Pope Francis greets the crowd outside the church after celebrating Mass at the parish of St. Mary in the Setteville neighborhood of Rome Jan. 15. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Christian witness requires action, pope says during parish visit

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service ROME (CNS) — Being a real Christian does not mean being a saint, but giving witness to Jesus in word and, especially, deed, Pope Francis told members of a parish on the eastern edge of Rome. Spending more than three hours Jan. 15 at the parish of St. Mary

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Pope Francis greets Rev. Jens-Martin Kruse of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rome during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Jan. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Prayer brings light of hope in dark times, pope says at audience

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Prayer has the power to awaken hope in men and women, even in the face of death and destruction, Pope Francis said. People often feel unworthy to turn to God when they are in need “as if it were a self-interested prayer and, thus,

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A protester holds a sign that reads "United to Protect Immigrants & Refugees" as he joins hundreds of others Jan. 14 in a rally for immigrant rights and against President-elect Donald Trump in Los Angeles. On the eve of Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, Jesuit parishes, schools and other communities planned to pray for immigrants and others who fear Trump's proposals. (CNS photo/Mike Nelson)

On eve of Trump inauguration, Catholic communities will pray for immigrants

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Acknowledging the fear some immigrants have expressed as Donald Trump becomes president, Jesuit parishes, schools and other communities plan to pray for those who fear him and his proposals on the eve of his Jan. 20 inauguration as the country’s 45th president. At least one community

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Pope Francis celebrates the baptism of 13 babies from earthquake zones in Italy in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae at the Vatican Jan. 14. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout)

Pope baptizes babies born in Italian earthquake zone

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a gesture of closeness to those who lost loved ones and homes following several devastating earthquakes, Pope Francis baptized 13 babies from central Italy. The pope celebrated the sacrament of baptism Jan. 14 in a private ceremony in the chapel of the Domus

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‘Stagnant’ and selfish Christians are hopeless, unable to cope, pope says

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians who forge ahead with hope in God have the strength to endure life’s dark moments, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. However, Christians who refuse to fight for positive changes that benefit everyone are “stagnant” and selfish, he said Jan. 17 during the

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The federal government forms for applying for health coverage are seen in this 2013 photo taken during a rally by supporters of the Affordable Care Act in Jackson, Miss. (CNS photo/Jonathan Bachman, Reuters)

Congress urged to keep health care gains, protect life, conscience rights

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ domestic policy committee said Jan. 18 that a repeal of the federal health care law should not take place without immediate passage of a plan that preserves people’s access to adequate health care and also protects human life, conscience rights and the

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mother holds her daughter in 2014 on a footbridge in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine president's executive order that the government begin distributing free contraceptives to the poor by 2018 may face delays because of a pending case before the country's Supreme Court. (CNS photo/Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA)

Duterte order that Philippines offer free contraceptives may face delays

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Catholic News Service MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — The Philippine president’s executive order that the government begin distributing free contraceptives to the poor by 2018 may face delays because of a pending case before the country’s Supreme Court. In June 2015, the court placed a temporary restraining order on the contraceptives provision of a 2012

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A U.S. Border Patrol agent frisks a man Jan. 11 near the U.S.-Mexico border fence in Jacumba, Calif. Despite the apprehension over policies that could be enacted by a Republican-led Congress acting in accord with a Republican president in Donald Trump, the U.S. Catholic bishops remain hopeful that an immigration reform bill will pass. (CNS photo/Mike Blake, Reuters)

Bishops still have hope Congress will pass immigration reform

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Despite the apprehension over policies that could be enacted by a Republican-led Congress acting in accord with a Republican president in Donald Trump, the U.S. Catholic bishops remain hopeful that Congress will pass an immigration reform bill. “This is a new moment with a new Congress,

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Don’t procrastinate on faith, live today, pope says

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are called to renew their faithfulness to God every day and not procrastinate when it comes to their own personal conversion, Pope Francis said. A hardened heart that sets aside “receiving the love of God” for another day, may find that it is

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A World Youth Day pilgrim becomes emotional as Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England, hears her confession in 2016 at Sacred Heart Church in Krakow, Poland. As the Catholic Church prepares for a meeting of the Synod of Bishops focused on youth, the pope wrote a letter to young people saying the church wants "to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith, even your doubts and your criticism." (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Upcoming synod needs young people’s voices, pope says

Posted by - January 20, 2017

 By Junno Arocho, Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis asked young people to tell him, their bishops and pastors about their hopes and struggles and even their criticisms. In preparation for a meeting of the Synod of Bishops focused on youth, the pope wrote a letter to young people, saying the

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