World News
To live poverty, learn finance, Vatican tells religious
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Taking a vow of poverty should not mean living in ignorance of the economic realities of community life, Vatican officials wrote in a letter to members of religious communities.
CRS official: Gaza a ‘complete catastrophe’ on ‘brink of collapse’
A top Catholic charity official described Gaza as a "complete catastrophe" after nearly four weeks of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas.
On eve of pope’s visit, Americans in South Korea build Catholic faith
Maryknoll Sister Jean Maloney first arrived in South Korea to work as a nurse after the Korean War ended more than 50 years ago.
Scandals causing more Germans to leave Catholic Church, cardinal says
A German cardinal warned that the number of Catholics leaving his country's church is "alarmingly high" and urged an end to "scandals and vexations" involving clergy.
Chinese bishop urges Catholics to hold firm as religious symbols removed
Bishop Vincent Zhu Weifang of Wenzhou has written an open letter to Catholics in the diocese, asking them to defend their "rights and dignity" during a campaign by the local government to demolish religious symbols.
Compassion, sharing, Eucharist: Steps on the path to heaven, pope says
Going forward for Communion at Mass, Catholics must do so with a desire to imitate Jesus' compassion for others and with a commitment to sharing what they have, Pope Francis said.
Pope lifts suspension of Father D’Escoto, former Sandinista official
Pope Francis has lifted the suspension of Maryknoll Father Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, who was ordered 29 years ago to stop exercising his priestly ministry because he refused to give up his political position in Nicaragua's Sandinista government.
Sign of peace at Mass: Vatican says it stays put, but urges education
In 2005, members of a synod of bishops formally questioned whether the sign of peace should be placed elsewhere in the Mass, for example at the end of the prayer of the faithful and before the offering of the gifts.
Cleric blames surge of rapes in India on pornography, loss of values
Two rapes have been reported every hour for the last 13 years in India, and the rate of sexual violence is rising despite protests. Activists say many cases go unreported because of stigmatization and intimidation by culprits.
Church workers fight fear, myths as Ebola worsens in Sierra Leone
It is hard for people in Sierra Leone not to lose hope as the death toll rises to 729 in three West African countries and worldwide fear grows over the worst Ebola outbreak on record, said the head of Caritas in the Archdiocese of Freetown, Sierra Leone.