Lent is a time for a little less hypocrisy, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Lent is a time to ask for God’s grace to chip away at hypocrisy, which is seen in the natural human attempt to appear "worthier than we are," Pope Francis said. "I must appear to be what I am, …
Christians and Jews must join to fight hatred, promote women, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Engaging in any form of anti-Semitism is a direct contradiction with the Christian faith, Pope Francis said. Meeting members of the American Jewish Committee March 8, the pope shared his "great concern" over "the spread, in many places, of …
Fish Fries offer food, fellowship and fun
By Erin Schurenberg During the Lenten season, the opportunities for food, fellowship and fun abound at area fish fries. Most happen weekly for the first six Fridays in Lent. Other fish fries are more likely to be one-time events. With the occasional rare exception, such as that of St. Anthony …
Sisters respond to call for help at border
Their mission statement reads, in part, “We Sisters of the Precious Blood pro-claim God’s love by being a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world.” With these words on their hearts, Sisters Ann Clark and Marita Beumer joined fellow volunteers, including other women religious from the archdiocese, in ministering at …
Education for refugee girls still low, needs to improve, report says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — A new report released March 6 just two days before International Women’s Day stresses the urgency of making sure refugee girls and young women receive an education. The report, "Her Future: Challenges and Recommendations to Increase Education for Refugee Girls" …
World health depends on changing way food is made, eaten, say speakers
IMAGE: CNS photo/Mariana Bazo, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The food people pick at the supermarket and cook in their kitchens can make a huge difference in helping address the global problems of hunger, obesity and climate change, a number of speakers said at a Vatican conference …
Pope: God is purifying the church with ‘unbearable’ pain of abuse scandal
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — The clerical abuse scandal has caused everyone in the Catholic Church "pain and unbearable suffering," Pope Francis said, but it also is a call to repentance and the renewal of the church. "Our humble repentance, which remains silent between our …
In times of crisis, church returns to basics of faith, Bishop Barron says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Cindy Wooden By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — In times of crisis, the Catholic Church and its faithful must return to the basics of the Christian faith, said Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles. Bishop Barron, who was ordained to the priesthood in 1986, told reporters …
Venezuelan military detains U.S. journalist, CNS contributor, after raid
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Global Sisters Report By WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Catholic News Service contributor in Caracas, Venezuela, was taken by military counterintelligence officials after his home was raided early March 6. Cody Weddle, 29, best known for reporting for Miami ABC affiliate WPLG and The Miami Herald, had reported …
Update: Pope conveys ‘heartfelt solidarity,’ prayers for tornado victims
IMAGE: CNS photo/Shannon Stapleton, Reuters By MOBILE, Ala. (CNS) — As of March 6, the number of lives lost in Alabama during a violent tornado that swept through the central part of the state remained at 23, and USA Today reported that anonymous donors have now offered to pay for …