WASHINGTON (CNS) — The nation’s criminal justice system “is in need of reform” and the First Step Act “is a worthy ‘first step’ in the right direction,” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. In a Dec. 20 statement, he called the
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As World Youth Day in Panama draws near, organizers said they are prepared to make young people from around the globe feel right at home. While warm temperatures will greet thousands of young people in Panama, Father Romero Aguilar, WYD general coordinator, told Catholic News Service he hopes that the warmth
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — This Christmas will people go to adore and be amazed by Jesus, or will they let themselves be detoured by distractions? Pope Francis asked. In fact, one sign of holiness is being able to “be astonished, to feel wonder before God’s gifts, his ‘surprises.’ And the greatest gift, the ever-new surprise
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Annunciation — the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear God’s son — was such a tremendous, history-changing event that preaching about it is extremely difficult, Pope Francis said. So, when the Gospel reading for daily Mass Dec. 20 was St. Luke’s version of the Annunciation, the pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With Christmas just over a week away, visitors came to St. Peter’s Square with their Baby Jesus figurines for a traditional blessing by the pope. Many children came with small figurines for their family Nativity scene, others held delicate sculptures, and one group set a giant statue of the Baby Jesus
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — No one should be afraid to turn to God with prayer, especially in times of great doubt, suffering and need, Pope Francis said. Jesus does not want people to become numb to life’s problems and “extinguish” those things that make them human when they pray, the pope said Dec. 12 during
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment that ignores the primacy of mercy in the name of justice, Pope Francis said. Meeting a delegation from the International Commission against the Death Penalty Dec. 17, the pope set aside his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff, the Vatican said.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — If the Holy Family lived in Rome and the baby Jesus had a cold or flu, Mary and Joseph certainly would bring him to the Vatican pediatric clinic for help, Pope Francis said. The Vatican’s St. Martha Dispensary was founded in 1922 and, staffed by volunteers, it provides medical care and
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Religious freedom is widely misunderstood, prone to being used only for political purposes and is identified by the public mostly with the Republican politicians. And its enshrinement in law requires constant vigilance on all sides. Those were some of the conclusions of a Dec. 13 panel sponsored by the Religious Freedom Center
MIAMI (CNS) — After spending a week with adults and Catholic school children in the hurricane-impacted Florida Panhandle, one mental health professional noted how the Christmas season is a mixed blessing for survivors of natural disasters. “Right now the holidays are working in two different ways — both as a distraction and an underlying stress
