World News
Residences of Syrian archbishops in Aleppo ransacked
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Fighting in Aleppo, Syria, has not spared the residences of the local Melkite and Maronite Catholic archbishops, according to the Vatican’s Fides news agency. The residence of Melkite Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart was ransacked during clashes Aug. 23. The archbishop and several priests who live in the building had fled a few […]
In Britain, ongoing struggles over laws regulating euthanasia
MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Tony Nicklinson, a man paralyzed from the neck down following a stroke seven years ago, wept before television cameras after he was told that he had lost a two-year legal battle to change the law on euthanasia. Three High Court judges rejected the claim brought by Nicklinson, 58, and another stroke […]
Pope says laypeople share responsibility for Church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Catholics prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, all Church members need to make a renewed effort to ensure laypeople are aware of their responsibility for the Church and are allowed to exercise it, Pope Benedict XVI said. “Co-responsibility requires a change of mentality, particularly regarding […]
Statistically speaking: Vatican numbers hint at fading faith practice
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The percentage of Catholics practicing their faith is declining almost everywhere around the globe. Almost all bishops report it, but it’s difficult to prove statistically. Each year, the Vatican’s own statisticians compile mountains of data about the number of Catholics, baptisms, priests and religious, weddings and annulments in each diocese and […]
Russian Orthodox, Polish Catholic leader sign appeal for reconciliation
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — The head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the president of the Polish Catholic bishops’ conference signed a joint message Aug. 17 urging Poles and Russians to set aside centuries of anger and prejudice and work together to maintain their countries’ Christian identities. The signing of the reconciliation “Message to the […]
Pope encourages prayers for unborn, support for their parents
CZESTOCHOWA, Poland (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI encouraged prayers for the lives of the unborn and asked Polish Catholics to ensure their love for life translates into concrete support for those finding it difficult to welcome a pregnancy. The papal message marked the 25th anniversary of Poland’s “Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn,” a project whose […]
Everything in life calls people to a relationship with God, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Everything that happens in life, whether it first appears good or bad, is a reminder that human beings do not have absolute control over their own destinies but were made to be in a relationship with God, Pope Benedict XVI wrote. “Each thing, each relationship, each joy, like each difficulty, finds […]
Vietnamese authorities replace chapel items with images of Ho Chi Minh
HANOI, Vietnam (CNS) — Government authorities from a district in Vietnam’s Central Highlands forced ethnic villagers to remove Catholic pictures and items from their chapel, and authorities replaced them with images of the late communist leader Ho Chi Minh. A Church source told the Asian Church news agency UCA News that government authorities from Kon […]
Nun says Syrian insurrection worse than Assad’s regime
DUBLIN (CNS) — A Carmelite nun said the armed insurrection in Syria is “producing a totalitarianism that is worse” than that of Bashar Assad’s regime. Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross, superior of the community at the monastery of St. James the Mutilated in Qara, Syria, also appealed to the international community to stop supporting […]
Prayer for France affirms values without polemics, spokesman says
PARIS (CNS) — The French bishops’ “prayer for the nation” reminds Catholics of the social and political implications of Christian values, but it seeks to do so in a way that avoids the polemical tones of “Catholic fundamentalists,” said the spokesman of the bishops’ conference. Msgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesman, said the prayer was part of […]