NEWS

The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family must put greater focus on the beauty of the Christian vision of marriage and not let an approach of "welcoming" and mercy override the church's duty to call people to turn away from sin, according to a number of reports from the synod's small groups.

Cardinal George Pell said working-group reports from the Synod of Bishops on the family finally give a true picture of the assembly's views, counteracting what he characterized as a misleading midterm report.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, one of the Catholic Church's best known cardinal-theologians, said the Catholic Church must hold together truth and mercy, even if it is criticized for its attempt.

Catholic composer and evangelist, Tom Quiner, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fully fund a new musical, "The Wedding at Cana," which is designed to be performed as Catholic dinner theater.

Archbishop Kurtz said he hoped the final report of the Synod of Bishops on the family would improve on the assembly's midterm report in celebrating exemplary families, encouraging missionary outreach and emphasizing that the church's pastoral efforts must be grounded in Scripture and Catholic teaching.

The Supreme Court Oct. 14 blocked a Texas law that had meant all but seven of the state's abortion clinics were closed because they failed to meet new standards.

On the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Pope Francis said St. Teresa teaches Catholics how to be pilgrims bringing the Gospel and God's love to the world and how to live their lives as "a journey of perfection," growing closer to the Lord each day.

The church of Christ is called to keep the light of hope alive in the world, showing all humanity the path leading to "the merciful face of God" and salvation in Christ, Pope Francis said.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan discusses the importance of countercultural bishops at the synod on the family.

During an Oct. 13 Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Fort Worth, the pastor, Father Jim Khoi asked for prayers for Nina Pham, a Dallas nurse who grew up in the parish and is now in the news as the first person known to have contracted the Ebola virus in the United States.