VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Catholics attack other members of the church, they are hurting Christ, Pope Francis said. “Even those who are ideologists, because they want the ‘purity’ of the church, strike at Christ,” he said during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 9. Taking a break from the Synod of
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus enjoys unmasking hypocrisy, which is the work of the devil, Pope Francis said. Christians, in fact, must learn to avoid hypocrisy by scrutinizing and acknowledging their own personal faults, failings and sins, he said Oct. 15 during morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. “A Christian who does not know
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairmen of three U.S. bishops’ committees have urged the U.S. Supreme Court not to redefine “sex” in civil rights law, arguing this would change the definition of “a fundamental element of humanity that is the basis of the family and would threaten religious liberty.” Redefining “sex” in the law would be
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saints are people who recognized their need for God’s help, who took risks to discover God’s will and to help others and who nurtured a habit of thanksgiving, Pope Francis said. “The culmination of the journey of faith is to live a life of continual thanksgiving. Let us ask ourselves: Do
UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — Filipino Archbishop Bernardito Auza, head of the Vatican’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, called for the U.N. to uphold the dignity of women, and also to safeguard the “inherent dignity and inalienable rights” of the human person when dealing with financial issues before the U.N. Archbishop Auza’s addresses were
JACQUELINE RAPP, JCL AND PETE VERE, JCL Here are some of the common questions about marriage and annulments. As a Judge and a Defender of the Bond within our respective dioceses’ Catholic Marriage Tribunal, we encounter misunderstandings every day about the declaration of nullity (or annulment) process. Often, the people who come into our offices
In previous years, it has been the practice here in our Diocese to have civil activities related to a state funeral held in the Church prior to the funeral Mass and burial of local dignitaries. State Funerals normally includes armed color guards, eulogies and readings and presentations of Legislative resolutions to the family of the
Living in community with others means that conflicts between people, in the workplace or in organizations are inevitable. Sometimes rooted in misunderstandings, sometimes in hurt feelings or simply because different people have different goals and priorities—it is simply a guarantee that conflict will arise, one way or another. Avoiding conflict or perhaps avoiding productive confrontation,
World Mission Sunday is celebrated each year by the Universal Church on the third Sunday of October. In keeping with one of the dimensions to be emphasized during this Extraordinary Missionary Month, which concludes today, we invite you to experience Mother Margarita Maria Lopez de Maturana’s life/mission in the Church through the lens of her
Someone shared the story about a customer at a restaurant ordering oysters that are not too big nor small, not too salty nor fatty. Pungently, the waiter said; “with or without pearls, sir?” Some people are arrogantly persuasive, demanding, lack manners and civility because of pride and selfishness. They are not keen in appreciating the
