Uganda's Catholic bishops have begun reviewing a text of the country's new anti-gay law in order to come up with "an educated" response, said a senior church official.
Families at home can join with those abroad through CRS Rice Bowl
Anne Ayella sits down with writer Lou Baldwin to discuss CRS Rice Bowl, the longtime program that focuses attention during Lent on getting to know people around the world, praying for them and giving.
Lent comes ‘to reawaken us,’ pope says at Ash Wednesday Mass
ROME (CNS) -- Lent is meant to wake up Christians and help them see that God can give them the strength to change their lives and their surroundings, Pope Francis said.
Catholic clergy in Crimea defend Ukraine’s right to self-determination
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Catholic clergy in Crimea have defended Ukraine's right to self-determination.
Crisis in Ukraine ‘replay’ of what led up to World War II, says priest
PHOENIX (CNS) -- Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an extremely dangerous situation that should be of concern to all Americans, said a prominent Ukrainian Catholic priest. "We are seeing a replay of the lead-up to World War II going on now," said Father Andriy Chirovsky, pastor of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Tucson and founder of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario.
Pope, in interview, suggests church could tolerate some civil unions
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis suggested the Catholic Church could tolerate some types of nonmarital civil unions as a practical measure to guarantee property rights and health care. He also said the church would not change its teaching against artificial birth control but should take care to apply it with "much mercy."
Archbishop asks for Ash Wednesday prayers for Ukraine
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- U.S. Catholics stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as their country struggles with political tensions, said a statement from the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Mid-Atlantic congress helps form Catholics for ‘faith-filled service’
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- What Dawn Sirface has learned at the Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leaders enriches her ministry as the parish formation coordinator at St. Ann in Hagerstown.