Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Laura Kelly Fanucci: Good news for crowded churches

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FAITH AT HOME Quick reminder for those of us who attend Mass regularly. Many people who don’t normally come to church joined us on Dec. 24 and 25. They took our parking spots and our usual pews. What fantastic news! More people crowding in the doors? Not enough chairs to drag up from the basement? […]

Vatican names two reconciled bishops to head Chinese dioceses

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By Michael Sainsbury Catholic News Service SYDNEY — As part of its ongoing efforts to reconcile China’s Catholic communities, the Vatican recognized two previously excommunicated Chinese bishops as heads of dioceses. The move came after an unprecedented Beijing meeting that included a group of Vatican officials led by Pope Francis’ chief China negotiator, Archbishop Claudio […]

Father Eugene Hemrick: A peaceful 2019 to you

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THE HUMAN SIDE No matter where we look, peace is a rare commodity. How then can the new year be more peaceful? Start the year with avoiding certain behaviors and doubling up on civility. St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians often deals with adversity in his communities. Stop your strife and avoid jealousy, he counseled. […]

U.S. returns church bells to Philippines after more than 100 years

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By Catholic News Service MANILA, Philippines — After more than a century, the United States government has returned three church bells swiped by American forces as war booty from the central Philippine town of Balangiga. Ucanews.com reported that, after years of repeated demands for their return, the bells were brought home aboard a U.S. military […]

Cardinal Pell found guilty of sex abuse, expected to appeal, reports say

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By Catholic News Service MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Cardinal George Pell reportedly has been found guilty on five charges related to serious sexual misconduct involving two boys at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s. The trial, the specific charges, the testimony and almost all other details involving the accusations against the 77-year-old cardinal […]

Brett Robinson: Matters of life and death

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THE THEOLOGY OF TECHNOLOGY Of the many technologies that have changed the course of culture, contraception may be the most pernicious. In his landmark encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” St. Paul VI foresaw that the rise of artificial birth control methods would also lead to more marital infidelity, the lowering of moral standards and the objectification of […]

Simple Christians: Ordinary Trappist martyrs gave extraordinary witness

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After Islamic terrorists stormed the Algerian monastery he called home, Trappist Father Christian de Cherge felt compelled to put pen to paper and write down his testament. Father de Cherge, prior of the Monastery of Notre Dame de l’Atlas, said he held no ill will […]

People must confront their evil desires, acknowledge their need for God’s mercy

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — God handed down his commandments not for people to hypocritically follow the letter of the law with a proud and righteous heart, but for people to recognize the truth of their weaknesses and acknowledge their need for help, healing and salvation, Pope Francis said. “Blessed are […]