IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — When President Barack Obama unveiled a series of executive orders Jan. 5 intended to make a dent in gun violence in the United States, people reacted. And how. “Thank God that someone finally has the courage to close the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/James Martone By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — Mohammed Chirani was pursuing a midlife career change in the United Kingdom when news erupted out of his native France that Muslim extremists had attacked the Paris headquarters of a satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people, including eight of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Lucie Parsaghian, EPA By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — While the flow of migrants into Europe and the West has sparked controversy, Lebanon continues to bear the brunt of absorbing massive numbers of refugees. A commonly cited figure is that one in four people in Lebanon is …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first video prayer message of the year, Pope Francis asked people to join him in praying that interreligious dialogue lead to “peace and justice.” The video message was part of a prayer initiative coordinated by the international Apostleship of Prayer, …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Rhina Guidos By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The fragrance of the cake is like no other. For Spaniards and some Latin Americans who grew up with it, the aromatic smell of the roscon de reyes is one of the most treasured of childhood food memories surrounding the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Eric Gaillard, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A world that carefully adheres to the dictates of being “politically correct” yet refuses to respect people’s faith in God is a “sad paradox,” the Vatican newspaper said. The Jan. 6 article, headlined “The Charlie Hebdo question: Manipulated …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Go out and seek the signs God is offering everyone today that will lead to Christ, Pope Francis said. The thirst for God is present in everyone, and it’s the church’s task to help those with “a restless heart” by …

By Dan Meloy DETROIT (CNS) — While everyone is called to walk in the footsteps of the saints, Anthony Petz took things a little more literally. The Detroit native and San Diego resident recently completed a 500-mile, 12-stop pilgrimage along the El Camino Real in California, touring the missionary outposts …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late Monday, the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of Roman Catholic nuns who care for the elderly poor, urged the Supreme Court to protect them from $70 million dollars in government fines for refusing to violate their Catholic faith. This is the second time the Sisters have been forced to …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout via EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the place where his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, created the world’s first Nativity scene. “He wanted to visit the sanctuary and places where St. Francis, on Christmas Eve …