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March 2019

March 1

Missouri House OKs fetal heartbeat bill restricting abortion

March 1, 2019

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —The Missouri House of Representatives Feb. 27 passed the Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act, an omnibus bill that bans abortion when the heartbeat of an unborn child can be detected, which could be as early as six weeks "depending on the method used."

March 2

God's Word on Sunday: Words speak loudly about our character

March 2, 2019

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, March 3 (Year C) Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 92; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

March 3

Robotics needs ethical guidelines, speakers say at Vatican meeting

March 3, 2019

VATICAN – As robotics play an increasingly greater role in today's world, their technological capabilities must not outpace ethical concerns, said a number of speakers at the Pontifical Academy for Life's workshop on "Robo-ethics: Humans, Machines and Health."

March 4

Service, not party affiliation makes a politician Catholic, Pope Francis says

March 4, 2019

VATICAN – What makes a politician "Catholic" is not party affiliation, but dedication to promoting the common good, particularly through listening to and empowering people who often are overlooked, Pope Francis said.

Pope opens up WWII, Pope Pius XII documents in Vatican Secret Archives

March 4, 2019

VATICAN – Declaring that the Catholic Church is unafraid of history, Pope Francis announced that documents in the Vatican Secret Archives relating to the wartime pontificate of Pope Pius XII will be open to scholars in 2020.

Peace deal 'fatally flawed', South Sudan bishops say

March 4, 2019

JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan's peace deal is fatally flawed, the country's bishops said as they committed the church to helping forge new negotiations. They also recommended a series of measures to end the conflict.

'War is not an option': Pakistani Catholic groups join protest against military escalation

March 4, 2019

LAHORE, Pakistan – Catholic groups joined a protest against a military escalation in Pakistan and India following the recent suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir, reported ucanews.com.

Colombian churches help Venezuelan soldiers who have walked away

March 4, 2019

CUCUTA, Colombia – Pvt. Andry Rosales hugged a Colombian soldier and broke into tears as he surrendered himself to this country's military.

Give up gossiping for Lent, Pope Francis suggests

March 4, 2019

ROME – Lent is a good time to concentrate on fighting the urge to gossip about others and instead trying to correct one's own faults and defects, Pope Francis said.

Mary Durran: Haiti’s youth driving frantic push for change

March 4, 2019

Since Feb. 7, women’s leader Louisiane Nazaire has hardly dared to leave her home in the city of Jérémie in southwestern Haiti.

Angela Saldanha: What happened to Sabbath day?

March 4, 2019

My daughter, skyping from her home in Switzerland, remarked how quiet it was. Very little traffic about, she said — all shops shut.

Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo: There’s no true joy in consumerism

March 4, 2019

In a pastoral letter on stewardship, Cardinal Thomas Collins suggests that in order to discover what is really important to us, we should look at how we spend our money.

Mount Cashel opened eyes to world of abuse

March 4, 2019

As the Catholic Church comes to grips with an appalling past that saw thousands of children and vulnerable people exposed to abuse at the hands of clergy around the world, Canadians can only turn back the clock to remember when the scourge dominated the headlines at home.

Vatican announces theme for World Day of Migrants and Refugees

March 4, 2019

VATICAN – After moving the Vatican celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees from January to September, Pope Francis wants Catholics to understand how concern for migrants and refugees is part of a much broader Christian concern for people in need.

Ghana's bishops seek prayer as nation celebrates independence, Lent

March 4, 2019

ACCRA, Ghana – This year's Lent has special significance because Ash Wednesday, March 6, marks the celebration of Ghana's 62nd anniversary of independence, said the Ghana Bishops' Conference.

March 5

Religious persecution harms individuals, communities, Holy See official says

March 5, 2019

VATICAN – Violating religious freedom harms not only the individuals being persecuted, it also damages communities and often opens the door to further violence, a Vatican representative said.

Cardinal Pell labelled as 'at-risk' prisoner, awaits sentence in solitary confinement

March 5, 2019

MELBOURNE – Cardinal George Pell is incarcerated at the Melbourne Assessment Prison while he awaits the results of a sentencing hearing held last week. Pell was convicted last year of child sexual abuse.

Australian bishops respond to Pell sex abuse verdict

March 5, 2019

MELBOURNE – Following news of Cardinal George Pell’s conviction of sexual abuse of minors, several bishops in Australia have have said they are committed to truth and justice, while declining to comment on Pell’s appeal until it has concluded.

Nicaraguan bishops say they have not been invited to political dialogue

March 5, 2019

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The Nicaraguan bishops' conference said it has not received invitations to play a role in a recently convened national dialogue to pull the nation out of political crisis.

How the Church in Chile is helping women victims of domestic violence

March 5, 2019

SANTIAGO, Chile – The Vicariate for Social Pastoral Care of Caritas in the Archdiocese of Santiago takes in every year hundreds of women and their children, victims of domestic violence who find in their shelters comprehensive care to be able to get on with their lives.