In Nigeria, nun cares for abandoned children labeled as witches December 15, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Throughout Africa, a witch is culturally understood to be the epitome of evil and the cause of misfortune, disease and death. Consequently, the witch is the most hated person in African society and subject to punishment, torture and even death.
Washington Archdiocese sues over D.C.’s 50-person cap on church attendance December 15, 2020By Mark Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News The Archdiocese of Washington has petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to lift the 50-person cap on indoor religious gatherings in D.C.
After shipwreck, bishops denounce treatment of Venezuelan refugees December 15, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After a boat carrying refugees was allegedly denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago and subsequently shipwrecked, Venezuelan bishops said the treatment of migrants fleeing the country constitutes a serious human rights violation.
Doctrine committee sets standards for evaluating, improving church hymns December 14, 2020By Greg Erlandson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Divine Worship, Eucharist, Feature, News, World News Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in churches.
Bishops: Getting COVID-19 vaccine is ‘act of charity,’ supports the common good December 14, 2020By Julie Asher Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The “gravity” of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and “the lack of availability of alternative vaccines,” are “sufficiently serious” reasons to accept the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees said Dec. 14.
Sister Prejean decries federal execution on Human Rights Day December 12, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, U.S. Congress, World News Calling the Dec. 10 federal execution of Brandon Bernard an injustice carried out by the country’s criminal justice system, Sister Helen Prejean urged Americans to speak up to stop a series of upcoming executions in the final weeks of the Trump administration.
Frankincense’s future: Ancient gift endangered, risks depletion December 11, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, News, Video, World News The Gospel of Matthew never details how many Magi came from “the East,” but it makes it clear they traveled to pay homage to “the newborn king of the Jews” and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Movie Review: ‘Half Brothers’ December 10, 2020By John Mulderig Catholic News Service Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews, News, World News Though director Luke Greenfield’s odd-couple road trip movie produces the occasional laugh, it’s effectively undercut by the fact that neither of its lead characters is a believable figure.
Cause opens for Louisiana priests who sacrificed their lives in 1873 epidemic December 10, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News The sacrifice of five Catholic priests who gave their lives ministering to people in Shreveport during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic is memorialized in stained glass at Holy Trinity Church in downtown.
Pope says Catholics can receive plenary indulgence for Guadalupe devotion December 10, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Hispanic Ministry, News, World News With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive a plenary indulgence Dec. 11 and 12 for their Marian devotion if they follow certain conditions.
Jupiter, Saturn to put on ‘Christmas Star’ show at winter solstice December 9, 2020By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, World News A once-every-two-decade conjunction involving the solar system’s two gas giants will give earthbound observers a look at a so-called “Christmas Star” on the winter solstice.
Michigan project to replicate Padre Pio’s famed hospital in Italy is underway December 8, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Thanks to the vision, faithfulness and tenacity of several Catholic health care organizations, individuals and the patronage of Lansing Bishop Earl A. Boyea, the Howell project, known as “Casa USA,” seeks to duplicate St. Pio’s hospital complex for the first time outside of Italy, including an exact replica of the great Capuchin Franciscan saint’s original friary church.
