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Pope says he returns to Latin America as witness of Christian love
RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Pope Francis returned to his native Latin America July 22, asking for open hearts, even after the irrepressible crowds in Brazil made it clear he had them. The way to reach the Brazilian people is through the heart, he told Brazilian officials upon landing in the country, "so let me knock gently at this door. I ask permission to come in and spend this week with you."
State of religious freedom in Pakistan considered ‘dire’
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Panelists at a religious freedom session on Pakistan called for reform of the nation's laws, calling the situation for minorities dire. In June alone, 47 religious minorities were killed in Pakistan, including an 18-year old Christian man tortured to death by police after he was suspected of kidnapping a Muslim woman.
Priest who was driving force behind Worldwide Marriage Encounter dies
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CNS) — The leadership of Worldwide Marriage Encounter mourned the death of Jesuit Father Chuck Gallagher, considered the driving force in creating what is the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. Father Gallagher died July 21 in New Jersey after a short illness. He was 85. Funeral arrangements were pending. “It is with […]
Crowds in Rio welcome pope, who wanted to be ‘close to the people’
RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) -- Pope Francis arrived in Brazil July 22, making the first international trip of his pontificate to his native region of Latin America. The papal flight touched down at Rio's Galateo-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 3:43 p.m. local time.
Franciscan Sister Martina Butalla, teacher and health care aide, dies at 86
Sister Martina Therese Butalla, O.S.F., 86, died in Assisi House on July 18. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 66 years. Sister Martina Therese (Jane Francis Butalla) was born in Enout, Pa. Prior to her entrance into the congregation in 1944, she was a member of […]
Sister Mary Gregoria Pogera, I.H.M., taught for more than 50 years
Sister Mary Gregoria, I.H.M., formerly Catherine Pogera, died July 11 in Camilla Hall, Immaculata, in the 83rd year of her religious life. She was 99 years old. Born in Port Carbon, Pa., Sister Mary entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1929 from St. Stephen Parish, Port Carbon […]
New figures show signs of hope amid long slide in Mass attendance
On any given weekend during the month of October 2012, there were approximately 253,338 Catholics attending Mass in churches throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, according to figures compiled by the archdiocesan Office for Parish Service and Support. If that sounds like a lot, it isn’t. Approximately 21.8 percent of all the registered Catholics attended Mass that month.
House abandonment of nutrition items in farm bill called ‘misguided’
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Congress lurches toward its summer recess, inside and outside the corridors of Congress, people have been asking, "What in Sam Hill is going on with the House on the farm bill?"
North Dakota bishops criticize ruling on 2011 law on abortion drugs
BISMARCK, N.D. (CNS) — North Dakota’s Catholic bishops called a decision by a state judge that a 2011 law prohibiting the use of one of two drugs used in nonsurgical abortions violates the state and U.S. constitutions. North Dakota Judge Wickham Corwin July 15 said the two-year-old law was “simply wrongheaded” and that “no compelling […]
Pope talks about importance of giving young people jobs
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO BRAZIL (CNS) -- With economic hard times as an excuse not to hire young people, the world risks tossing them aside and endangers its own future, Pope Francis said. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal flight to Rio de Janeiro July 22, the pope declined to answer their questions, but instead made very brief remarks about his July 22-29 trip and then greeted each of the 71 media members.