A family that doesn't eat together is 'hardly a family,' Pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN 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.
Tense Synod ends by opening door for divorced, punting on gays
By David Gibson, Religion News ServiceVATICAN 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.
Nostra Aetate opened Catholics to the world
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterIn 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?
New saints role models to family
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA - 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.
Women’s role: how far should Church go?
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterWhen 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.
Canadian bishop says 'Nostra Aetate' can help achieve peace, justice
By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON (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
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, Religion News ServicePope 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.
Pope says ministry to divorced, remarried is not only topic for synod
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN 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.
Fidelity, truth, love must guide church outreach to families, Pope says
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN 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.
Synod fathers can learn from familial bond
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterMISSISSAUGA, 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.
Divorced, remarried Catholics at the forefront of this year’s Synod
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - 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.