By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — What’s in a name? Plenty, apparently depending on your political persuasion. A report issued Dec. 19 by the Public Religion Research Institute indicates that Democrats and Republicans differ even on what they want cash-register clerks to say in December. Asked, “Do you think stores …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky JERUSALEM (CNS) — Except for specific incidents in Egypt and one in Libya, Christians in the Middle East are suffering the same fate as their fellow citizens, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, told media in response to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout via EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — People from around the world, especially the poor and the homeless, had a chance to send their good wishes for Pope Francis’ 80th birthday. Eight homeless people — two women and six men — made …

By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Mideast Catholic leaders are urging people to put aside ideology and blame and work to rebuild the city of Aleppo, Syria. “The world is divided. Each one is accusing the other,” said Syrian-born Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham. “Between the superpowers bickering, a …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paulo Chunho, EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Portugal in 2017 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions of Fatima. The pope, who accepted the invitation made by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Ben Nelms By Alicia Ambrosio VANCOUVER, British Columbia (CNS) — Two figures dressed as Mary and Joseph made their way down the center aisle of Vancouver’s Holy Rosary Cathedral. At various points, they stopped and asked a parishioner playing the part of an innkeeper for a place to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jorge Duenes, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is establishing a working group charged with developing spiritual, pastoral and policy advocacy support for immigrants and refugees. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB president, has named members of the working group, with the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gerry Serrano, courtesy St. Mary’s College By Michele Jurich MORAGA, Calif. (CNS) — The small space has served over the years as the pastor’s office, a reconciliation room and the office of an Episcopal parish-without-walls whose members worship on the St. Mary’s College of California campus in Moraga. …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ken Hackett, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, is gearing up to try retirement for the second time. The retired president of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas aid agency, is leaving his ambassadorial post three years and …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — At a Mass packed mostly with immigrants, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville tried to get the crowd to focus on the plight of the Holy Family.  They had no home, he said. Many closed their doors to them when …