Author Archive
Faith groups meet Hollande, present requests for fair climate agreement
IMAGE: CNS photo/Michel Euler, pool via EPA By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — Faith-based groups presented French President Francois Hollande with 1.8 million signatures of people seeking a fair climate change agreement that would stop global warming and protect the poor, reported religious groups in Paris for the U.N. climate …
Proposals to restrict religion raise ‘alarms,’ says U.S. bishop
IMAGE: CNS/Bob Roller By Junno Arocho Esteves ROME (CNS) — The threat of terrorism must be confronted sensibly and not by restrictions based on religion, which ultimately threaten religious freedom and incite more violence, said Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for …
New Vatican document reflects on relations between Catholics, Jews
IMAGE: CNS/EPA By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics are called to witness to their faith in Jesus before all people, including Jews, but the Catholic Church “neither conducts nor supports” any institutional missionary initiative directed toward Jews, says a new document from a Vatican commission. How God will …
Syrian family arrives in Indianapolis with ‘so much hope in their eyes’
By Natalie Hoefer INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — The two small children and their parents were exhausted as their plane landed in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. These were not the average tired travelers coming home from a tourist trip. This was a family arriving to their new home, ready to …
Faith leaders, senators say U.S. must not ‘pause’ refugee resettlement
IMAGE: CNS photo/David Ryder, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A coalition of religious leaders joined three U.S. senators on Capitol Hill Dec. 8 to say “enough is enough” to those who want to bar Muslim refugees from Syria and other Middle East trouble spots from the U.S. after terrorist attacks …
Vatican continues steps to fight serious financial crime, agency says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Holy See and Vatican City State have continued to strengthen their institutional, legal and operational frameworks for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, an international monitoring organization said. “Moneyval” — the Council of …
Pope Francis: The church needs this Holy Year of Mercy
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church needs the extraordinary Holy Year to become an effective witness of God’s divine mercy, Pope Francis said. “The jubilee is a favorable time for all of us, so that in contemplating divine mercy, which surpasses every …
Group wants meeting with Kerry before State Dept. genocide findings
IMAGE: CNS photo/Solan Kolli, EPA By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A group of 30 Christian leaders, including Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, has asked for a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry in advance of the State Department’s declaration of genocides taking place around the world. The group believes …
Cardinal tells world leaders ‘great deal is at stake’ in climate talks
By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — A senior Vatican official urged a roomful of world leaders “to take action” and work in a spirit of solidarity to come up with an accord to combat global warming before it is too late. “A great deal is at stake for every country. …
Holy Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis’ voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Open the gates of justice.” With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God’s justice, which he said …