The pastor at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza organized a hurried baptism celebration for nine children after two unbaptized children were killed in an I.D.F. missile strike on the compound on Oct. 20.
Dispatches
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Christians caught in the crossfire between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon
Since the most recent conflict started, Hezbollah has launched rockets into Israel, provoking counterattacks targeting Hezbollah positions that have been established in the hills around these usually quiet Christian agricultural villages along the border.
Posted inDispatches, Faith
Cardinal Cupich on the synod, women deacons, giving bishops job reviews and why ‘LGBTQ’ was left out of the final doc
Exclusive interview: Cardinal Cupich on the end of the first session of the Synod on Synodality.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
New head of Catholic Charities continues its humanitarian mission at the border and around the United States
Kerry Alys Robinson began her tenure as chief executive of Catholic Charities USA with a visit to agencies along the southwest border. “I wanted to see firsthand what the realities were,” she explained.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
In Boston, Cardinal O’Malley urges assistance to newly arriving migrants ahead of winter
Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston is urging local Catholics to contribute resources for migrants arriving in Massachusetts, calling the situation a “major humanitarian and societal crisis.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
As Africans become disillusioned with democracy, they’re turning to military coups for answers
Gabon military leaders claimed that electoral malpractice was one of the reasons for the coup, but another surely must be the growing frustration of the general public with a ruling elite who live in luxury while life for average Gabonese, despite its oil riches, remains a struggle.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Argentina’s pope-hating next president?
Argentina’s leader presidential candidate Javier Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist, has derided Pope Francis as “a malignant presence on earth,” denounced him as a “filthy leftist” and charged that the pope had “an affinity for murderous communists.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Head of Catholic Relief Services on Gaza: ‘We need to act now to prevent a total humanitarian catastrophe’
Commenting on President Biden’s visit to Israel, C.R.S. President Sean Callahan said, “We appreciate the president’s call for respect for the human dignity of all and his announcement that humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza from Egypt. Civilians in Gaza cannot wait any longer and this plan must be implemented immediately.”
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
African National Congress stands with Palestinians, and South African bishops call for ceasefire
President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the A.N.C. remained steadfast in advocating for peace between Israel and Palestine. He said the A.N.C. stood with Palestine and its citizens, who have been oppressed for more than 70 years.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
As global focus moves elsewhere, a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan worsens
Sandesh Gonsalves, who leads the Jesuit Refugee Service team in Afghanistan, reports that Afghans are struggling in the wake of a “massive” earthquake that struck on Oct. 7. According to U.N. sources, the humanitarian aid system in Afghanistan is already desperately overstretched and underfunded, with over 29 million Afghans in need of assistance.