FAITH/STORIES

Pope Francis attends a special audience with members of the German Evangelical-Lutheran Church at the Vatican Dec. 18.

Christians can't ignore differences on life issues, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Christianity has something to say about human dignity, and "it would be a shame" if differing positions on the sanctity of all human life or on marriage were to increase the divisions among Christian churches and communities, Pope Francis said.

Worshippers at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral light candles for the victims of the Martin Place siege Dec. 16. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney tried to help comfort the people of the city during the Mass.

Pope decries 'inhuman terrorist acts' in Australia, Pakistan and Yemen

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis decried the "inhuman terrorist acts" that killed scores of people the previous day in Australia, Pakistan and Yemen.

Sister Sharon Holland, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, second from left, receives applause after speaking at a Dec. 16 Vatican press conference for release of the final report of a Vatican-ordered investigation of U.S. communit ies of women religious. From left are: Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; Sister Holland; Sister Agnes Mary Donovan, coordinator of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious; and Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. The 5,000 word report summarizes problems and challenges the women see in their communities and thanks them for their service. The visitation was carried out between 2009 and 2012.

Vatican seeks to bury the hatchet with American nuns

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican ended a six-year inquiry into U.S. nuns with a report designed to bury their differences and celebrate their contribution to the Catholic Church.

Father Frank Pavone, one of the country's most visible and vocal opponents of abortion, has been suspended from active ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, over financial questions about the priest's operation of Priests for Life. The suspension was made public in a Sept. 13 letter by Amarillo Bishop Patrick J. Zurek. Father Pavone is pictured speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court building in Washington in this Nov. 8, 2006, file photo.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank Pavone

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NEW YORK - In the latest clash between the Catholic hierarchy and one of the church’s leading anti-abortion crusaders, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan accused the Fr. Frank Pavone of continuing to stonewall on financial reforms, and Dolan said he is cutting ties with his group, Priests for Life.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa

Destroy hatred, not enemies, to bring peace, papal preacher says

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VATICAN CITY - Peace does not come from wiping out enemies, it comes from destroying all hatred with prayer, dialogue and friendship, including in the Church and within the Roman Curia, said the preacher of the papal household.

A monstrance fished from Loch Raven Reservoir in Maryland is the centerpiece of a new adoration chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.

Monstrance fished from reservoir centerpiece of new adoration chapel

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BALTIMORE - A man fishing at the Loch Raven Reservoir in north Baltimore County some two decades ago was convinced he had snagged a big fish after his line hooked something substantial.

Pope Francis holds his zucchetto as he leads his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 10. In his talk, the pope reviewed the October extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family.

Synod disagreement part of a dialogue, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis used his weekly audience Dec. 10 to challenge media reports of “clashes between factions” at the recent bishops’ Synod on family issues.

Jean-Baptise de Franssu, left, new president of the Vatican bank, outgoing President Ernst Von Freyberg, right, and Australian Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, leave at the end of a news conference at the Vatican July 9. The Vatican said it will separate its bank's investment business from its church payments work to try to clean up after years of scandal, including allegations of money laundering and tax evasion.

Vatican investigates two former bank managers in embezzlement case

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VATICAN CITY - The Vatican City prosecutor has opened an investigation into possible embezzlement by two former top officials at the Institute for the Works of Religion, more commonly called the Vatican bank.

Left to right: Blessed Jeanne Emilie De Villeneuve, Blessed Mary Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Blessed Mariam Baouardy. Pope Francis recognized the miracles needed for the canonization of a French foundress and two Palestinian nuns.

Pope issues decrees in sainthood causes of eight women

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis recognized the miracles needed for the canonization of two Palestinian nuns and of a French woman who founded a religious order.

Catholic Answers apologist and author Tim Staples spoke of how as a Protestant he used to love stumping Catholics with zingers from the Bible.Catholic Answers apologist and author Tim Staples spoke of how as a Protestant he used to love stumping Catholics with zingers from the Bible. Staples spoke in Ottawa Dec. 6.

Former Protestant loved stumping Catholics with Bible verses

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OTTAWA - Catholic apologist Tim Staples used to love stumping Catholics with Bible verses in the days he was a Pentecostal, until he met a Catholic who stumped him.

Pope Francis talks with Italian Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, during the morning session on the final day of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 18.

Pope Francis speaks: 5 takeaways from another blockbuster interview

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VATICAN CITY - Gay marriage was never on the agenda at the recent Synod of Bishops on the Family and the subject “did not cross our minds,” Pope Francis said in a new headline-grabbing interview.

Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he leads the Angelus from his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Pope calls for more 'integration' of divorced Catholics, gays

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must find new ways to integrate the divorced and civilly remarried in the life of the church and to make it easier for Catholic families to accept their homosexual members.

Church needs more women theologians, their insights, Pope says

Church needs more women theologians, their insights, Pope says

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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis said he was pleased that five of the 30 members of the International Theological Commission are women, but the body that advises the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as the Church in general, needs more women theologians.

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