IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — How Christians treat the poor is the clearest demonstration of their relationship with God, Pope Francis insisted. “To ignore the poor is to despise God! And we must learn … Continue reading →

IMAGE: CNS photo/Watan Yar, EPA By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — A Catholic bishop in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero has called for compassion toward the impoverished populations harvesting opium poppies out of necessity, saying such people are … Continue reading →

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Governments work best when they are secular, not confessional, but they must give ample space for people to express their religious beliefs, including by respecting the right of conscientious objection, Pope Francis told … Continue reading →

By Allana Haynes WASHINGTON (CNS) — People of faith have the responsibility to “advocate for their faith,” not only through good works, but on spiritual realms — one being through prayer, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, said May 17. … Continue reading →

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Those who seek only power and greatness, especially within the church, follow a different path than Jesus, who told his disciples to serve and not to be served, Pope Francis said in … Continue reading →

IMAGE: CNS photo/Robert M. Longo By Ed Wilkinson BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) — Pope Francis has rebranded the Catholic Church and the papacy, and the media have taken notice. That was the message delivered by Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, who delivered … Continue reading →

By WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Obama administration’s May 13 directive on transgender access to bathrooms “that treats ‘a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex’ is deeply disturbing,” said the chairmen of two U.S. Catholic bishops’ committees. “The guidance fails … Continue reading →

IMAGE: CNS photo/Barbara Johnston, University of Notre Dame By Ann Carey NOTRE DAME, Ind. (CNS) — The University of Notre Dame conferred it prestigious Laetare Medal on Vice President Joe Biden and former House Speaker John Boehner without incident at … Continue reading →

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court May 16 sent the Zubick v. Burwell case, which challenges the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive requirement for employers, back to the lower courts. The justices’ unanimous decision, explained in a … Continue reading →

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — True piety and evangelical pity are found together in those who are moved by the pain of others, take action to help them and, therefore, share God’s mercy, Pope Francis said. “We are … Continue reading →