September 2019

Theologian withdraws from German 'synod': Cites 'fixation' on ordination of women

September 23, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNA) -- A member of the International Theological Commission has announced that she is no longer available to participate in the “binding synodal path” undertaken by the bishops’ conference of Germany.

Indiana launches investigation after discovery of aborted fetal remains

September 23, 2019

INDIANAPOLIS -- The story of 2,246 aborted fetal remains found at the Illinois home of late abortion doctor Ulrich Klopfer continues to unfold, with the new focal point being on neighboring Indiana, where Klopfer had once operated three abortion clinics.

Study on sexual harassment in U.S. seminaries released by Notre Dame

September 23, 2019

LAS VEGAS -- The University of Notre Dame Sept. 21 released a groundbreaking report that looked at sexual harassment in U.S. Catholic seminaries, revealing that just 6% of seminarians reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or misconduct, while 90% reported none.

French bishops oppose assisted procreation for single moms, same-sex couples

September 23, 2019

PARIS -- France's Catholic bishops opposed legislation to allow medically assisted procreation for single mothers and lesbian couples and urged citizens to help block its enactment.

U.S. abortion rates at all-time low

September 24, 2019

WASHINGTON -- The pro-life community is cheering a report released Sept. 18 that indicates the number and rate of abortions nationwide have fallen to their lowest levels since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion on demand in 1973.

Spanish bishops say Zen meditation is not Christian prayer

September 24, 2019

MADRID, Spain (CNA) -- The Spanish bishops’ conference said that the “mindfulness” movement and other eastern meditation techniques cannot be considered a “properly Christian” practice of prayer.

Trump urges an end to persecution of 'people of faith'

September 24, 2019

UNITED NATIONS -- President Donald Trump called on world leaders at a Sept. 23 U.N. event on religious freedom to end religious persecution around the globe.

Hospital denies assisted suicide reports

September 24, 2019

CORNWALL, Ont. -- The Nova Scotia Health Authority has assured a Catholic health facility, St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish, that it will not have to provide assisted suicide within the hospital.

Priest stands by sign: ‘Not a playground!’

September 24, 2019

From teens climbing onto the roof to drug use in the parking lot to amorous couples on church lawns, Fr. Carlos Augusto Sierra Tobon has had enough.

Ordaining married men not a ‘focused’ issue

September 24, 2019

CORNWALL, Ont. -- Canada’s bishops will monitor next month’s Synod of Bishops on the Amazon, but the issue of ordaining married men is not a priority for bishops here, said Archbishop Richard Gagnon of Winnipeg.

Bishops grapple with ‘moral setbacks’ at plenary

September 24, 2019

CORNWALL, ONT. -- Religious persecution, the continuing fallout from past sexual abuse, reconciliation with First Nations and an ongoing commitment to “our missionary zeal” were among the grand themes that emerged at the annual plenary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).

Wednesday Audience: Calumny is a 'diabolical cancer'

September 25, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- The act of bearing false witness to destroy someone is an attack against the body of the church, Pope Francis said.

Argentine vets’ statue returned — with Pope’s blessing

September 25, 2019

MANCHESTER, England -- After a request from Argentine veterans of the Falklands War, a British bishop will return a replica of Our Lady of Lujan that was taken to Britain as a spoils of war almost four decades ago.

YOUCAT for Kids - a good introduction to the Catholic Church

September 25, 2019

“Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone.” I came upon this Moroccan proverb in Bullets, Blood & Stones: The Journey of a Child Soldier, by Donna White. It made me realize how important it is to engage children in their Catholic faith at a young age. Children need a solid base in Catholic morality to develop their conscience and learn to love virtue.

The spiritual battle of treating your mental health

September 25, 2019

It’s no coincidence that the head is the first part of the body to be anointed or blessed when receiving sacraments.

Charles Lewis: Faith has its place in federal election

September 25, 2019

In this federal election, part of me feels like a bystander. If you are like me, an orthodox Christian, someone whose faith is not confined to Sundays, you may feel the same.

Photos from the Amazon

September 25, 2019

Canadians respond to refugees’ plight

September 25, 2019

Catholics from coast to coast are rallying to answer a call to help resettle Christian Pakistani refugees stuck in Bangkok.

Pope Francis: No magic in being elected pope

September 26, 2019

ROME -- While his responsibilities are greater and his prayer list longer, Pope Francis said he's basically the same person he was before he was elected in 2013, so he still goes to confession every two weeks.

Violence against indigenous in Brazil on the rise

September 26, 2019

SAO PAULO -- Less than two weeks before the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon was scheduled to begin at the Vatican, the Brazilian bishops' Indigenous Missionary Council reported that the number of indigenous land invasions and indigenous murdered in Brazil in 2018 soared.