Catholic News Service Archives - Page 139 of 165

Syrian priest says imprisonment was his cross

11/19/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

When a man dressed head-to-toe in black entered the room where Father Jacques Mourad was being held by the Islamic State, the Syriac Catholic priest thought his time to become a martyr had come.

Synod had difficult moments, pope says

11/06/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

The first task of the Catholic Church “is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim the mercy of God,” Pope Francis told members of the Synod of Bishops on the family.

Vatican opens homeless shelter for men

11/06/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

By Nicole Pellicano Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican opened the “Gift of Mercy,” a shelter for homeless men, just a few hundred yards away from St. Peter’s Square. Housed in a Jesuit-owned building, the shelter was created by and is run with funds from the papal almoner, who has taken a variety […]

Synod report urges moral discernment in remarriage cases

11/06/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

While not specifically mentioning the controversial proposal of a path toward full reconciliation and Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, members of the Synod of Bishops on the family handed Pope Francis a report emphasizing an obligation to recognize that not all Catholics in such a situation bear the same amount of blame.

Christians caught in the middle in Jerusalem

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

An Israeli border police officer stands near Catholic tourists from Indonesia as they carry a cross Oct. 18 on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem’s Old City, near a site of several recent stabbings. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill) Praying for peace in Jerusalem: Caught in the middle, Christians fear the police, the Israelis, the Muslims JERUSALEM […]

Pope calls for ‘synodal’ church that listens, learns, shares mission

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

VATICAN CITY — Marking the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis outlined his vision for a church that is “synodal” at every level, with everyone listening to one another, learning from one another and taking responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel.

Father Kenneth Doyle | Can’t priests absolve sin of abortion?

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

Can’t priests absolve sin of abortion? Q: I’m curious about the fact that to mark the Year of Mercy Pope Francis will allow all priests to absolve from the sin of abortion. Why isn’t that true already? If I had committed such a sin, then went to confession and found that the priest couldn’t forgive […]

Carolyn Woo: A dangerous word

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

Pope Francis’ recent visit to the United States has touched each of us in so many ways through words, gestures and that indelible twinkle in his eyes whenever he is with people. There is much to unpack in our own journey of faith. I want to begin with the moniker affectionately given to him: the […]

Pope Francis canonizes first married couple with children

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called on people to replace their thirst for power with the joy of quiet and humble service, as he proclaimed four new saints, including the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. All of Christ’s disciples, especially its pastors, are called to model themselves after Jesus and “suppress our instinctive desire […]

Manaolana | Karen Osborne: What if you were a refugee?

10/22/2015 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

I was shopping at the neighborhood corner store, just minding my own business, when the cashier started to talk with his customer about the refugee crisis in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are streaming into Europe from war-torn Syria, Iraq and other Middle East and African countries. They are looking for an escape from […]