August 2019

Fire destroys 'treasured' historic Catholic church in Texas

August 1, 2019

WESTPHALIA, Texas -- The Church of the Visitation in Westphalia, a nearly 125-year-old wooden church with bell towers on each side, burned to the ground July 29.

JPII Institute VP says school's identity is 'seriously threatened'

August 1, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNA) - The vice-president of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute in Rome said that changes to the school’s governing structure and academic program are a serious threat to its identity, and to the important pastoral ministry it supports.

Week of Aug 2, 2019

August 2, 2019

Thousands of Philippine Catholics march to defend church leaders

August 2, 2019

MANILA, Philippines -- Catholics in a northern Philippines archdiocese marched in support of church leaders accused of conspiring to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte.

Burkina Faso church appeals for protection against terror attacks

August 2, 2019

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso -- A bishop leader in Burkina Faso called on the world to stop the massacre of Christians by foreign-backed Islamist groups that are "better armed and equipped" than government forces.

Pope Francis urges families build a better future through stronger prayer life

August 2, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has asked families to set aside time to pray both individually and together as a family.

Catholics appeal to Bangladesh prime minister to help return 'seized land'

August 2, 2019

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Ethnic indigenous Catholics, joined by priests, women religious, Muslims and Buddhists, staged a protest rally and submitted a memorandum to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking to have land returned that allegedly was appropriated by a Buddhist monk.

Catholic social action directors urged to recognize 'pivotal moment'

August 3, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY -- Catholic social action directors across the country were urged to continue their work of fighting social injustices during the annual Social Action Summer Institute July 25-28 at the University of Utah.

God's Word on Sunday: Absolute trust is our guiding light

August 4, 2019

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Aug. 11 (Year C) Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48 What did the Israelites know and when did they know it?

Bioethicist responds to Japan's approval of human-animal hybrid research

August 4, 2019

WASHINGTON D.C. (CNA) - The Japanese government is expected to approve funding for a research project, led by stem cell scientist Hiromitsu Nakauchi, to use stem cells to create animal embryos that contain human cells.

Pope Francis joins prayers for victims of bloody weekend in U.S.

August 5, 2019

WASHINGTON -- Pope Francis joined Catholic Church leaders expressing sorrow after back-to-back mass shootings in the United States left at least 31 dead and dozens injured in Texas and Ohio Aug. 3 and 4.

Pope Francis encourages priests to be faithful despite abuse crisis

August 5, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis acknowledged the shame and frustration felt by priests who are discouraged by the actions of fellow clergy members who betrayed the trust of their flock through sexual abuse and abuse of conscience and power.

Benedict XVI meets with recently dismissed faculty of JP II institute

August 5, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNA) -- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI met last week with a recently dismissed professor of moral theology at Rome’s Pontifical John Paul II Institute, amid ongoing controversy regarding recent changes to the Institute.

U.S. bishops stress action after deadly shootings

August 6, 2019

WASHINGTON -- In response to the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Aug. 3 and 4, several U.S. bishops expressed their support and prayers for victims while also expressing outrage that these tragedies continue to occur.

Vatican revises schedule for Pope Francis' visit to Africa Sept. 4-10

August 6, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis’s sixth foreign trip of 2019 will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, the Vatican announced.

El Paso bishop meets with victims, family members of Texas mass shooting

August 6, 2019

WASHINGTON -- The bishop of El Paso, Texas, met with the families of those who were killed and wounded during the Aug. 3 shooting at a Walmart in the city where he serves, and in a statement following the meeting said his heart "was breaking," after seeing up-close the human aftermath of the crime.

Vatican officials attend Medjugorje youth festival

August 6, 2019

WARSAW, Poland -- Senior Vatican representatives joined the first officially approved church festival at Medjugorje, three months after Catholic pilgrimages to the site in Bosnia-Herzegovina were authorized by the pope.

Mumbai Catholics open churches for thousands stranded by flooding

August 6, 2019

NEW DELHI -- Catholic churches and institutions in flood-hit Mumbai opened their doors to accommodate thousands of people stranded in the city by heavy rain and flooded streets.

Conference aims to push the boundaries of faith and science in study of the Shroud of Turin

August 6, 2019

In R. Gary Chiang’s mind there is no argument over the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin — science has already proven the existence of the supernatural.

Boys Town founder steps toward sainthood

August 7, 2019

OMAHA, Neb. -- The sainthood cause of Fr. Edward J. Flanagan — the founder of Boys Town — took a step forward July 22 with the presentation of the “positio” to the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes, along with a letter of support from Omaha Archbishop George J. Lucas.