Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Father Kenneth Doyle: May I buy a used chalice? Can you use cremains as fertilizer?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: As a Catholic, I like to decorate my home with religious art that helps draw my heart and mind to God. At times, I am able to find vintage religious pieces on online auction websites that I can’t find elsewhere. I noticed recently that some online resellers have items like used chalices […]

Beatification for Polish nuns murdered by Soviet soldiers

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By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service WARSAW, Poland — Ten Polish nuns have been approved for beatification as martyrs 76 years after they were killed while resisting rape and facing other atrocities by Soviet soldiers in the final months of World War II. “This will show how courage and devotion are linked to saintliness. It’s […]

In a call for unity, Francis restores limits on ‘Latin Mass’

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Saying he was acting for the good of the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has restored limits on the celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council, overturning or severely restricting permissions St. John Paul II […]

Lifting dispensation not enough to get Catholics back

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By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The mere act of lifting the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation as the coronavirus pandemic eases won’t be enough to get Catholics to come back to church, and some dioceses and Catholics are actively working to bring people back. (Bishop Larry Silva ended his dispensation of […]

Pope released from hospital, prays at Rome basilica

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Ten days after undergoing intestinal surgery, Pope Francis was released from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican confirmed. In a statement released July 14, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that after leaving the hospital midmorning, the pope visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major to say […]

Indian Jesuit priest imprisoned on ‘terrorism charges’ dies in hospital

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By Anto Akkara Catholic News Service THRISSUR, India — Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, 84, jailed on dubious terrorism charges since October, died July 5 at Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai. He had been moved to the hospital from jail in late May, under orders from a local court. Dr. Ian D’Souza, medical director of Holy […]

Citing canon law, bishop removes ‘divisive’ pastor

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By Catholic News Service LA CROSSE, Wis. — Bishop William P. Callahan of La Crosse July 9 removed a pastor who has been stirring controversy since last fall when he criticized Catholic Democrats from the pulpit, saying they must “repent” because of the party’s support for legal abortion or “face the fires of hell.” More […]

Brett Robinson: The power of human compassion

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THEOLOGY OF TECHNOLOGY I recently spent a few days visiting the hospital to take care of a loved one who had some complications from a cancer procedure. I marveled at the sophisticated medical technologies that were being used so expertly to treat her. At one point, a doctor came into the room and removed fluid […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Friday abstinence for a vegan?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I grew up Catholic, and we always did meatless Fridays year-round as part of the Catholic practice of abstinence. (We had fish instead.) Now, as a vegan adult, since I’m already skipping meat anyway (fish, too), if I still wanted to do some kind of Friday abstinence, could I give up things […]

Pope Francis tells grandparents, all elderly people, that God is close to them

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‘You are needed’ By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Writing to his peers, Catholics who have reached a venerable age like he has, Pope Francis told older Catholics that God is close to them and still has plans for their lives. “I was called to become the bishop of Rome when I […]