The Catholic Sun

A retired Italian cardinal, who worked for Pope Paul VI and comes from the same diocese, told reporters Oct. 17, two days before Pope Francis was to beatify Pope Paul, described the late pope as a man rich in spirituality, a thinker and a pastor "very sensitive to the challenges of the modern world."

Tabiri Chukunta has been trying to get the word out to the West African community in New Jersey that their families and friends in Liberia need to put on hold, at least temporarily, cultural traditions of greeting people affectionately and washing bodies of the dead.

A U.S. District Court judge's ruling that Arizona's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional "overturns the will of Arizona voters and reflects a misunderstanding of the institution of marriage," the state's Catholic bishops said Oct. 17.

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.