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March 2017

March 20

Pope's homily: May Joseph give us the ability to dream great things

March 20, 2017

Saint Joseph gives young people “the ability to dream, to risk, and to undertake the difficult tasks that they have seen in dreams.” That was the message of Pope Francis during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.

In spirit of interfaith dialogue, Pope to visit Egypt in late April

March 20, 2017

VATICAN CITY – In what will be his first international trip of the year, Pope Francis will be traveling to Cairo, Egypt, April 28-29, showing that interfaith dialogue is a priority.

Czech Cardinal Vlk, former window-washer, clandestine priest, dies

March 20, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Czech Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, who washed windows and ministered underground during communism, died of cancer March 18 in Prague at the age of 84.

U.S. priest's home in Mexico harassed by police

March 20, 2017

MEXICO CITY – An American priest and prison chaplain in northern Mexico says his home, which doubles as a halfway house, was raided in the early hours of St. Patrick's Day as police came to arrest one of the three men who live with him.

U.S. bishops: health bill’s ‘life protections’ laudable, other aspects ‘troubling’

March 20, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) – The inclusion of "critical life protections" in the House health care bill is laudable, but other provisions, including those related to Medicaid and tax credits, are "troubling" and "must be addressed" before the measure is passed, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops' domestic policy committee.

U.S. Justice Department to appeal ruling that blocked Trump’s travel ban

March 20, 2017

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice issued a brief notice March 17 that it will appeal a Maryland federal judge's ruling that blocked President Donald Trump's new executive order on a temporary travel ban.

Pope apologizes for Catholics' participation in Rwanda genocide

March 20, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Meeting Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Pope Francis asked God's forgiveness for the failures of the Catholic Church during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and for the hatred and violence perpetrated by some priests and religious.

March 21

'It's a miracle': Woman survives devastating mudslide in Peru

March 21, 2017

LIMA, Peru – Evangelina Chamorro was swept away for over a third of a mile by an avalanche of mud on the coast south of Lima. But she survived and said that thinking about “God and her daughters” gave her the strength.

Italian man who refused to take the Hitler oath is now beatified

March 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Italian layman Joseph Mayr-Nusser who refused to take the Hitler oath was beatified March 18 in his home town of Bolsano.

Good Friday Collection to benefit Holy Land Christians

March 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – As Christians in the Middle East continue to suffer innumerable hardships this Lenten season, the Vatican has announced that this year’s Good Friday Collection will benefit Christian communities in the Holy Land.

Don't misuse Bible to push death penalty, Philippines bishops say

March 21, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – Remember what Jesus' cross stands for, and don't misuse the Bible to justify the death penalty, said the Philippines' Catholic bishops.

Pope's homily: The confessional is not like the dry cleaners

March 21, 2017

Pope Francis warned against treating the confessional like the dry cleaners, a place to make a quick transaction, wipe away our sins and steal a false pardon. He also stressed the need for Christians to be truly ashamed of their sins. The Pope's words came during his homily at his Tuesday morning Mass in the Santa Marta residence.

Catholic leaders call for protection of indigenous land rights in Amazon

March 21, 2017

WASHINGTON – Catholic leaders are calling for governments to protect the territorial rights of indigenous people suffering eviction from their lands and pollution of their water because of mining and oil operations in the Amazon basin.

Church more than a flash-mob experience, says Pope in WYD 2017 message

March 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Young men and women can live a true experience of the church by joining together and reconnecting with the past, Pope Francis told Catholic young people.

Northern Ireland political leader Martin McGuinness dies at 66

March 21, 2017

DUBLIN – Martin McGuinness, 66, who went from being a paramilitary leader to laying the foundations for peace in Northern Ireland, died March 21. McGuinness was diagnosed with a rare heart condition in December and died in a hospital in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, surrounded by his family.

Famine, worsened by war, threatens South Sudanese, official says

March 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Some 5 million people in South Sudan – half of its total population – are on the brink of starvation and a quarter of a million children are already severely malnourished, a representative from the U.S. bishops' Catholic Relief Services said.

Canada renews commitment to global refugee agency with additional $1.6 million

March 21, 2017

The Canadian government is giving an international Catholic refugee agency another $1.6 million to help put people on the road to a better life.

March 22

Charter of Rights and Freedom guarantees doctors’ rights, lawyer argues

March 22, 2017

OTTAWA – The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees conscience protection for physicians and overrides policies of medical bodies that want to compel health care professionals to participate in euthanasia and assisted suicide, argued a constitutional lawyer.

Italian archbishop bans mafia members from being godfathers

March 22, 2017

PALERMO, Italy – Hollywood precedent notwithstanding, an Italian archbishop has announced that known members of the mafia cannot be godparents for the Catholic sacraments of baptism or confirmation.

Pennsylvania lawsuit says girl in boys' locker room violated student privacy

March 22, 2017

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – A Pennsylvania high school wrongly allowed a female student into the boys’ locker room and violated an undressing male student’s privacy and his right to be free from harassment, a lawsuit charges.