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Maternity leave: Why the pope wants the church to be a loving mother
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Mother’s Day came early this year at the Vatican. A number of feast days over the Advent and Christmas seasons gave Pope Francis a fresh opportunity to pay homage to the world’s mothers and insist further on how and …
Bishop says Turkish Catholics fearful, but government supportive
IMAGE: CNS photo/Nabil Mounzer, EPA By Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) — A church leader in Turkey said Catholics are fearful about attending church after recent terrorist attacks, but insisted local Christians can count on government protection. “Although we can move around freely, people are understandably afraid of coming to …
Marchers carry crosses through Chicago in memory of murder victims
IMAGE: CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World By Michelle Martin CHICAGO (CNS) — Shara Funches’ eyes scanned the rows of crosses set up on the sidewalk just north of the Chicago River on Michigan Avenue, a main thoroughfare through downtown. Funches was looking for the cross bearing the name of …
Hope, not optimism, is needed to rebuild, pope tells quake survivors
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Along the difficult path of rebuilding their lives, survivors of the earthquake that devastated central Italy must also rebuild their hearts with a strong foundation built on hope, Pope Francis said. Families need something long lasting when coping with …
Catholic nun organizes national pre-inauguration event to foster peace
By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sister Rita Petruziello said she could feel the “contention and nastiness” in the air during the presidential election campaign of the last year. Instead of getting better as the process went along, it kept getting worse. “It didn’t matter who won,” she told Catholic …
When a mother loses a child, reach out with tears, not words, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In the depths of despair, when no words or gestures will help, then cry with those who suffer, because tears are the seeds of hope, Pope Francis said. When people are hurting, “it is necessary to share in …
Catholics in Congress: one-third of House, one-quarter of Senate
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The religious makeup of the 115th Congress is significantly Christian — 91 percent — with Catholics comprising one-third of the House of Representatives and about a quarter of the Senate. Overall, there are six fewer Christians in the new …
Federal judge blocks HHS transgender regulation
By AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) — A federal judge in Texas Dec. 31 blocked a regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services requiring Catholic hospitals and health care providers to perform or provide gender transition services, saying it would place “substantial pressure” on the plaintiffs — a coalition of …
Ohio think tank gives people a much-needed voice in overcoming poverty
IMAGE: CNS photo/Dennis Sadowski By Dennis Sadowski NEWARK, Ohio (CNS) — For Tonya and Chuck Cooper, family isn’t just those who share their last name. When it comes to helping people in need, the couple often sets an extra plate at the dinner table for someone without food, offers a …
Pope to bishops: Defend children from abuse, protect their dignity, joy
IMAGE: CNS photo/Raminder Pal Singh, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Stand up and protect children from exploitation, slaughter and abuse, which includes committing to a policy of “zero tolerance” of sexual abuse by clergy, Pope Francis told the world’s bishops. Wake up to what is happening to …