News
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 […]
Barrier’s extension could separate West Bank Salesians from communities
The Israeli Supreme Court recently heard Israel's appeal to extend the Israeli-Palestinian separation barrier, a series of cement slabs, barbed wire fences and security roads that would separate the city of Beit Jalla from two Israeli settlements, creating a contiguous strip of land that could be used for expansion and their eventual joining. It will also separate 57 Christian Palestinian families from their agricultural lands, the last green area left for expansion of the city.
Catholics in Archdiocese asked to offer prayers for Pope Benedict, cardinals
The retirement of Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave to elect a new pope will take place in Rome but plans to pray for both are underway in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Top among them is a Mass to be celebrated 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 for Pope Benedict at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.
Permanent deacons to see changes for ministry, formation in Archdiocese
Permanent deacons are a growing presence in the Church of Philadelphia. Under new rules promulgated by Archbishop Charles Chaput on Feb. 13 and effective March 24, theirs will be a much more visible presence in the future. First, they will be permitted to witness marriages celebrated outside of Mass. Second, they will wear a clerical shirt when performing public duties as deacons outside of a liturgy. Third, the age for entering the deacon formation program will be lowered to 50.