IMAGE: CNS photo/Rick Wilking, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Several organizations have established emergency relief operations for the thousands of people affected by Hurricane Harvey and the floods in Texas and Louisiana. Contributions can be made to: — Catholic Charities USA: online at https://catholiccharitiesusa.org; telephone at 800-919-9338; mail to P.O. …

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked bishops across the country to consider a special collection to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey along the Gulf Coast. He suggested in an Aug. 28 letter to bishops that …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic politicians should be guided by the church’s moral and social teachings when crafting legislation, Pope Francis said. Meeting with participants in the annual meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network Aug. 27, the pope said that church teaching can contribute to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Nick Oxford, Reuters By James Ramos HOUSTON (CNS) — With floodwater as high as 20 feet from swelling bayous and waterways, thousands of homes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston flooded as Tropical Storm Harvey continued to batter southeast Texas Aug. 28. Bishops from dioceses along the mid-Texas Gulf …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican obviously is concerned about terrorist threats, “especially for the senseless hatred” it represents, and will continue to remain vigilant, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. Speaking to reporters Aug. 26, Cardinal Parolin said he had seen the most recent …

IMAGE: CNS/Courtesy Holy See Press Office By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A day after appealing for an end the violent persecution of the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, the Vatican announced Pope Francis will visit the country in late November. After the visit Nov. 27-30 …

By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic dioceses and charities are quickly organizing to help in the aftermath of a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with winds of 130 miles per hour late on Aug. 25 into the Rockport, Texas area, northeast of Corpus Christi. The hurricane, named Harvey, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Darren Abate, EPA By James Ramos HOUSTON (CNS) — Hurricane Harvey’s pending landfall is bringing up memories of the last major storm that aimed for the Texas Gulf Coast. Almost 12 years ago, Hurricane Rita churned through the Gulf of Mexico, aiming straight for the Texas coastline. While …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Daniel LeClair, Reuters By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholics in Oklahoma have been preparing for a long time for this moment. Many, like Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, had faith it would come, but there’s still a sense of awe, to think that a farm …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Joe Skipper, Reuters By Ana Rodriguez-Soto DORAL, Fla. (CNS) — They called Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator and a gangster. They recounted personal experiences of torture, beatings and intimidation at the hands of government thugs and jailors. They told of blatant disregard for the rule of law …