Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Doctrine committee sets standards for evaluating church hymns

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By Greg Erlandson Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Expressing concern for the doctrinal soundness of some of the lyrics of Catholic hymns now available for use in Catholic liturgies, the U.S. bishops’ doctrine committee in a forthcoming report suggests guidelines for bishops in evaluating hymn lyrics and for selecting hymnals being considered for use in […]

Effie Caldarola: How generous are we?

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FOR THE JOURNEY Someone I know is a waiter. Like restaurants across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, his establishment has been open, closed, carry-out only, 50% capacity — in other words, his income has bounced like a yo-yo. The other evening, with renewed closure rules going into effect, he served his last table. He […]

Richard Doerflinger: The problem of political theologians

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A MORE HUMAN SOCIETY Some say religious leaders get too involved in politics. But we should also worry about politicians who wander into theology. One example comes from Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia, while announcing new restrictions on social gatherings due to growing COVID-19 cases. To justify placing further restrictions on church services, he urged […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Homilies printed and distributed? Saying a Mass for a non-Catholic?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Recently you answered a reader’s question regarding their pastor, an African priest who is difficult to understand and who gives 30-minute homilies, the result being that parish attendance is dropping. (You suggested asking a parish council member to speak to the priest, voicing parishioners’ concerns.) Here’s another suggestion. In our diocese, we […]

In Nigeria, nun cares for children labeled as ‘witches’

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By Valentine Iwenwanne Catholic News Service UYO, Nigeria — Three years after taking in 2-year-old Inimffon Uwamobong and her younger brother, Sister Matylda Iyang finally heard from the mother who had abandoned them. “Their mother came back and told me that she (Inimffon) and her younger sibling are witches, asking me to throw them out […]

Report finds no evidence of alleged murders at Vermont orphanage

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By Cori Fugere Urban Catholic News Service BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan Dec. 14 released the results of an investigation into allegations of abuse and murder at the former St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington. The report is “substantially consistent with the outcomes of the previous investigation … that took place in the […]

Pope on Christmas: Share hope, promote peace, give vaccine to all

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — On a Christmas like no other, Pope Francis prayed for people who could not be with their families because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he urged everyone to recognize and help those who are suffering even more. From inside the Hall of Blessings — a long, […]

Pope says God gives all the task of being peacemakers

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — As the Catholic Church celebrated World Peace Day Jan. 1, Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of war-torn Yemen, especially the nation’s children left without education and often without food by years of civil war. Reciting the Angelus from the library of the Apostolic Palace, […]

Father Richard Malloy, SJ: ‘Do you want to hold him?’

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CHRISTMAS What’s the best Christmas prayer you have ever experienced? A mystical midnight Mass? Quiet adoration before the manger scene, lit by the glow of the tree in your living room? Watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the 1,000th time? Taking your small children to see Santa and enjoying their delight on Christmas morning? Donating […]