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May 2017

May 19

Spaniards splurge on First Communion parties despite economic hard times

May 19, 2017

MADRID, Spain – Over the past nine years, Spain has been hit particularly hard by the worldwide economic crisis.

Church cannot ignore injustice in Israel-Palestine conflict, bishops say

May 19, 2017

WASHINGTON – The Catholic Church will speak out against injustice and avoid any attempt to normalize the “festering wound” of the Israeli-Palestinian situation, a commission from the region’s leading Catholic bishops has said.

Child malnutrition in Venezuela at humanitarian crisis level, Caritas says

May 19, 2017

VATICAN CITY – With soaring food prices and a free-falling economy, child malnutrition in Venezuela has crossed the threshold of a humanitarian crisis, the local chapter of Caritas Internationalis said.

Retreat explores Mary’s North American roots

May 19, 2017

Dig into the deep historic roots of Canada and you will find the Blessed Virgin Mary, both in name and spirit.

Pope goes door-to-door, blessing the homes of the poor

May 19, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Like parish priests throughout Italy do during the Easter season, Pope Francis spent an afternoon May 19 going door-to-door and blessing homes.

After clashes, Central African cardinal urges more efforts toward peace

May 19, 2017

OXFORD, England – A cardinal in Central African Republic called on international peacekeepers to act more effectively, after he helped end an anti-Muslim flare-up in the southeastern city of Bangassou.

Vancouver hosts interfaith service for those affected by opioid crisis

May 19, 2017

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – As the strains of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" filled the sanctuary of Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in Vancouver, one by one the people in the pews rose silently. Muffled sobbing could be heard from the back corner of the church as a prayer vigil for those affected by the city's opioid crisis ended.

Murder case of Blessed Oscar Romero has been reopened

May 19, 2017

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – A nearly 40 year-old murder case was reopened this week to properly prosecute the suspected killer behind the Salvadorian archbishop's martyrdom.

May 20

Baltimore archdiocese discusses murdered nun case ahead of Netflix series

May 20, 2017

BALTIMORE, Md. – No one knows who killed Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik.

Iowan man to celebrate two milestones: turning 97, 91st year as altar 'boy'

May 20, 2017

IDA GROVE, Iowa – Leo "Doc" Samson will note two anniversaries June 2.

Syrian war seen through children’s eyes at Montreal exhibit

May 20, 2017

MONTREAL – It is war as seen through the eyes of Syria’s children, drawings that depict harrowing scenes of conflict and hopeful yearnings for peace.

Cuba’s first Catholic Church in 60 years will soon be complete

May 20, 2017

TAMPA, Florida – Funded by a parish in Florida, a new Catholic church is being built in Cuba and is the first the island nation has seen in 60 years.

Another court weighs the future of Trump travel ban

May 20, 2017

WASHINGTON – The comments made during and after a contentious campaign came back to haunt President Donald Trump's executive order, adding to his troubles in May, as a group of judges in Seattle weighed the future of his troubled travel ban.

May 21

Review of 'Alien: Covenant'

May 21, 2017

NEW YORK – Once you've seen one vicious extraterrestrial gnaw its way out of a human body from the inside, you've seen 'em all. Or so at least the jaded – or squeamish – moviegoer might be tempted to think.

Vatican, Jewish museums explore menorah in art and dark legend

May 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican Museums and the Jewish Museum of Rome are exploring together the significance of the menorah, although they also give a nod to the centuries-old legend that the Vatican is hiding the golden menorah from the Temple of Jerusalem.

Prudence, pastoral concern guides Medjugorje commission, member says

May 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – If the Catholic Church recognizes as "worthy of belief" only the initial alleged apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje, it would be the first time the church distinguished between phases of a single event, but it also would acknowledge that human beings and a host of complicating factors are involved, said a theological expert in Mariology.

Search for common ground will be key to Pope's meeting with Trump

May 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Despite a few pointed comments in the past and fundamental differences on issues such as immigration, economic policy, military spending and climate change, sparks are not expected to fly May 24 when Pope Francis welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump to the Vatican.

A tender gaze: Fatima trip shows Pope's respect for pilgrims' faith

May 21, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is not shy about showing his love for Mary in public and, like many Latin American bishops, he strongly has resisted attempts to dismiss as superstitious or "simple," in a negative sense, popular devotion to the mother of God.

May 22

Bono thinks Christian musicians need to have 'brutal honesty' in their songs

May 22, 2017

WASHINGTON – If you’re an ardent fan of U2, you may know that lead vocalist Bono loves the Psalms. The 57-year-old Irish musician has spoken out several times about the inspiration that he draws from reading the Biblical hymns.

Afghan women left everything behind – except their sewing skills

May 22, 2017

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Before Mahnaz left Afghanistan with her husband and four sons, she carefully packed beautiful black, red and white curtains in the few suitcases she could bring along to her new life in a country 7,000 miles away.