Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Francis urges Slovak church, government to put people first

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s tradition of hospitality along with its witness of faith amid persecution must be at the forefront of government policies and the Catholic Church’s engagement with the faithful, Pope Francis said. Addressing government authorities on the first full day of his visit to Slovakia Sept. […]

Holiness does not come from following rigid rules, pope says

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Redemption is the work of God, not of human beings, so be careful and do not listen to “fundamentalists” who claim holiness comes through following certain laws, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience. The belief that holiness comes by observing particular laws “leads us […]

Former Cardinal McCarrick pleads not guilty; two more lawsuits filed

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By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick pleaded not guilty Sept. 3 in a Massachusetts court, where he is facing three counts of sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1970s. Local news reporters posted video on Twitter of the 91-year-old McCarrick, wearing a face mask and slowly heading toward […]

Ask Father: Part 1-Can ashes be commingled? Part 2-Can prayer change God’s mind?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Among my dying husband’s wishes was the desire to save land for the living and therefore to be cremated and interred at Willamette National Military Cemetery near Portland, Oregon. I, too, shall be cremated and interred at Willamette National, sharing my husband’s niche. I would like my ashes to be mingled with […]

N.Y. fire chaplain: sometimes 9/11 ‘feels like yesterday’

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By Gregory A. Shemitz Catholic News Service BLUE POINT, N.Y. — Father Kevin M. Smith, a veteran fire chaplain, trauma counselor and loyal friend to scores of active and retired firefighters in the New York metropolitan area, receives more phone calls in early September than any other time of the year. Most of the calls […]

What was, what could be: War money spent elsewhere

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By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Some people consider the $3.5 trillion infrastructure proposal being proposed by congressional Democrats a huge chunk of change. But it pales compared to various estimates of military spending against a global war on terror spurred on by the 9/11 attacks of 2001. The “Costs of War Research […]

Pope advances sainthood cause of mother of three

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of a young mother of three who died of cancer after delaying chemotherapy treatment in order to save the life of her unborn child. The pope signed decrees recognizing the heroic virtues of one man and two women, including […]

Vaccination is an act of love, pope says in ad campaign

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — When each individual makes a small act of charity, like getting the COVID-19 vaccine, every gesture added together can transform the world, Pope Francis said in a global ad campaign. “Being vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing […]

Not me: The moral dilemma of seeking vaccine exemptions

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Getting vaccinated is “an act of love,” Pope Francis said in his latest urgent appeal, after more than a year of insisting COVID-19 vaccines be equitably available worldwide for everyone to get inoculated. Nonetheless, some Catholics have been wondering if they should seek a religious exemption […]