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March 2015

March 14

Comic-book reissue of St. John XXIII's life improves on the original

March 14, 2015

NEW YORK - Forget the Avengers. The coolest Marvel-related character this year is Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, better known to the world as St. John XXIII.

Historic cemetery inside Vatican walls a 'little piece of paradise'

March 14, 2015

VATICAN CITY - A small, inconspicuous cemetery inside the Vatican walls made headlines recently with the burial of a Belgian homeless man, Willy Herteleer.

March 15

Faith helps martial artist succeed on international stage

March 15, 2015

TORONTO - Having an opportunity to expose Catholic students to the combinination of taekwondo and faith leaves Adam Tomlinson less concerned about securing a spot on Team Canada for this summer’s Pan Am Games.

Opportunity awaits at London Catholic university

March 15, 2015

TORONTO - London, England, was never the centre of the Catholic universe. But it’s an interesting outpost with an interesting university, claims Bishop Richard Moth.

Conscience rights decision sure to end up in court

March 15, 2015

TORONTO - Some doctor, somewhere in Ontario, is heading for court. The only question is how and when, according to Catholic Civil Rights League president Phil Horgan.

Francis’ reforms run into strong headwinds

March 15, 2015

VATICAN CITY - One reason the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis two years ago was a brief but powerful speech the Argentine cardinal made shortly before the conclave in which he denounced the “theological narcissism” of the Roman Catholic Church.

March 16

What does the Pope want: ‘All I want is to go out for a pizza!’

March 16, 2015

The “Pope of the Interview” strikes again: Pope Francis has given a lengthy — and fascinating — interview to a Mexican television station, which broadcast it on March 13 to mark the second anniversary of his election.

Catholic men urged to evangelize 'home front,' then go out to community

March 16, 2015

FRANKLIN, Tenn. - The Catholic Church needs men to fully commit to their faith, and men have all they need from God "to be a force" for the church, a former major league baseball player told a men's conference in Franklin.

Attack in Pakistan part of wave of anti-Christian violence, Pope says

March 16, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Condemning deadly terrorist attacks against a Catholic and an Anglican church in Pakistan, Pope Francis said "the world is trying to hide" a wave of anti-Christian persecution in various parts of the globe.

Bishops urge Arab, Muslim countries to help preserve Christian presence

March 16, 2015

BEIRUT - Maronite Catholic bishops urged Arab and Muslim countries to combat terrorism in order to preserve the Christian presence in the Middle East.

Focolare aiming to bridge political divide

March 16, 2015

TORONTO - The Toronto Focolare organization and its friends want to confront divisions within politics with ideals of unity and communion.

Debate over gays in St. Patrick’s parades roils Irish on big day

March 16, 2015

NEW YORK - St. Patrick’s Day is associated as much with Roman Catholicism as it is with Irish-Americans, but this year some of the faithful aren’t happy with the inclusion of gays and lesbians marching under their own banner for the first time in parades in Boston and New York.

March 17

Create united front against violence, Pope tells Nigeria's bishops

March 17, 2015

VATICAN CITY - As the people of Nigeria prepared for general elections, Pope Francis wrote to the nations' bishops urging efforts to build up a "culture of encounter" that would create a united front against Boko Haram terrorists and ethnic tensions.

Syrian children risk becoming 'lost generation,' Vatican official says to United Nations

March 17, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Without family, a legal identity and adequate education, children uprooted by the ongoing violence in Syria and the Middle East "are at risk of becoming a lost generation," said Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva.

Blind students among thousands protesting rape of elderly nun in India

March 17, 2015

BHUBANESWAR, India - Students at a Hindu-run school for the blind joined a nationwide outcry over the gang rape of a 74-year-old Catholic nun.

March 18

Francis strengthens his commitment to mercy

March 18, 2015

If there was any doubt that Pope Francis’ central message to the Church is mercy, the Pope named after St. Francis of Assisi crushed those doubts by announcing a Holy Year of Mercy, the first extraordinary jubilee of the 21st century.

Local Muslims reaching out

March 18, 2015

TORONTO - As of March 10 2,942 people had hit the “like” button on Pegida Canada’s Facebook page. Another 97 people had signed up to attend Pegida Quebec’s planned March 28 rally in Montreal.

Montreal archdiocese restores the Catholic in new welfare agency

March 18, 2015

MONTREAL - In response to a controversial decision to drop the word “Catholic” from the name of a prominent Montreal social agency, the archdiocese has announced the launch of a new welfare agency called Catholic Action.

Oblates question road they head down

March 18, 2015

The religious order that brought Catholicism to much of Canada is facing tough questions about its future.

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints

March 18, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a miracle so that, for the first time, a married couple can be canonized together.