CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI pointed to the Northern Ireland peace process as an example to “other troubled zones of our world” that all conflict can be overcome peacefully. After 30 years of conflict, peace in Northern Ireland was “achieved through widespread international support, determined political resolve on the part of both the...Read More
“The life of every individual, from its very beginning, is part of God’s plan.” This is what Pope John Paul II reminded us in The Gospel of Life.Read More
VATICAN CITY – After three weeks of discussion and strategizing, the Synod of Bishops for Africa ended with calls for spiritual conversion and social reforms on the African continent.Read More
UNITED NATIONS – The poor are disproportionately affected by the environment and are particularly vulnerable to climate change, said Catholic representatives from around the world Sept. 6 at a U.N. conference on climate change. Small groups can adopt good practices to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change and promote human rights, they said in...Read More
NEW ORLEANS – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople opened a symposium on the environmental challenges in the Mississippi River region Oct. 21 by reasserting the role people of faith play in caring for the earth’s resources.Read More
Once, the most dreaded question was, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” After all, only a good friend would buy an unflattering, expensive, formal dress, wear it once in front of everyone and then never wear it again. But a trend that’s emerged in the past few years means that bridesmaids actually might be able to...Read More
WILMINGTON, Del. – The “painful decision” to have the Diocese of Wilmington file for bankruptcy is “the best path to achieve healing, reconciliation and fair compensation for all the victims of child sexual abuse by clergy of our diocese,” Bishop W. Francis Malooly said Oct. 19.Read More
JERUSALEM – The United States has a responsibility to play a vital role in restarting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ international policy committee. “We have a certain responsibility. By not being engaged at this level it will certainly involve us in ways we do not want to be involved in (later),”...Read More
WASHINGTON – Paulist Father Frank Desiderio sensed something was happening at the very first public screening last year of his documentary feature on forgiveness, “The Big Question.”Read More
WASHINGTON – A list of football powerhouses among Catholic colleges in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association would probably start with Notre Dame and end with Boston College.Read More