Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Pope to convene world meeting on abuse prevention

by

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is calling the presidents of every Catholic bishops’ conference in the world to Rome Feb. 21-24 to discuss the prevention of the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. The Vatican made the announcement Sept. 12 after the pope and members of his international Council […]

Book goes behind-the-scenes in relating search for St. Peter’s bones

by

By Jo Ann Zuniga Catholic News Service HOUSTON — Two Houston men shared a journey through centuries of history and a decades-long archaeological dig under the Vatican to unveil a story reminiscent of adventurer archaeologist Indiana Jones complete with German Nazis in Rome. For legendary oilman George Strake and New York Times best-selling author John […]

FRANCIS IN IRELAND: Pope begins Mass in Dublin with plea for forgiveness

by

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service DUBLIN — Before celebrating Mass in a Dublin park, Pope Francis solemnly asked forgiveness for the thousands of cases of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by Catholics in Ireland. “We ask forgiveness for the abuse in Ireland, abuse of power and of conscience, sexual abuse” by clergy and religious, […]

Is there truth in Archbishop Vigano’s accusations?

by

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Catholics in the pews and even priests in the Vatican are confused about the long document Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano published claiming Pope Francis turned a blind eye to information he had about the sexual misconduct of now-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. Pope Francis’ response to journalists […]

Pope: Victims’ outcry more powerful than efforts to silence them

by

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — “No effort must be spared” to prevent future cases of clerical sexual abuse and “to prevent the possibility of their being covered up,” Pope Francis said in a letter addressed “to the people of God.” “I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due […]

Catholic capital punishment opponents praise pope’s revision

by

  By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Aug. 2 announcement that Pope Francis had ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church calling the death penalty “inadmissible” was praised by Catholic death penalty opponents in the U.S. “I am overjoyed and deeply grateful to learn that Pope Francis closed the last […]

Pope Francis’ World Day of Poor message: Listen to those in need

by

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — How is it that God in heaven can hear the cries of the poor, but so many people watching or standing nearby either cannot or just do not care, Pope Francis asked. People must make “a serious examination of conscience to understand whether we are really […]

New cardinals see appointment as a mission of service

by

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Upon hearing the news that Pope Francis was elevating them to the College of Cardinals, many of the 14 new cardinals were shocked to hear the pope had chosen them. After the pope made the announcement May 20, Cardinal-designate Joseph Coutts of Karachi, Pakistan, said […]

Learn from the past to bring peace to Middle East, pope says

by

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — As war continues to threaten the land of Jesus’ birth and to undermine the existence of Christian communities there, the international community must learn from the errors of the past and do more to bring lasting peace to the Middle East, Pope Francis said. “Do […]