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 […]

  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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Hours after the Vatican condemned an Italian ad campaign that depicted Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim leader, the Italian fashion house Benetton withdrew the photo. The campaign is titled “Unhate” and features doctored images of supposedly antagonistic world leaders in kissing scenes. The Vatican called offensive the image of Pope […]

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens and Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation honored Nicholas Lembo, president, Monadnock Construction, Inc.; Metropolitan Development Group (MDG) Design and Construction; and retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy A. Sansaricq, at the 2011 Bishop’s Testimonial Award Reception Nov. 9 at Stage 6, Steiner Studios, Brooklyn Navy Yard. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio presided. […]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Cardinal Bernard F. Law, former archbishop of Boston, has been replaced as archpriest of the Rome Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Vatican announced. In a regular bulletin listing church appointments and resignations Nov. 21, the Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI had named Spanish Archbishop Santos Abril Castello, the Vatican’s vice […]

Close to 600 educators from Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered for a day of inspiration, faith formation, and professional development at the second annual Celebration of Catholic Education Nov. 10 at Grand Prospect Hall, Park Slope. Father Joseph R. Gibino, a former professor of theology at St. John’s University, and pastor of […]

Not everyone enjoys a welcome home at Thanksgiving, but on that day there is hardly a soul that does not long to be with family and friends. In the days running up to this most iconic of family meals, no effort is spared to get some turkey onto everyone’s table, including those away from home […]