World News

Cardinal O’Malley: Sex abuse panel to stress accountability, education

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The new papal commission for protecting minors from clerical sex abuse will recommend stricter standards for accountability of abusers and those who fail to protect children, and will fight widespread denial of the problem within the church, said Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston.

Cardinal: Officials who support abortion should not receive Communion

ROME (CNS) -- Catholic politicians and judges who support laws in conflict with church teaching on abortion, euthanasia, marriage and related issues commit "sacrilege" and cause "grave scandal" if they receive Communion, said Cardinal Raymond Burke.

Hopes rise that pope, patriarch meeting renews Christian unity effort

ROME (CNS) -- The Orthodox bishop who is coordinating the meeting of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Pope Francis May 25 in Jerusalem said he expects the two leaders will discuss the predicament of Christians in the Middle East, conservation of the environment and defense of the traditional family.

Vatican statistics report church growth remains steady worldwide

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The number of Catholics in the world -- 1.228 billion -- and the number of priests and deacons increased in 2012, while the number of women religious continued to decline. Permanent deacons have increased 17 percent since 2007.

Vatican hopes U.N. committee resists ‘ideological pressure’ at hearing

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Days before a Vatican delegation was to appear before a U.N. committee, the Vatican's spokesman said he hoped the hearing would focus on implementation of an international treaty against torture and not be manipulated to focus instead on the clerical sexual abuse crisis.

Pope: New attitude of ‘evangelical service’ must take hold at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told his new economic oversight council that it must be "courageous and determined" in its critical role of helping the church not waver from its real mission of bringing the Gospel to the world and helping those most in need.

Pope says he cried over images of Christians allegedly crucified

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said he cried when he recently saw images of Christians allegedly killed by crucifixion.

Pope: Fun, not money should rule sports; athletes must be good models

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Soccer-fan Pope Francis urged professional athletes to always be sportsmanlike on and off the field because so many people, especially kids, look up to them.

Irish safeguarding board plans to follow pope and ‘kick up a fuss’

DUBLIN (CNS) -- The independent watchdog that monitors child safeguarding procedures in the Irish church pledged to follow the example of Pope Francis and "disturb the peace."

Pope to greet new commission on abuse prevention as it meets first time

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A new papal commission for protecting minors from sexual abuse was meeting for the first time to discuss its mandate and expand input from more countries.