by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – As international leaders increasingly discussed the possibility of some form of armed intervention in Syria, the Vatican announced Pope Francis would interrupt the last week of his summer break in order to meet Aug. 29 with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Jordan and Syria share a border, and Jordan […]
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50 Years Since March on Washington D.C.
by Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – The presence of Catholic priests and religious was unmistakable at the first March on Washington in 1963; their clerical collars and full habits with wimples stood out even among the black-and-white images of the day. Clergy and religious weren’t as visible at the first of two major anniversary events […]
Pope: War in Syria Sows Destruction and Death
by Carol Glatz Pope Francis called again for an end to the fighting in Syria, denouncing the “multiplication of massacres and atrocious acts,” including the suspected chemical weapons attack that left hundreds dead. As U.N. weapons inspectors received permission from the Syrian government Aug. 25 to visit the site of the alleged attack, Pope Francis […]
On the Olympic Controversy
by Jonathan Luxmoore WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — Calls for an Olympic boycott because of a Russian law banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” have become “highly politicized,” said an official of the Russian bishops’ conference. Msgr. Igor Kovalevsky, secretary-general of the bishops’ conference, said the Catholic Church would not be adopting an official stance on […]
No Criminal Wrongdoing for Ex-St. John’s President
JAMAICA, N.Y. (CNS) – An independent investigation by St. John’s University found “no criminal wrongdoing” on the part of its recently retired president, but “errors in judgment” by top university officials over financial conflicts of interest and lack of disclosure to the school’s board of trustees. Vincentian Father Donald J. Harrington retired at the end […]
Egypt’s Copts Trace History Back to Jesus
by James Martone CAIRO (CNS) – The Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary sits in a tiled courtyard a few miles outside Cairo, on the left bank of the Nile as the river bends south toward Upper Egypt. The structure’s front doors overlook the famed river, which Egyptian Christians who pray and worship here […]
Catholic Charities Making a Difference To Curb Human Trafficking
by Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) – An influx of human trafficking victims seeking assistance is leading Catholic Charities agencies nationwide to develop a wider range of specialized service to enable victims to rebuild their lives. From life skills and parenting classes to helping victims adjust to a life free of coercion and mistreatment, the agencies […]
US Bishops: Destruction of Christian Churches in Egypt is ‘Unacceptable’
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The U.S. should work with the international community to help Egyptians end violence, restore the rule of law and build an inclusive democracy in their country, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. In an Aug. 23 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Bishop Richard […]
In Egypt, Christians Fear to Buy Food
(CNS) — A Catholic bishop in Luxor, about 400 miles south of Cairo, said Muslims and Christians are afraid to leave their homes; because the shops are closed and no one is venturing outside, many are running out of food. Coptic Catholic Bishop Youhannes Zakaria of Luxor told Fides, the news agency of the Congregation […]
Bolivia the Site of Korean Apostolate’s Mission
by Katherina Hwang The Korean Apostolate of the Brooklyn Diocese held its sixth annual Bolivia Mission Trip. The volunteers had helped the Cristo Salvador parish – Father Francisco Ma, pastor – located in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, from July 1-13, mainly by building a chapel in Brecha Dies, a countryside region that lacks electricity. The volunteers […]