News
Irish cardinal urges Catholics to make known their abortion opposition
DUBLIN (CNS) — The president of the Irish bishops’ conference urged Catholics to make their views on abortion clear to politicians as the government considers legalizing abortion in limited circumstances. In his Christmas message, Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, reiterated the church’s opposition to such legislation. “Public representatives will be asked to decide […]
New ventilation system to suck dirt, dust off Sistine Chapel visitors
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an effort to protect Michelangelo’s famed frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums will be installing a new ventilation system to suck the dust, dirt and humidity from visitors. With 5 million tourists pushing through the turnstiles each year, all that traffic is taking its toll as “dust, temperature, […]
Montreal deacon who was bishops’ spokesman faces child porn charges
OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) — William Kokesch, a Montreal permanent deacon who served nearly 10 years as a communications director for Canada’s Catholic bishops, has been charged with producing and distributing child pornography. On Dec. 27, Kokesch, 65, was released on bail after posting a $10,000 cash bond. The judge ordered him not to use computers […]
Bishops describe Christmas in besieged Aleppo, Syria
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Because of ongoing fighting in the city, Catholic leaders in Aleppo, Syria, canceled their traditional Christmas visits to local government officials, but the local governor dropped in on a meeting of bishops and priests Dec. 27 to offer his best wishes, said Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro. The bishop, who is the Latin-rite […]
Msgr. Wendrychowicz, 65, pastor of Sellersville parish, laid to rest
Msgr. John B. Wendrychowicz, 65, pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Sellersville, died Dec. 20. Born in Philadelphia, the son of the late John B. and Rita (Shepherd) Wendrychowicz, he attended Visitation B.V.M. School, St. George School and Northeast Catholic High School, which he left during his sophomore year, to enter St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He […]
Make room for God, pray for peace, pope says in Christmas liturgies
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI urged people to think seriously about their faith at Christmas, and he urged them to recognize the connection between believing in God and helping others through acts of charity and by praying and working for peace. The birth of Jesus is a source of hope for the world, […]
Pope names Boston priest to be Vatican’s abuse investigator
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has named a canon lawyer from the Archdiocese of Boston to be the new promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position that includes monitoring and investigating cases of priests accused of sex abuse.
Pope visits butler in jail, personally delivers pardon
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — During a 15-minute meeting in the Vatican police barracks, Pope Benedict XVI visited with his former butler, Paolo Gabriele, and told him he was forgiven and was being pardoned. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the pope had wanted “to confirm his forgiveness and to inform him personally of his […]
Montgomery County’s Catholic, civic agencies volunteer to make Christmas bright for families
Families in Montgomery County got a big lift just before Christmas, thanks to the efforts of volunteers and staff of Catholic Social Services’ Family Service Center in Norristown, the county seat. The St. Nicholas Store at the center gave out donated gifts to 140 families and 331 children, with another 49 families receiving food from the center’s food cupboard, for two hours last Thursday evening, Dec. 20.