Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai expressed “profound sorrow” over the “devastating toll” of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, the country’s state news agency NNA reported Sept. 22.
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New Novel a Tale of Triumph Over Terrorism in Syria, Iraq
Iraqi Catholics faced persecution in 2014 when ISIS marked their homes with an “N.” The graffiti alerted gunmen that the people living there were followers of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene. The ensuing violence and chaos is the backdrop for Paul Mascia’s new book, “Nazar’s Journey.”
Ohio Bishops Call on People to Treat Haitian Migrants With ‘Respect and Dignity’
After weeks of demonization of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, the state’s Catholic bishops have together called for people to treat the migrants with respect and dignity and for people to ignore the “unfounded gossip” that circulates online.
Vatican Offers Cautious Green Light to Medjugorje Devotion
While offering an overall favorable judgment on the Marian apparitions and devotions associated with the Medjugorje phenomenon in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Vatican nevertheless said in a new document released Thursday that some issues still need to be clarified.
Church Leaders Have Been Studying Medjugorje Phenomenon for Decades
Recognizing the spiritual value of devotions connected to Medjugorje, but not ruling on the authenticity of the alleged apparitions or alleged messages from Mary, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith also noted that church officials have issued a “series of divergent opinions” about the phenomenon over the past four decades.
Letters to the Editor Week of September 21, 2024
Thank You to the Sisters of Charity, Combating Poverty by Funding Education, Regarding IVF, Trump’s IVF Stance, Pope Francis’ Advice
Stigmata: The Miraculous Gift St. Francis Wanted to Hide
Throughout 2024, Franciscans around the world commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata on Sept. 17, 1224, the appearance of the bodily wounds of Christ’s crucifixion.
Kerfuffle Erupts in Rome Over Ownership of Spanish Steps, Iconic Churches
While Pope Francis was out of town in Asia and Oceania, a mini-tempest erupted in Rome after a French court appeared to assert that France, not Italy or the Vatican, actually owns the Church of the Trinità dei Monti in the city’s famed Piazza di Spagna and the famed 135-step adjoining staircase, referred to in Italian as the Scalinata but better known in English as the Spanish Steps.
The Good & The Saintly: The Patron Saints of Addiction
“Saint” and “addiction” aren’t commonly used in the same sentence, but along with overcoming attachment to sin, some saints also had to gain control of addictions to drugs or alcohol. Their perseverance and dedication to mastering their weaknesses are two aspects that helped lead them down the path of sainthood.
Before First Harris-Trump Debate, Party Platforms Offer Insights Into Policy Differences
As former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared for their first debate of the 2024 presidential cycle, their party platforms shed light on some key areas of difference between the candidates’ policy agendas.