News
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 […]
CRS says participation in CORE Group does not violate Church teaching
WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Catholic Relief Services representative rejected the claim that the agency’s work with an international organization working to improve maternal and child care violates Church teaching. John Rivera, director of communications, said in a statement on the CRS website that the agency’s membership in the CORE Group provides a “means of demonstrating […]
Romney’s running mate comes from longtime Wisconsin Catholic family
WASHINGTON (CNS) — U.S. Rep. Paul Davis Ryan, whom Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced Aug. 11 as his running mate for the White House, is a lifelong Catholic whose children attend their parish school in Wisconsin. Ryan’s inclusion on the presumptive Republican ticket marks the first time both halves of the major party matchup […]
Religious sisters’ group, archbishop, agree to dialogue
ST. LOUIS (CNS) — Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle “listened carefully” to the concerns and feelings of board members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and asked for the board’s help in learning more about “members’ experience and understandings of religious life,” the LCWR said after an Aug. 11 meeting with the archbishop. […]
Nationwide Crossroads walks conclude with pro-life rally in Washington
WASHINGTON (CNS) — They crossed 2,000 miles of mountains and prairie, sun and sleet, city and country to spread the Catholic Church’s pro-life message. “They” were mostly college-age volunteers who walked from coast to coast in four separate groups, protesting at abortion clinics along the way, before arriving in Washington for a rally Aug. 11. […]