Some cry ‘scandal’ to cover their own failings, pope says at Mass
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While God’s holy church is made up of sinners, it also has its share of hypocrites who love to cry “scandal” to point out the failings of others and make themselves appear pure, Pope Francis said at morning Mass. “The devil doesn’t have …
In homily, Calif. priest says he was abused, hears from dozens of victims
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Father McGuire By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — To be a voice for victims of clerical sexual abuse, Father Brendan McGuire realized he had to come to terms with the abuse he suffered at the hands of a priest when he was 18. It was a secret …
Church plans third-party abuse reporting system, bishops’ code of conduct
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Julie Asher WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pledging to “heal and protect with every bit of the strength God provides us,” the U.S. bishops’ Administrative Committee Sept. 19 outlined actions to address the abuse crisis, including approving the establishment of a third-party confidential reporting system for claims …
Irish singer Bono calls pope ‘extraordinary man for extraordinary times’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Bono, the lead singer of the Irish band U2, said he told Pope Francis that in Ireland “it looks as though the abusers are being more protected than the victims. And you could see the pain in his face.” …
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee Statement on Sex Abuse Scandals; Committee Releases Actions to be Taken Within Its Authority
September 19, 2018 WASHINGTON–The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Administrative Committee has issued the following statement today in response to the recent sex abuse scandals. In the statement, the bishops say they pledge to “heal and protect with every bit of the strength God provides us.” Turning to the …
Be grateful to parents, never insult them, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Honoring mothers and fathers means being grateful for the gift of life and Christians should never insult anyone’s parents, Pope Francis said. “Among us there is also the habit of saying awful things, even profanity. Please, never, never, …
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Pope Leo XIII wrote the Saint Michael prayer in 1884, after supposedly seeing a frightening vision: evil spirits, trying to fulfill Satan’s boast to destroy our Lord’s Church within a century, were engaging in fierce attacks against it. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against …
Be ye perfect?
Are you having trouble being perfect? Remember Martha Stewart referring to her cakes and flowers etc. as perfect? It would irritate me to use perfect that way. But I suspect that the real problem is that I know that I can never measure up to Martha’s standards. The idea of …
First permanent deacons look back
By Walt Schaefer Pope Paul VI took the first step in restoring the ancient order of permanent diaconate in the Catholic Church’s Latin Rite in 1967 as part of the Vatican II reforms. In the spring of 1968, the bishops of the United States petitioned the Holy Father to revive …
New Orleans ‘Hope Monstrance’ to visit U.S. communities hit by disasters
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy LÕOsservatore Roman By Peter Finney Jr. NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — When the levees broke in 2005 and Lakeview became Lake Pontchartrain, Katrina launched its mad-scientist experiment. What would three weeks of brackish and corrosive water, chemicals and mud do not only to St. Dominic Parish’s Aquinas Hall …