World News
Nigerian church groups organize prayers for missing schoolgirls
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) -- Religious groups in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state have organized prayer sessions and other activities to support the rescue of kidnapped schoolgirls.
Hope and hard work: Vatican’s Philly priest trusts in Christian unity
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The issues dividing Christian communities have changed over the past 50 years but Msgr. Gregory Fairbanks, a Philadelphia archdiocesan priest working at the Vatican, is confident that Christian unity is possible. For him, "the healing of memory" makes the difference.
When you pray, speak from the heart and ask God for help, pope advises
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Never forget to pray, even while commuting, taking a walk or when waiting in line, Pope Francis said during his weekly audience May 7. And don't just stick to prayers memorized from childhood, but include heartfelt requests and pleas for help, advice and guidance, he said.
Vatican official says church making progress in stopping sexual abuse
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Appearing before a U.N. committee monitoring adherence to an international treaty designed to fight torture, a Vatican official insisted that, over the past 10 years, the Catholic Church has "in a systematic, constructive and effective way," worked to prevent clerical sexual abuse of minors and assist victims.
Francis effect? Observers see shift in stance of Mexico’s bishops
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Mexican prelates normally prize cordial and close relations with politicians and refrain from criticizing public policy. But Mexico's bishops posed uncomfortable questions for President Enrique Pena Nieto in a May 2 meeting, challenging him on the government's agenda of structural reforms and sharing the sense of dissatisfaction they hear from many ordinary Mexicans.
Church program helps Cuban entrepreneurs develop private businesses
HAVANA (CNS) -- Cuban entrepreneurs are learning the ins and outs of running a private business thanks to the two-year-old Cuba Emprende program in two Catholic dioceses.
Catholic hospital damaged in bombing by Sudanese air force, bishop says
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A Catholic-run hospital in the Nuba Mountains of war-torn South Kordofan in Sudan was targeted by the Sudanese air force over two days, said a retired bishop.
Vatican official rebukes U.S. nuns’ group for ‘fundamental errors’
Updated - At meeting with LCWR officials, Cardinal Gerhard Muller voiced "increasing concern" about the group's promotion of the "concept of conscious evolution," describing it as "opposed to Christian revelation."
15,000 rally in Ireland, pledge to work for repeal of abortion law
Ahead of local and European elections set for May 23, speakers encouraged supporters not to back politicians that supported the laws which, for the first time in Ireland, permit abortion in certain circumstances.
U.N. Committee Against Torture asks Vatican about sex abuse scandal
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Appearing before a U.N. committee monitoring adherence to an international treaty designed to fight torture, Vatican officials repeatedly were asked about efforts to investigate allegations of clerical sexual abuse, punish offenders and cooperate with civil authorities in prosecuting the perpetrators.