Author Archive
Now Hiring: Vatican ambassador is unique in U.S. diplomatic corps
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As the U.S. president’s personal envoy to the Vatican, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See has a unique role in building a bridge between the political center of the United States and the religious-spiritual center of the universal Catholic …
Getting a health care bill through Congress fraught with difficulties
IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the vice president has to cast a vote to break a tie in the Senate on whether to debate U.S. health care policy, let alone revise it — as Mike Pence did July 25 — it is obvious that …
French priest’s martyrdom a life-changing event, archbishop says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Pascal Rossignol, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The martyrdom of a French priest killed a year ago while celebrating Mass was an event that “has transformed me as a bishop,” Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen said. Father Jacques Hamel’s life — “simple and exemplary …
U.S. bishop urges Senate to remedy health care after vote to proceed
IMAGE: CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — After the Senate voted July 25 to proceed with the health care debate, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, urged senators of both parties to “work together to advance changes that serve the common good.” The statement from …
Explosive device detonated outside Mexican bishops’ offices
IMAGE: CNS photo/Sashenka Gutierrez, EPA By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — An explosive device was detonated outside the offices of the Mexican bishops’ conference, directly across the street from the country’s most visited religious site, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A statement provided to Catholic News Service …
Vatican shuts down fountains as Rome deals with drought
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While Rome reels from one of its worst droughts in decades, the Vatican is doing its part to conserve water by shutting down the city-state’s 100 fountains. The office governing Vatican City State announced July 25 that the drought has “led the …
Suit aims to block law making pregnancy centers ‘advertise’ abortion
By Patrick Downes HONOLULU (CNS) — An Oahu pro-life pregnancy resource center and a national network of pregnancy resource centers have filed a federal lawsuit to halt the enforcement of a new Hawaii law that requires such centers to “advertise” contraception and abortion “services.” Attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom, a …
Pope, others pray as parents of Charlie Gard end legal struggle for help
IMAGE: CNS photo/Peter Nicholls, Reuters By Simon Caldwell MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Pope Francis is praying for the parents of Charlie Gard after a U.S. doctor told them nothing could be done to help their son. Chris Gard and Connie Yates announced in London’s High Court July 24 that they …
Pope prays for dialogue, reconciliation in Jerusalem
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land to “moderation and dialogue” as tensions continued around a key site in Jerusalem that is sacred to members of both faiths. After reciting the Angelus July 23, the pope asked people gathered …
Doing well and doing good: Charities wary of Trump tax plan
IMAGE: CNS photo/Eugene Garcia, EPA By Carolyn Mackenzie WASHINGTON (CNS) — While Capitol Hill and much of the nation have been following the roller coaster of debate surrounding what will come of GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, some are focused on what President Donald Trump’s …