News
Objection raised over benefits to same-sex partners of military members
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Defense Department's new policy that confers some military benefits on the same-sex domestic partners of members of the military undermines the traditional definition of marriage, two archbishops said Feb. 15.
Church in Illinois decries state Senate vote on same-sex marriage
CHICAGO (CNS) — The head of the Catholic Conference of Illinois decried a Feb. 14 Illinois Senate vote to permit same-sex marriage in the state, calling it “redefinition of marriage legislation.” “Marriage joins a man and a woman in love to meet one another’s needs, to procreate and to raise children. This is the lifeblood […]
Cardinal focuses on evangelizing power of Catholic social teaching
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Taking the helm of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2009, near the beginning of the global financial crisis, Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson's work has focused heavily on promoting Pope Benedict XVI's calls for more carefully regulated international markets and for real solidarity with the poor. The 64-year-old former archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, also continued his longtime defense of Catholic teaching on the family while highlighting the connection between strong families and strong, peaceful societies.
Archbishop Lori requests conscience provision be added to HHS mandate
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty has urged the House of Representatives to extend long-standing federal conscience protections to the Affordable Care Act’s new coverage mandates for private health plans. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore made the request in a Feb. 15 letter to members […]
With huge diocese, Brazilian cardinal uses variety of media to teach
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo, 63, heads Brazil's largest diocese and ministers in one of the most populous cities in the world. In the city of more than 11 million people -- more than 80 percent of whom are Catholic -- the cardinal oversees parishes that struggle with high poverty rates, crime, youth unemployment and lack of basic services like running water.
Outspoken Honduran cardinal known for charm, international charity work
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, 70, is a personal ambassador of the Catholic Church's emergency relief and development aid and probably the best-known Latin American member of the College of Cardinals. In May 2011, he was elected to a second four-year term as president of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based umbrella organization for national Catholic charities around the globe. Under his presidency, he has worked with Vatican officials and Caritas leaders to implement new rules requested by Pope Benedict XVI to strengthen the agencies' Catholic identity and their ties to their local bishops.
Life in Latin America, Quebec, Rome gives cardinal unique world view
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With extensive experience in Latin America, the Vatican and his home province of Quebec, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet possesses broad knowledge of the universal church as well as strong pastoral and leadership skills from serving as the former primate of Canada. Today the 68-year-old cardinal leads the Congregation for Bishops -- the office that helps the pope choose bishops for Latin-rite dioceses around the world. With his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, he became the first North American cardinal to be placed in charge of the powerful congregation.
Migration center study shows 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in US
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A new study concludes that there are about 11.7 million of what it calls unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., 4 million more than in 2000. In a report released Feb. 15, the Center for Migration Studies, a New York-based educational institution also quantified why residents of some states, particularly in the Southeast, have perceived a significant growth in the number of immigrants around them.
Hungarian cardinal’s ministry, reach extend well beyond Europe
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo ministers from the heart of Europe, but with a concern and contacts that span the globe. The 60-year-old archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Cardinal Erdo serves as the president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, coordinating common projects on the continent as well as European church support for Catholic communities in the developing world.
Biographer: In past six months, pope was ‘exhausted and disheartened’
OXFORD, England (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI was “exhausted and disheartened” well before his Feb. 11 resignation announcement, according to his German biographer, Peter Seewald. In an article, “Farewell to my pope,” in the Feb. 18 issue of Germany’s Focus weekly, Seewald said he had held several Vatican meetings with the 85-year-old pontiff over the […]