By Judith SudilovskyOSV News JERUSALEM — Parishioners of Gaza’s Holy Family Church are feeling “horror” and almost a sense of “desperation” after an Israeli tank shell struck the church, killing three elderly people sheltering there and injuring 10, said Joseph Hazboun, regional director of the Jerusalem office of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, or CNEWA. […]
Mary Adamski: Crises, hard times prompt reflection and a new outlook
View from the Pew Pentecost has always been one of my favorite church holy days. I love the imagery of the Holy Spirit appearing as tongues of fire over the apostles, freeing them from fear and sending them forward afire with zeal to share what Jesus taught them. It’s a resounding “amen” finale to 50 […]
Easter message: Pope Francis prays for peace amid ‘absurdity’ of war
By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Just as Jesus removed the stone that sealed his tomb on the morning of the Resurrection, on Easter Christ alone “has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to life” and which trap humanity in war and injustice, Pope Francis said. Through […]
Cardinal to visit Middle East as Israel-Hamas war continues
By Gina Christian OSV News Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York has announced he will travel to the Middle East amid a war now in its seventh month. The cardinal will undertake a pastoral visit April 12-18 in his role as chairman of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Founded by Pope Pius XI […]
Analysis: War raises moral concerns as Gaza death toll soars
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News In the early hours of Oct. 7, Hamas — defined by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization — launched a barrage of 3,000 missiles from the Gaza Strip against the state of Israel, combined with ground attacks upon civilians and soldiers alike. The resulting one-day death toll […]
Jerusalem church leaders call for peace following Hamas attack
By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News JERUSALEM — Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem united in a call for peace and justice amid unfolding violence, following a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which has left over 700 Israelis dead, among them civilians and dozens of soldiers and police who were killed battling […]