Cardinal Dolan: Pope’s Nationality is Gravy

by Carol Zimmermann VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Two U.S. cardinals described Pope Francis as an ideal choice to lead the Church in the modern world. “He is the perfect choice for this moment in the church,” said Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. […]

Already, Changes in Papal Style

by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis had been pope for less than six days when he was formally installed March 19, but he had already made a distinctive and overwhelmingly favorable impression on the world. That is an especially remarkable accomplishment given that, until his election, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario […]

(Photo courtesy St. John's Media Relations)

St. John’s Shaves Heads for ‘Locks of Love’ Event

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation “shaves the way” to conquer kids’ cancer. This year, at the fourth annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Locks of Love event on both the Jamaica and Staten Island campuses of St. John’s University, volunteers shaved 55 heads and donated 22 locks of love. St. John’s students, faculty and staff participated in […]

Remembering Bishop Catanello

The Most Reverend Ignatius A. Catanello, Titular Bishop of Deultum and Retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died after a lengthy illness on Monday, March 11, 2013. The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, praised Bishop Catanello’s long service to the Church. “For 47 years, ‘Bishop Iggy’ as so many fondly knew […]

New Pope ‘Figure of Unity’ for All Catholics, Says USCCB President

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, congratulated the newly elected pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who took the name Francis. Pope Francis “stands as the figure of unity for all Catholics wherever they reside. The bishops of the United […]

Philadelphia Announces Seminary Consolidations

by Lou Baldwin PHILADELPHIA (CNS) – Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announced March 7 that the archdiocese will consolidate some facilities and close some buildings on the campus of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. The archbishop announced the changes in his weekly column posted on CatholicPhilly.com, the news website of the archdiocese. “St. […]

Cardinal O’Malley Asks For Conscience Protection

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has asked members of the House to approve the Health Care Conscience Rights Act. Introduced March 5 by three House Republicans, the bill had 66 co-sponsors as of March 11. The bill will “help preserve the vitally […]

Chavez Left a Legacy Of Conflict with Church

by Ezra Fieser SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CNS) – Hugo Chavez, a socialist president who transformed Venezuela while acting as chief protagonist in what was one of the worst Catholic Church-government relationships in Latin America, died March 5. He was 58. Chavez died of complications from a respiratory infection nearly two years and four surgeries […]

Christians Charge Double Standard Governs Pakistan

by Anto Akkara NEW DELHI (CNS) – The Catholic Church in Pakistan condemned a March 9 attack by an estimated 3,000 Muslims on a Christian colony in Lahore that left more than 175 buildings, including two churches and dozens of homes, torched and hundreds of people homeless. The attack came after a Christian sanitary worker […]