News
New Pew study shows most Americans view abortion as moral issue
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A new study shows that most Americans view abortion as a moral issue but do not feel as strongly about stem-cell research or in vitro fertilization as moral issues. According to the study, released Aug. 15 by the Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 49 percent of adults consider it morally wrong to have an abortion; 22 percent consider embryonic stem-cell research morally wrong; and 12 percent view the use of in vitro fertilization as morally wrong.
LCWR leader hopes assembly a contemplative experience for attendees
ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- The president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said organizers of this year's assembly hope attendees would find it to be a contemplative experience because "it is imperative to view religious life within the context of our faith and in an evolving world." "We have included an hour and a half of contemplative prayer at all meetings to determine what the signs of today are calling us to and we hope that the entire experience of this assembly will be an act of contemplation," said Franciscan Sister Florence Deacon.
Christians in Egypt targeted by Muslim extremists
CAIRO (CNS) -- Attacks on Christian churches and institutions in Egypt appeared to be the result of Islamist extremists' anger over what they perceived as Christian support for the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi.
Catholic, Orthodox leaders in Egypt say army is fighting terrorism
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Speaking on behalf of Catholics in Egypt, Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak said the violence and unrest in his country are "not a political struggle between different factions, but a war against terrorism."
Text of Egypt’s Coptic Catholic patriarch on recent events in country
CAIRO (CNS) -- Here is the English text of the Aug. 18 statement by Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak on recent events in Egypt.
Jerusalem, shared ‘security blanket,’ key to Israeli-Palestinian peace
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Coveted as a spiritual and political capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, the status of the city of Jerusalem has stood out as one of the pivotal topics in their ongoing peace negotiations. Yet, because of its perceived sensitivity, the topic has always been left for the final status discussions and has yet to be broached directly in the negotiations, which resumed Aug. 14 in Jerusalem.
Catholic lawmaker in Missouri legislature files suit over HHS mandate
Missouri state Rep. Paul Wieland and his wife, Teresa, said they are suing because the mandate violates their religious liberty, free speech and parental rights, as it requires them to be enrolled in group insurance coverage for their family that includes contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilizations. The case presents an unusual twist in the fight against the HHS mandate, as it is among the first to involve an employee filing suit against the mandate. Currently there are 67 lawsuits challenging the mandate, many of them involving individual employers.
Catholic spokesman defends Egyptian army crackdown against protesters
Egypt's Health Ministry confirmed Aug. 15 that more than 500 protesters and police were killed and more than 3,700 injured when security forces used bulldozers, tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protest camps in Cairo and other cities around the country. A spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church said Western media had falsified the situation in Egypt by portraying the conflict as political when it mostly concerned violent acts by a small minority of Egypt's 82.5 million inhabitants. Pope Francis led prayers to Mary, queen of peace, calling for calm in the country.
Local Catholics asked to take a hike on autumn pilgrimage to Cathedral
This fall it will be time to lace up some comfortable shoes and start stretching, because on Sunday, Oct. 13 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host a Pilgrimage of Faith to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in celebration of the Year of Faith. Parishes from all over the Archdiocese are expected to participate, either by walking to the center city cathedral or taking transportation.
Pilgrimage of Faith sets up sites to organize walk to cathedral
To ease travel along the Oct. 13 Pilgrimage of Faith, several locations within walking distance to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul have been designated as “landing sites.” Participants in the pilgrimage are encouraged to gather at their home parish then travel to one of landing sites and walk to the cathedral. A […]