World News
Vatican laments European Court denial of conscientious objection right
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While applauding the European Court of Human Rights’ recognition of the right of a British airline employee to wear a cross on her uniform, the Vatican lamented the court’s denial of the full right of conscientious objection in other cases claiming religious discrimination in the United Kingdom. Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, […]
Euro court says Britain failed to protect stewardess’ right to wear cross
MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the British government violated the rights of an airline flight attendant by failing to protect her right to conscience and religion. It found that Nadia Eweida, 60, a Coptic Christian, suffered discrimination when she was told by British Airways, her employer, to […]
‘Listen to the streets’ on marriage, says French bishops’ spokesman
PARIS (CNS) -- A French bishops' spokesman urged politicians to "listen to the streets" after hundreds of thousands of people rallied against same-sex marriage. "We're facing questions about society -- what the family is, what marriage is, and whether there's a difference between men and women," Msgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesman for the French bishops' conference, told France's Metro daily.
Partnerships key to Haiti’s recovery 3 years after earthquake
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Soon after a monstrous earthquake devastated much of Haiti three years ago, the mantra among Haitian government leaders and a good share of relief and development agencies was “build back Haiti better.” It was somewhat catchy, of course, and certainly demonstrative of the resiliency of a country battered all too often by […]
Mexican priest’s work in shelters helps shift migrants, evangelicals’ perceptions
SALTILLO, Mexico (CNS) -- During Mass on the feast of the Epiphany, Father Pedro Pantoja asked a group of parishioners in attendance to pray for his Central American guests -- all of whom were seeking to sneak into the United States. The migrants seeking shelter in Saltillo, about 190 miles south of the Texas border at Laredo, arrived after a perilous path through Mexico, where often criminal gangs -- sometimes assisted by complicit and corrupt police and public officials -- exploit, extort and kidnap them.
Like Good Samaritan, help those in need, pope says in message for the sick
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a message for the 2013 World Day of the Sick, Pope Benedict XVI called on everyone to be a good Samaritan and concretely help those in need. Thanking those who care for the sick and elderly, the pope underlined the church’s fundamental role in “lovingly and generously accepting every human […]
Calling Jews ‘enemies’ is ‘unacceptable,’ Vatican spokesman says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church remains committed to deepening its relations with Jews and finds it "absolutely unacceptable" to consider the Jewish people as enemies, the Vatican spokesman said. "It is absolutely unacceptable, impossible, to define the Jews as enemies of the church," Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said.
2.3 million people joined pope at Vatican in 2012
VATICAN CITY — More than 2.3 million pilgrims and visitors joined Pope Benedict XVI for an audience, liturgy or prayer at the Vatican or Castel Gandolfo in 2012, the Vatican said. The Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Vatican office that coordinates the audiences and distributes the free tickets to papal audiences and liturgies, said […]
US Catholics’ efforts help Syrian refugees in Turkey, bishop says
ISTANBUL (CNS) — The relief efforts of U.S. Catholics are helping Syrian refugees in Turkey face their ordeal in a dignified manner that respects their priorities, said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz. Bishop Kicanas, chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services, traveled to the Turkish-Syrian border to see programs the agency has […]
German bishops criticize country’s growing arms industry
BERLIN (CNS) — Germany’s Catholic bishops criticized the country’s growing arms industry and urged greater commitment to settling the world’s armed conflicts. The message was included in a 24-page bishops’ conference brochure for the Jan. 1 World Day of Peace. “Peace isn’t just a job for politicians,” said the conference president, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of […]