Gaza ceasefire an ‘encouraging sign of peace’ for the Middle East, U.S. bishop says January 17, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the first release of hostages to begin Jan. 19 are seen as an “encouraging sign of peace,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Cardinal blesses livestock and pets at Vatican celebration January 17, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News While many people around the world seek a blessing for their animals around the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in Italy the traditional date to pray for the protection of one’s pets and livestock is Jan. 17 — the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot.
Rome rabbi accuses pope of ‘selective indignation’ about Gaza January 17, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News The chief rabbi of Rome said Christian-Jewish dialogue has been a victim of the war unleashed with the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Let hope lead your lives, pope tells seminarians January 17, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, Vocations, World News During the Holy Year 2025, which is centered on proclaiming a message of hope, Pope Francis told future priests to let hope be the guiding principle of their lives.
Report: 20 years of data shows clerical abuse allegations down in U.S. January 17, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, World News A new report confirms OSV News’ previous finding that U.S. Catholic dioceses and eparchies have paid more than $5 billion to settle abuse claims filed over the past two decades — but credible allegations have declined significantly over the same period, with the majority of cases preceding a landmark set of anti-abuse protocols established by the U.S. bishops in 2002.
Biden’s Catholic faith both key and complex part of his legacy January 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Feature, News, World News In the waning days of his single term in the White House, President Joe Biden announced he would bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to Pope Francis.
Maryland Catholic Conference will host virtual advocacy day Feb. 19 January 17, 2025By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, Maryland Catholic Conference, Maryland General Assembly, News The Maryland Catholic Conference will host a Virtual Catholic Advocacy Day Feb. 19. Instead of bringing people to Annapolis for briefings on issues of importance to Catholics during the legislative session, interested people can access the day remotely.
U.S. bishops report flags 5 top areas of ‘critical concern’ on religious liberty January 17, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A new annual report by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops identified what it called five areas of critical concern, defined as both threats and opportunities, for religious liberty.
Celebrity food trucks and prayers: Pasadena’s fire refugees get help in many forms January 16, 2025By Natalie Romano OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As they grapple with the decisions ahead, clergy and fellow parishioners are mobilizing: Some are consoling evacuees at the shelter, others are transforming nearby churches and schools into hubs of hope.
Holy Land church leaders welcome ceasefire with relief, urge delivering critical aid January 16, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As news spread of a long-awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, reactions from religious leaders in the region expressed hopes for peace in the Holy Land, concern for the safety of hostages as well as the people of the Gaza Strip for the past 15 months.
U.S. declares genocide in Sudan as country undergoes ‘unimaginable’ suffering January 16, 2025By Frederick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Amid what a Catholic charity called “unimaginable” suffering of civilians trapped in civil war brutality in Sudan, the United States declared that one of the fighting factions is committing genocide in the country and slapped sanctions on its leader.
Priesthood is a gift meant to be given for others, pope says January 16, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, Vocations, World News A priestly vocation is not merely a path toward salvation for the one who is called but should be a continuous self-gift that aligns each priest’s life with God’s plans for them, Pope Francis said.
