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July 2014

July 15

Vatican editor says England’s female bishops vote ‘complicates’ relations

July 15, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The Church of England’s vote to allow female bishops threatens unity with the Catholic Church, according to the editor of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

July 16

Discovering yourself along the Camino

July 16, 2014

When you walk the Camino de Santiago, what you think will be hard is easy and what you think will be easy is hard. That's the advice Annie O'Neil gives after embarking on the 805-km pilgrimage known as the Camino Francés from St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago, Spain, the most popular of the Way of St. James.

Pope calls for end to ‘racist and xenophobic’ approach to migrants along U.S.-Mexico border

July 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis today waded into the controversy of the wave of unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, calling for an end to racism against migrants and pushing the United States to offer greater protection for young children entering the country illegally.

Iraqi nuns, orphans kidnapped in June released safely

July 16, 2014

Updated 07/16/14 AMMAN, Jordan - Two Iraqi nuns and three orphans kidnapped in late June have been released safely, according to the Christian rights group Middle East Concern.

Jesus would have been a great 'fit' on TV

July 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The Gospel is made for television and Jesus Christ would have been a perfect on-air evangelist, said the papal preacher.

July 17

No shortcuts to God

July 17, 2014

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) July 27 (1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52) If we were granted one wish, what would we ask for? The answer to that question would say a lot about our character and personality.

British faith leaders warn Parliament not to legalize assisted suicide

July 17, 2014

MANCHESTER, England - The leaders of Britain's faith communities have united to warn Parliament against the "grave error" of legalizing assisted suicide.

The periphery, where livin’ ain’t easy

July 17, 2014

A concert I attended last month included George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Not a favourite of mine, but that evening I felt the song’s appeal. In music and words, it carries a sense of relaxed fullness, an invitation into a lush, protected place where the “livin’ is easy,” the harshness of the world far-off at the edges: “fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high... there ain’t nothin’ can harm you, with mama and daddy standin’ by.”

Pope going to Caserta twice — for Mass, then to meet Pentecostals

July 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Although Pope Francis planned to make a short, private visit to Caserta in southern Italy specifically to visit a Pentecostal pastor he knows from Argentina, the 200-km trip has taken a new form — two forms, to be exact.

Birth control prescriptions focus attention on Canadian doctors' rights

July 17, 2014

OTTAWA - Canadian doctors who refuse to prescribe birth control pills have become the focus of a debate over physicians' rights to freedom of conscience and religion when practising medicine.

Ceasefire gives Gaza civilians brief chance to assess damage, seek aid

July 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Civilians in Gaza used a brief ceasefire to spill onto the streets and replenish scarce supplies, some Church representatives said.

Learning from Haiyan, many Filipinos sought shelters before typhoon struck

July 17, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - An emergency advisor for Catholic Relief Services said many Filipinos learned from Typhoon Haiyan and willingly went to shelters before Typhoon Rammasun struck.

July 18

Kenya’s Catholic bishops sued after canceling lease for Muslim-run restaurant

July 18, 2014

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops is facing a lawsuit over the cancellation of a rental contract for a restaurant operated by a Somali Muslim.

July 19

Love of baseball, chance to evangelize lead priest to do play-by-play

July 19, 2014

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - From the back, all the men in the press box at the Sioux City Explorers baseball game looked the same. That is, until one swiveled in his seat to take a swig of his Pepsi and the white of a Roman collar appeared.

July 20

Iraqi-born bishop advocates for his homeland's Yezidi minority

July 20, 2014

WASHINGTON - Iraqi-American Catholic leaders, who have persistently advocated for the embattled Christian minority in Iraq, are now going to bat for a smaller ethnic group that likewise traces its origins to the troubled region.

July 21

Pope calls for prayers as militants chase all Christians out of Mosul

July 21, 2014

Updated 07/22/14 VATICAN CITY - As the last Iraqi Christians in Mosul fled the city, Pope Francis urgently called for prayers, dialogue and peace.

Prostitution bill passes Justice Committee with amendments

July 21, 2014

OTTAWA - Prostitution Bill C-36 passed the House of Commons Justice Committee with amendments that put it on track for a Third Reading vote when Parliament resumes in September.

No electricity, water: Caritas official to launch appeal for Gaza

July 21, 2014

JERUSALEM - The head of Caritas in Jerusalem said he would launch an international appeal to help with the Gaza Strip and would not wait until the end of Israeli-Hamas hostilities, as he had done in the past.

Pope prays for victims of downed plane, urges peace in Ukraine

July 21, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Though exactly what happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 remained unclear, Pope Francis offered prayers for the 298 passengers and crew members who died when it came down in eastern Ukraine.

At AIDS conference, Catholics remember colleagues on MH17

July 21, 2014

MELBOURNE, Australia - Catholics involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS took a few moments July 21 to remember their friends and colleagues who perished in the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine.