The Vatican on Dec. 7 declared that persons with ‘homosexual tendencies’ cannot be admitted to Catholic seminaries.
Signs Of the Times
Posted inFaith, Signs Of the Times
Every church tells a story. (Even those with brutalist architecture.)
We become aware there is a much bigger story at work.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
News Briefs
Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, known as the “cardinal of the people” and one of the most active voices against Brazil’s military dictatorship, died in São Paulo on Dec. 14. • Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday on Dec. 17 by having breakfast with eight homeless people from different countries at Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse […]
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
Fight for Mosul Drags On While Displaced Numbers Grow
Speaking from Baghdad on Dec. 14, Kevin Hartigan, Catholic Relief Services’ regional director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe told America that his team was bracing for what may be unprecedented numbers of people in flight from the contested city.
Posted inFaith, Signs Of the Times
Jesuits: Models of reconciliation for a world in need of mercy
In a world of conflict, deeply in need of the mercy frequently implored by Pope Francis, Jesuits can be agents of reconciliation and dialogue, the Society’s new superior general said in an exclusive interview with America.Arturo Sosa, S.J., elected on Oct. 14 superior general for the Society o
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
A pledge to protect ‘Dreamers’
Presidents of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities pledged themselves to “protect to the fullest extent of the law undocumented students on our campuses” and to “promote retention of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program” in a statement released on Nov. 30. The pr
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
Post-Castro Church
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami was one of the first Catholic Church officials to respond on Nov. 26 after the death of Fidel Castro. “The death of this figure should lead us to invoke the patroness of Cuba, the Virgin of Charity, calling for peace for Cuba and its people,” he said
Posted inFaith, Signs Of the Times
An American Martyr
Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of the Rev. Stanley Rother of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, making him the first martyr born in the United States and clearing the way for his beatification. The Vatican made the announcement on Dec. 2. Father Rother, born March 27, 1935, on his family&r
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
Iraq Devastation
The Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan said he was horrified to see widespread devastation and what he called “ghost towns” during a recent visit to northern Iraq. He said by email that there was little left in some of the communities that he toured on Nov. 27-29 and that
Posted inPolitics & Society, Signs Of the Times
News Briefs
Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., who served from 1983 to 2008 as the 29th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, died in Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov. 26, just four days shy of his 88th birthday. • In a report released on Nov. 30, Caritas Europa charged that austerity policies have left 120 million p