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Catholic News Agency
Vatican’s doctrinal office: Catholic Church cannot give blessings to same-sex unions
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Mar 15, 2021 / 05:22 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican’s doctrinal office on Monday clarified that the Catholic Church does not have the power to give liturgical blessings of homosexual unions. Answering the question “does the Church have the power to give the blessing to …
Annual Fatima pilgrimage to be virtual due to pandemic
Fatima, Portugal, Mar 13, 2021 / 04:01 pm MT (CNA).- The Bishop of Leiria-Fátima, António Cardinal dos Santos Marto, announced that the 2021 pilgrimage to Fatima will take place virtually due to existing restrictions in Portugal because of the coronavirus pandemic. The cardinal encouraged the faithful to make a spiritual …
Pope Francis celebrates 500 years of ‘the joy of the Gospel’ in the Philippines
by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 14, 2021 / 05:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis offered Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday to mark 500 years of Catholic faith in the Philippines. “Dear brothers and sisters, 500 years have passed since the Christian message first arrived in the Philippines. …
Burmese cardinal urges prayer octave for China
Yangon, Burma, Mar 14, 2021 / 09:50 am MT (CNA).- Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Yangon on Sunday called for the expansion of a day of prayer for the Church in China, established by Benedict XVI, into an octave. In 2007, Benedict designated May 24, the feast of Our Lady …
Priests share hope for new Pittsburgh parish in Black Catholic tradition
by Kate Veik Denver Newsroom, Mar 13, 2021 / 02:00 am MT (CNA).- Last summer, Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh made an important announcement. St. Benedict the Moor, a historic parish in the Hill District near downtown Pittsburgh, would become a personal parish in the Black Catholic tradition. Most parishes …
St. Peter’s Basilica to end private Masses, restrict Masses in extraordinary form
by Andrea Gagliarducci Vatican City, Mar 12, 2021 / 06:01 pm MT (CNA).- A new letter from the Vatican Secretariat of State has banned the private celebration of Masses at side altars in St. Peter’s Basilica, effective March 22. The regulation might seem tailored to meet COVID restrictions, as Italy …
This Catholic family is asking Fulton Sheen’s intercession for a second miracle
by Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Mar 11, 2021 / 04:00 pm MT (CNA).- A Catholic couple in Peoria, Illinois, is asking for the intercession of hometown hero Ven. Fulton Sheen to save the life of their unborn son. Royce and Elise Hood, parents of six children including one in utero, …
Theologian: Catholics must also consider the ‘justice’ of COVID-19 vaccine
by Kate Scanlon Washington D.C., Mar 12, 2021 / 11:00 am MT (CNA).- Catholic bishops and prominent theologians and ethicists say that although there is not an obligation to receive a COVID vaccine, Catholics should consider the strong moral argument in favor of doing so. Regarding moral concerns over the …
March 13: St. Roderick
Roderick, also known as Ruderic, was a priest in Cabra, Spain during the persecution of Christians by the Moors. Roderick had two brothers, one was a Muslim and the other was a fallen-away Catholic. One day, he tried to stop an argument between his two brothers. However, his brothers turned …
Survey: One in three Catholics in Germany thinking of leaving Church
CNA Staff, Mar 12, 2021 / 03:00 am MT (CNA).- A third of all German Catholics are considering leaving the Church, according to a new survey published on Thursday. The representative study, unveiled March 11, was conducted by the Erfurt-based opinion research institute INSA Consulere on behalf of the Catholic …
