IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — An economic vision geared solely toward profit and material well-being has led to an economy of exclusion and inequality that has increased poverty and the number of people discarded “as unproductive and useless,” Pope Francis said. The impact is …

Yesterday Pope Francis raised eyebrows around the world after declaring his openness to establishing a commission to study the female deaconate, but a careful look at his full response is less of a shocker, and points to nothing new. In fact, in addition to giving a brief summary of a …

IMAGE: EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The latest “VatiLeaks” trial seemed to have all the makings of a classic courtroom thriller: financial scandal, secrets leaked by an insider and journalists defending their right to blow the whistle on allegations of corruption within a state that is …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Larry Burgess, University of Dayton By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Dominic Sanfilippo, one of 12 students who graduated with a degree in human rights May 8 at the University of Dayton in Ohio, said he has grown accustomed to explaining his major to people over the years. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told the heads of women’s religious orders from around the world that he would set up a commission to study the New Testament deaconesses and he also insisted more can and should be done to involve lay and …

IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The military mantra of “suck it up” and an intense love for the Catholic faith drove Cheryl Tobin to reach new heights — the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica and a personal blessing from Pope Francis. Despite having stage 4 …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Alex Hofford, EPA By Simone Orendain MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s win in May 9 national elections was “a strong reminder that people want change,” said Father Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas, the country’s largest Catholic radio network. Father Pascual told Catholic News Service May …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Salvation has nothing to do with the tidy business of bartering — earning God’s love in return for good behavior, Pope Francis said. “If you do well you get a reward; if you do poorly you get punished. This is …

ROME — The leaders of the world’s communities of Catholic women religious were warned against accepting an “entitlement creep” that numbs them from confronting poverty and environmental destruction. At the opening session of a triennial assembly of the International Union of Superiors General in Rome, U.S. Sister Carol Zinn, a a member …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sean Gallagher, The Criterion By Sean Gallagher GREENFIELD, Ind. (CNS) — As Easter season ends, one reminder of it that will remain in churches throughout the rest of the liturgical year is the Easter candle, also known as the paschal candle. Throughout the liturgical year, Easter candles are …