Love, not some idea of perfection, leads to happiness, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Love and solidarity are what make the world a better place, not a focus on physical perfection and hiding away those who do not fit a commercial ideal, Pope Francis said. "The world does not become better because only apparently 'perfect' -- not to mention fa...Read full story »
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
The Holy and Great Council: Pope sending observers to Orthodox meeting
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will send high-level observers to the pan-Orthodox council meeting in Crete as a sign of respect, support and encouragement of the Orthodox Church. The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church was scheduled to open June 19, which is Pentecos...Read full story »
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Church agencies looking for answers in response to new overtime rule
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Rosemary Miller, executive director of Catholic Social Services of Montana, has long tried to ensure that the four social workers on her staff earn a fair wage, but a new federal rule governing overtime pay is giving her concern that the operation is going to take a big financia...Read full story »
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Water to wine: Jesus ushers in new covenant of joy, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine expresses his invitation to share in the joy of the new covenant and reminds people to do as he commands, Pope Francis said.The miracle also shows how he transformed the law of Moses -- represented by water destined for ritual p...Read full story »
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Faith leaders push for major reforms in solitary confinement practices
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The "SHU" is not much larger than a good-size bathroom. The SHU, or special housing unit, was where Johnny Perez spent a total of three years -- the longest period being 10 months -- in solitary confinement during the 13 years he was in New York prisons for armed robbery. ...Read full story »
Friday, June 03, 2016
Pope offers 'crash course' on mercy in priestly ministry
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The spiritual retreat Pope Francis offered priests and seminarians as part of the Jubilee of Priests could be seen as a "crash course" on the role of mercy in priestly ministry. His series of three meditations in three Roman basilicas June 2 and Mass June 3 w...Read full story »
Thursday, June 02, 2016
Unrequested religious mailings/ Duties of priest and deacon
Q. I receive, on a daily basis, mailings from multiple religious organizations requesting monetary help. Often they include address labels, holy pictures, prayers cards, etc. I feel guilty just trashing them, so I collect them and when the pile gets big, I mail it to one of the organizations, hopin...Read full story »
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Fatima facts: Vatican shepherds the flock away from conspiracy claims
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger met the press in 2000 for the formal release of the so-called Third Secret of Fatima, he said he knew many people would be disappointed. Almost 16 years later, at the beginning of a yearlong preparation for the 100th anniversary of the appari...Read full story »
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Supreme Court's Zubik decision is more compromise than punt, some argue
WASHINGTON (CNS) - Immediately after the Supreme Court sent the contraceptive case back to the lower courts May 16, some called the decision a punt -- the football analogy of sending the ball back to the other team -- or in this case the lower courts. But the analogy falls short on a practical leve...Read full story »
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Vatican PR aide warns Catholic blogs create 'cesspool of hatred'
Editor’s note – Staff of the Crux website (www.cruxnow.com) also contributed to this report. BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Although Pope Francis has succeeded in rebranding the public profile of the Church, according to a Vatican PR aide, his positive tone isn’t always reflected wh...Read full story »
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
