News
Pope says false ideas of freedom spawn threats to human life
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ideologies and practices that destroy human life arise from false ideas of freedom without God, Pope Francis told a crowd in St. Peter's Square, including thousands of pro-life activists from around the world. "Whenever we want to assert ourselves, when we become wrapped up in our own selfishness and put ourselves in the place of God, we end up spawning death," the pope said in his homily during the Mass June 16.
Pope urges G-8 leaders to put politics, economics at service of poor, unborn people
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The goal of politics and economics is to serve all of humanity, starting with the poorest, the most vulnerable and the unborn, Pope Francis told British Prime Minister David Cameron, president of the Group of Eight industrialized nations. "Money and other political and economic means must serve, not rule," the pope said, adding that "in a seemingly paradoxical way, free and disinterested solidarity is the key to the smooth functioning of the global economy."
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.