Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Proclaim Christ king of mercy, pope says, closing Holy Year

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Following Christ the King, whose regal power is love and mercy, means the whole church and each Christian must “follow his way of tangible love,” Pope Francis said. Celebrating the feast of Christ the King Nov. 20 and officially closing the extraordinary jubilee celebration of the […]

Francis calls 17 new cardinals to be agents of reconciliation

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church’s 17 new cardinals must dedicate their lives to being ministers of forgiveness and reconciliation in a world — and sometimes a church — often marked by hostility and division, Pope Francis said. Even Catholics are not immune from “the virus of polarization and […]

Father Eugene Hemrick: Lessons learned from elections

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THE HUMAN SIDE “I feel worse than I felt when Kennedy was assassinated.” The depressed look in my friend’s eyes the morning after the presidential election was terrifying. Equally terrifying was the venom that poured out as another friend said, “Hillary Clinton is the devil personified: untrustworthy and a killer.” “I’ll bet you’re happy we […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: When did we stop paying for indulgences?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: When did the church stop asking for money for indulgences? And why did they ask for money in the first place? (Wichita, Kansas) A: I am almost reluctant to answer your question because, as asked, a simple response would imply a serious admission. Though it has been accused for centuries of having […]

In some places, Christmas season begins with St. Barbara’s Day

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By Dale Gavlak Catholic News Service AMMAN, Jordan — Although there are different versions of the story of St. Barbara, Christians in the Middle East and Central Europe still celebrate the early Christian martyr each Dec. 4. To celebrate St. Barbara’s Day, known as “Eid il-Burbara,” Christians in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon prepare and share […]

Questions and answers on proper handling of ashes following cremation

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  By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — In 1963, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an instruction permitting cremation as long as it was not done as a sign of denial of the basic Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead. However, Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the congregation, told […]

Hope, pain, prayer: Religious leaders react to Trump win

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By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Lay and religious leaders of all stripes reacted to news of Donald J. Trump’s upset win in the Nov. 8 presidential election. Most expressed hope that Trump would pay attention to their agenda, while others were more decidedly downbeat and still others counseled prayer. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of […]