News

Two Omaha priests found guilty of abuse, face Church sanctions

OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of Omaha has found two archdiocesan priests -- in separate cases -- guilty of sexual abuse of a minor and administered ecclesiastical penalties, dismissing one from the priesthood with Vatican authorization and removing the other from active ministry and sentencing him to a life of prayer and penance.

Pope says peace is impossible without fraternity based on Christ

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In his first annual message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis writes that peace and social justice are impossible without a spirit of fraternity based on recognition that all men and women are children of God -- a relationship fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pope appoints new bishops for Jackson, Miss., and San Angelo, Texas

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named a Pennsylvania pastor from the Diocese of Scranton to be bishop of Jackson, Miss., and the vicar general of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, to be bishop of San Angelo, Texas.

Pope: Human trafficking is crime against humanity, must be stopped

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The trafficking of human beings is a crime against humanity and must be stopped, Pope Francis told diplomats.

Experts praise new Vatican laws, but ask for inspection of Vatican bank

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- European experts on preventing financial crimes praised a series of new Vatican laws and procedures but urged the Vatican to move immediately to conduct onsite inspections of the Vatican bank and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See.

Cubans speculate about replacement for 77-year-old Havana cardinal

HAVANA (CNS) -- When the Cuban bishops' conference announced its new officers in November, Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino was not in a leadership position.

It’s about time: Kairos retreat open to public school students, home schoolers

Kate Greenhalgh loved the experience of retreats as a Catholic high school student. So she began an effort to offer them for all students. It has the archbishop's blessing, and the first regional Kairos retreat is in February 2014.

Pope Francis is third pope to win Time’s Person of the Year honor

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is not seeking fame or accolades, but being named Time magazine's Person of the Year will make him happy if it helps attract people to the hope of the Gospel, said the Vatican spokesman.

Freshman leaders emerge at Bishop Shanahan

Thirteen members of the freshman class of Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown, were elected by their peers and installed as Student Council homeroom representatives and representatives-at-large Dec. 6 at the school.

Mandela ‘touched my heart, my soul, my life,’ says ex-fellow prisoner

JOHANNESBURG (CNS) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela looked down on the tens of thousands of people gathered at his memorial service in Johannesburg and smiled as he watched them celebrate his legacy, said Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, a Catholic who was imprisoned for decades with the late anti-apartheid icon.