Author Archive
Spirituality ‘just tip of iceberg’ for airport chaplain always on the go
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Beth Griffin JAMAICA, N.Y. (CNS) — As the Catholic chaplain at John F. Kennedy International Airport ambled through Terminal 4 on a hot summer afternoon, security personnel, airport employees and flight crews shouted a cheery hello or stopped for a quiet word. "That’s my …
Mumbai Catholics open churches for thousands stranded by flooding
IMAGE: CNS photo/Adnan Abidi, Reuters By NEW DELHI (CNS) — Catholic churches and institutions in flood-hit Mumbai opened their doors to accommodate thousands of people stranded in the city by heavy rain and flooded streets. Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India, and Syro-Malabar Bishop Thomas Elavanal of Kalyan, India, asked …
Storm warning: Quiet summer days risk flash controversies
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A normally quiet month was surprisingly struck by a brief, but intense summer squall at the end of July. Questions and controversy, accusations and explanations blew through Rome and across the webiverse concerning big changes underway at the Pontifical …
El Paso bishop meets with victims, family members of Texas mass shooting
By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The bishop of El Paso, Texas, met with the families of those who were killed and wounded during the Aug. 3 shooting at a Walmart in the city where he serves, and in a statement following the meeting said his heart "was breaking," after …
In letter, pope encourages priests dejected by abuse crisis
IMAGE: CNS photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis acknowledged the shame and frustration felt by priests who are discouraged by the actions of fellow clergy members who betrayed the trust of their flock through sexual abuse and abuse of conscience and power. In …
NASA flight director says faith, family have marked his life’s journey
IMAGE: CNS photo/James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald By Jo Ann Zuniga HOUSTON (CNS) — Gene Kranz, NASA flight director during the 1969 landing of the first man on the moon, spoke about faith and family to more than 1,000 attending the Galveston Houston Archdiocesan Prayer Breakfast July 30. In attendance …
Catholic Charities helps immigrant children with increased fear, stress
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Oregon Catholic Charities By Katie Scott PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — The crushing, life-altering event can occur during the most mundane circumstances — as parents pay a traffic ticket or drop kids off at school. "It’s happening every day in Portland, in Eugene, everywhere in the state," said …
Gregory: Offensive speech, actions a ‘growing plague’ that ‘must end’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Catholic Standard WASHINGTON (CNS) — Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory said recent public comments by President Donald Trump and others about Baltimore and the responses those remarks have generated "have deepened divisions and diminished our national life." "We must all take responsibility to reject language …
Fire destroys ‘treasured’ historic Catholic church in Texas
By WESTPHALIA, Texas (CNS) — The Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, a nearly 125-year-old wooden church with bell towers on each side, burned to the ground July 29. The fire, which began in the morning, is still under investigation. Parishioners ran into the burning church to save what they …
Religious sisters at forefront of fight against human trafficking, slavery
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Beth Griffin UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — A worldwide network of 2,000 Catholic religious sisters marked the 10th anniversary of its efforts to combat human trafficking and slavery July 29. Speakers from the Talitha Kum organization headlined a United Nations panel on the eve of …