SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) — California’s Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter outlining ways the church could do a better job of serving those who struggle with mental illness, stressing that it is an “essential part of the pastoral care of the church.” The letter, “Hope and Healing,” was published in English, Spanish and Vietnamese online
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has updated the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, adding among other things a specific reference to the office’s responsibility for promoting a deeper reflection on the role of women in the church and society. “The dicastery works to deepen the reflection on the relationship
WASHINGTON (CNS) — With pride and devotion, Asian and Pacific Island Catholic communities put their faith and culture on display May 5 as they carried a variety of colorful madonnas into Washington’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to mark the 16th year of a pilgrimage that honors the Virgin Mary. In
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — Thousands of Filipino Catholics walked in the heat of the sun for about four hours to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Philippines. People gathered as early as 2 a.m. May 4 to relive the arrival of the image
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church needs to seek the input, commitment and talents of all of its members if it is to be truly catholic and to evangelize effectively, said a new document from the International Theological Commission. Pope Francis has called for the church to be “synodal,” which does not just mean
ROME (CNS) — Love is not all hearts and flowers or what is presented in a sappy romantic film, Pope Francis said. “Love is something else. Love is taking responsibility for others.” Visiting Blessed Sacrament parish in the Rome suburb of Tor de’ Schiavi May 6, Pope Francis focused both on the day’s Gospel reading
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Baptism requires rejecting Satan and professing one’s full faith in God, Pope Francis said. Only by being able to say “no” to the devil, his works and empty promises “am I able to say ‘yes’ to God, who calls me to conform myself to him in thoughts and deeds,” he said.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ planned meeting with abuse survivors from Chile could mark a turning point in how the Catholic Church deals not just with prevention, but especially with how it responds to accusations. The pope has said he wants the four days of meetings in April to be his chance to ask
VISALIA, Calif. (CNS) — Hope, energy and the drive to unite to share the Catholic faith filled the Visalia Convention Center, as nearly 1,300 delegates — including laypeople, priests and 21 bishops — gathered for a regional encuentro. “This is the moment when the church is listening to the Hispanic community in an effort to
MEXICO CITY (CNS) — The first members of the Central American caravan of migrants have been allowed to make asylum claims, but a Scalabrinian priest said “very, very few” have their applications accepted. Some 20 members of the caravan, which traveled across Mexico and arrived in Tijuana on the U.S. border in late April, were
