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Catholics in Poland, Western Ukraine welcome people fleeing threat of war

With the “further escalation of tension in Ukraine,” the president of the Polish bishops’ conference asked Polish Catholics to continue praying for peace, but also to be prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees. An archbishop in Lviv, Ukraine, made a similar statement, saying people displaced from their homes already were arriving in the western part of […]

Iran is squeezing Christians and other minorities out of the Middle East, researcher says

A researcher with the Philos Project told journalists Feb 22  that Iran is using incremental strategies to squeeze non-Muslims out of the country and in nearby states such as Iraq and Syria, and that the plight of Christians in the Middle East is “truly misunderstood” by most in the West. Senior Research Fellow Dr. Farhad […]

Pope Francis’ cardinal advisers discuss role of women in the Church

The Holy See press office said on Feb. 23 that during the three-day meeting the seven cardinals heard and commented on report by the theologian Sister Linda Pocher, F.M.A., on “the role of women and the ‘Marian principle’ in the Church.” Pocher, a member of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, is an adjunct professor […]

What happened to St Maximilian Kolbe’s beard? The answer may surprise you

On Feb 18, the Catholic Church in Poland shared a photo commemorating the 81th anniversary of St Maximilian Kolbe’s arrest by the Nazis. The image, the last one taken of the saint before his final arrest, was notable for what it didn’t show… Kolbe’s signature long beard. By the time the photo was taken, Kolbe […]

Celibacy not ‘divine law’ for priests, but promotes holiness, speakers say

The requirement that most priests in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church be celibate has theological and spiritual foundations and not only practical motivations, said speakers at an international conference on priesthood. Jesus’ chastity, poverty and obedience were not “incidental or simply functional,” but expressed his total union with God and dedication to the […]

Catholic women demand transparency in Church handling clergy abuse

The Sisters in Solidarity, a national forum of Catholic women in India, on February 6 demanded “absolute transparency and accountability” in the way the Church handles sex abuse cases. The group, comprising religious and lay women, stresses revising canon law and the “theology of priesthood” to cleanse the Church of “elements that breed clericalism, which […]

Indian Christians seek legal remedy for decent burial

The top court in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has served notices on government officials seeking an explanation for the lack of burial grounds for Christians in Thane district. The officials have been directed to file their replies on the contention that local Christians lacked sufficient space for burying their dead made in a […]

Removal of Christian hymn from India’s Republic Day ‘hurtful,’ archbishop says

Christian leaders in India have lamented the dropping of the hymn “Abide With Me” from the annual celebrations marking Republic Day. The song is traditionally played during the Beating Retreat that takes place on Jan. 29, three days after Republic Day, which is observed Jan. 26. The Beating Retreat is a special performance by military […]