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Catholic News Agency
Biden-Harris to prioritize abortion stance for reelection campaign
By Joe Bukuras CNA Staff, Dec 19, 2023 / 19:05 pm Vice President Kamala Harris announced she will embark on a tour across the nation promoting abortion rights, beginning on the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade next month. In focusing on abortion, the vice president’s tour …
Irish diocese to rely on laity to preside over funerals amid shortage of priests
By Joe Bukuras CNA Staff, Dec 19, 2023 / 13:30 pm More than 40 laymen and laywomen in the Diocese of Clogher in the north of Ireland will soon begin presiding over funeral liturgies amid a shortage of priests. A major vocation crisis could result in fewer than 10 active priests …
U.S. bishops: Vatican declaration does not change Church teaching on marriage
By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 18:20 pm A Vatican-issued declaration on blessing “same-sex couples” and couples in other “irregular situations” does not change the Catholic Church’s teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, according to a statement issued by the United States bishops. …
Vatican says priests can bless same-sex couples without condoning their lifestyles
By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pm The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. The ruling, which also applies to …
Vatican doctrine office encourages single mothers to receive Communion after confession
By Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Dec 14, 2023 / 13:50 pm The Vatican’s doctrine office published a letter on Thursday confirming that single mothers can receive Communion after going to confession and urging the need for further “pastoral work” in parts of the world where single mothers might still face harsh …
A cardinal, an archbishop, and a bishop reveal their vocation stories
By Joe Bukuras CNA Staff, Dec 17, 2023 / 09:00 am Serving at the altar for Venerable Fulton J. Sheen played a major role in one U.S. cardinal’s vocational journey. For another bishop, falling to his knees at the tomb of St. Peter was a pivotal moment. And an archbishop said …
During fundraiser, priest makes ‘longest shot ever by a priest on a playground’
By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 16, 2023 / 08:00 am Father Jarett Konrade, pastor of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Beloit, Kansas, made an impressive basketball shot recently during a fundraiser, landing him on the “Images of the Week” for “EWTN News In Depth.” Two years …
Pope Francis celebrates 87th birthday with children who receive aid from Vatican clinic
By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Dec 17, 2023 / 13:50 pm Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday morning ahead of his weekly Angelus by meeting with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary. Addressing the families present — who presented the Holy Father with a …
Two women killed amid Israeli attack at Holy Family Parish in Gaza, Latin Patriarchate says
By Daniel Payne Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 16, 2023 / 15:02 pm Two Christian women were killed on Saturday by an Israeli sniper at the Catholic Holy Family Parish in Gaza, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Saturday morning. The patriarchate said in a statement that “around noon” on Dec. 16, a …
How to pray the 300-year-old ‘Christmas novena’
By Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 15, 2023 / 17:15 pm An Italian priest named Father Charles Vachetta is credited with writing a novena in 1721 to inspire his parishioners during Advent. Today, that novena is known as the “Christmas novena.” The nine-day prayer begins on Dec. 16 and concludes …
