Author Archive
Careful engagement with popular movements needed, former official says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When engaging with popular movements, the Catholic Church must keep its focus on their work with the poor and not be dragged into ideological debates, a former Vatican official said. While there are many grassroot organizations that …
A day of visiting the unwelcome, and a call to give them hope
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Rhina Guidos CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (CNS) — Up until July, 30-year-old Ingrid had a successful career as a pharmacist in her native Nicaragua. She owned a home, where she raised her two boys, ages 12 and 8, and expected to always remain in the country she so …
Calumny, slander is a ‘diabolical cancer,’ pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The act of bearing false witness to destroy someone is an attack against the body of the church, Pope Francis said. Christians who engage in calumny are like those responsible for the martyrdom of St. Stephen; they …
Solutions to save, protect forests needed ‘without delay,’ says cardinal
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bruno Kelly, Reuters By UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — At a time of increasing urbanization, the "irreplaceable importance" of forests is being "taken for granted and underestimated," the Vatican’s secretary of state said Sept. 23 at a high-level meeting at the United Nations. "We all recognize how important forests …
Be always on alert for protection of souls, says priest of 60 years
IMAGE: CNS photo/Doreen Abi Raad By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — His upbringing planted the seeds of faith. There were family prayers, the rosary and faith-filled conversations. By age 6, he was "in the church every day, around the priests. I grew up in this spirit," 89-year-old Maronite Father …
El Paso’s Bishop Seitz asks migrants be treated as Jesus would be treated
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Rhina Guidos EL PASO, Texas (CNS) — At the start of a week focused on the plight of migrants, El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz asked Sept. 23 whether Christians are ready to encounter a Christ who exists in the migrants at the U.S. border, …
Commitment to fighting climate change still weak, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The international community must ramp up its efforts if it expects to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, Pope Francis said. In a video message sent Sept. 23 to participants at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York, the pope …
Church exists to proclaim Christ, not itself, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church must not become a distant memory for men and women today but must be a welcoming place where everyone feels at home, Pope Francis said. Too often, people judge the church to be either irrelevant …
Colombian priest works for recovery from civil war in his homeland
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — Father Sterlin Londono has been a priest for 21 years among his fellow Afro-Colombians in his home region of Choco in Colombia, which is rich in gold — but also rich in coca. Choco also is home to Father Londono’s …
Amazon inhabitants hope synod will address lack of priests
IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves QUITO, Ecuador (CNS) — The upcoming Synod of Bishops for the Amazon will focus on the devastating effects of climate change on the environment and on indigenous communities, but it also will look at ways to meet the spiritual needs of …