World News
Irish government announces plans to legalize abortion, with limits
DUBLIN (CNS) — The Irish government has announced plans to legalize abortion in limited circumstances, but Minister for Health James Reilly insisted his plans will take “full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child.” The announcement contradicts a 2011 campaign promise by Prime Minister Enda Kenny that his government would not […]
God’s love asks people to decide how to live their lives, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God’s love is unconditional yet demanding, asking all to choose how they will live their gift of life, Pope Benedict XVI said. “The love of God sometimes follows paths one could never have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found,” the pope said in his message […]
Peacemakers love, defend, promote life, pope says in peace day message
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — True peacemakers defend human life at every stage of its existence and promote the common good through their economic policies and activities, Pope Benedict XVI said. In his annual message for the World Day of Peace Jan. 1, Pope Benedict said attacks on human dignity and human rights — from abortion […]
Climate talks ignored need for urgent action, agencies say
DOHA, Qatar (CNS) — Representatives of Christian aid and development agencies expressed disappointment that, despite a Dec. 8 agreement among delegates at the U.N. climate talks to extend the Kyoto Protocol aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, there was little urgency to quicken the pace to respond to climate change. The representatives were concerned because […]
Oil companies help fund Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Oil giants such as Total and Shell and other companies operating in southern Italy’s petroleum-rich Basilicata region footed the expenses for this year’s Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square. The regional government offered to donate to the Vatican a 1,615-square-foot artistic representation of Christ’s birth, resulting in “very significant savings” for […]
China groups revoke bishop’s appointment; archbishop calls for worldwide prayers
SHANGHAI (CNS) — The government-sanctioned Catholic bishops’ conference has revoked Shanghai Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin’s appointment, saying he violated their rules for episcopal ordinations, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. Joseph Liu Yuanlong, a vice chair of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, confirmed Dec. 12 that the association and the Bishops’ Conference […]
Pope asks Catholics to read Bible, recall history of God’s saving love
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Urging Catholics to “pick up the Bible” and read it during the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI said the Scriptures recount the story of God’s love for humanity and the steps he took throughout history to save all men and women. “That which enlightens and gives full meaning to the […]
Pope launches Twitter account, tweets to more than 1 million followers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own Twitter account, sending a short inaugural message to his more than 1 million followers. "Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart," it said. His tweet -- 139 characters -- went viral as the number of followers of @Pontifex and its seven other extensions grew by more than 5,000 new people an hour, a Vatican official said.
Berlin Archdiocese to restructure for administrative, spiritual reasons
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Germany's Berlin Archdiocese has announced plans to merge its parishes into larger "pastoral areas" and pool its institutional resources in the face of falling church membership. The reorganization is the latest of several by German dioceses and follows plans by the Vienna Archdiocese in neighboring Austria to cut its parishes from 660 to 150 in the face of dwindling clergy and laity.
French bishops say vote to allow embryo research ‘shocking’
PARIS (CNS) — The French bishops described as “shocking” the French Senate’s approval of a law permitting the use of human embryos for stem-cell research. “The human embryo has the right to be protected,” and current French law urges “respect for the human person ‘from the beginning of its life,'” said Archbishop Pierre D’Ornellas of […]