Head of Italian bishops says new law equates marriage, civil unions
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In recognizing civil unions of heterosexual and homosexual couples, the Italian government has equated those unions to marriage, said the head of the Italian bishops’ conference. While some supporters of the new law, which passed the legislature May 11, insisted …
To ignore the poor is to despise God, pope says at general audience
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — How Christians treat the poor is the clearest demonstration of their relationship with God, Pope Francis insisted. “To ignore the poor is to despise God! And we must learn this well: To ignore the poor is to …
Ordination Profile: Deacon Alex McCullough
The men scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood May 21 at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in downtown Cincinnati responded to questions from The Catholic Telegraph to profile their background and journey to the priesthood. TheCatholicTelegraph.com will publish profiles each day this week leading up to ordination. Deacon Alex McCullough …
Study of women deacons won’t be first, but might answer questions
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Pope Francis accepted a proposal at the Vatican May 12 to form a commission to study the possibility of women serving as deacons today, it generated plenty of buzz. The pope’s agreement on the idea — raised by …
Mexican bishop calls for compassion for people growing poppies
IMAGE: CNS photo/Watan Yar, EPA By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — A Catholic bishop in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero has called for compassion toward the impoverished populations harvesting opium poppies out of necessity, saying such people are not sinners and are neglected by the government. He asked …
People of faith must advocate for religious liberty, says House speaker
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Allana Haynes WASHINGTON (CNS) — People of faith have the responsibility to “advocate for their faith,” not only through good works, but on spiritual realms — one being through prayer, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, said May 17. He made the comments at the …
Obama directive on transgender access to facilities ‘deeply disturbing’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Lucy Nicholson, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Obama administration’s May 13 directive on transgender access to bathrooms “that treats ‘a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex’ is deeply disturbing,” said the chairmen of two U.S. Catholic bishops’ committees. “The guidance fails to address a number of …
U.S. Supreme Court sends Zubik case back to lower courts
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court May 16 sent the Zubik v. Burwell case, which challenges the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive requirement for employers, back to the lower courts. The justices’ unanimous decision, explained in a nine-page unsigned opinion, was …
In French interview, pope talks about religious freedom, abuse crisis
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Governments work best when they are secular, not confessional, but they must give ample space for people to express their religious beliefs, including by respecting the right of conscientious objection, Pope Francis told the French Catholic newspaper La Croix. While legislatures must “discuss, …
Service, not power, is the true Christian path, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Those who seek only power and greatness, especially within the church, follow a different path than Jesus, who told his disciples to serve and not to be served, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. Preaching May 17 during Mass in his …