Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Frankincense’s future: Ancient gift endangered, risks depletion

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Gospel of Matthew never details how many Magi came from “the East,” but it makes it clear they traveled to pay homage to “the newborn king of the Jews” and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Beyond their great monetary value, scholars […]

Pope to celebrate early Eve due to COVID curfew

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will celebrate the Vatican’s traditional Christmas “Mass during the Night” Dec. 24, but will begin the liturgy at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the few people invited to attend can get home in time to observe Italy’s 10 p.m. curfew. The curfew is […]

‘Make space at the table’: In his new book, Pope Francis urges the valuing, welcoming of all human life

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis admits he is not an economist, but he is a pastor. And as a pastor, he has seen how the global economy has cast aside many members of his flock, and he knows that the Gospel and Catholic social teaching call for a different […]

Use of COVID-19 vaccines morally acceptable, say bishops

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By Julie Asher Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — While confusion has arisen in recent days in the media over “the moral permissibility” of using the COVID-19 vaccines just announced by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, it is not “immoral to be vaccinated with them,” the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees said Nov. […]

The Holy Father’s life-changing ‘lockdowns’

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — While the coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions have interrupted people’s lives and brought suffering on a global scale, every individual — including the pope — has or will experience traumatic interruptions in their lives, Pope Francis said in a new book. “Illness, the failure of a marriage […]

Laura Kelly Fanucci: A Christmas without?

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FAITH AT HOME Flip back through photos and you’ll see how different Christmas will look this year. No Nativity pageant at church. No Christmas concert at school. No company parties. No visits to Santa. No family reunions. With five kids at home, I’ve been hearing a lot of wishing for last year or hoping for […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Why is the pope approving of civil unions? Should I have my hands raised in prayer?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Why is the pope approving of civil unions for homosexuals? Isn’t this still one of the deadly sins? (Lexington, Indiana) A: First, to clarify: I have never seen homosexuality mentioned as one of the seven deadly sins. In fact, many people with a homosexual orientation are celibate. The seven deadly sins are […]

Because of pandemic, no pilgrims at basilica for Guadalupe feast this year

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By David Agren Catholic News Service MEXICO CITY — Mexican church and civic officials have canceled public feast celebrations for Mexico’s patroness at her shrine in Mexico City due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The celebration normally attracts 10 million pilgrims to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the world’s most-visited Marian shrine. At a […]

Elderly Indian Jesuit says training, work help him cope in jail

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By Catholic News Service BHOPAL, India — An elderly Jesuit priest struggling in an Indian jail with ill health says he still finds happiness in listening to the stories of other inmates and credits his congregation for the training that helps him cope with his situation. Father Stan Swamy, 84, has been in Taloja Central […]