By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians and Muslims, believers in one God, have an obligation to safeguard the world God created, said the Vatican’s annual message to Muslims for the end of Ramadan. “Our vocation to be guardians of God’s handiwork is not optional, nor is it tangential …

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — A leaked draft rule from the Department of Health and Human Services exempting religious groups from the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act was welcomed by church officials and attorneys representing the Little Sisters of the Poor, one of the groups that challenged …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Colleen Dulle WESTMINSTER, Md. (CNS) — For Father Mark Bialek, being a priest means enabling his parishioners to evangelize in new ways. “We can’t just sit comfortably anymore in our parishes and our chanceries and in our homes, but we have to actually go to …

IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Young people often are judged too easily, even though with their limitations they are still a much needed and valuable part of the world, Pope Francis said. Do not forget how God often chose the smallest, because proclaiming the Gospel …

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The United States has an obligation to honor the Paris climate agreement to protect “our people and our planet” and “mitigate the worst impacts of climate change,” said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ukrainian Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, known for his “velvety baritone” when chanting the Divine Liturgy or making one of his regular appearances on television or radio programs, died May 31 near Kiev at the age of 84. Like many Ukrainian Catholics around the world, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Colleen Dulle WASHINGTON (CNS) — Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, renowned for his ecumenical efforts, addressed a Washington gathering of Catholic and Lutheran leaders striving for unity. Cardinal Koch’s speech took place May 30 at “The 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther’s Posting of the Ninety-Five Theses …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will not visit South Sudan in October with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury as he had hoped, the Vatican spokesman said. Greg Burke, the spokesman, told reporters May 30 the trip “was not for this year.” With the civil war …

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are called to be “sowers of hope,” consoling and defending the poor and anyone in need, Pope Francis said. As Christians prepared to celebrate Pentecost June 4, Pope Francis used his weekly general audience May 31 to speak about the power of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Best family By Ed Langlois PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — On a crowded Portland commuter train May 26, a selfless Catholic father of four stepped forward to calm a tense situation. He was that kind of guy. Rick Best defended two women being accosted by a passenger yelling …