VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Jesus gave his disciples the “new commandment” to love others as he loved them, what was “new” was the call to love completely, without counting the cost, Pope Francis said. “The love that was demonstrated on Christ’s cross and that he calls us to live is the only force that
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians recognize life’s great paradox that so much evil and temptation exist in the world, but that God is always present, too, ready to help and give people the strength to persevere, Pope Francis said. Each person has been given life, “dreams of love and the good,” but is then “continuously
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a video recorded on the phone of the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to join the worldwide “Thy Kingdom Come” prayer campaign May 30-June 9. Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, used his phone to record the video message by Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The task of journalism is to seek the truth, which requires humility and freedom of the press, Pope Francis told foreign correspondents working in Italy. “At a time when many spread fake news, humility keeps you from peddling food spoiled by disinformation and invites you to offer the good bread of
LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Church officials are urging Catholics to continue to oppose a California bill that would force priests to disclose information about child sexual abuse that they hear in the sacrament of confession. The call came as the Senate measure, known as S.B. 360, advanced in the Legislature after lawmakers “accepted several of
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — In his own way, William “Paco” Pryor never considered himself homeless during the more than 20 years that he lived behind SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. Instead, he found his own version of what most people long for in a “home” — a place where he was welcomed and embraced
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Five U.S. bishops, chairmen of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees or subcommittees, said May 17 they were “gravely disappointed” with the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Equality Act. In an 236-173 vote, the House approved the measure, H.R. 5, which would add the new terms “sexual orientation” and “gender
Jesus revolutionized love from merely an emotional feeling of the heart to an Identity of Christian discipleship. All will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. (Jn. 13: 31-35.) Love matters in relationships among spouses, family, career, people, friendship and work, for without love, everything we do is just
A recent issue of America magazine had an article by an author who writes articles primarily for religious magazines. She has built up a career as a “spiritual writer” but has come to question if that is really her vocation. I found the article captivating, as it was both painfully raw, yet showed a tremendous depth of
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (…) Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do
