Author Archive
After U.S. reversal, Vatican reiterates two states needed in Holy Land
IMAGE: CNS photo/Ammar Awad, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican reiterated its call for a two-state solution in the Holy Land after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the United States would no longer recognize the illegality of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. …
Welcoming pope after long flight, Thais keep it warm and informal
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden BANGKOK (CNS) — Arriving in Thailand after an 11-hour flight, Pope Francis was greeted by 11 children — one for each of the country’s dioceses. Pope Francis caressed the faces of the shy little ones and reciprocated a hug with the bolder, older …
In health scare, Jeannie Gaffigan relied on combined dose of faith, humor
IMAGE: CNS photo/Chad Griffith, courtesy Jeannie Gaffigan By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Jeannie Gaffigan didn’t initially set out to write a book about having her brain tumor removed. It is a story that pretty much rolled out of her usual observations on life, faith and family that have been …
Everyday Heroes: Priest who once dreamed of majors now an MLB chaplain
IMAGE: NS photo/ Spirt Juice Studios, c By Andrew Butler Burke Masters was a baseball player who waited years for his call up to the major leagues. But when it finally came, he was wearing a different uniform than he expected. Masters, you see, is a Catholic priest. And years …
Pope calls for action against destructive culture of food waste
IMAGE: CNS photo/Samir Bol, Reuters By Paige Hanley VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A negligent and selfish culture of food waste is fueling the global hunger crisis, damaging the lives of individuals and preventing the progress of all people, Pope Francis said. "In many places, our brothers and sisters do not …
As immigration lawyer, woman religious helps reduce clients’ anxiety
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gerald Wutkowski Jr., Catholic Spirit By Marianne Zanko Komek PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (CNS) — In 2013, while volunteering in India, Graciela Colon first heard the inner stirrings of Jesus calling her to a religious vocation. For three weeks, she helped St. Teresa of Kolkata’s Missionary Sisters of Charity, …
More must be done to include women in church bodies, pope says
IMAGE: (CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although people may have different ways of praying or of serving their parish or the poor, the Catholic Church needs laity, priests, religious, parishes and lay movements to collaborate in order to be truly "catholic," Pope Francis said. More …
Efforts to protect life include promoting disarmament, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A commitment to defending and protecting human life requires a commitment to ending wars and to promoting nuclear disarmament, Pope Francis said. "Using nuclear weapons is immoral," the pope said in a video message released Nov. 18. The video …
Having a friend who is poor will help you get to heaven, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The poor are the church’s treasure because they give every Christian a chance to "speak the same language as Jesus, that of love," Pope Francis said, celebrating Mass for the World Day of the Poor. "The poor facilitate our …
Decline in baptisms leads Quebec church to rethink children’s spirituality
IMAGE: CNS photo/Philippe Vaillancourt, Presence By Philippe Vaillancourt QUEBEC CITY (CNS) — The great doorway to growing in the Christian faith is narrowing from year to year in Quebec as baptisms have significantly declined in since 2012 and there’s no indication the trend will reverse. Confronted with a shift away …