Catholic Culture Trusted Commentary
Catholic Culture Trusted Commentary

Stories for January 2014

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Jan. 31

 Religious leaders broker peace accord in South Sudan
 CDF may take responsibility for Vatican office on protecting children
 Redouble evangelization to counter losses, Pope asks Austrian bishops
 Vatican outlines plans for Year of Consecrated Life
 Helena, Montana diocese to enter bankruptcy
 Vatican plans ‘due diligence’ at two hospitals
 Russian, Greek Orthodox leaders join in call for peace in Syria
 Scotland: on appeal, Catholic adoption agency retains charitable status
 Vatican bank error threatened accounts of widows, pensioners
 Philippines: priest will not face ivory-smuggling charges
 French chapel designed by famed modern architect vandalized
 2 years after storming of church, 4 Christians released from Iranian prisons
 Irish prime minister apologizes to abuse victim following European court decision
 Wyoming diocese, college file suit against HHS mandate
 Church official in Papua New Guinea warns against population control
 Report: thousands of Syrian refugees converting to Christianity
 Man in same-sex marriage files complaint after Catholic school rescinds job offer
 USCCB: pray, fast that students be educated in the fullness of the faith

Released Thursday, Jan. 30

 Suspects arrested, but relic of Bl. John Paul II still missing
 Indiana 'exorcism' story makes skeptics into believers
 Foundation preserves memories of Detroit's parochial schools
 Pope's choice to direct Financial Information Authority seen as reformer
 Impossible to be close to Christ but not the Church, Pope says
 Pope challenges Notre Dame to safeguard Catholic identity
 Catholic Charities ‘encouraged,’ ‘heartened’ by president’s State of the Union address
 Vatican spokesman criticizes Rolling Stone article, defends Pope Benedict
 German cardinal criticized for remarks on Muslims
 Coptic Catholic patriarch congratulates Egyptian military leader
 House passes ‘No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act’
 Prelate urges Kerry to speak up for Palestinian Christians affected by Israeli security wall
 Holy See, Malta revise concordat on marriage

Released Wednesday, Jan. 29

 At audience, Pope highlights importance of Confirmation
 Pope Francis denounces usury
 God's love reveals truth, Pope says in message to Pontifical Academies
 Policeman killed in new assault on Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt
 South African Catholic newspaper condemns anti-homosexual laws
 Do not ignore religious aspect of Boko Haram terrorism, says Nigerian cardinal
 Vatican to issue medals for canonization of John XXIII, John Paul II
 Sri Lanka’s Christians protest Buddhist attacks on churches
 Vatican newspaper emphasizes actions to save Rome’s Jews during Holocaust
 European court rules that Irish government must compensate abuse victim
 Canadian ambassador: Ukrainian government is targeting Catholics for persecution
 Molotov cocktails thrown at parish in Malaysia
 US bishops file brief in support of companies that object to HHS mandate

Released Tuesday, Jan. 28

 Precious manuscript, stolen from Turin archdiocese, recovered in Florida
 Nun, 2 other anti-nuclear activists fined for break-in at weapons facility
 New secretary for College of Cardinals
 Ousted German bishop was victim of liberal pressure, magazine article argues
 Stop Israeli construction of 'security wall' on Palestinian lands, bishops urge
 Pope: be open to exultant 'prayer of praise'
 Syrian prelate hopes refugees will remain in Middle East
 Legionaries, at chapter general, split on calls for complete reform
 Gunmen attack Catholic parish in Nigeria, kill 22
 Syrian Orthodox archbishop: Christian increasingly being targeted by rebels
 Prelate: Peru, Chile are example in resolving international disputes
 Ukrainian Catholic leader: anti-government protestors have strong support from the people
 Vatican official surveys developments in relations with Oriental Orthodox
 US bishops, CRS receive over $50M for aid to typhoon victims

Released Monday, Jan. 27

 Vatican announces early resignation of prominent Melkite archbishop in Israel
 Ukrainian protests aim to purge lingering totalitarian influence, bishop says
 8 candidates advance toward beatification
 Finland's tiny Catholic community expanding, will open new parish
 Vandals strike at New Jersey church
 Blood of Bl. John Paul II stolen from Italian church
 Pope mourns Holocaust victims in letter to rabbi-friend
 Texas hospital ends life support for 'brain-dead' pregnant woman
 Imitate Christ to restore Church unity, Pope urges ecumenical assembly
 No one excluded from Christ's invitation, Pope reminds Sunday audience
 Pope: greater role for women in society, but preserve key role in family life
 Venezuelan cardinal laments closing of newspapers
 Zambian bishops strongly criticize government intimidation, repression
 Archdiocese sues former insurance company
 Judge rules that lawsuit against Legion of Christ over bequest may proceed
 US bishops welcome Supreme Court decision on behalf of Little Sisters of the Poor
 Pope Francis drafting potential encyclical on ecology
 Italian queen beatified

Released Friday, Jan. 24

 Little Sisters of the Poor win Supreme Court injunction barring enforcement of HHS mandate
 Think like pastors, Pope urges tribunal judges
 Vatican, US mark 30th anniversary of full diplomatic relations
 French President Hollande speaks with Pope on religious freedom, Syria, marriage
 Pope may visit US next year
 Maryland bishops: raise the minimum wage
 Detroit priest sentenced on child pornography charges
 Caritas officials discuss how victims become trapped in human trafficking
 US military to permit more religious garb
 Cardinal Dolan: support Ukrainian anti-government protestors
 USCCB: pray, fast that we may assist women with unexpected pregnancies
 Typical new US religious: 37-year-old cradle Catholic who regularly takes part in Eucharistic adoration

Released Thursday, Jan. 23

 Religious leaders in Central African Republic say government has failed, international help needed
 4,000 incidents of anti-Christian violence in India last year
 Syrian conflict cannot be resoled by arms, Vatican envoy says, urging ceasefire
 Name members of 'gay lobby,' Vatican prelate challenges former Swiss Guard leader
 Internet is 'gift from God,' Pope writes in message on social communications
 Vatican directs Buffalo bishop not to reduce historic church to profane use; diocese will appeal
 Former sedevacantist nuns form new religious community in California
 Vatican Bank president discusses progress in combating money laundering
 3 cardinals write essays in Vatican newspaper
 President Obama reaffirms support for Roe v. Wade

Released Wednesday, Jan. 22

 Coptic Catholic bishops pleased with Egypt's new constitution
 Pope urges Geneva conference to find path to peace in Syria
 Pope may visit Korea this year
 Vatican bank hopes to resume ties with Italian financial institutions
 Pro-life activists brave cold to join March for Life
 End the scandal of division among Christians, Pope pleads
 Bishop del Portillo, first prelate of Opus Dei, to be beatified in September
 Faith gives perspective on financial problems, Pope tells world economic leaders
 Seattle Catholic school leader resigns amid same-sex marriage controversy
 Scotland: high court overturns priest’s conviction
 Jerusalem patriarchate laments anti-Christian graffiti
 Russian Orthodox leader calls upon international community to work for religious freedom in Syria
 Ukrainian Catholic leader pleads: ‘Stop the bloodshed’
 Oregon: bakery owners violated civil rights in refusing to make wedding cake for lesbian couple
 Maronite patriarch denounces terrorist bombing
 Bishops pray for peace, harmony between Peru, Chile

Released Tuesday, Jan. 21

 Vatican conference encourages ministry to seafarers
 Spanish cardinal-designate sparks outrage by saying homosexuality is 'defective'
 Pope blesses lambs in traditional gesture for feast of St. Agnes
 Cardinal Dolan: abortion advocates, not pro-lifers, are 'obsessed'
 Ireland will re-open embassy at the Vatican
 God chooses the small, Pope reminds weekday congregation
 Chicago archdiocese releases abuse documents
 Polish archives show KGB smear campaign against bishop who was Solidarity chaplain
 Suspended Vatican official hit with new money-laundering charges
 Obama to meet with Pope Francis in March
 Prelate urges Malaysia’s Catholics to remain strong in face of opposition
 Myanmar: prelate asks for return of confiscated land, schools
 USCCB: remember workers when discussing Pacific free-trade agreement

Released Monday, Jan. 20

 Chairman of Commission of Cardinals speaks out
 Doctrinal disputes among Orthodox leaders pose problems for ecumenical discussions
 Recognize broadcasting as public service, Pope encourages Italian state radio-TV officials
 Christ, the Lamb, offers a model for docile service, Pope tells audience
 Pope visits Roman parish, meets with refugees and homeless
 Pope thanks Italian security officials at Vatican
 Former Swiss Guard commander confirms 'gay lobby' at Vatican
 Pope ready to open secret archives of Pius XII?
 Vatican's commission completes investigation on Medjugorje, submits report
 French bishops issue statement against euthanasia
 Oldest Benedictine convent in United States to close
 Muslim British cabinet member rues persecution of Christians
 USCCB committee chair recalls contribution of Catholic schools
 President Obama, administration officials pay tribute to religious freedom
 Diocese refiles suit against bankruptcy attorneys

Released Friday, Jan. 17

 Farm animals brought to St. Peter's Square for annual blessing
 Visiting bishops call for action to address 'man-made disaster' in Gaza Strip
 Ecumenical witness is crucial in secularized world, Pope says
 Private papers of Bl. John Paul II to appear in book form
 Attorney General ignores Supreme Court instruction on Utah marriage law, Archbishop Cordileone charges
 Syrian Catholic prelate urges global prayer campaign for peace
 400 priests laicized in 2 years under Benedict XVI, AP learns
 Pope Francis laments Church scandals, harm caused by corrupt clergy
 Texas: student fundraising effort saves small Catholic college
 Egyptian voters approve new constitution backed by Coptic Christians
 Syrian Christian beheaded by jihadists
 Background: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
 Background: Pope Francis’s message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees
 USCCB: pray, fast that we may serve poor while living out fullness of faith

Released Thursday, Jan. 16

 Vatican document denies link between faith and violence
 Vatican moving to cut costs of canonization process
 God has prepared the harvest, Pope says in message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations
 UN panel grills Vatican officials on sex-abuse policies
 Mixed signals from Ukrainian government to Church following threat to legal status
 New Korean cardinal speaks of the evangelization of China, North Korea
 Christians not being targeted in Bangladesh violence, says prelate
 Judge declares Oklahoma’s marriage amendment unconstitutional
 Cardinal encourages Catholics to take part in novena of prayer, penance for life
 USCCB committee chair calls upon Congress to permit Syrian refugees to enter nation

Released Wednesday, Jan. 15

 Jesuit-run university to host lecture by excommunicated, laicized priest
 Every Christian must be a missionary, Pope tells Wednesday audience
 Ukraine Catholic leader: government threats will not intimidate Church
 Pope-emeritus hosts 90th birthday celebration for elder brother
 Pope overhauls commission of cardinals supervising Vatican bank
 New Mexico court declares constitutional right to assisted suicide
 5 Catholic nonprofits win injunction against HHS mandate
 Head of religious order analyzes surprise Philippine cardinal selection
 Archbishop Gomez calls for compassion, empathy in immigration debate
 Prelate discusses restrictions on Church in Tunisia
 Study: 24 nations have ‘very high’ government restrictions on religion
 Archbishop Cordileone backs State Marriage Defense Act
 US prelate visits Cuba

Released Tuesday, Jan. 14

 Harley motorcycle donated to Pope Francis will be auctioned
 Protestant pastor murdered in India
 Vatican conference issues call for immediate ceasefire in Syria
 Quebec's proposed diversity law would aggravate divisions, says cardinal-elect
 Minnesota Church leaders ask court to extend deadline for disclosing names of accused priests
 Stockton will become 10th American diocese to file for bankruptcy
 Kerry, at Vatican, discussed Middle East, Syria, health-care reform
 Street preacher arrested in Scotland after denouncing homosexuality
 Report: government threatens to revoke registration of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
 South Sudanese diocese begins 21 days of fasting for peace
 Bishops of Central African Republic urge: do not take revenge against Muslims
 USCCB backs ‘No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act’

Released Monday, Jan. 13

 Pope gives top priority to family life in 'State of the World' address
 Wire services see papal condemnation of abortion as gesture toward conservatives
 US Supreme Court rejects bid to uphold Arizona law limiting abortions
 Cameroon, Holy See make new diplomatic pact
 Pope thanks donors who support Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical ties
 Coptic leader urges Egypt's Christians to vote in constitutional referendum
 Italian advocate for disabled children meets with Pontiff
 Pope baptizes 32 babies, stresses parents' role in fostering faith
 Pope discourages lavish celebration for new cardinals
 Vatican reveals investigation of former nuncio; denies refusing extradition
 Pope Francis names 19 new cardinals
 Book publishing house owned by 12 German dioceses files for bankruptcy
 Prince Charles decries persecution of Mideast Christians
 Panama’s bishops issue election statement
 ‘Impossible’ to build new churches in Indonesian province
 USCCB: reexamine aid to Mexican military

Released Friday, Jan. 10

 St. Louis, Chicago archdioceses to disclose names of accused priests
 Pope thanks Vatican ushers, escorts for service
 Israeli-Palestinian tensions complicate planning for papal trip to Holy Land
 Faith assures victory over world, Pope tells congregation
 Vatican declines extradition for papal nuncio accused of abuse
 Russian Orthodox patriarch laments secularization of Christmas, atheism of the elites
 Distinguishing capitalism from market economy, leading cardinal defends Pope’s economic comments
 Leading Central African imam takes refuge in archbishop’s home
 USCCB: pray, fast for victims of violence
 Prominent Malaysian priest may be charged with sedition in ‘Allah’ controversy

Released Thursday, Jan. 9

 North Korea, Somalia, Syria ranked as world's worst persecutors of Christians
 Spanish ruling party faces internal opposition on pro-life measure
 USCCB immigration campaign announces ‘national call-in day’ to Congress
 Legionaries of Christ begin extraordinary general chapter; ‘the first stage of the new Legion’
 USCCB, Catholic Charities urge Senate to increase federal minimum wage
 Bangladesh: prelate fears ‘militant and radical Islamism’ as Christians beaten, bomb hits church
 Archbishop warns: even ‘moderate’ rebels want to turn Syria into Islamist state
 Bishop describes horror of Central African Republic conflict
 In South Sudanese conflict, priests save lives of ethnic opponents

Released Wednesday, Jan. 8

 Thomas Melady, former US ambassador to Holy See, dies at 86
 Vatican astronomer: Galileo case was not science vs. religion
 Egypt's defense minister applauded by Coptic congregation
 Former Irish president raps Church stand on homosexuality
 'Base communities' offer instrument for evangelization, Pope writes
 Learn and celebrate the day of your Baptism, Pope urges faithful
 2nd employee at Catholic school plans same-sex marriage; school CEO says she is welcome to stay
 Christian village attacked in Nigeria; 30 dead
 Central African Republic: prelate distributes food as US envoy holds meeting
 Report: up to 600,000 Christians have fled homes in Syria
 Kazakhstan: Christians fined for ‘extremist’ literature
 Christian leaders call for international intervention to end South Sudanese conflict
 Mexico: priest dies following beating; another priest missing

Released Tuesday, Jan. 7

 Patriarch of Constantinople calls prelates to prepare for Pan-Orthodox Synod
 Pennsylvania official admits theft of $340,000 from diocese
 Test the spirits, Pope urges faithful
 Expert analyst certifies authenticity of 'Third Secret of Fatima' document
 Noted journalist John Allen to leave National Catholic Reporter, join Boston Globe
 American priest expelled from Jesuit order
 Pope views enactment of Nativity at Roman parish
 Dutch prelate suggests slain bishop could be patron saint of abuse victims
 Miami archbishop: raise the minimum wage
 Vatican cardinal explains why Pope Francis canonized St. Angela of Foligno
 Father Enrique Pozzoli: the priest who most influenced Pope Francis’s family

Released Monday, Jan. 6

 Former Swiss Guard member claims prelates made advances
 Benedict leaves Vatican to visit elder brother in Rome hospital
 Egypt's president in rare visit to Coptic Orthodox leader
 Philadelphia cleric released after child-endangerment conviction is reversed
 Spanish cardinal rumored to be Pope's choice to head commission on Vatican bank
 God's offer of grace is never closed, Pope tells Sunday audience
 Pope will help Rio pay debt from World Youth Day
 God's love, light of truth seek out believers, Pope says at Epiphany
 Vatican spokesman scolds journalists who report papal 'opening' on same-sex unions
 Pope curbs use of title 'monsignor'
 Pope will visit Holy Land in May
 USCCB announces novena for life around Roe anniversary
 Sharia will not be main source of law in new Tunisian constitution
 US bishop to make solidarity visit to Middle East
 More court victories against HHS mandate
 Kidnapped missionary priest released in Cameroon
 Bishop urges international community: don’t destroy Syria
 Indonesian Christian politician: remove religion from national ID cards

Released Friday, Jan. 3

 Suspect arrested in murder of California priest
 Militant Islam threatens Nigeria first, then all Africa, Catholic bishop warns
 Italian cardinal decries propaganda campaign to redefine marriage
 Obama administration urges court to uphold HHS mandate against Little Sisters of the Poor
 Jesuits are restless to evangelize, Pope says in Mass at Jesuit church in Rome
 22 Church workers slain worldwide in 2013
 Pope calls for updated rules on ties between bishops, religious orders
 Malaysia: protests planned outside churches on Sunday; priest burned in effigy
 New Jersey: college president’s mansion to become bishop’s home
 Pope makes surprise visit to St. Mary Major
 Philippine bishops’ president: ‘wake up, Catholic laity’
 Human rights organization reports on imprisonment of religious believers
 Russian Orthodox Church: repentance must precede baptism of babies born to surrogate mothers
 USCCB: pray, fast for those challenging the HHS mandate
 Lutherans begin monthly climate fast
 Ecumenical Patriarch stresses importance of family
 Patriarch appeals for calm in Iraq

Released Thursday, Jan. 2

 6.6 million attended papal audiences, ceremonies in 2013
 Supreme Court justice stays enforcement of HHS mandate
 USCCB committee chair: immigration reform creates economic win-win situation
 Priest murdered in California
 USCCB president urges President Obama to grant relief from HHS mandate fines
 Pope Francis: efforts for peace and justice begin at home
 Pope: the faithful have always been devoted to the Mother of God
 Give thanks, ask God’s forgiveness, Pope says in year-end homily

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