Ireland plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees December 13, 2023By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News Plans to dramatically cut welfare benefits for refugees from Ukraine who flee to Ireland to avoid Russia’s war are causing anxiety, according to a priest who works with the new arrivals. Officials in Dublin say that they want to “slow” the number of people arriving from Ukraine.
Four congregations of women religious sue gunmaker Smith & Wesson over assault weapons December 13, 2023By Dan Stockman OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, News, World News Four congregations of women religious filed suit against the board of gunmaker Smith & Wesson Dec. 5 in a Las Vegas court, the day before a shooter killed three people and critically wounded a fourth on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus five miles away.
Christians must be open to listening to God, helping others, pope says December 13, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Christians must be open to the Word of God and to welcoming and serving others, Pope Francis said.
Cardinal ‘ashamed’ after lawmaker puts out Hanukkah candles in Poland’s parliament December 13, 2023By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News Cardinal Grzegorz Rys of Lodz, chairman of the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism of the Polish bishops’ conference, strongly condemned the incident in which a far-right Polish lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put out Hanukkah candles in the Sejm, the country’s parliament.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is ‘mother of all mothers,’ bishop says on her feast day December 13, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Our Lady of Guadalupe is “the mother of all mothers — a loving bridge between worlds and peoples who unifies through her maternal embrace,” the U.S. bishops’ migration chairman said in a statement issued on the Dec. 12 Marian feast.
Baltimore seminarians at Rome seminary see church’s universality December 13, 2023By Susan McInerney Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations For seminarians attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome, the spiritual and secular collide whether they’re dodging Vespas and taxis en route to class or stopping off for a quick espresso and fellowship with their classmates.
Vatican offers further guidance on handling cremains December 13, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has upheld a rule mandating that the ashes of the deceased be preserved in a consecrated place, but it also said family members could request “a minimal part of the ashes” be kept in a sacred place “of significance for the history of the deceased person.”
Message of Guadalupe based in simplicity, not ideology, pope says December 12, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The iconic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has become a cultural and spiritual symbol for Latin America, cannot be used to promote any kind of ideology, but must maintain its message of simple love, Pope Francis said.
Judge orders protesters who block abortion clinics to abide by New York buffer zone December 12, 2023By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Red Rose Rescue, the small Michigan-based group that has conducted blockades of abortion clinics in Michigan, New York and Virginia since 2017, was ordered Dec. 8 to abide by a new restriction on clinic access covering 13 counties in New York.
Priest: Gaza Christians suffer much as Israeli strikes on strip continue but aren’t losing hope December 12, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News As the humanitarian crisis escalates in Gaza — amid tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered near Gaza’s border with Egypt, attempting to flee, and a health care system on the verge of collapsing — a Gaza priest warned that Christians in Gaza are suffering a lot.
Council to ask pope to authorize studies on key synod topics December 12, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The council of the Synod of Bishops will ask Pope Francis to authorize studies on the need to update canon law, revise the rules for priestly formation, deepen a theological reflection on the diaconate — including the possibility of ordaining women deacons — and consider revising a document that provides norms for the relationship of a bishop with members of religious orders in his diocese.
Texas Supreme Court rules abortion petition failed to meet ban’s exception standards December 12, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The Texas Supreme Court on Dec. 11 overruled a district judge’s order allowing a pregnant mother to obtain an abortion under an exemption to the state’s abortion ban.
