For God and country: Priests navigate U.S. armed forces as chaplains
IMAGE: CNS illustration/Liz Agbey By Chaz Muth WASHINGTON (CNS) — At first glance, it’s difficult to distinguish Father Lukasz J. Willenberg as a Catholic priest as he gathers with U.S. Army paratroopers preparing for a training jump at Pope Field near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Instead of wearing the traditional black …
English bishops condemn rise in xenophobic attacks after Brexit vote
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Hackett, Reuters By Simon Caldwell MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said the “upsurge of racism, of hatred toward others is something we must not …
Retired Pope Benedict XVI says he ‘feels protected’ by Pope Francis
IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his first public address in almost a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness “from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life …
Suicide bombers hit predominantly Christian Lebanese village near border
IMAGE: REUTERS By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — Suicide bombers attacked a predominantly Christian village in northeast Lebanon twice in one day, and residents called on the government to support them, saying Islamic State fighters were holed up on the outskirts of town. Two separate sets of four suicide …
Brexit vote concerns European church leaders that unity may be fractured
IMAGE: CNS photo/Toby Melville, Reuters By Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) — European Catholic leaders expressed concern that the decision by United Kingdom voters to leave the European Union threatened unity across the continent, but they also cautioned the EU bloc to rethink its values and priorities. The concerns arose …
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down regulations on Texas abortion clinics
IMAGE: CNS photo/Michael Reynolds, EPA By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a 5-3 vote June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that required them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical centers and required their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. …
Flooding devastates West Virginia; Alderson House needs help
WHEELING, W.Va. — Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston asked for prayers for those affected by the devastating floods in West Virginia that have left 26 people dead, including a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old. As of June 27, almost 500,000 were without power and 44 counties were under a state …
Transcript: What did Pope Francis say about the church and apologizing?
During his flight from Armenia to Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the assembled journalists aboard the papal plane. He reflected on his three-day trip to Armenia, his upcoming trips to Azerbaijan and Poland, the role of the Pope emeritus, Christian unity, and the reformation. He …
SCOTUS strikes down Texas abortion regulations, Ohio likely affected
In a 5-3 vote June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that required them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical centers and required their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati pointed out in a press …
Christians should apologize for helping to marginalize gays, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ARMENIA (CNS) — Catholics and other Christians not only must apologize to the gay community, they must ask forgiveness of God for ways they have discriminated against homosexual persons or fostered hostility toward them, Pope Francis said. “I think …
