News
At funerals, Newtown pastor tells mourners child victims were gift from the start
RYE, N.Y. (CNS) -- Addressing mourners at the first two funerals for young victims of the Dec. 14 school shooting in Connecticut, Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown asked, "Where else but the church could we bring this unspeakable act?" "Where else but the altar could we find some resolution? People bring their wounded and shattered selves here for healing, mending and transcendence," he said.
Strength of faith comes from trusting God, pope says at audience
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Mary's role in the birth and life of Jesus shows all Christians that the strength of faith lies in trusting God, even when his will is mysterious and life seems dark, Pope Benedict XVI said. "The power of God, in our lives as well, works with the often silent power of truth and love," the pope said Dec. 19. Preparing for Christmas and continuing his Year of Faith series of audience talks, the pope focused on what Christians can learn about faith from Mary.
European youths to usher in New Year with Taize songs, silence in Rome
ROME (CNS) — The simple songs using phrases from the Psalms repeated over and over form a frame around the 10 full minutes of absolute silence that lies at the heart of the Taize ecumenical community’s prayer. As monks from the community, based in France, and volunteers prepared to welcome more than 30,000 European young […]
In Holy Land, Christmas traditions include family, parades and Mass
JERUSALEM (CNS) — The simmering smell of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in Catholic parishes across the West Bank and Israel heralds the start of the Christmas season in early December as families prepare burbara, the special wheat pudding eaten to mark the feast day of St. Barbara, known as Eid El-Burbara in Arabic. According to […]
Kerala bishops sack youth commission priest charged with trafficking
COCHIN, India (CNS) — The Catholic Bishops’ Council of Kerala dismissed the secretary of its youth commission, who has been charged as part of a human trafficking ring. Father Stephen Alathara, spokesman for the council, also said Nov. 17 it would conduct an investigation into the priest’s activities, reported the Press Trust of India. In […]
Ruling protects assets of Milwaukee parishes in bankruptcy process
MILWAUKEE (CNS) — Two decisions by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge have kept the assets of Catholic parishes in southeastern Wisconsin out of reach of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors seeking compensation for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Chapter 11 reorganization. Judge Susan V. Kelley denied a motion filed […]
Spirited sparring between federal judges, lawyers marks HHS appeal
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the first federal appellate-level hearing on a lawsuit challenging the HHS contraceptive mandate Dec. 14, spirited sparring between judges and attorneys marked proceedings that went twice their scheduled length. In the hearing, conducted in Washington at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, lawyers could barely complete […]
‘Sacramental sense’ of priest’s response after shooting called powerful
RYE, N.Y. (CNS) -- The "sacramental sense" of a Catholic pastor's outreach after the horrific violence that took place at a Connecticut elementary school "has brought the church to bear in the most intimate and powerful way," said the director of communications for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, "has brought a sense of God and the beginning of healing to everything he has done under considerable stress."
Irish government announces plans to legalize abortion, with limits
DUBLIN (CNS) — The Irish government has announced plans to legalize abortion in limited circumstances, but Minister for Health James Reilly insisted his plans will take “full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child.” The announcement contradicts a 2011 campaign promise by Prime Minister Enda Kenny that his government would not […]
‘No words’ can describe shock, sadness after Conn. shooting, says priest
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CNS) -- Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, was at Sandy Hook Elementary School almost immediately after the horrific shooting Dec. 14. "There was a lot of hugging, a lot of crying, a lot of praying, a lot of just being silent," he said. At least eight of the children who died in the shooting belonged to the parish and will be buried from St. Rose.