VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia tripled in a seven-year period, a Vatican official told a U.N. meeting. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, the Holy See’s permanent observer to U.N. offices in Geneva, said that attacks on Christisns in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia “increased 309% […]
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Bishops Have Final Say on Issues of Faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Theologians and bishops have complementary roles in furthering understanding of the Catholic faith, but the former must ultimately defer to the latter on questions of definitive interpretation, according to a new report from a Vatican panel of theological advisers. “Theology Today: Perspectives, Principles and Criteria” is the latest report from the […]
Attack on Church Comes from Within
WASHINGTON (CNS) – In a strongly worded letter to his fellow bishops, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York charged that White House officials failed to consider the U.S. bishops’ concerns that the federal mandate governing employer coverage of contraception and sterilization under the health care law violated religious freedom principles. An invitation from the […]
Faith Film Festival Continues
The 11th annual Religious Film Festival, sponsored by Father Robert Lauder and the Office of Faith Formation, continues for four more Fridays. The schedule includes: March 16 — William Dieterle’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” starring Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Hara, and Edmund O’Brien March 30 — Daniel Petrie’s “Resurrection” starring Ellen Burstyn and Sam Shepherd […]
The Honor of Giving
One of the many blessings of living at this moment in the Diocese of Brooklyn is the privilege of “Sharing Our Gifts to Build God’s Kingdom in Brooklyn and Queens” — which is the theme of the 2012 Annual Catholic Appeal. Because of the economic burdens faced by so many as a result of current […]
Cardinal Tips His Cap To Greater New York
by Beth Griffin On a day devoted to festive public celebrations of his new leadership role in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan repeatedly described his elevation to the College of Cardinals as a reflection on the Archdiocese of New York and the larger New York community, rather than an honor reserved to himself […]
A New Retreat Center Is Dedicated in E. Flatbush
by Marie Elena Giossi Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio opened the first weekend of the Lenten season by dedicating Jesus of Nazareth Retreat Center, the new diocesan retreat center in East Flatbush. Gathered with a small group of retreatants and representatives of diocesan ministries on Friday evening, Feb. 24, the bishop prayed that the center would be […]
There’s More to the Church in Cuba
by Patricia Zapor HAVANA (CNS) – The Catholic Church that Pope Benedict XVI will visit March 26-28 is, to put it simply, more. Since Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1998, the church is more unified, more public, more likely to work with the government in accomplishing specific goals, more involved in providing assistance to […]
Priestly Celibacy – It Must Be Freely Accepted as a Gift of Grace
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) – Priestly celibacy must be seen as “a freely accepted commitment and a gift of grace,” not simply a functional discipline that frees a man for ministry, the keynote speaker at a University of Notre Dame symposium said Feb. 15. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, opened the […]
Called to Special Parish Ministry?
The Diocesan Pastoral Institute will conduct information sessions about its Lay Ministry Program which will accept a new class in September. This three-year program prepares lay persons to serve as volunteer coordinators or team members for ministries and projects in their parishes. The information sessions will be held in English and Spanish and will take […]