Author Archive: Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service, serving since 1920 as a news agency specializing in reporting religion, is the primary source of national and world news that appears in the U.S. Catholic press. It is also a leading source of news for Catholic print and broadcast media throughout the world.
New leader of Friars Minor says pope has energized Franciscans
The new minister general of the Order of Friars Minor said the Franciscans are united, energized and challenged by the ministry of the new pope, whose name honors their founder, St. Francis of Assisi.
Pope calls human trafficking ‘despicable, a disgrace’
Human trafficking is “a despicable activity, a disgrace for our societies, which describe themselves as civilized,” Pope Francis said. Refugees, displaced and stateless people are particularly vulnerable to “the plague of human trafficking, which increasingly involves children subjected to the worst forms of exploitation and even recruitment into armed conflicts,” the pope said May 24.
Boy Scouts vote to allow openly gay youths to belong to Scout troops
The Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted late May 23 to allow openly gay youths admittance as members into the 103-year-old organization, effective Jan. 1, 2014.
Catholic organizations among those helping Oklahoma tornado victims
The Knights of Columbus, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City are among the charitable agencies collecting donations and providing emergency services to help victims of a string of tornadoes that buffeted areas of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City May 19-20.
Vatican financial investigator says laws, roles will be strengthened
The director of the Vatican’s Financial Intelligence Authority said the Vatican will further amend its finance-related laws in the coming months, increase screening of account holders at the Vatican bank and continue assessing the potential risk that accounts could be used for money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Judiciary Committee approval moves immigration bill on to full Senate
Advocates for comprehensive immigration reform expressed optimism and hope for a law to pass this summer after the Senate Judiciary Committee May 21 finished wading through 300 proposed amendments — accepting about a third of them — and passed the massive bill on to the full Senate.
Selfishness is a downer, proclaiming Christ brings joy, pope says
Selfishness only brings sadness and bitterness, while stepping outside of oneself to evangelize is the ultimate “pick me up” and source of joy, Pope Francis said.
Bishop Pates urges public discussion of U.S. use of drones
The United States’ use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to hunt down suspected terrorists deserves a wide-scale public discussion, said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Tornadoes exact deadly toll in Oklahoma
Even after the initial death toll was cut by more than half, the human and material devastation of a string of tornadoes that buffeted areas of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City May 19-20 was incalculable.
Chaldean patriarch warns surge in Iraqi violence will divide country
The patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad denounced a recent series of car bombings and shootings in Iraqi cities that left at least 54 people dead and dozens more injured.
