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September 2016

September 1

New Catholic Missions In Canada president understands needs of remote communities

September 1, 2016

TORONTO – Fr. David Reilander has seen the importance of Catholic Missions In Canada first-hand.

Pope Francis says care of environment a new ‘work of mercy’

September 1, 2016

In a message released Thursday (Sept. 1) to mark the Catholic Church’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which Francis instituted last September, the pontiff noted that the worst impact of global warming was being felt by those least responsible for it — refugees and the poor.

Bridging power and vulnerability

September 1, 2016

Walking home from the grocery store, I heard a wild cry on the street behind me. A young man had ripped open his car door, slammed it again with a thundering metallic crash, then simply stood and roared like a lion. Seeing that no one was in danger, I walked on. Another roar came, with a richly voiced four-letter epithet, and another crash-slammed door. The counterpoint of raw emotion continued for a while — door-slamming, wordless roaring, life-searing oaths. Even at a distance, I felt it. Whatever that young man was expelling into the atmosphere, something in me resonated.

Four Teresas: models for our time

September 1, 2016

For centuries there was only one Teresa, the Carmelite reformer who was canonized on March 12, 1622, in the single most impressive canonization in the history of the Church. Gregory XV crowned the Catholic Counter-Reformation that day, canonizing in one ceremony the great Teresa of Avila, along with St. Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri and St. Ignatius Loyola.

Words to live by

September 1, 2016

Only a handful of Catholics are quoted more often than Mother Teresa. Even today, 19 years after her death, the words of the saintly sister still resonate whenever the topic is mercy and compassion.

An appeal to Pope Francis in Sudanese pastors’ espionage case

September 1, 2016

NAIROBI, Kenya – As the high-profile espionage trial of two evangelical pastors resumes in Khartoum, Sudan, this week, a human rights group is calling on Pope Francis to intervene on their behalf.

Misunderstood teachings on God’s fury

September 1, 2016

There’s a haunting text in the Book of Revelations where poetic image, for all its beauty, can be dangerously misleading. The author there writes: “So the angel swung his sickle over the Earth and cut the Earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great winepress of God’s fury.”

God in His mercy writes no one off

September 1, 2016

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Sept. 11 (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32) Fickleness and ingratitude are unfortunate human characteristics that have always been with us. God had done so much for the Israelites. He had liberated them from Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, as well as providing them with food and water in the hostile wilderness. But they asked the age-old question: what have you done for me lately?

Vatican paper: Ideology can slant scientific views of difference in sexes

September 1, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Be cautious about scientific data that offer to be the sole basis and single explanation for the differences between men and women, the Vatican newspaper said.

Phoneless in a digital age

September 1, 2016

Maybe I should get a phone. Almost everyone I know has a phone, but at the age of 17, I’ve never had one. At first it was because of my parents. Now that they have given me the opportunity to have a phone, I’ve been weighing the possibility.

Christian photographer tries Kickstarter campaign for a hotel with a purpose

September 1, 2016

Photography has taken Jeremy Cowart around the world. Cowart — recently featured in Christianity Today’s “Makers” issue and named the “Most Influential Photographer on the Web” by The Huffington Post — has photographed the Passion World Tour in 2008 and Britney Spears’ Circus World Tour in 2009.

Son had 36 bruises; mom quoted Bible as defence

September 1, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana mother who beat her 7-year-old son with a coat hanger is citing the state’s religious freedom law as a defense against felony child abuse charges, saying her choice of discipline comes straight from her evangelical Christian beliefs.

New Jersey priest suspended for supporting gay groups

September 1, 2016

The Catholic archbishop in New Jersey has barred a gay priest from ministry because the cleric supports gay advocacy groups and has backed a Catholic high school counselor who was fired when church officials discovered the woman was in a same-sex marriage.

September 2

Pro-life group attains club status in court settlement

September 2, 2016

A pro-life student group at Brandon University has won the right to operate on campus after a lawsuit against the school’s student union was settled out of court.

Mother Teresa is ‘Saint of the Doubters,’ says Jesuit author

September 2, 2016

The Rev. James Martin is a Jesuit priest and popular author who wrote about his lifelong fascination with the saints and the many aspects of sainthood in the Catholic tradition in the best-selling book “My Life With the Saints.”

Miracle is sign of mercy, says Brazilian who prayed to Mother Teresa

September 2, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The inexplicable recovery from a severe brain infection – attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta – is a sign that God's mercy is for everyone, said the Brazilian man who was healed.

Bishop in scandal-ridden Italian diocese resigns

September 2, 2016

VATICAN CITY – An Italian bishop who was a hero to traditionalist Catholics has resigned following a Vatican investigation into priests and seminarians accused of various scandals including posting naked photos on gay websites and sexually harassing parishioners.

Coptic Catholic spokesman welcomes new Egyptian law on building churches

September 2, 2016

OXFORD, England – The Coptic Catholic Church has welcomed a new Egyptian law to facilitate the building of Christian places of worship.

Mother Teresa showed young Buddhist who Jesus is

September 2, 2016

VATICAN CITY – A personal encounter with Mother Teresa and her work serving the poor and the dying led a young Japanese man on a journey of faith and conversion.

September 3

Georgetown University seeks reconciliation for its slaveholding past

September 3, 2016

WASHINGTON– Georgetown University last year stripped from a building the name of one of its past presidents, a priest who authorized the sale of 272 women, children and men – slaves sold to save the university from financial ruin in 1838.