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Pope Francis’ 2024 Lenten message: ‘Lent is a season of conversion, a time of freedom’
By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Feb 1, 2024 / 14:30 pm Pope Francis has centered his Lenten message for 2024 on the Book of Exodus, choosing “Through the Desert God Leads Us to Freedom” as its main theme to encourage the faithful that the season is a journey from bondage to …
Six pro-life activists convicted of federal FACE Act charges, face over a decade in prison
By Daniel Payne CNA Staff, Jan 31, 2024 / 10:40 am Half a dozen pro-life activists on Tuesday were found guilty of violating a federal law that forbids protesters from blocking the entrances to abortion clinics. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release that the six defendants in the Nashville, …
The hidden history of Black Catholic nuns in the U.S.
Washington D.C., Feb 11, 2021 / 04:10 pm MT (CNA).- Black Catholic nuns have made manifold contributions to the Church in the United States, and theirs is a story that needs to be told, one historian says. Generations of black Catholic women “fought against racism in order to answer God’s …
Here are 4 Catholic schools in the U.S. that are keeping the faith
By Kate Quiñones CNA Staff, Jan 29, 2024 / 05:00 am The 50th anniversary of National Catholic Schools Week kicked off this week, celebrating the more than 5,200 Catholic grade schools in the country that educate more than 1.3 million students. Celebrated since 1974, this week is marked by special Masses, open …
Pope Francis: Small ideological groups oppose same-sex blessings; Africa a ‘special case’
By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 29, 2024 / 14:40 pm Pope Francis suggested that the opposition to the Vatican’s approval of nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples mostly comes from “small ideological groups” with the exception of Africa, which he said is “a special case.” “Those who vehemently protest belong …
What is hell like? Check out these visions received by Catholic saints
By Abel Camasca ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 27, 2024 / 07:00 am In the history of the Catholic Church various saints and blesseds have described what hell is like and even exactly where “bad Christians” would be placed, based on visions and messages they received during their lives. Hell’s structure St. …
‘Nones’ now largest religious category in U.S., new report says
By Peter Pinedo Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 25, 2024 / 17:55 pm Religiously unaffiliated people, often referred to as “nones,” now make up the largest religious category in the U.S., according to a new report by the Pew Research Center. Pew’s new report, released Jan. 24, shows that nones now account for …
Ugandan priest named diocesan administrator of Louisiana diocese following death of bishop
By CNA Staff CNA Staff, Jan 26, 2024 / 07:15 am Father Simon-Peter Engurait has been chosen as diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana following the unexpected death last week of Bishop Mario Dorsonville. Dorsonville died of complications stemming from liver disease on Jan. 19, leaving the diocese sede …
Pope Francis: Blessings don’t require ‘moral perfection’
By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Jan 26, 2024 / 12:00 pm Pope Francis on Friday clarified the Vatican’s position on same-sex blessings, affirming the recent declaration Fiducia Supplicans and emphasizing that “moral perfection” isn’t a requirement for receiving a blessing. The Dec. 18, 2023, document, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the …
Kentucky bishop dismisses priests who derided novus ordo Mass as ‘irrelevant’
By Daniel Payne CNA Staff, Jan 25, 2024 / 11:30 am A Kentucky bishop this month announced the dismissal of two priests who he said had repeatedly denigrated the modern form of the holy sacrifice of the Mass in their parish. Covington Bishop John Iffert said in a letter to members of Our …