Group wants meeting with Kerry before State Dept. genocide findings
IMAGE: CNS photo/Solan Kolli, EPA By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A group of 30 Christian leaders, including Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, has asked for a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry in advance of the State Department’s declaration of genocides taking place around the world. The group believes …
Cardinal tells world leaders ‘great deal is at stake’ in climate talks
By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — A senior Vatican official urged a roomful of world leaders “to take action” and work in a spirit of solidarity to come up with an accord to combat global warming before it is too late. “A great deal is at stake for every country. …
Holy Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis’ voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Open the gates of justice.” With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God’s justice, which he said …
Open wide the Holy Doors: Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy begins Dec. 8
A Holy Year begins with the opening of a Holy Door. Since the 15th Century, a “Holy Door” has been set aside for the celebration of Jubilee Years. The solemn ritual opening of the Holy Door evokes for Catholics the passageway from sin to grace, and calls us to live …
Judge’s ruling frozen embryos must be destroyed called ‘tragic case’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Waltraud Grubitzsch, EPA By Liz O’Connor LEVITTOWN, Pa. (CNS) — A California state judge’s ruling that a now-divorced couple’s five frozen embryos must be destroyed is an example of doing something that technology allows without considering all its aspects, according to medical ethicists. Christopher White, director of research …
Activists say human rights, financing pose obstacles to climate accord
IMAGE: CNS photo/Charles Platiau, Reuters By James Martone PARIS (CNS) — Major hurdles stand in the way of a global accord on climate change, including over the questions of human rights and who pays the costs for poor countries to transition into using greener energy, said Catholic and other church …
USCCB President Archbishop Kurtz to speak at seminary Dec. 9
Archbishop of Louisville and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Joseph E. Kurtz will speak at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 9 at the Athenaeum of Ohio’s Bartlett Center. Archbishop Kurtz’s talk, “Inspiring and Accompanying Families in Christ: Reflections on the Synods on the Family,” will draw on his …
Pope: Stopping climate change, poverty go hand-in-hand
IMAGE: CNS photo/Daniel Reinhardt, EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Heads of states at the U.N. climate change conference in Paris must do everything possible to mitigate the effects of both climate change and poverty “for the good of our common home,” Pope Francis said. “The two …
Belleville Bishop leads discussion on racial divide in Cincinnati
Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville, Ill., told those gathered at the Cintas Center Nov. 9 that he had no solution for Cincinnati’s racial divide, but he said he had some clear observations for “the vexing questions facing our communities.” Bishop Braxton shared the Scriptural story of the Good Samaritan to …
San Bernardino bishop urges prayers for unity, healing after shootings
IMAGE: CNS photo/Mike Blake, Reuters By Mike Nelson OXNARD, Calif. (CNS) — Arriving in the late morning Dec. 2 at the San Bernardino diocesan pastoral center for his job in the diocese’s Office of Worship, Chris Estrella knew something was very wrong. “I could see a police blockade of Waterman …