Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Vatican office explains how, when gay couples can be blessed by priest

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  By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Catholic priest can bless a gay or other unmarried couple as long as it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage, the Vatican doctrinal office […]

Pope planning to withdraw Cardinal Burke’s Vatican salary, sources say

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis told the prefects of Vatican dicasteries that he saw no reason for the Vatican to continue giving U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke a monthly salary and questioned why the Vatican should be providing him with a free apartment in Rome, various sources have confirmed. […]

Francis calls on world leaders to fight climate change

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The future of humanity depends on what people choose now, Pope Francis said in his message to global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit of the U.N. Climate Change Conference. “Are we working for a culture of life or a culture of death?” he asked […]

Vatican dicastery says transsexuals can be baptized

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  By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — If it would not cause scandal or confusion among other Catholics, “a transsexual — even one who has undergone hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgery — may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful,” said a document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine […]

Clinic at St. Peter’s extends hours ahead of World Day of the Poor

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Idris, who sleeps on a sidewalk a couple blocks from the Vatican, waited more or less patiently under the colonnade surrounding St. Peter’s Square to speak to his physician, Dr. Massimo Ralli. The doctor was giving interviews Nov. 13 about the Vatican’s “Madre di Misericordia” (Mother […]

Pope welcomes migrant he’s been praying for since July

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — When Mbengue Nyimbilo Crepin told Pope Francis of his harrowing journey to Italy and about the deaths of his wife and 6-year-old daughter in the desert along the border between Libya and Tunisia, the pope told him he had been praying for them since July. Nyimbilo, […]

Synod on synodality report: Agreement, divergences

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The synthesis of the three-week-long meeting said the church needs to be more welcoming while not betraying traditional teachings By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A report summarizing discussions at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops said the church may need more welcoming pastoral approaches, especially to people who feel excluded, […]

Pope encourages children to speak up, work for peace

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — In a celebration of life, peace, joy and harmony, thousands of children representing young people on every continent greeted Pope Francis during an afternoon event in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall. Children from different parts of the world, such as the Amazon and favelas of Brazil, […]

Vatican confirms it will take Nicaraguan priests released from prison

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has confirmed that it has been asked and has agreed to receive 12 priests who had been detained in Nicaragua. “The Holy See has agreed; they will be received by an official of the Secretariat of State in the afternoon (Oct. 19) and housed […]