Three Days in Benin, Africa – Pope Offers Church as a Model for Reconciliation

COTONOU, Benin (CNS) – On a three-day visit to Benin, Pope Benedict XVI urged African Catholics to witness the hope of the Gospel in their daily lives and make the church a model of reconciliation for the entire continent. In a particular way, the church must be “attentive to the cry of the poor, the […]

Giving Thanks – Midwood Jews Find Comfort at Interfaith Gathering

  by Marie Elena Giossi Members of the Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Muslim faiths gathered to give thanks to God at the 11th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Our Lady of Refuge Church, Flatbush, last Sunday afternoon. An outgrowth of previous interfaith programs between the parish and neighboring synagogue, East Midwood Jewish Center, this prayer […]

Nuestra Senora Madre De La Divina Providencia

The diocese celebrated the annual Feast of Our Lady of Providencia, patroness of Puerto Rico, with a procession and Mass at St. James Cathedral-Basilica, Downtown Brooklyn, on Nov. 18. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the main celebrant. Msgr. Anthony Hernandez, chancellor, delivered the homily. Music was provided by Julia Rosario and musicians from St. Joseph Patron […]

Maimonides Helps Brighten Christmas

by Antonina Zielinska Thanks to a collaboration between local Catholics and Maimonides Medical Center, the Celebration of Light has entered its 16th consecutive year of decorating Brooklyn churches at Christmas. On Nov. 16, Maimonides donated $1,000 each to 28 parishes, including some who are not catholic, to light up their church buildings or Nativity scenes. […]

No Doubt, Shakespeare Hid His Catholic Faith

by Sarah Delaney VATICAN CITY (CNS) – There is “little doubt” that William Shakespeare was a Catholic who was forced to hide his faith in Protestant England while leaving hints about his faith throughout his vast body of work, said an opinion piece in the Vatican newspaper. Taking a cue from renewed speculation about Shakespeare’s […]

Pakistan Deciding Whether ‘Jesus’ Is an Obscene Word

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – A Pakistani telecom agency backed off a ban on “obscene” words – including the name Jesus Christ – in text messages on mobile phones. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority released a list of more than 1,600 words that it considered to be “vulgar, obscene or harmful” and ordered phone companies to block […]

Knights Aid the Unborn

  Msgr. Francis J. Dillon Knights of Columbus Council chaplain Msgr. John C. Tosi, Grand Knight Edward Weisenburger, and Councilman Frank Durkin visited Expectant Mother Care (EMC) in Downtown Brooklyn, at 44 Court St., where Msgr. Tosi (see photo) offered a prayer, blessed a new 3D/4D imaging system upgrade for an ultrasound machine, which the […]

Methodists Uphold Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) –The United Methodist Church’s Council of Bishops said they would continue to uphold the denomination’s ban on blessing same-sex unions. “As the Council of Bishops we will uphold the Book of Discipline as established by General Conference,” the denominational assembly that meets every four years and is the church’s highest policymaking body, […]

Brighton Beach Parish Welcomes Bishop’s Visit

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s pastoral visit to Guardian Angel parish, Brighton Beach, turned out to be a jovial commemoration of leadership, commitment, faithfulness, trust and obedience. The bishop re-echoed the call to renew evangelization by encouraging all the leaders of the different ethnic groups in the parish to answer the call of discipleship and set an […]

Bishop Avoids Indictment

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CNS) – Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph has agreed to meet monthly for the next five years with a county prosecutor to avoid a possible criminal misdemeanor indictment for failing to report a priest suspected of child abuse. The agreement was reached with Daniel White, the prosecuting attorney of […]