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Annual ‘9 Days for Life’ prayer, action campaign takes place Jan. 14-22
The U.S. Conference of Catholics Bishops announced Dec. 18 the annual “9 Days for Life” prayer and action campaign will run Jan. 14 to Jan. 22.
Christmas Eve marks 200th anniversary of beloved carol ‘Silent Night’
Exactly 200 years ago this Christmas Eve — Dec. 24, 1818 — in a little church in what is now Austria, the world heard for the first time a poem set to music that eventually would be hailed as one of the most popular and beloved Christmas carols of all time.
True Christmas celebrates Jesus, who is tender, humble, pope says
With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St. Peter’s Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the pope.
Death penalty is fruit of laws lacking humanity, mercy, pope says
The death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment that ignores the primacy of mercy in the name of justice, Pope Francis said.
Vatican names two reconciled bishops to head Chinese dioceses
As part of its ongoing efforts to reconcile China’s Catholic communities, the Vatican recognized two previously excommunicated Chinese bishops as heads of dioceses.
Vatican Museums to launch full virtual tour to increase accessibility
In the technology support department at the Vatican Museums, Villanova University student Justin Myers is spending a semester creating virtual tours of galleries, part of a larger project to make the museums accessible to everyone.
National Council of Churches mourns death of Guatemalan girl near border
The death of a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl “represents an egregious disregard for the safety and care of persons in the custody of U.S. officials,” the National Council of Churches said.
Retiring military chaplains reflect on service
When Father Jerome Fehn accepted a U.S. military Legion of Merit Medal Dec. 1, he said it was more for those with whom he served than for himself, even as the award recognized his exceptional service during 20 years as an Army National Guard chaplain.
Archbishop Nienstedt’s ministry restricted in archdiocese
“While this may cause some pain, my hope is that this decision prompts further action by those with authority over Archbishop Nienstedt to resolve this question,” Archbishop Hebda said in the letter, which also announced new steps the archdiocese is taking to minister to clergy sexual abuse survivors.
Religious freedom laws meant to be ‘shield, not sword,’ says speaker
Religious freedom is widely misunderstood, prone to being used only for political purposes and is identified by the public mostly with the Republican politicians. And its enshrinement in law requires constant vigilance on all sides.
Education key to solving migration crisis, pope says
As the celebration of Christmas draws near, the plight of the Holy Family calls to mind the sufferings of the many men, women and children escaping war and persecution, Pope Francis said.
Reader’s Digest calls Ukrainian Catholic church a ‘real-life’ miracle
“The church that wouldn’t burn,” reads a headline on the cover of the December 2018/January 2019 issue of Reader’s Digest magazine.
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