National News

Pope Presides as 20 Couples Are Married

September 18, 2014

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Presiding over the wedding of 20 couples in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis celebrated marriage as the union of a man and woman playing complementary roles during their common journey through life. “This is what marriage is all about: man and woman walking together, wherein the husband helps his wife to become ever more a woman, and wherein the woman has the task of helping her husband to become ever more a man,” the pope said Sept. 14. “Here we see the reciprocity of differences.”

New Daughter of Wisdom Has Some Brooklyn Roots

September 18, 2014

For Marie Josée Seide, 53, the passage to become a Daughter of Wisdom seems to have taken root long ago. Educated as a child in Haiti by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, her first encounter with the Daughters of Wisdom came in Port-au-Prince where she attended high school at Sacre Coeur, a school with a rich tradition dating back to 1875.

Pope Will Visit Turkey

September 18, 2014

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis is planning to visit Turkey “in the last days of November” but said the length of his trip and his agenda in the country have yet to be determined. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, made the announcement to reporters Sept. 12, noting that a formal invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had arrived at the Vatican earlier the same day.

Patriarchs Bring Plea For Help to DC

September 17, 2014

WASHINGTON (CNS) – United in the suffering of their people, five Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs from the Middle East urged Westerners to take action to help ensure that Christians and other minorities can remain in the Middle East.

14 Couples Invited to Synod on the Family

September 11, 2014

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – More than 250 participants, including 14 married couples from around the world, were expected to attend October’s extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family.

Two Losses, One Win For Same-Sex Marriage Bans

September 11, 2014

WASHINGTON (CNS) – A federal judge upheld an amendment to Louisiana’s state constitution in early September that defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but later that same week, a federal court struck down same-sex marriage bans in Wisconsin and Indiana.

Memorial Masses are scheduled worldwide Dec. 9 for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's sainthood cause. The famed radio and television host and author is pictured in an undated file photo. (CNS file photo)

Cause of Bishop Sheen’s Sainthood Put on Hold

September 11, 2014

WASHINGTON (CNS) – The canonization cause of Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been suspended indefinitely, according to a statement issued Sept. 3 by the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., where the archbishop was born.

Patriarchs: End ISIS Terrorism

September 11, 2014

BEIRUT (CNS) – Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs of the Middle East denounced attacks on Christians and called upon the international community to work toward eradicating terrorist groups.

Diocese Opens Pastoral Year at ‘New’ Holy Name

September 10, 2014

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio called for more dialogue with diocesan employees as he celebrated Mass Sept. 4 that opened the pastoral year. It was held at the newly renovated Holy Name of Jesus Church in Park Slope, just two blocks from the Chancery Office.

Did Pope Call for War Vs. ISIS?

September 3, 2014

In the days that followed Pope Francis’ Aug. 18 remarks on U.S. airstrikes earlier in the month against Islamic State, the buzz was about whether the pope had actually given his consent to them.