News
Chinese diocese won’t bury bishop until government returns cemetery
TANGSHAN, China (CNS) -- The Tangshan Diocese announced it would not bury deceased Bishop Paul Liu Jinghe until the government returns a former church cemetery, so government officials took clergy away for questioning Dec. 18.
Catholic leaders repeated call to Congress to help poor throughout 2013
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Fallout from the partial government shutdown in October and another looming round of automatic spending cuts in January kept congressional leaders busy at year's end to finalize a budget deal Republicans and Democrats could live with.
Vatican hires firms to streamline communications, improve bookkeeping
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an effort to streamline and modernize its communications structures and bring its accounting practices in line with international standards, the Vatican hired two international consulting agencies.
Man seriously injured after setting self on fire in St. Peter’s Square
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A 51-year-old man was severely injured after he set himself on fire in St. Peter's Square. The unidentified man doused himself with gasoline he had carried in a bottle and then lit himself aflame at the end of the colonnade near Piazza Pio XII at 8:30 in the morning Dec. 19.
Two pilgrimages of faith offered in 2014
The Philadelphia Archdiocese is sponsoring a trip to Rome in April for the canonization of Blessed Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. Another trip, led by Archbishop Chaput, is set for September to see the Catholic shrines of Canada.
Cabrini College earns fair trade status
The honor makes the Radnor college only one of 17 in the country to be so named as a result of its advocacy of the purchase and sale of goods that were produced in an ethical and just manner.
Prince Charles ‘deeply troubled’ by plight of Christians in Middle East
In a Dec. 17 address at London's Clarence House, the Prince of Wales said the Mideast's Christians were being persecuted by "Islamist fundamentalist militants," and he called upon the followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam to unite to end the suffering.
Rape of elderly nun shocks Pittsburgh area; teen arrested, charged
PITTSBURGH (CNS) -- An 18-year-old Pennsylvania man has been charged in the Dec. 13 rape of an 85-year-old retired member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden. The sister was attacked in the parking lot of St. Titus Church in Aliquippa, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.
Christmas offers lesson in humility, Pope Francis says
God "descends to earth as someone small and poor," the pope said Dec. 18 in Rome, "which means that to be like him we should not put ourselves above others, but on the contrary ... give ourselves in service, make ourselves small with the small and poor with the poor."
Pope proclaims sainthood of Jesuit companion of St. Ignatius
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis issued a decree declaring one of his favorite Jesuits, Blessed Peter Faber, a saint. The "equivalent canonization" means the pope inserts the name of the new saint in the calendar of saints without verifying a miracle performed through his intercession and without formal ceremony.