world news
Vatican asks U.N. Security Council to join efforts for peace in Ukraine
The Vatican urged members of the U.N. Security Council to be “creative and courageous artisans of peace and weavers of constructive dialogue” to find a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine.
Former Soviet political prisoners urge Jewish and Ukrainian unity amid WWII memorial row
Former Soviet political prisoners have pointed to “a common enemy,” one intent on undermining the cause of Ukrainian-Jewish understanding they worked to achieve, in a recent controversy over a World War II memorial in a Ukrainian Catholic cemetery near Philadelphia.
Russia’s goal is to destroy population in Ukraine, Lviv bishop says after drone attack
“It destroyed a year and a half worth of work,” Auxiliary Bishop Edward Kawa of Lviv said about a Russian aerial attack on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv that has killed one and destroyed a warehouse belonging to Caritas-Spes, the Roman Catholic mission of Caritas in Ukraine, in the early morning hours of Sept. 19.
Catholic high school teacher fired for covering up previous employment, sex services charges
A Catholic high school in Kentucky has fired a teacher who had failed to disclose previous charges of soliciting prostitution while employed at another Catholic school.
New stage for U.S. seminarians focuses on human and spiritual formation
The sixth edition of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Program of Priestly Formation, or PPF, which began to be implemented last year, mandates a “propaedeutic” (pro-pih-DOO-tic) stage for all men first entering into seminary.
At Mass to honor all immigrants, archbishop challenges leaders on immigration reform
Grim developments on the southern U.S. border and the “frustrating” lack of immigration reform were on the minds of some 1,500 Southern California Catholics at the annual Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants Sept. 17 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
Plagued by kidnappings of Christians, Nigeria sees priest, 36 others abducted in just a few days
In another chapter of an “evil scheme” plaguing Nigeria, the southern Enugu Diocese asked for prayers for Father Marcellinus Obioma Okide, who was kidnapped Sept. 17.
Vatican, Lutheran officials call for joint study of Augsburg Confession
During an ecumenical prayer service at the assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, the Vatican’s chief ecumenist and the federation’s general secretary formally called for a joint reflection on the Augsburg Confession, a fundamental statement of Lutheran faith.
Pew: More Americans pessimistic than optimistic about future of marriage and family
The American public’s views of the family are “complicated” and becoming “more pessimistic than optimistic about the institution of marriage and the family,” according to a new report from Pew Research Center.
Pope: Christians are called to fight ‘every form of slavery’
Inspired by the dignity of each human being as revealed by Jesus, Christians are called to fight “every form of slavery,” whether physical, social or spiritual, Pope Francis said.