A large family is pictured eating dinner together in late May at their St. Louis home. A family that chooses to watch TV or play with their smartphones rather than talk at the dinner table is "hardly a family," Pope Francis said.

A family that doesn't eat together is 'hardly a family,' Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - A family that chooses to watch TV or play with their smartphones rather than talk at the dinner table is "hardly a family," Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the family in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 25.

Tense Synod ends by opening door for divorced, punting on gays

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VATICAN CITY - A momentous and divided gathering of global bishops ended Oct. 24 by endorsing ways that could lead to greater participation by divorced and remarried Catholics — a major source of friction here — while the 270 bishops declined to take up the even more controversial issue of how and whether to be more welcoming to gays.

Toronto’s Cardinal Thomas Collins speaks at a synagogue in Toronto. A mere 50 years ago, it would have been unheard of for a Catholic priest to do such a thing. But with the Vatican II declaration Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church opened itself to the other faiths of the world. Oct. 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate.

Nostra Aetate opened Catholics to the world

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In or out? Us or them? Where do we draw the line? Should we draw the line? Once a line is drawn, how do we look beyond our borders?

Cheryl Thompson, organizer of the Sanctifying Families conference, spoke on the example of Louis and Zélie Martin at a conference that honoured newly canonized saints Zélie and Louis Martin

New saints role models to family

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OTTAWA - On the eve of Zélie and Louis Martin’s canonization Oct. 18, Ottawa parents, some already devoted to the new saints, took part in a conference on sanctifying families.

With Archbishop Paul-André Durocher proposing opening up the diaconate to women, it refocused a contentious and complex issue in the Catholic Church: what is the role of women?

Women’s role: how far should Church go?

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When Archbishop Paul-André Durocher raised the question of ordaining female deacons during the first full day of the Synod on Family, he stepped into one of the most contentious and complex struggles in the Church — full participation of women in all aspects of their faith life, their Church.

Pope Francis stands between Jewish and Muslim religious leaders during a prayer service at the ground zero 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York Sept. 25. Father John W. Crossin, executive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said, "This event is symbolic and is iconic. It's a healing message."

Canadian bishop says 'Nostra Aetate' can help achieve peace, justice

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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Second Vatican Council's declaration on the church's relations with non-Christian religions is helping Catholics to build a world of peace, said the chairman of the Canadian bishops' committee on interfaith relations.

Pope Francis’ visit boosted the church. The pope himself? Not so much

Pope Francis’ visit boosted the church. The pope himself? Not so much

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Pope Francis’ first U.S. visit gave his already-high favourability ratings only a modest bounce with most Americans — and no bounce at all among Catholics.

Bishops arrive in procession for the opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the family in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 4.

Pope says ministry to divorced, remarried is not only topic for synod

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VATICAN CITY - As the discussion began at the world Synod of Bishops on the family, Pope Francis urged members not to act as if the only question that mattered was the pastoral care of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, his spokesman said.

The 270 cardinals, priests and priests who are voting members of the Synod of Bishops on the family concelebrated the synod’s opening Mass Oct. 4 with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Fidelity, truth, love must guide church outreach to families, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY  — In a world filled with challenges to marriage and family life, the Catholic Church is called “to carry out her mission in fidelity, truth and love,” Pope Francis said at the Mass opening the world Synod of Bishops on the family.

Cardinal Alanchery

Synod fathers can learn from familial bond

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MISSISSAUGA, ONT. - The Church must rediscover its role in helping and supporting families at this fall’s Synod on the Family, one of the leading Asian cardinals told The Catholic Register.

Veteran Vatican journalist Robert Mickens expects Pope Francis to “rattle cages” at the Oct. 4-25 Synod of Bishops on the Family. He said Francis is not afraid of debate and he expects the Pope will increase the frequencies of Synods in the future.

Divorced, remarried Catholics at the forefront of this year’s Synod

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TORONTO - Robert Mickens is expecting Pope Francis to “rattle cages” during the Synod of Bishops on the Family by challenging the world’s bishops to face and address the problems within the Church.

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