Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Pope, Putin meet, discuss wars in Ukraine, Syria, church in Russia

by

By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Vatican July 4, and the two discussed the ongoing wars in Eastern Ukraine and in Syria, the Vatican said. Russia plays a major role in both conflicts. At the end of the 55-minute private meeting, Alessandro Gisotti, interim director […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is there still a purgatory? Do Catholic politicians who vote to provide abortions get excommunicated?

by

QUESTION CORNER Q: I am a cradle Catholic and have always believed in purgatory. Now I am hearing from some people (including from some priests) who deny its existence. Can you clarify this for me? (City and state of origin withheld) A: The Catholic Church does indeed believe in the existence of purgatory. The Catechism […]

Amid new tensions in China, Vatican tells bishops, priests to follow their consciences

by

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has told bishops and priests in China that they must follow their own consciences in deciding whether to register with the government, and it urged Catholics in the country not to judge them for the choices they make. The problem, the Vatican said, is […]

Catholic schools diverge over status of teachers in same-sex unions

by

By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Two Catholic high schools in the Indianapolis Archdiocese took different actions in late June over employees who are in same-sex marriages. Cathedral Catholic High School announced June 24 that it was firing a gay teacher to avoid “forfeiting” its Catholic identity just three days after the Indianapolis […]

Vatican to open tombs looking for young woman missing since 1983

by

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican City State tribunal has ordered the opening of two tombs in a small Vatican cemetery at the request of the family of Emanuela Orlandi, a young woman who disappeared in 1983. Emanuela Orlandi, a Vatican City resident and the daughter of a Vatican employee, […]

St. ‘Guy Next Door’: U.S. bishops affirm diocese’s effort for Michigan man’s canonization cause

by

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — The U.S. bishops, after being consulted about the sainthood cause of a man who, except for service in World War II, spent his life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, gave vocal assent June 12 for the Diocese of Marquette to continue to pursue the cause. Hearing no nays […]

Dutch priest critical of ‘euthanasia death’ reports of teen

by

By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service OXFORD, England — A senior Dutch priest criticized media reports on the death of a teenager experiencing depression, accusing foreign media of “sensationalizing euthanasia” in his country. “It’s difficult to comprehend how anyone could abandon life so tragically,” said Msgr. Hans Pauw, episcopal vicar for youth affairs in the […]

Pope advances sainthood causes for U.S. priest, founder of Hawaii’s Dominicans

by

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of Father Augustus Tolton, who was the first African American diocesan priest in the United States and founder of the first black Catholic parish in Chicago. Signing decrees issued by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes June 11, Pope Francis did […]

‘Sense of urgency’: American bishops’ actions at spring meeting regarding clergy sexual abuse called a ‘work in progress’

by

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — The gathering of U.S. bishops June 11-13 in Baltimore was anything but business as usual. “The spring meetings are usually more pastoral, and the November meeting has a heavier agenda,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, who said this meeting had a “sense of urgency” […]

A powerful sign: The catechesis of children with disabilities

by

By Doreen Engel Catholic News Service The letter found me, although many years and miles had passed. I still remembered “Gloria,” a student with Down syndrome, who as a child had witnessed her father’s death in a tragic accident. Gloria was unable to speak after that day, despite various therapies. Eventually, our team at the […]