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‘We too are living in a time of martyrdom’, Pope tells Scottish seminarians
The world continues to be “hostile to the Gospel,” just as it was four centuries ago when St. John Ogilvie was martyred for his faith in Scotland, but continuing to witness to Christ will change the world, Pope Francis said on Thursday. This was the message of the Holy Father …
Report: Baby girls are being targeted for abortion in the West
The problem of sex-selective abortion is not limited to China and India, but is increasing in communities within Western countries, a new report by the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute says. “I think for a long time we’ve been denying that sex-selective abortion happens in the United States,” said Anna Higgins, …
Pope Francis: Children are always gifts, even in tough circumstances
Pope Francis’ latest writings on the family include a strong affirmation of the need to welcome children even in difficult circumstances. He praises large families and adopted families, rejects abortion as “horrendous,” reflects on the errors of “gender ideology,” and advises pastoral care for people with same-sex attraction. “Each child …
Survivor of Brussels terror attack writes letter of hope to unborn baby
BRUSSELS, Belgium — “…I just want to tell you that life is a wonderful thing, and the world is really full of remarkable people.” So starts a letter written by one of the survivors of the bomb attacks at the Brussels Zaventem international airport last week, according to CNN. The author of the …
Mother Angelica, foundress of EWTN, dies on Easter
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, foundress of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), passed away on March 27 after a lengthy struggle with the aftereffects of a stroke. She was 92 years old. “Mother has always and will always personify EWTN, the network that God asked her to found,” …
Priests can’t be forced to break seal of confession, La. judge rules
CNA/EWTN News — Louisiana law can’t force Catholic priests to violate the seal of the confessional, a judge in the state reaffirmed on Friday. State District Judge Mike Caldwell said in court Feb. 26 that a state law requiring clergy to report sex abuse of minors violated a priest’s religious freedom protections …
Behold, Catholic beard balm (yes, it’s a thing)
What do you do with an excess of chrism and a plethora of Catholic men with beards? Tony Vasinda, a director of faith formation at a Catholic parish in Seattle, Wash., was faced with that dilemma two years ago when he ordered some of the fragrant, liturgical oil for his …
Full text of Pope Francis’ in-flight interview from Mexico to Rome
Vatican City — In his hour-long inflight news conference on his way from Juarez to Rome, Pope Francis touched on a wide range of hot-button topics, including immigration, pedophilia, the spread of the Zika virus and his meeting with Patriarch Kirill. In the 60 minute interview, the Pope answered 12 questions posed …
Women may now have their feet washed at Holy Thursday Mass, Pope says
CNA/EWTN News Pope Francis has changed the rules for the Church’s traditional foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday, issuing a decree allowing women to participate in what has until now been a ritual officially open only to men. In a letter addressed to Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for …