Melkite Catholic Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo said that the bombing of rebel positions by Russian jets was “a source of hope” for Syria.
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Nuncio asks Arkansas governor to commute death sentences for eight men
“As part of the church’s ancient teaching on the dignity of the human person,” Archbishop Vigano wrote, “the Holy Father has advocated for ‘the establishment of the universal moratorium on executions throughout the world, in order to abolish capital punishment.'”
Displeasure in Rwanda as French court dismisses genocide charges against priest
The ruling amounts to “a genuine judicial comedy tinted with denials” and suggested other genocide participants now “comfortably settled on French soil” would also be granted future impunity.
Vatican and Mexico bishops confirm papal visit in 2016
A visit in early 2016 would come as the country continues confronting vices like corruption, which has implicated the president, and insecurity in states such as Michoacan and Guerrero, the latter being where 43 students were kidnapped and presumably killed by police acting in cahoots with criminals in September 2014.
Pope Francis’ visit boosted the church. The pope himself? Not so much
The pope’s three-city September tour—from Congress to the United Nations and from cathedrals to a prison—generated significant goodwill toward the Catholic Church, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.
Archbishop Chaput: Synod does include ‘lobbying’ in search of truth
“I have never been at a church meeting where there aren’t groups that get together and lobby for a particular direction and that’s going on, I assure you,” Archbishop Chaput said. “That’s what happens when human beings get together.”
Synod should reflect on possibly allowing female deacons, says archbishop
Discussing a number of proposals he offered the synod fathers to think about, Canadian Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher said, “I think we should really start looking seriously at the possibility of ordaining women deacons because the diaconate in the church’s tradition has been defined as not being ordered toward priesthood but toward ministry.”
Trinity Health seeks dismissal of lawsuit related to pregnancy services
The lawsuit filed Oct. 1 contends that Trinity Health violates provisions of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and the Rehabilitation Act by denying the full range of emergency care, including pregnancy termination when necessary.
Brown Signs ‘Right to Die’ Bill into Law in California
California is the latest and largest U.S. state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.
Time for cautious diplomacy is over, says Ukrainian Catholic leader
“I would have expected a lot more involvement by the Vatican—the time for cautious diplomacy is at an end,” said Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
