VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See believes Pope Francis is not traveling to the United States in September to scold anyone, but to challenge the country's people to live up to their ideals. "I don't think he's coming to the United States to antagonize, to criticize, to call...
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Q. My daughter is a Catholic and has received all of her sacraments, up to and including confirmation. She is engaged to a young man who is Presbyterian. They are scheduled to get married in a nondenominational church with a Catholic priest presiding. They are not planning on having a Mass with hol...
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  POPE FRANCIS SCHEDULE  Here is the schedule for Pope Francis' September 2015 Apostolic Journey to the United States of America as released by the Vatican on June 30, 2015.  All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time. Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Washington, D.C. 4 p.m.: Arrive f...
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Q. I have a daughter and son-in-law who are practicing Catholics. They are in favor of gay marriage, and my son-in-law says that there is no place in the New Testament where Jesus condemns homosexual acts. So, he says, while homosexual activity may have been prohibited in the Old Testament, it is p...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When the Vatican publishes its annual report detailing its activities and operations, the 1,400-page volume is filled with references to the every day and the exceptional. Each Vatican congregation, council, office and organization creates a summary of its ongoing projects, or...
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Readers of the Bible may recall the passage in Chapter 4 of Luke that presages the start of Jesus' public ministry, in which Jesus said, in part: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty...
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Q. In the Book of Wisdom (3:17-18 and 4:3) it indicates that children born of a forbidden union will suffer a miserable fate and not amount to anything. They are illegitimate and can never lay a firm foundation with values that are deeply rooted. I was born out of wedlock; my Dad's family called of...
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- People make special preparations for welcoming a special guest, and watching what worked and did not work in Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay may help people preparing for Pope Francis' visit to the United States in September. Some of the plans, however, will require common-sense...
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When Pope Francis comes to the U.S. Capitol Sept. 24, he could hardly ask for a better backdrop. His address to a joint meeting of Congress -- historic enough since it's the first time a religious leader who also is a head of state has addressed the body of lawmakers -- will be...
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Q. Recently, the funeral of Beau Biden (the vice president's son) was televised nationally. The hymns consisted mainly of show tunes and songs by popular artists. In our own parish, as well as in hundreds of others, the use of nonliturgical songs would not be permitted. Why are the politically elit...
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