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June 2016

June 26

Saskatoon bishop tries out homelessness for 36 hours in charity challenge

June 26, 2016

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – Thirty-six hours may not seem like a long time to be without a home, but for Bishop Donald J. Bolen of Saskatoon and nine others, it was long enough to better understand what being homeless is really like.

St. Mike's new principal aims to bring innovation, maintain traditions

June 26, 2016

TORONTO – A Catholic college owes just one thing to the families of young men and women entrusted to its care.

June 27

Brotherly embrace: Pope, Armenian leader highlight Christian unity

June 27, 2016

VAGHARSHAPAT, Armenia – Recognizing that the church of Christ is one and that Christian divisions are a "scandal" to the world, Pope Francis and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II offered their faithful the example of praying and working together.

Full text from Mass in Gyumri, Armenia

June 27, 2016

Speaking at Holy Mass Saturday in Gyumri, Armenia, Pope Francis recalled the “terrible devastation” wrought by the massive 1988 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people and gave thanks “for all that has been rebuilt.”

Martyred Christians suffer ‘ecumenism of blood,’ Pope, patriarch say

June 27, 2016

YEREVAN, Armenia – Applying the common faith they professed publicly earlier in the day, Pope Francis and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II urged common action on behalf of persecuted Christians, welcome for refugees and defense of the family.

Former Holy Land 'custos' named apostolic administrator of Jerusalem

June 27, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem and appointed Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former "custos" of the Holy Land, as the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Christians should apologize for helping marginalize gays, Pope says

June 27, 2016

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ARMENIA – Catholics and other Christians not only must apologize to the gay community, they must ask forgiveness of God for ways they have discriminated against homosexual persons or fostered hostility toward them, Pope Francis said.

‘Free State of Jones’ is a movie based on the Bible as well as history

June 27, 2016

It’s a long way from Hollywood, yet a swampy corner of southeast Mississippi has given the film world its latest hero — or maybe antihero.

Parental education rights on trial in Hamilton

June 27, 2016

HAMILTON, ONT. – A Hamilton parent’s battle to affirm a parents’ supreme rights over their children in matters of education was the central question argued in a day-long hearing in a downtown Hamilton courtroom June 23.

Despite fractured Holy Council, Orthodox churches want meeting to become regular

June 27, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Although they did not manage to convince all the Orthodox churches to send representatives to the Great and Holy Council in Crete, participating Orthodox leaders supported the idea that the council should become a regular institution and meet every seven to 10 years.

Catholic agencies second only to UN in providing aid to Iraq and Syria

June 27, 2016

OTTAWA – Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada national director Carl Hetu reports Catholic aid agencies contributed $150 million in 2015 to help the people of Iraq and Syria.

June 28

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions

June 28, 2016

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court delivered its most significant ruling on abortion in a generation Monday (June 27), striking down restrictions on Texas clinics and doctors that threatened to make the procedure more difficult for women to access.

European Church leaders fear Brexit will fracture unity

June 28, 2016

OXFORD, England – European Catholic leaders are concerned that the decision by United Kingdom voters to leave the European Union will threaten unity across the continent, but also cautioned the EU bloc to rethink its values and priorities.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI says he 'feels protected' by Pope Francis

June 28, 2016

VATICAN CITY – In his first public address in almost a year, retired Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness "from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply."

Suicide bombers hit predominantly Christian Lebanese village near border

June 28, 2016

BEIRUT – Suicide bombers attacked a predominantly Christian village in northeast Lebanon twice in one day, and residents called on the government to support them, saying Islamic State fighters were holed up on the outskirts of town.

Catholic, Orthodox must show each other mercy, Pope says

June 28, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Professing the same faith in the mercy of God, Catholics and Orthodox must do more to ensure mercy marks the way they treat each other, Pope Francis told a delegation from the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

English bishops condemn rise in xenophobic attacks after Brexit vote

June 28, 2016

MANCHESTER, England – Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

June 29

Faith, tradition highlight First Nations Sunday at Ste. Anne-de-Beaupre

June 29, 2016

QUEBEC CITY – Faith and tradition were the highlights of this year's First Nations Sunday at the Basilica of Sainte Anne-de-Beaupre.

Full text from Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Homily

June 29, 2016

In his homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis focused on the themes of “closing” and “opening” in the lives of the two patrons of Rome.

Pope Francis prays for peace following Turkey terrorist attack

June 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying for peace and for the victims of a terrorist attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in Turkey.