Volunteer experiences ‘face of homelessness’ at Mary Magdalene House

Once Dave Beitz began learning the names of the people who frequent Mary Magdalene House in Over-the-Rhine, his volunteer service became much more meaningful. “Once you put a name to the face of homelessness, it becomes different. You start seeing these people routinely. You start knowing them. After you’re there …
Light is ON For You confession event returns Feb. 23

On Tuesday, Feb. 23 every parish and parish region of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be open for confession from 7-9 p.m. as part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s third “Light is ON For You” confession event. For regular Mass and Confession times year round, click HERE. Using the Light …
Brooklyn: Homesickness and the Lenten journey

Spoiler Alert: if you’ve not yet seen the film Brooklyn you may not want to read the end. Our increasingly secularized culture insists that we should all be “spiritual but not religious.” Brooklyn, a 2015 film distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, is an antidote to such one-dimensional political correctness. It paints a luminous …
Being human: Pope Francis delights many, frustrates some
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The pope is human. Pope Francis demonstrated that in Mexico, as he does wherever he goes, and most people find it attractive most of the time. In Pope Francis, Catholics can see a real person trying to live his faith …
Cardinal Pell calls for inquiry into press leaks accusing him of abuse
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Australian Cardinal George Pell called for an inquiry into the leaking of accusations that he is under police investigation for the alleged abuse of minors. Calling the accusations “without foundation and utterly false,” the cardinal “strongly denies any wrongdoing. If …
Archdiocese releases statement regarding recent papal comments

The following statement was issued Friday afternoon by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in response to inquiries regarding Pope Francis’ comments aboard the papal flight from Mexico to Rome on Feb. 17. During the the flight, the Holy Father answered questions from reporters, including a question about the potential immigration policies of …
Building walls to keep immigrants out is not Christian, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MEXICO (CNS) — As the plane carrying him back to Rome from Mexico was flying over Texas, Pope Francis insisted building walls to keep immigrants out of one’s country is un-Christian. Holding his customary in-flight news conference Feb. 17 …
‘Pope Francis VIPs’ gather in El Paso to welcome pope to U.S.-Mexico border
IMAGE: CNS/Nancy Wiechec By EL PASO, Texas (CNS) — A group of people, mostly migrants, joined Pope Francis from afar as he celebrated Mass that closed his visit to Mexico. Gathered less than a football field length from the altar where the pope prayed Feb. 17 in Ciudad Juarez, across …
In Zika outbreak, contraceptives may be ‘lesser evil,’ pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM MEXICO (CNS) — With physicians across Central and South American urging women to postpone pregnancy because of the Zika virus that causes birth defects, Pope Francis said using contraceptives could be a “lesser evil.” Holding a news conference Feb. …
Full text of Pope Francis’ in-flight interview from Mexico to Rome

Vatican City — In his hour-long inflight news conference on his way from Juarez to Rome, Pope Francis touched on a wide range of hot-button topics, including immigration, pedophilia, the spread of the Zika virus and his meeting with Patriarch Kirill. In the 60 minute interview, the Pope answered 12 questions posed …