News
Hungry, stunted children a top priority for anti-poverty advocates
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The prestigious medical journal The Lancet has shown that more than a third of child deaths and 11 percent of the rate of disease worldwide was the result of mothers and children being malnourished. Malnutrition, which causes nearly 45 percent of all deaths in children under 5, slows children's mental growth, making them 20 percent less able to read and handicapping them so that as adults they earn on average 20 percent less than their counterparts who had a healthy diet as children.
Six women take vows as Little Sisters of the Poor
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York presided at the Mass of Religious Profession as six young women made their first vows as Little Sisters of the Poor on June 1 at St. Ann’s Novitiate in Queens Village, N.Y. The order of sisters operates Holy Family Home for the Aged at 5300 Chester Avenue in West Philadelphia.
Former head of Catholic Relief Services named U.S. ambassador to Vatican
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President Barack Obama June 14 nominated Ken Hackett, retired president of Catholic Relief Services, to be U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. Hackett retired in December 2011 after 18 years as president of CRS, the U.S. bishops' overseas relief and development agency.
Just say new: Vatican official calls for new approach to fight drugs
ANTIGUA, Guatemala (CNS) — Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations, discussed the Holy See’s commitment to formulating a new, comprehensive approach to anti-drug policies in the Americas during a three-day session of the Organization of American States’ General Assembly in Antigua. Current policies surrounding drug abuse, addiction and related […]
Migrant advocate flees Catholic-run shelter after death threats
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- An advocate for undocumented migrants has left a Catholic-run shelter in southern Mexico after receiving death threats, a statement from a coalition of nine Catholic and human rights organizations said. The departure of an activist, Ruben Figueroa of the Mesoamerican Migrant Movement, marks yet more difficulties for the shelter and its operator, Franciscan Father Tomas Gonzalez Castillo, whose work with undocumented migrants on the Mexico-Guatemala border has brought him into conflict with both criminals and government officials.
Pope, Anglican leader meet, pledge to continue search for unity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, pledged to support each other with their prayers and to continue the search for full unity between their communities. "As you yourself have observed," Pope Francis told the archbishop, "we Christians bring peace and grace as a treasure to be offered to the world, but these gifts can bear fruit only when Christians live and work together in harmony."
Anglican leader says he and pope discussed their spirituality, prayer
ROME (CNS) -- Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury said his private conversation with Pope Francis was "very personal," with the new leaders of the Catholic Church and of the Anglican Communion discussing how their positions have influenced their prayer lives. In addition to delivering speeches and praying together, the two spent more than 30 minutes speaking privately and later had lunch together in the pope's residence.
Maronite, Orthodox leaders call for release of kidnapped Syrian bishops
BEIRUT (CNS) — Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic patriarch and Syria’s Greek Orthodox patriarch called for the release of two Orthodox bishops kidnapped in Syria. “We demand the kidnappers and the countries concerned” to release the two bishops and the two priests kidnapped before them, and all those who have been kidnapped on Syrian territory, said Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, the Maronite patriarch, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X in a joint statement from Bkerke, the Maronite patriarchate north of Beirut.
Colorado wildfire destroys homes, land, forces thousands to flee
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNS) -- For the second year in a row, a wildfire got out of hand on a hot and windy afternoon in Colorado Springs June 12, leaving thousands of people fleeing for safety and thousands of others reliving a nightmare. More than 360 homes have been destroyed in the blaze that has consumed nearly 15,000 acres. No injuries have been reported, and it is not known yet how the fire started.
Judge dismisses Serra suit; aim is for both parties to settle dispute
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CNS) -- A Chicago circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit by Serra International against Serra's USA Council to pave the way for bishops to help settle the dispute. But the more than two years of internal strife in the vocations organization has caused at least one former U.S. Serra Club to strike out on its own. "Some of our members agonized over this, hoping that a satisfactory resolution might unfold. But it took so long that everyone lost heart and we voted unanimously to leave Serra," read the June newsletter of the Vocations Ministry of Savannah, Ga., formerly a Serra club.