Pro-Life “Heartbeat Bill” Goes to Governor in Late-Night, Lame Duck House Session
By Gail Finke Ohio’s so-called Heartbeat Bill, which would ban abortion after a baby’s heartbeat can be detected, was passed by both state Houses on Tuesday and is now on Gov. John Kasich’s desk. Crafted with the help of many Catholic attorneys and pro-life advocates, including the late Dr. Jack …
Annual Mass honors religious jubilarians
Sisters, brothers and priests from religious communities throughout the archdiocese who are celebrating jubilees in 2016 came together for an annual Mass in their honor at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati Oct. 15. Celebrated by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, the Mass recognized the faith of the women and men religious …
Annual collection for retired religious held this month
The 29th annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 10-11 in most U.S. parishes Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO, it benefits nearly 33,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack adequate retirement funding. The appeal raised $30.7 million in 2015, …
Panel: Genocide, wars, indifference will make Mideast Christians extinct
IMAGE: EPA By Beth Griffin NEW YORK (CNS) — Christians in the Middle East face extinction because of genocide, wars and international indifference to their plight, according to panelists at a Dec. 5 interfaith forum in New York. A concerted multilateral effort to establish a safe haven for them while …
Vatican commission launches child protection website
IMAGE: CNS By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has launched a beta version of its website in English and has included its template for local guidelines on preventing sexual abuse, resources for a day of prayer for the victims and survivors as well …
A picture says a thousand words: Badin Canned Food Drive
Badin High School students recently helped load the truck with more than 6,500 canned goods headed for St. Raphael’s food bank for the holiday season. Badin averaged more than 10 cans per student, with the sophomores leading the way with 2,048 canned goods donated. Assisting with the load effort were, …
Prayer intentions of Pope Francis: December
Prayer Intentions of Pope Francis The Holy Father’s prayer intentions for December 2016 Pope Francis’s universal intention is for an end to child-soldiers: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. His evangelization intention is for Europe: That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and …
‘Tis the season, and Bethlehem businesses hope for a merry one
IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) — Even the Christmas decorations seem more cheerful this year in Bethlehem. A new display of Santa’s reindeer and sleigh were about to alight at the main traffic circle on Manger Street, and a big white Christmas tree made …
New center shows church’s ongoing commitment to immigrants, says bishop
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Catholic Charities By Rose Ybarra MCALLEN, Texas (CNS) — Blessing the ground for a new respite center in McAllen is a sign of the Catholic Church’s commitment to be available and helpful to immigrant families, who “are enduring many, many tragic situations in their lives,” said Brownsville …
Despite distance, Iraqi Christians keep the spirit of Christmas alive
IMAGE: CNS/Oscar Durand By Oscar Durand ISTANBUL (CNS) — Sami Dankha, his three brothers and their families used to kick off Christmas celebrations by attending a packed Christmas Eve Mass at St. Thomas Church in Baghdad. Wearing brand new clothes and sporting fresh haircuts, they would spend the night chatting, …