News

Bishops issue forceful statement on Iraq; Mary Ann Glendon to the Vatican

Women Foundation Heads Meet With Vatican OfficialsA group of U.S. and European Catholic lay women representing their family foundations traveled to Rome last month to discuss the role of women in the church with leading Vatican officials. Representatives of the Amaturo Family Foundation, the Mary J.

Conscientious Objector to Nazis Beatified in Austria A Vatican cardinal beatified Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer who was beheaded in 1943 after he refused to fight in Hitler’s army. Presiding over the beatification Mass in Linz, Austria, Oct. 26, Cardinal José Saraiva Ma

Catholics, Orthodox Complete Text on Church Authority Despite the absence of Russian Orthodox representatives, the international Catholic-Orthodox theological commission finished work on a document about church structure and authority. In a statement issued at the end of the Oct. 8-14 meeting in Rav

Religious Freedom at the Core of Peace The only way to ensure that religions contribute to peace rather than violence is to guarantee religious freedom and promote religious education so believers understand that peace and harmony are at the core of every religion, the Vaticans foreign minister said

Archbishop O’Brien Installed in Baltimore A crowd of about 2,000 people filled the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore Oct. 1 to celebrate the installation of Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien as the 15th archbishop of Baltimore. In a ceremony rich with tradition, Archbishop O’Brien

Indian Bishop Requests Tree Saplings as GiftA newly installed archbishop in a central Indian state made an unusual demand of those wanting to congratulate him on his appointment. He said he welcomed gifts, but they had to be tree saplings. Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal told UCA News, an Asian ch

Dutch Proposal for Priestless Masses The general curia of the Dominicans expressed surprise over a booklet published by members of the order in the Netherlands recommending that laypeople be allowed to celebrate Mass when no ordained priests are available. In a written statement released by the Vati

Pope Discusses Exodus of Christians From Iraq Pope Benedict XVI met with Syria’s vice president to discuss the exodus of Christian and other refugees from Iraq, many of whom have fled to Syria. Syria is now home to an estimated 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, and Syrian officials have said the in