News
In Milwaukee, plan for 203 parishes to become 28, with 72 ‘clusters,’ by 2020
ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (CNS) — Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki is preparing the archdiocese for 2020, particularly as to how the spiritual needs of the Catholic community will best be served. “Parishes and Pastoral Leadership 2020,” approved and issued by Archbishop Listecki Aug. 8, notes “three principal factors” that will have an impact on parishes […]
Statistically speaking: Vatican numbers hint at fading faith practice
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The percentage of Catholics practicing their faith is declining almost everywhere around the globe. Almost all bishops report it, but it’s difficult to prove statistically. Each year, the Vatican’s own statisticians compile mountains of data about the number of Catholics, baptisms, priests and religious, weddings and annulments in each diocese and […]
Russian Orthodox, Polish Catholic leader sign appeal for reconciliation
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — The head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the president of the Polish Catholic bishops’ conference signed a joint message Aug. 17 urging Poles and Russians to set aside centuries of anger and prejudice and work together to maintain their countries’ Christian identities. The signing of the reconciliation “Message to the […]
A man for our times: Film tells story of St. Augustine’s conversion
WASHINGTON (CNS) — St. Augustine’s “Confessions,” the autobiographical account of his sinful youth and eventual conversion to Christianity, may be a centuries-old story but its message still resonates today, according to the head of Ignatius Press. For the first time, a feature film — titled “Restless Heart” — will tell the story of the fifth-century […]
Pope encourages prayers for unborn, support for their parents
CZESTOCHOWA, Poland (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI encouraged prayers for the lives of the unborn and asked Polish Catholics to ensure their love for life translates into concrete support for those finding it difficult to welcome a pregnancy. The papal message marked the 25th anniversary of Poland’s “Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn,” a project whose […]
Everything in life calls people to a relationship with God, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Everything that happens in life, whether it first appears good or bad, is a reminder that human beings do not have absolute control over their own destinies but were made to be in a relationship with God, Pope Benedict XVI wrote. “Each thing, each relationship, each joy, like each difficulty, finds […]
‘Gone With the Wind’ author’s nephew donates book rights to Atlanta Archdiocese
ATLANTA (CNS) — Because of a generous bequest from Joseph Mitchell, the late nephew of celebrated author Margaret Mitchell, the Atlanta Archdiocese now owns 50 percent of the literary rights to her Pulitzer prize-winning, best-selling novel, “Gone With the Wind.” But what does this mean for the Archdiocese of Atlanta? The short answer: continuing revenue […]
Vietnamese authorities replace chapel items with images of Ho Chi Minh
HANOI, Vietnam (CNS) — Government authorities from a district in Vietnam’s Central Highlands forced ethnic villagers to remove Catholic pictures and items from their chapel, and authorities replaced them with images of the late communist leader Ho Chi Minh. A Church source told the Asian Church news agency UCA News that government authorities from Kon […]
Nun says Syrian insurrection worse than Assad’s regime
DUBLIN (CNS) — A Carmelite nun said the armed insurrection in Syria is “producing a totalitarianism that is worse” than that of Bashar Assad’s regime. Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross, superior of the community at the monastery of St. James the Mutilated in Qara, Syria, also appealed to the international community to stop supporting […]
Al Smith Dinner engages candidates, doesn’t endorse, cardinal says
NEW YORK (CNS) — The Al Smith dinner in New York brings people of faith together for “an evening of friendship, civility and patriotism to help those in need,” not to endorse either candidate running for the U.S. presidency, said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York. The purpose of the dinner is to show […]