News
Catholic beliefs are not open to popular vote, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When the Catholic Church affirms the importance of how all the faithful understand matters of faith and morals, it is not saying Catholic beliefs are open to a popular vote, Pope Benedict XVI said. An authentic “sensus fidei,” which literally means “sense of faith,” can come only when Catholics actively participate […]
Salvation must be proclaimed, faith explained, papal preacher says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church has great resources and experience in helping the baptized learn about and live their faith, but it also can learn something from other Christians about the initial step of bringing people to faith in Jesus, said the preacher of the papal household. “Our situation is becoming more and […]
Church urges ‘circle of protection’ for poor in US budget debate
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic social teaching's concern for human life and dignity stood front and center as the role of the federal spending was debated by political leaders and assessed by the electorate in a presidential election year. Concepts rooted in church teaching -- subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good -- entered the public arena, offering Americans insight into principles that, church leaders repeatedly explained, must be considered when identifying spending priorities while the country struggled with a growing federal deficit and a sluggish economic recovery.
Federal judge says New York Archdiocese’s HHS lawsuit can move forward
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit challenging the federal contraceptive mandate filed by the Archdiocese of New York and two other Catholic entities can move forward.
Archbishop Chaput recovers from knee surgery, expresses gratitude for people’s prayers
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., successfully underwent knee replacement surgery Tuesday, Dec. 4. In the following statement released Dec. 7, he responds to the many expressions of prayerful support he received in the days before and since the surgery.
New charity rules don’t forbid state funding, Vatican official says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — New rules issued by Pope Benedict XVI for the governance of Catholic charities will not prevent such charities from accepting government funding, so long as the funding does not entail conditions that conflict with church teaching, said the second-highest official of the Vatican office in charge of applying the new legislation. […]
First Communion to be received by children in 2nd grade, confirmation in 6th, archbishop says
The ages at which Catholic children in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia receive the sacraments of first holy Communion and confirmation will remain as they are today, Archbishop Chaput told priests of the archdiocese in a letter Nov. 30. Currently most children in grade two receive first holy Communion, and most children receive confirmation in grade six. Some parishes routinely confirm their children in seventh or eighth grades, while other parishes with small congregations combine sixth, seventh or eighth graders into a single group for confirmation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s devotion extends beyond the Americas
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Ana Rita Valero received an unlikely request in 2008. Valero, an anthropologist and president of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was asked by an official with the Mexican consulate in Shanghai to send two large images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "It was the least likely place we could have sent images," Valero said, recalling the cool commercial relations between Mexico and China at the time. "The Chinese population liked them and began going (to Beijing and Shanghai) to pray."
So far, St. Charles Seminary’s fund drive topping last year
Everybody knows St. Charles Borromeo Seminary provides formation for Philadelphia’s future priests. Right now there are 50 men studying for Philadelphia at St. Charles, but there are 85 others studying for eight other dioceses and two religious congregations. “You see magnificent buildings and get a sense of history, but the seminary is not a museum or Independence Hall,” Bishop Senior said. “This is a place where formation is happening today."
Palestinian question key to Mideast peace, say Catholic leaders
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — At the end of a three-day meeting in Lebanon, the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East said peace in the region will be impossible without a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 77 Catholic leaders said the greatest contribution to peace in the region would be to finally find […]