Catholic News Service
MELBOURNE, Australia – An Australian Royal Commission has recommended that the Vatican consider lifting the seal of the confessional in child-abuse cases and allowing voluntary celibacy for priests.
Published in
International
December 20, 2017
Cardinal Law, whose legacy was marred by Boston sex abuse scandal, dies
VATICAN – Cardinal Bernard F. Law, who had been one of the United States' most powerful and respected bishops until his legacy was blemished by the devastating sexual abuse of minors by priests in his Archdiocese of Boston, died early Dec. 20 in Rome at the age of 86.
Published in
International
December 19, 2017
German churches act as buffer for refugees with sanctuary program
BERLIN – Sitting on the bare pavement outside a Catholic church, an Afghan refugee woman, dressed in a bright floral headscarf, calls out plaintively to passersby, begging for coins.
Published in
International
December 19, 2017
Keep hearts open, ready to hold Christ this Christmas, Pope says
VATICAN – Countries with low birthrates suffer from that awful disease called "demographic winter," Pope Francis said in a morning homily.
Published in
Reflections
December 18, 2017
Polish Cardinal and "Rosary Priest" one step closer to sainthood
VATICAN – Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton and St. John Paul II's mentor, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski.
Published in
International
December 19, 2017
Pope meets Jordan's king amid rising tensions in Jerusalem
VATICAN – Pope Francis met with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the Vatican, two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital provoked outrage in the Middle East.
Published in
International
VATICAN – People need factual and trustworthy news that avoids sensationalism and whipping up heated reactions, Pope Francis said.
Published in
International
December 18, 2017
Vatican releases new instruction on authenticating, protecting relics
VATICAN – Only relics that have been certified as authentic can be exposed for veneration by the faithful, said a new Vatican instruction.
Published in
International
ROME – With so much suffering, poverty and exploitation in the world, missionary work must also include reaching out to people whose hearts are closed to receiving immigrants and refugees, Pope Francis told Jesuits in Myanmar.
Published in
International
December 15, 2017
Congo's bishops urge clergy to toll their church bells until election
KINSHASA, Congo – Catholic bishops in Congo have instructed clergy to toll their church bells each week until fresh elections are held.
Published in
International