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December 2013

December 1

Rosalie Hall aids young mothers on their journey

December 1, 2013

TORONTO - Myra found herself in 1993 at the lowest point in her life.

Next in Belgium: euthanasia for kids

December 1, 2013

BRUSSELS - As Brussels moves towards extending euthanasia to disabled children and adults with dementia, the president of the Belgian bishops’ conference has joined other faith leaders to warn that proposed legislation risks “destroying the functioning of society.”

Catholic Church must be of the poor, for the poor

December 1, 2013

The synopsis below has been prepared by the Holy See Press Office and Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, who has served as an English language corresponding assistant to Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., since the papal transition.

Christmas around the world

December 1, 2013

KINGSTON, ONT. - There’s a lesson to be learned in the basement of St. Paul the Apostle parish, where artist Tony Vella has assembled a collection that teaches the story of God made human, shown through the lens of cultures from around the world.

December 2

Pope meet with Israel's Netanyahu, discusses Middle East peace

December 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel Dec. 2, and discussed prospects for peace in the Middle East and the pope's still-unscheduled trip to the Holy Land.

Meeting superiors, Pope says 2015 will be dedicated to religious life

December 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - During a three-hour meeting with 120 superiors general of men's religious orders, Pope Francis said the church would make consecrated life its focus in 2015.

Best gift in life is encountering Christ, Pope says at start of Advent

December 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - The best present in life is encountering Jesus -- an encounter that will last a lifetime, Pope Francis said.

People must learn to dialogue, respect other religions, pope says

December 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - In societies increasingly made up of people of different cultures and religions, people must learn the art of dialogue and reach out to others with respect and friendship, Pope Francis said.

Glasgow archbishop tells of shock as he saw images of pub crash

December 2, 2013

GLASGOW, Scotland - Glasgow Archbishop Philip Tartaglia was winding down for the evening when a police helicopter plunged through the roof of a popular pub near his cathedral, killing at least nine people.

December 3

Ukrainian church leaders condemn police violence against protesters

December 3, 2013

KIEV, Ukraine - The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and other Catholic leaders condemned police violence against "peaceful demonstrations" after President Viktor Yanukovich's decision not to seek closer ties with the European Union.

Pope, cardinal council begin work on reorganizing Roman Curia

December 3, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and the eight members of his international Council of Cardinals have begun their discussions on specific ways to reorganize the Roman Curia, looking first at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, the Vatican spokesman said.

Pope Francis will help launch worldwide 'wave of prayer' against hunger

December 3, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will help launch a global campaign of prayer and action against world hunger.

December 4

Durocher develops plan for evangelizing Church

December 4, 2013

Just days before Pope Francis laid out his dream for a missionary Church in all parts of the world, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president Archbishop Paul-André Durocher put forward his own hopes for the new evangelization in Canada.

Moving forward on native reconciliation

December 4, 2013

Money can’t buy you love, or justice, or reconciliation. But sometimes money is the necessary first step.

Filipinos’ solidarity inspiring in aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan

December 4, 2013

Touring Tacloban in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, Ryan Worms was aware of horror and grace.

Vatican to restart stalled talks with Egypt's Al-Azhar University

December 4, 2013

CAIRO - The Vatican will restart its stalled dialogue with Sunni Islam's main theological centre, Al-Azhar University, said Fr. Rafic Greiche, spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church.

December 5

Zimbabwe's bishops say country more polarized than before elections

December 5, 2013

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe is more polarized now than it was before this year's general elections, said the country's bishops.

For Pope, Church reform is spiritual exercise, not a project

December 5, 2013

VATICAN CITY - For Pope Francis, the reform of the Catholic Church and its structures "isn't a project, but an exercise of the Spirit" that will take time, said Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga.

Genius of Francis

December 5, 2013

Anyone who has followed Pope Francis over the past nine months would spot few surprises in his apostolic exhortation released Nov. 26. The 214-page document reads like a digest of the many pastoral teachings articulated by Francis in homilies, addresses and interviews during his young pontificate.

Restoring my faith in media balance

December 5, 2013

As a young lad, I remember coming home after being teased at school and my mother immediately asking me what was wrong.