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 …

IMAGE: CNS photo/KNA By Lise Alves SAO PAULO (CNS) — Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, known as the “cardinal of the people” and one of the most active voices against Brazil’s military dictatorship, died in Sao Paulo Dec. 14. The 95-year-old retired archbishop of Sao Paulo had been hospitalized since Nov. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Corrupt business practices that seek to profit from the sick and the dying are a cancer to hospitals entrusted with the care of the most vulnerable, especially children, Pope Francis said. Doctors, nurses and those who work …

BETTER TO GIVE Few customs have suffered more than the custom of giving gifts at Christmas. Commercialism and exploitation are two of the chief malefactors; sentimentality is another But for all the super merchandising, the phony glitter and the abuse of carols and even the scriptures, giving gifts continues to …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis and members of the international Council of Cardinals advising him on church governance deliberated on defining the role of Secretariat of State and its relationship to other Vatican offices. Meeting with Pope Francis Dec. 12-14, the Council of Cardinals worked on …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christmas is a time to open your heart to the little and wondrous things found in baby Jesus — born poor and defenseless so he could be near and bring hope to everyone, Pope Francis said. “The most beautiful joy …

St. James the Greater Third graders in White Oak enjoyed some time with the University of Cincinnati Bearcat on the basketball court

IMAGE: CNS photo/Gary Cameron, Reuters By Kurt Jensen WASHINGTON (CNS) — Organizers of the March for Life made it clear Dec. 13 that although they’re “cautiously optimistic” about eventually overturning the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision with a Donald Trump administration and a Republican-controlled House and Senate, they don’t …

After the general assembly sent two pro-life bills to Governor John Kasich last week, opponents of abortion and abortion promoters held their breath to see what he would do. Today, they had their answer. If the governor had done nothing, both bills (one banning abortion as soon as a fetal …