News/International
From border to academia, enthusiasm for papal encyclical runs high
By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON - Long before Pope Francis' encyclical on care for creation was released, it was providing a boost for a group of women struggling to keep the negative influences of modern-day life from erasing valued Mexican traditions and treasured cultural practices along the Mexico-Texas border.
Americans’ confidence in religion hits a new low
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, Religion News ServiceAmericans have less confidence in organized religion today than ever measured before — a sign that the Church could be “losing its footing as a pillar of moral leadership in the nation’s culture,” a new Gallup survey finds.
Pope Francis' stern climate encyclical faces deep political divides
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, Religion News ServiceA new survey finds U.S. Catholics — like most Americans — are divided along political lines when it comes to the cause and urgency of climate change. And Pope Francis, in a leaked copy of a hotly anticipated encyclical, goes straight at it.
Franciscan: Encyclical title affirms all creatures have common creator
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceROME - "Laudato Si'," the title Pope Francis chose for his encyclical on the environment, comes from a hymn of praise by St. Francis of Assisi that emphasizes being in harmony with God, with other creatures and with other human beings, said the head of the Franciscan order.
Pope meets Colombian president, gives assurance of prayer for peace
By Laura Ieraci, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said planning for a possible visit to Colombia would be accelerated by a peace agreement in the country, said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, following his meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican June 15.
Children need heterosexual parents, says Pope after gay pride march
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis stressed the importance of children having heterosexual parents June 14, just a day after Rome’s gay pride march demonstrated the changing attitudes about same-sex couples outside the Vatican walls.
Pope accepts resignations of St. Paul archbishop, auxiliary
By Maria Wiering, Catholic News ServiceST. PAUL, Minn. - Pope Francis accepted the resignations June 15 of Archbishop John C. Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee A. Piche of St. Paul and Minneapolis and named coadjutor Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of Newark, New Jersey, a canon lawyer, to be apostolic administrator of the Minnesota archdiocese.
Former nuncio will face Vatican trial on charges of abuse, child porn
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - A former Vatican nuncio will stand trial in a Vatican court on charges of the sexual abuse of minors and possession of child pornography.
Polish bishops vow to resist change at synod on the family
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic News ServiceWARSAW, Poland - Poland's Catholic bishops pledged to resist changes to Catholic teaching on marriage and family life at October's synod on the family at the Vatican and rejected demands for reform by German-speaking Catholics.
Report says Pope Francis to meet with married gay activist in Paraguay
By Rosie Scammell, Religion News ServiceVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will meet a gay married activist in Paraguay next month, according to an LGBT rights group in that country.
Vatican suspends donation agreement until soccer investigation ends
By Laura Ieraci, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY - A charity for youth established by Pope Francis has suspended a donations agreement with a South American soccer federation, following the corruption scandal that erupted last month with the worldwide soccer federation, FIFA.