PHOTOS: Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations in a small town in Mexico

A procession in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, 2021 in a small town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. / Courtney Mares Guanajuato, Mexico, Dec 12, 2021 / 15:05 pm (CNA). Celebrations began before dawn on Dec. 12 in a small town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato as church bells […]

Dole’s last Kansas journey honors service, political career

TOPEKA, Kansas — Fellow Kansans on Saturday celebrated Bob Dole as a tough but compassionate patriot shaped by small-town values, a strong partisan leader who could nevertheless work with political opponents, and a war hero who ultimately became “the greatest of the Greatest Generation.” Dole made his last journey to his prairie state for memorial […]

Pope cites new book on nun abuse in warning to superiors

ROME — Pope Francis on Saturday drew attention to a problem that the Vatican has long sought to downplay: the abuses of power by mother superiors against nuns who, because of their vows of obedience, have little recourse but to obey. During an audience with members of the Vatican’s congregation for religious orders, Francis cited […]

Pope seeks diplomatic end to Russian tensions over Ukraine

ROME — Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers for Ukraine, and urged dialogue and not weapons as Russia masses tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. Francis didn’t mention Russia by name in comments to the faithful during the traditional Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Square, but the implications seemed clear as […]

Catholic women urge Vatican to sign Europe rights convention

ROME — A consortium of Catholic women’s groups is calling on the Holy See to join the Council of Europe and to sign the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that the Vatican should show consistency by expressing its firm commitment to protecting human rights. In a petition marking the Human Rights Day declared by […]

Doctors: Advances since Roe confirm abortion ‘takes life of unborn child’

At 15 weeks’ gestation, a fetus responds to touch. The neurotransmitters and nerves needed to process and transmit pain signals have formed, and most of the spinal cord has hardened into bone. As early as 21 weeks, the fetus can survive outside the womb. None of these realities were known in 1971, when a case […]

Just in time for Christmas: Four Jesus bobbleheads, including an ornament

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the world of business, sometimes the trinitarian formula isn’t followed precisely. In this instance, it’s not one God in three persons, but one person in four versions — including an ornament. In bobblehead form. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has introduced a quartet of Jesus bobbleheads — in […]

Father Donald Cozzens, who challenged clericalism in the church, dies at 82

CLEVELAND — As an author and lecturer, Father Donald B. Cozzens, a Cleveland diocesan priest and former seminary rector, shared candid insights on the priesthood, challenging the Catholic Church to confront clericalism and renew its structure. Despite criticism privately and publicly from fellow clergy, Cozzens maintained that it was his love of the priesthood that […]

New documentary chronicles ministry of papal preacher

RICHMOND, Virginia — Most Catholics probably know there are specific roles within the papal household that support the papacy. Many may not be aware that the preacher to the papal household, also known as the apostolic preacher, is one of those official roles, a role established by Pope Paul IV in 1555. Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, […]