world news
Vatican says no blessing gay unions, no negative judgment on gay people
While homosexual men and women must be respected, any form of blessing a same-sex union is “illicit,” said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Vatican ends practice of priests celebrating Mass alone in St. Peter’s
The Vatican is putting an end to the practice of priests going into St. Peter’s Basilica early every morning to celebrate their own Mass at a side altar with just an altar server.
Jesus wasn’t just good, he is God, papal preacher says
Plenty of non-Christians believe that Jesus was a real person and that what he taught can make the world a better place, but what makes a person a Christian is believing that Jesus is God, said the preacher of the papal household.
Vatican says general absolution still permissible during pandemic
Offering general absolution to the faithful without having them personally confess their sins first may still be done in places seeing serious or increasing levels of coronavirus infections, a Vatican official said.
U.S. priest in exorcism ministry said focus should be on God’s power
Father Vincent Lampert has traveled to the ends of the earth in his ministry fighting the devil as an exorcist.
Pope names woman Scripture scholar as secretary of biblical commission
Pope Francis has named Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, an Old Testament scholar and professor at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, to be secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
Bishops: Relief will help many; lack of Hyde protections ‘unconscionable’
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act heading to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature will provide relief to Americans in need amid the pandemic, but it lacks “protections for the unborn,” the U.S. bishops said.
Movie Review: ‘Coming 2 America’
“Coming 2 America” (Paramount/Amazon), turns out to be a slight and mostly unsatisfying comedy.
‘We were here’ — health care chaplains reflect on COVID-19 ministry
As the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation this past year, hospital chaplains — already accustomed to helping people cope with sickness and death — found their ministries took on added significance.
Vandalism on Ohio basilica grounds prompts sorrow, forgiveness for perpetrator
Two days after the desecration of 16 statues on the grounds of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown, parishioners who were gathered for Mass Feb. 28 expressed deep sorrow but also forgiveness for the perpetrator.