Author Archive
Backup admin
Pope: Fragile egos, power grabbers, sad sacks are cancer in church
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The church is not a prop for one’s ego, a soapbox for ideas or a suit of armor protecting a sad life, Pope Francis said. “The church exists only as an instrument for communicating God’s merciful plan to the people,” …
Bishops need shared approach to ‘Amoris Laetitia,’ new cardinal says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal-designate Kevin J. Farrell believes the U.S. bishops as a whole should have discussed pastoral guidelines for implementing Pope Francis’ exhortation on the family before individual bishops began issuing guidelines for their own dioceses. Implementing the pope’s exhortation, “Amoris …
Christians called to restore dignity to sick, imprisoned, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Visiting the sick and the imprisoned are works of mercy that not only benefit the suffering and the abandoned, but benefit the visitors who are enriched by being with those who suffer like Christ, Pope Francis said. …
Gloves come off at 71st annual Al Smith Dinner in New York
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Beth Griffin NEW YORK (CNS) — When Donald J. Trump stepped over yet another invisible line of the contentious presidential race Oct. 20, many of the 1,500 people at 71st annual dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation broke historic precedent to boo …
National parks: Places of wonder, history, culture, spiritual refuge
IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By Nancy Wiechec and Chaz Muth WASHINGTON (CNS) — From the dramatic vistas of the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the glistening waters of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, national parks have stood as places of wonder, history and culture. John Muir, considered the father of our national …
Kurtz: Political discourse that demeans women, religion ‘must change’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Too much of the political discourse during this election year “has demeaned women and marginalized people of faith,” the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Oct. 14. “This must change,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky. …
As outrage over lewd comments piles up, Trump struggles among Catholics
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jim Young, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Hours before the Oct. 9 presidential debate began, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani invoked St. Augustine of Hippo on a Sunday morning political news show to defend the man he was supporting for president. “Ever read ‘The Confessions’ …
Off the beaten path: Pope looks far afield for new cardinals
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Nichols, Catholic Moment By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Choosing new members of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis once again looked to countries and particularly to dioceses that were not and never had been represented in the body that advises the pope and bears responsibility …
Retired pope says governance wasn’t his gift, but Francis is good at it
IMAGE: CNS/Bloomsbury By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While retired Pope Benedict XVI said organization and governance are not his strong suits, he also said, “I am unable to see myself as a failure.” In a book-length interview with the German author Peter Seewald, Pope Benedict said that when …
Mother Teresa: ‘Do small things with great love’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By KOLKATA, India (CNS) — A favorite motto of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata was: “Do small things with great love.” But the “small things” she did so captivated the world that she was showered with honorary degrees and other awards, almost universally praised by the …