World News
Pope urges Sri Lankans to reconcile, accepts invitation to visit
Meeting a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Pope Francis said he knew that cooperating with former adversaries in the country's recently ended civil war "was not easy," but was "the only path that gives hope for the future." When he asked the pilgrims to share with him some of their songs, the choirs and dancers were happy to comply.
New Latin American presidents face challenges pope has highlighted
Protests in Latin American countries are sparked by glaring income inequality: Nearly half the region's income goes to the wealthiest 20 percent of the population, while the poorest 20 percent receive only 5 percent.
People power: Popular devotion is key factor in sainthood process
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The sainthood process is long and technically complicated, and ultimately requires the approval of the pope, but the whole procedure is driven by Catholics in the pews and, especially, those on their knees.
‘Unjust’ criticism won’t force Vatican to drop treaty, spokesman says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican said it would continue to adhere to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and give an attentive response to the U.N. committee monitoring adherence to the treaty, despite what it views as unfair criticism and suggestions from the committee that would violate church teaching.
Pope says relativistic ideas of marriage lead to divorce
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis said contemporary ideas of marriage as an arrangement defined by personal needs promote a mentality of divorce, and he called for better preparation of engaged couples as well as ministry to Catholics whose marriages have failed.
From tarps to steel roofs: Filipinos move to transitional shelters
TANAUAN, Philippines (CNS) -- Two-week-old Jesse Awa did not seem to mind the sound of loud hammering and saw blades cutting through wood as he slept peacefully, snuggled in his mother's arms. Just a few feet away, carpenters worked under a hot midday sun constructing a new home, albeit temporary, for his family.
Syrians fleeing to Jordan say Homs residents starving from lack of food
MAFRAQ, Jordan (CNS) -- Syrians fleeing to neighboring Jordan from the besieged central city of Homs said some people there are starving to death for lack of food. "People are dying of hunger especially, babies and young children," said Um Mohamed, the mother of four children, who fled with her family to this northern Jordanian town in mid-2013.
Legionaries of Christ elect new leaders, apologize to founder’s victims
ROME (CNS) -- Representatives of the Legionaries of Christ, meeting to reform their troubled congregation nearly four years after it was effectively taken over by the Vatican, announced a new slate of leaders and formally apologized to victims of their disgraced founder.
Scotland passes same-sex marriage law, with opt-in for churches
EDINBURGH, Scotland (CNS) -- The Scottish Parliament has passed a bill that will allow same-sex marriages, but religious organizations have the right not to perform them. Lawmakers had rejected pleas from the Catholic Church to oppose the bill and resisted attempts to amend it.
U.N. committee presses Vatican on child abuse, some church teaching
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A committee of the United Nations insisted that the Vatican publish detailed statistics on clerical sexual abuse of minors and that the pope should order Catholic dioceses and religious orders to implement all the policies of the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child. The U.N. also said the Vatican should "review its position on abortion" and change canon law to allow easy access to it.