News
Speaking of divorce, pope refers to practice of Orthodox churches
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis spoke to journalists about the need for a stronger Catholic pastoral approach to marriage and to divorced people, he made a parenthetical reference to how the Orthodox churches handle the breakup of marriages differently. "The Orthodox have a different practice," he told reporters July 28. The Orthodox "follow the theology of 'oikonomia' (economy or stewardship), as they call it, and give a second possibility; they permit" a second marriage.
Pope denounces ‘poison’ of consumerism in ‘society based on profit’
Young people witness the "emptiness of meaning and values that surrounds them. And they, unfortunately, pay the consequences," Pope Francis said before leading the Angelus Aug. 4 in St. Peter's Square. "True wealth is the love of God, shared with one's brothers, that love that comes from God and makes us share among ourselves, and makes us help one another," he said.
Motherly tenderness: Pope says Church must embody, mirror God’s mercy
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Mercy is a word Pope Francis uses often, and an attitude he believes the Catholic Church must embody and all Catholics must mirror. “This is the time for mercy,” Pope Francis told reporters July 28 during his flight back to Rome from Brazil. “The church is mother and must follow the […]
Pro-lifers hope North Carolina law leads to day when all choose life
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) -- A new law that tightens regulations on North Carolina's 16 abortion clinics, bans abortions based on the child's gender, and expands conscience protections for health care providers is to go into effect Oct. 1. Signed into law by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory July 29, the legislation requires the state's Department of Health and Human Services to adopt procedures making abortion clinics conform to similar safety standards as outpatient surgery centers -- the first regulatory overhaul for abortion clinics since 1994.
Against the tide: the pope rallies a counterculture
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Of the many strands of continuity between the pontificates of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, none is clearer than their common conviction that Christian faith puts the believer at odds with the materialist "idols" of today's secular society.
Pope writes to world’s Muslims at end of Ramadan, urges mutual respect
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As a sign of his "esteem and friendship," Pope Francis said he personally wanted to write this year's Vatican message to Muslims about to celebrate the end of their monthlong Ramadan fast. The pope's message, released by the Vatican Aug. 2, focused on the need for Catholics and Muslims to promote respect for one another, especially through the way they educate their youth.
New financial data show details of Church’s work in health care, social services, education
Following an unprecedented financial report from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office for Financial Services in early July, 15 archdiocesan entities for the first time made their financial statements public Friday, Aug. 2. The statements, audited by the accounting firm Grant Thornton for archdiocesan corporations operating in health care, social services and education, present a picture of their finances as of June 30, 2012, the end of that fiscal year. (See all the financial statements here.)
Catholic Cemeteries Office among Church entities releasing 2012 financial report
In keeping with Archbishop Charles Chaput’s June pledge to release audited financial statements for every major archdiocesan entity, a statement audited by the accounting firm Grant Thornton for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Catholic Cemeteries covering the year ending June 30, 2012, has just been released.
Slovenian archbishops resign because of ties to financial collapse
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Two Slovenian archbishops, including the president of the Slovenian bishops' conference, resigned because of their connection to multimillion-dollar financial losses by the Archdiocese of Maribor.
Pope, with fellow Jesuits, prays for ‘grace of shame,’ humility
ROME (CNS) -- Celebrating the feast of St. Ignatius with more than 200 of his Jesuit confreres, Pope Francis prayed that he and all of them would receive "the grace of shame" for their failures and the humility to recognize that whatever good they accomplish is really done by the Lord.