Pope offers to help, meet families following massacre in Nice
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered his help to the people of Nice in a surprise phone call following a deadly attack during Bastille Day celebrations, said the head of an association of Italians living in France. Paolo Celi, president of the France-Italy Friendship society, …
Bishop feels ‘deep ache in my heart’ after fatal shootings of police
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Bachman, Reuters By BATON ROUGE, La. (CNS) — Baton Rouge Bishop Robert W. Muench renewed a call for a diocesan-wide week of prayer, fasting and reflection after the latest fatal shootings in the city, which this time took the lives of three law enforcement officers. He urged …
Healing racial divides starts with dialogue, black bishops say
IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The threat of being pulled over by police and arrested for something that even “hinted of going beyond the status quo,” was very real to retired Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, when he was growing up in segregated Baton …
Healing racial divide starts with dialogue, black bishops say
IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The threat of being pulled over by police and arrested for something that even “hinted of going beyond the status quo,” was very real to retired Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, when he was growing up in segregated Baton …
U.S. church urged to turn attention to racism before fractures widen
IMAGE: CNS photo/Carlo Allegri, Reuters By Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) — Father Bryan Massingale, a priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese and well-known theologian, knows what it’s like to be watched by police. He said that as a black man there have been times he has been followed by police officers …
Pope prays for grieving families following terror attack in France
IMAGE: CNS photo/Eric Gaillard, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Remembering the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in Nice, France, Pope Francis prayed that God may give comfort to grieving families and foil the plans of those who wish to harm others. “May God, the good …
School visits enriching for students and seniors
The simplest action can leave a lasting impact and can bridge a very big generation gap. Take the outings for Mary Ann Mecher’s fourth grade religion class at Our Lady of Victory School. Once a month, she brings her students to visit the seniors who attend the Adult Day program …
Pope calls attack on Nice act of ‘blind violence’
IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis condemned the attack on Bastille Day celebrations in France, calling it an act of “blind violence.” The pope expressed his “deep sorrow” and “spiritual closeness” with the French people in a message to Bishop Andre Marceau of Nice. …
Chaplains use faith, listening to help their flocks in summer of mistrust, fear
IMAGE: By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — The week had been emotionally draining at the predominantly black parish in Oakland, California. Along with the rest of the country, they had felt the weight of two more fatal shootings of black men by police. Then things got worse July 7 when …
U.S. House members in bipartisan vote pass Conscience Protection Act
IMAGE: CNS photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a bipartisan 245-182 vote, House members July 13 passed the Conscience Protection Act, which would provide legal protection to doctors, nurses, hospitals and all health care providers who choose not to provide abortions as part of their health care practice. …