WASHINGTON (CNS) – Americans United for Life filed a brief Nov. 13 in Nebraska v. Health and Human Services, a case initiated by the state of Nebraska and six other states challenging the HHS mandate requiring most employers, including religious employers, to provide free coverage of contraceptives. The Washington-based group filed the brief on behalf […]
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Bishop Pleas For Peace in Middle East
by Judith Sudilovsky JERUSALEM (CNS) – The Israeli government and leaders of Hamas must make courageous decisions to end the violence that has once again forced residents of Southern Israel into their bomb shelters and residents of the Gaza Strip into their homes, said Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of Jerusalem. “We are sad for this […]
‘Catholic’ Makes a Difference
A few years ago, “Come Home for Christmas” campaigns became popular in some dioceses. The initiative was well-intentioned, meant to be welcoming. Its message was simple enough: No matter where you’ve been in relationship with the Church, we want you back for Mass on Christmas Day and, while you’re at it, make a good Advent […]
The Greatest Loss: Gravesend Parish Mourns Teacher Who Died as Victim of Hurricane
by Marie Elena Giossi Wife, mother and Catholic schoolteacher Nancy Sorenson, who tragically lost her life during Hurricane Sandy, was laid to rest following a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, Gravesend, Nov. 8. Sorenson, 50, died Oct. 30 in her Rockaway Park home when water surged into the family cellar, causing a […]
Student Teaching Program Leads to Full-Time Jobs
In recent years, the St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, education program has experienced unprecedented growth. The undergraduate program’s enrollment in 2008 was 102 students. However, now in 2012, 275 students have made the school’s education department the second largest on campus. One of the main factors in this success has been the emphasis on preparation […]
How We Voted – States Voted on Same-Sex Unions, Euthanasia, Death Penalty
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Voters in Maine, Washington state and Maryland approved ballot measures legalizing same-sex marriage Nov. 6. In Minnesota, voters rejected a state constitutional amendment to define marriage as only a union between a man and woman. The Catholic bishops in each state had urged voters to uphold the traditional definition of marriage between […]
Bishops Set Aside Attempt To Issue Economic Message
by Patricia Zapor BALTIMORE (CNS) – The U.S. bishops’ effort to send a pastoral message of hope in trying economic times came up short of the votes needed Nov. 13, after concerns were raised about its limitations, its expedited process and whether it actually was something that they would use to reach out to people. […]
Nuncio Sees Threats to Religious Liberty in U.S.
by Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) – In a Nov. 4 speech at the University of Notre Dame, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S. warned that the “menace to religious liberty is concrete on many fronts” today particularly “within your own homeland.” Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, speaking in South Bend, Ind., at a university-sponsored conference on […]
Pope Sends Congratulations To Obama
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Benedict XVI congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on his re-election, saying that he prayed the ideals of freedom and justice that guided America’s founders might continue to flourish. The Vatican did not make public the full text of the pope’s telegram to Obama, which was sent via […]
Be Quiet! Listen!
Noise – it has been suggested – is the home country of today’s generation. Noise is where we live, whether we know it, admit it, like it – or not. Evidence of this is the discomfort that so many experience with the presence of silence. We say “presence” because silence is more than just the […]