Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

‘Sterile hypocrisy’ behind mistreatment of migrants, pope says

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Hearts that are closed to welcoming migrants and refugees are similar to those of the Pharisees, who often would preach sacrifice and following God’s law without exercising mercy to those in need, Pope Francis said. Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees’ “insidious murmuring” is “a finger […]

Pope equates aborting children with birth defects with Nazi eugenics

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis denounced the practice of administering prenatal tests to determine birth defects that often lead to abortions, comparing it to the Nazi-era eugenics program that determined what lives were worth keeping or eliminating. Children are God’s greatest gift and should be welcomed “as they […]

Italian journalist takes aim at fake news about the pope

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — From the moment of his election, Pope Francis’ down-to-earth take on communicating the Gospel has led to countless front-page headlines either praising or criticizing him. But his disarming and sometimes even blunt style also has meant he has become a popular target of “fake news.” […]

Pope among those mourning death of toddler Alfie Evans

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By Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service LIVERPOOL, England — Pope Francis said he was mourning the death of English toddler Alfie Evans, who died four days after doctors withdrew his life support system. The 23-month-old boy died at about 2:30 a.m. April 28 after his father, Tom Evans, spent 10 minutes trying to revive him […]

Pope Francis’ exhortation: Holiness is being loving, not boring

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Holiness Is being loving, not boring Pope Francis’ new exhortation on sanctity: ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’ (‘Rejoice and Be Glad’) By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — God calls all Christians to be saints — not plastic statues of saints, but real people who make time for prayer and who show loving care for […]

Quotes from ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’

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  ‘The saints do not waste energy complaining about the failings of others’ By Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Here is a selection of quotations from “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”), Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on holiness: “I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those […]

‘Is my dad in heaven,’ little neighborhood boy asks pope

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME — After circling a massive, crumbling public housing complex on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis had an emotional encounter with the neighborhood’s children. Question-and-answer sessions with youngsters are a standard part of Pope Francis’ parish visits. And, at St. Paul of the Cross parish April 15, there […]

Pope Francis: Easter shows the power of love, which renews the world

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Easter makes it clear that in the life of Jesus, but also in the lives of modern men and women, “death, solitude and fear” do not have the last word, Pope Francis said before giving his Easter blessing. “The words heard by the women at the […]