News
Diocese of Gallup, N.M., poised to file for bankruptcy protection
GALLUP, N.M. (CNS) -- When Bishop James Wall was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Gallup in 2009, he knew there were festering issues regarding allegations of clergy sex abuse, but not to the extent that has brought the sprawling southwestern diocese to the doors of U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
USCCB leaders join pope’s call for day of fasting, prayer for peace
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged U.S. Catholics to take up Pope Francis’ call to fast and pray for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world Sept. 7. Expressing anguish over the suffering of the Syrian people and echoing the pope’s exhortation for negotiation and dialogue […]
Pope Francis to lead prayer vigil for peace in Syria
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On the evening of Sept. 7, days before U.S. lawmakers vote on President Barack Obama's proposal for a military attack on Syria, Pope Francis will lead thousands in St. Peter's Square in a prayer vigil for peace.
Reverting to tradition, pope names veteran diplomat as Vatican’s No. 2
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although Pope Francis has not hesitated to break with convention during his brief pontificate, in appointing a seasoned member of the diplomatic corps as the top Vatican official, he resumed a long-standing tradition. The pope appointed Archbishop Pietro Parolin, 58, a longtime official in the Vatican secretariat of state and nuncio to Venezuela since 2009, to be his secretary of state.
N.Y. Catholic hip-hop artist ‘unafraid’ of sending a message of faith
ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) -- A 20-year-old Schenectady, N.Y., Catholic is making a name for himself in the hip-hop and contemporary Christian music worlds. But he doesn't care about his Facebook followers or fan mail. In fact, being idolized is "the worst feeling," said Cory Larmour, whose stage name is Cory Matthews. But the attention "lets me know there are more people out there hearing God," he said. "I don't care if it's through me. It's all about love."
Military archbishop opposes death penalty for Fort Hood shooter
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Archbishop Timothy M. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services said he opposes capital punishment for Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, who was sentenced to death Aug. 28 following his conviction of the shootings in the 2009 massacre at Fort Hood, Texas. “The church teaches that unjustified killing is wrong in all […]
Pope, Jordanian king say dialogue is only hope for peace in Syria
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Western leaders expressed strong convictions that the Syrian government carried out a chemical weapons attack against its own citizens and vowed to take action, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Aug. 29 with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. Jordan borders Syria and hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who have fled the fighting that began in March 2011 in an attempt to oust President Bashar Assad.
Western church leaders warn against intervention in Syria
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As speculation mounted about Western air strikes on Syria, a committee of U.S. bishops called for a political solution, and Catholic leaders in Europe warned military intervention could lead to an escalation of hostilities.
Letter of Archbishop Chaput to Jewish community
Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote the following letter to Rabbi Elisa Goldberg of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia on the occasion of the coming High Holy Days for the Jewish community: Dear Rabbi Goldberg: In union with the Catholic clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I want to express my prayerful […]
Many of Egypt’s Christians think U.S. has aligned with the wrong side
CAIRO (CNS) --Two weeks after the churches he used to pray in were ransacked and burned to the ground in the Egyptian port city of Suez, Istafanos Youssif sat "searching for God" in a Cairo convent. He said he hoped to get over the pain, and that he understood who was behind the church burnings. What he said he could not understand was the U.S. position toward his country, Egypt.