Nation/World News

Secular society needs Catholicism, pope tells U.S. bishops

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:18:31 +0000

Francis X. Rocca | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — In five speeches over a period of six months, Pope Benedict XVI warned visiting U.S. bishops of the threats that an increasingly secularized society poses to the Catholic Church in America, especially in the areas of religious liberty, sexual morality and the definition of marriage.

Dublin's city center 'Camino' takes pilgrims to seven historic churches

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:56:50 +0000

Cian Molloy | Catholic News Service

DUBLIN — A new city center "Camino," or pilgrim walk, has been launched in Dublin as part of the celebrations surrounding the International Eucharistic Congress set for June 10-17.

The walk, involving prayerful visits to seven of Dublin's most historic Catholic and Anglican churches, is partly inspired by the famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain and partly inspired by the traditional Dublin devotion of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday.

Retired Canadian bishop laicized by Vatican

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:03:49 +0000

By Catholic News Service

OTTAWA, Ontario — Raymond Lahey, the retired bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who was convicted of importing child pornography, has been laicized by the Vatican, said the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Archdiocese of St. Louis joins others in suing federal government to stop HHS mandate

jenniferbrinker — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:10:21 +0000

Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@archstl.org

Noting that “time is running out,” Archbishop Robert J. Carlson announced May 21 that the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Catholic Charities of St. Louis has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the United States government, challenging the legality of its health care mandate to be enforced beginning this August.

Accompanied by Catholic Charities president Brian O’Malley, archdiocesan chancellor Nancy Werner, legal counsel Tom Buckley and others, the Archbishop made the announcement at an afternoon press conference held at the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury.

Vatican says reconciliation talks with Society of St. Pius X still ongoing

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:58:12 +0000

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Reconciliation talks between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X have not reached their conclusion but will continue, the Vatican said May 16, after members of its doctrinal congregation examined the latest communication from the head of the breakaway traditionalist group.

"Some observations were formulated which will be kept in mind in further discussions," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, following a meeting of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Traditionalist leader says group could divide over unity with Rome

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:57:41 +0000

Francis X. Rocca | Catholic News Service

MENZINGEN, Switzerland -- The leader of a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics spoke in unusually hopeful terms about a possible reconciliation with Rome, but acknowledged significant internal resistance to such a move, which he said might lead to the group splitting apart.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Society of St. Pius X, spoke to Catholic News Service May 11 at the society's headquarters in Switzerland about the latest events in more than two years of efforts at reconciliation with the Vatican.

Britain's Lord Alton: Religious freedom is intrinsic aspect of human dignity

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:56:09 +0000

Simon Caldwell | Catholic News Service

LONDON -- Christians must insist that religious freedom is an intrinsic aspect of human dignity, said a senior British lay Catholic.

Lord Alton of Liverpool, a member of the British House of Lords, also said he considered the loss of religious identity and the increasing loss of faith in Britain as the gravest deprivation of all, and he blamed them on "a combination of the breakdown of strong family and community life along with the deliberate actions of the state."

Bishops: Canadians experience 'worrisome erosion' of religious rights

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:43:38 +0000

Deborah Gyapong | Catholic News Service

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Canadian religious groups are "experiencing a worrisome erosion" of freedom of conscience and religious freedom -- universal rights that face increasing threats around the world, said the Canadian bishops.

In a 12-page pastoral letter to all Canadians, the bishops said they "particularly want to address those members of the faithful who find themselves in difficult situations where they may be pressured to act against their religious faith or their conscience."

Catholic says nation in need of prayer, so creates 'Rosary for the USA

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:57:07 +0000

Joyce Coronel | Catholic News Service

PHOENIX -- As Manny Yrique prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, his heart was burdened with concerns about the United States and the level of animosity in American discourse.

"I knelt down to pray and I was overwhelmed by the feeling that Our Lord wanted me to pray a rosary," Yrique said. "I felt him telling me, 'Take it to my mother.'"

He pulled out his rosary beads and as he began to pray, he was struck by the realization that each of the 50 Hail Mary prayers of the rosary could be offered for one of the 50 United States.

At audience, pope says work should help, not hinder, family life

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:27:31 +0000

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- Work obligations should not harm a person's family relationships but should provide support, giving couples the resources to have and raise children and spend time together, Pope Benedict XVI said.

At the end of his weekly general audience May 16, Pope Benedict noted how the United Nations chose "family and work" as the focus of the 2012 International Day of Families, which was celebrated May 15.

Work should not be an obstacle to the family, he said, "but rather should support and unite it, help it to open itself to life" and interact with society and the Church.

Sarajevo's Catholic leaders, mayor spar over minority rights

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:06:27 +0000

Jonathan Luxmoore | Catholic News Service

OXFORD, England -- Sarajevo Catholic officials say the city's Muslim-dominated government is not protecting minority rights, but the mayor said his city is committed to providing a home for all religious faiths.

Sarajevo Mayor Alija Behmen said city authorities "treat all citizens equally and pay equal attention to all -- the structure of the city council and city administration is multinational and multireligious."

Obama 'accommodation' offers no fundamental change, USCCB attorneys say

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:56:44 +0000

Nancy Frazier O'Brien | Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON -- Although the Obama administration's proposed "accommodation" for religious employers to the mandate that contraceptives and sterilization be included in most health plans "may create an appearance of moderation and compromise," it does not change the administration's fundamental position, attorneys for the U.S. bishops said in comments filed May 15.

U.S. seminarians win first Clericus Cup championship title

josephkenny — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:19:08 +0000

By Carol Glatz | Catholic News Service

ROME — For the first time, the Pontifical North American College took home the champion's title in the Clericus Cup soccer series.

To the cheers of superheroes and other fans in the stands, the NAC Martyrs beat last year's champions, the Pontifical Gregorian University, 3-0, in the final playoff May 12.

St. Louis seminarian Christopher Seiler is a starter on the team. He previously played for the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary's soccer team while he was attending Cardinal Glennon College Seminary.

Catholic leaders reject Obama's support for same-sex marriage

josephkenny — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:09:45 +0000

By Mark Pattison | Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — Catholic leaders rejected President Barack Obama's May 9 declaration in a television interview that "personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."

"President Obama's words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage," said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. bishops' conference, in a May 9 statement.

Nature of Chen's dissent stems from opposition to forced abortion

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:33:35 +0000

Michael Swan | Catholic News Service

TORONTO -- As Chinese and U.S. diplomats sought a resolution to the diplomatic crisis surrounding Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, many Chinese-Americans turned their attention to the nature of Chen's dissent.

Without challenging any fundamental tenet of China's constitution or its 1949 revolution, Chen has focused attention to the country's forced abortion and sterilization practices, leading to a crackdown by the government on his movement and prohibitions on contact with foreigners and the media.

At 96, Blessed John XXIII's secretary tells tales of his famous boss

Wed, 09 May 2012 20:10:59 +0000

Francis X. Rocca | Catholic News Service

SOTTO IL MONTE GIOVANNI XXIII, Italy -- When the freshly named patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo G. Roncalli, chose 37-year old Father Loris F. Capovilla as his personal secretary in 1953, a skeptical adviser told the cardinal that the priest looked too sickly to bear the strain of his new job.

"Then he'll die as my secretary," replied the future pope, now known as Blessed John XXIII.

Nuns who experienced miracle bring message of hope, victory

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:34:12 +0000

Tanya Connor | Catholic News Service

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Nuns who experienced the miracle that led to Blessed John Paul II's beatification brought a message of hope and victory through surrender to the Catholics of Worcester.

Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand, healed of Parkinson's disease in 2005, and Sister Marie Thomas Fabre, then her superior and now mother general of the Little Sisters of Catholic Maternity in France, were visiting the United States for the first time.

At audience, pope says he feels supported by Catholics' prayers

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:06:29 +0000

Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI said knowing that Catholics around the world pray for him has given him strength and confidence since his election seven years ago.

"From the first moment of my election as the successor of Peter, I always have felt supported by your prayers, by the prayers of the Church, especially in the most difficult moments," he said May 9 at his weekly general audience.

Interrupted by the applause of the estimated 10,000 people gathered for the audience in St. Peter's Square, the pope told those who pray for him, "I thank you from the depths of my heart."