IMAGE: CNS photo/Raminder Pal Singh, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Stand up and protect children from exploitation, slaughter and abuse, which includes committing to a policy of “zero tolerance” of sexual abuse by clergy, Pope Francis told the world’s bishops. Wake up to what is happening to …

Q: I have heard that the number of seminarians is increasing locally and more of them are recent college graduates. Why do you think there are fewer second-career vocations and more young men applying to seminary? A: Yes, there has been an increase in seminary enrollments locally and nationally and …

Resurrection liturgy for Precious Blood Sister Carmencita Voisard was held at the Salem Heights chapel, 4960 Salem Ave., Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Visitation immediately preceded the liturgy. Sister died at the Maria-Joseph Center in Dayton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Carmencita, 94, had been a Sister of …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Whether the new year will be good or not depends on us choosing to do good each day, Pope Francis said. “That is how one builds peace, saying ‘no’  to hatred and violence — with action — and ‘yes’ to …

Prayer Intentions of Pope Francis for January: Christian Unity. That all Christians may be faithful to the Lord’s teaching by striving with prayer and fraternal charity to restore ecclesial communion and by collaborat­ing to meet the challenges facing humanity.

IMAGE: CNS photo/Arno Burgi, EPA By Zita Fletcher BERLIN (CNS) — As traditional family holiday celebrations continued with the coming of the New Year, an official with the German bishops’ conference encouraged Catholic families to read Pope Francis’ exhortation on the family, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”). “The feast …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Ahmed Jallanzo, EPA By Lauren Clem VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Calling for a new style of politics built on peace and nonviolence, Pope Francis also called for disarmament, the eradication of nuclear weapons and an end to domestic violence and abuse against women and children. “Violence is not …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — New York’s Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan will take part in the upcoming presidential inauguration of Republican Donald Trump. “I am honored to have been asked to offer a reading from Scripture at the upcoming presidential inauguration, and look forward …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Drake, Reuters By FARGO, N.D. (CNS) — The Catholic Benefits Association, the Diocese of Fargo and Catholic Charities North Dakota filed a lawsuit Dec. 28 in U.S. District Court in North Dakota against a federal regulation scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 that redefines “sex” for anti-discrimination …