By Mitch Finley VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although prisoners must pay a price for their crimes, incarceration must not be used as a method of torture but rather an opportunity to become contributing members of society, Pope Francis said. Punishment can be fruitful only when inmates are helped to look …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — By virtue of its very definition, marriage can only be between a man and a woman, Pope Francis said in a new book-length interview. “We cannot change it. This is the nature of things,” not just in the church, but in human history, …

Local observances for the National Day of Remembrance for Abortion Saturday Sept 9th: Gate of Heaven Cemetery: 9:30 am Bishop Joe Binzer will celebrate Woodland Memorial Cemetery (Dayton) 11:00 am Ecumenical prayer service Mary, Help of Christians (Fairborn) following 4 pm Mass

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Environmental destruction is a sign of a “morally decaying scenario” in which too many people ignore or deny that, from the beginning, “God intended humanity to cooperate in the preservation and protection of the natural environment,” said the leaders of the Catholic and …

Brother Xavier Eshman A Mass of Christian Burial for Divine Word Brother Xavier Eshman was celebrated June 28 in the chapel at his community’s residence in Techny, IL. Brother Xavier, 79, died June 18. A native of Dayton, Brother Xavier entered formation with the Divine Word Missionaries after graduating from …

Pope Francis’s prayer intentions for September: Parishes That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.

By NEW YORK (CNS) — At the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan, Polina Maller, 11, took a few moments from her violin lesson to talk about her appreciation for music. “It’s fun, and I like it. Music makes me feel like I’m free inside; it makes …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Cindy Wooden By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic social teaching has developed over the past century as new problems — human, social, economic and environmental — come clearer into focus and call out for a faith-based response. Pope Francis’ contribution, with his encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Trudy Lampson handout via Reuters By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered his prayers for the people of Texas and Louisiana struggling to cope with the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey and he praised all those engaged in rescuing and caring for the thousands of people …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — “Excessive inequality” threatens cooperation among all people in society “and the social pact it supports,” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, in the U.S. bishops’ annual Labor Day statement. In the message, Bishop Dewane cited the words of …