SALEM, Ore. (CNS) — When Ethan K. Alano walks into the reconciliation room at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Salem, he bares his soul before God and goes into detail about his sins during confession. Alano’s trust in the priest is solid. He is certain that anything he says in the confessional is confidential,
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Once “all the details of hospitality” are taken care of for the International Tennis Tournament for Priests June 28-30 in Lincoln, Nebraska, Father Brian Connor hopes he can “focus on Jesus and the little yellow ball” during the competition. The tournament is being held at the city’s Genesis Racket Club. There are
NEW YORK (CNS) — A symbol of the historical commitment priests have to the seal of confession greets people as they cross the threshold of a Catholic church in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Above the door is a stone-carved image of St. John Nepomucene holding two fingers to his lips, signifying that priests must never
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Holy Spirit gives Christians the courage and the strength needed to engage in a loving dialogue with God that is like the dialogue of a child with his or her father, Pope Francis said. “Do not forget this: The protagonist of all Christian prayer is the Holy Spirit. We can
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Charity should be given freely and lived humbly with the poor, never letting it become hypocrisy, a slick business or a way to soothe a troubled conscience, Pope Francis said. “Not only does charity that doesn’t ‘reach the wallet’ end up being fake charity, so does charity that doesn’t involve the
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — If the world is to win the fight against climate change, its leaders must stop profiting from fossil fuels that threaten the survival and well-being of the planet and its inhabitants, Pope Francis said. Addressing a Vatican climate change conference for finance ministers from around the world May 27, the pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Being indifferent to or excluding migrants is a sign of a deteriorating morality that will soon spread and risk marginalizing everyone who fails to fit in, Pope Francis said. In fact, the Christian response of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating does not apply only to migrants and refugees, but to all
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Much has been written, and for many years, about immigration and its various policy and practical aspects. But what about that “weekend associate” at your parish? Or that group of nuns who reopened the old convent? They, too, may be immigrants. There are close to 5,000 people from all denominations hailing from
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With so many children in the world needing a good home and so many couples unable to have children, there must be a way to make adoption easier and less costly, Pope Francis said. Meeting May 24 with representatives of the Institute of the Innocents from Florence, Italy, Pope Francis said
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For young men and women, competitive sports like soccer not only help strengthen their bodies, but also help strengthen their souls in creating last bonds of friendship through teamwork, Pope Francis said. Speaking to 6,000 young people at a gathering co-sponsored by the Italian Gaming Federation of Soccer May 24, the
