Author Archive
‘Violence in the name of God is blasphemy,’ USCCB president says
By LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Decrying the acts of religious violence that have taken place during the Christmas season, the president of the U.S. bishops declared: "Violence in the name of God is blasphemy." Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chosen in November as president of the U.S. Conference …
‘A victory for women is a victory for humanity,’ pope says on Marian feast
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The world will not know peace unless there is an end to violence against women, the exploitation of their bodies and the denial of their dignity, Pope Francis said on the feast of Mary, Mother of God. Celebrating Mass …
Newborns find ‘Safe Haven’ from abandonment through Florida volunteers
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Safe Haven By Tom Tracy MIAMI (CNS) — Formerly an information technology business owner, Nick Silverio doesn’t sit still for long before thinking of ways to make it easier for women with crisis pregnancies to make good choices. One of his initiatives is A Safe Haven For …
Vatican magazine looks at women in the church in the age of Pope Francis
IMAGE: CNS/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis sees the "masculine monochrome" of leadership and influence in the Catholic Church as "a defect, an imbalance" that harms the church itself and its mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the world, said the lead article in a …
Put the phone away and talk to each other, pope urges families
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis prayed that people all over the world would end 2019 "in peace, peace in their hearts," and that families would mark New Year’s by "communicating with one another." Reciting the Angelus prayer Dec. 29, the feast of …
Chilean church leaders seek ‘manger of solidarity’ after Christmas fires
IMAGE: CNS photo/Rodrigo Garrido, Reuters By VALPARAISO, Chile (CNS) — Chilean church leaders called for Catholics to respond with prayer and solidarity to aid about 1,000 people who lost their homes in fires that swept through hillside neighborhoods around the southern port city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve and Christmas. …
Missouri priest finds beauty in the ‘king of instruments’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jay Nies, The Catholic Missourian By Jay Nies JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CNS) — Mozart proclaims the organ to be the "king of instruments," but it actually works more like a parliament. It reigns when its panoply of voices speaks in harmony and balance, with whispers and crescendos drawing …
Pope, at Angelus, prays for Philippine victims of typhoon
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vermalyn Maloloy-on Navarrete via Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Reciting the Angelus with thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square the day after Christmas, Pope Francis asked them to join him in reciting the "Hail Mary" for the victims of Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines. …
Pope prays Christmas softens hardened hearts to bring peace, justice
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The light of peace, hope and salvation brought into the world with the birth of Jesus is stronger than the darkness of war and despair, but spreading that light requires the cooperation of every person of good will, Pope …
Christmas says, ‘You are loved,’ pope says in homily
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas night tells each person, no matter how poor or sinful, that they are utterly and totally loved by God, Pope Francis said as he celebrated Jesus’ birth. The grace of God revealed in the birth of Jesus in …