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Stories for January 2016

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Jan. 29

 Michigan bishop inaugurates program to have chant at all parishes
 Upcoming Jubilee events: veneration of relics of Padre Pio, commissioning of Missionaries of Mercy
 Safeguarding doctrine is a work of mercy, Pope says in address to CDF
 Mexican bishop rips government failure to regulate exploitation of environment
 Milan's Cardinal Scola warns against same-sex adoption, backs defense of family
 Ancient fears of leprosy are no longer valid: Vatican statement
 Nigerian cardinal: embrace spiritual poverty, but fight material poverty
 No progress in Vatican talks with China, Taiwan's ambassador reports
 Minnesota archdiocese has bankruptcy court's OK for sale of chancery building
 Work for Holy Land peace agreement, USCCB committee chair urges administration
 Zambia’s bishops begin tree-planting campaign
 South Sudan’s bishops decry slow implementation of peace agreement
 Croatia: 1st meeting between Catholic, Serbian Orthodox religious
 Muslim students learn about Incarnation at Bethlehem University
 President, publisher departs from OSV
 Patriarch grateful to Russia for military intervention in Syria
 Muslim journalist in Vatican newspaper: Marrakesh Declaration is ‘very important step forward’

Released Thursday, Jan. 28

 On bioethical issues, Church stands with the vulnerable: Pope Francis
 Syrian Catholic Patriarch scoffs at Italian museum's covering of nudes during Iranian leader's visit
 Togo's president meets with Pontiff
 Pope Francis to visit Auschwitz?
 Bishop questions leaders' commitment to defeat rebel group in Central Africa
 Italian firms donates electric bikes to Vatican, in thanks for Pope's environmental stand
 World Day of the Sick focuses on role of the faithful in cooperating with Christ's healing power, cardinal says
 Film star DiCaprio in private audience with Pope Francis
 Health issues force Cardinal Pell to cancel speaking appearance in US
 Cardinal welcomes Muslim conference’s declaration on religious minorities
 Patriarchs demand Syriac seats in Lebanon’s parliament
 Anglican prelate welcomes Pope’s unexpected gesture at ecumenical Vespers
 Vatican cardinal reflects on relation between Eucharist, Catholic social teaching
 Obama, citing Pope, bans juvenile solitary confinement
 USCCB committee chair reflects on Mideast issues, laments plight of persecuted Christians
 Cardinal Marx meets with leading EU officials
 Jewish group expresses sorrow over cemetery desecration

Released Wednesday, Jan. 27

 Pope's Synod exhortation to be published in March, Vatican official says
 Italian bishops' leader reaffirms opposition to civil-union proposal
 Calgary's Bishop Henry rejects criticism, repeats condemnation of 'transgender' guidelines
 Date and place set for pan-Orthodox council
 Franciscans sheltered Jews in Assisi basilica during World War II
 Syrian city starving under Islamic State siege, archbishop reports
 Poverty caused by inequality not shortage, says cardinal from Myanmar
 Russian Orthodox Church denies plan for meeting of Pope, Patriarch
 Pope encourages Catholic charitable organizations to take part in Lenten retreat
 Pope Francis reflects on God’s mercy and the Chosen People
 Leading Canadian bishop laments school shooting
 Papal educational charity hosts discussion on bullying, school problems
 There is a ‘right not to emigrate,’ says Vatican cardinal
 Vatican foreign minister warns against Islamophobia
 Vatican newspaper chides European nations over migrants

Released Tuesday, Jan. 26

 Indian Christians leery of Hindu-nationalist group's invitation to dialogue
 Peace talks on Syria should not ignore Christians, says Vatican envoy
 Iran's President Rouhani meets Pope, asks for prayers
 Agenda set for pan-Orthodox council
 Texas grand jury absolves Planned Parenthood, indicts undercover filmmakers
 Bishop Barron: Christianity 'running on fumes' as Eucharistic devotion wanes
 Cardinal sees 4 characteristics in Pope’s ecumenical vision
 Leading Italian prelate suggests priorities, speaks against same-sex unions
 Attack on Christian neighborhood in Syrian city
 Supreme Court lets decision against North Dakota pro-life law stand
 Pope Francis: conversion leads Christians closer to full communion
 Practice works of mercy during Lent, Pope says in message

Released Monday, Jan. 25

 Strive for holiness, not 'normal' life, Pope tells seminarians
 Pope to visit Colombia next year
 Stranded in snow, pro-lifers celebrate Mass on Pennsylvania Turnpike
 World Orthodox assembly set for Crete, probably in June
 Spread the message of Laudato Si’, Cardinal Turkson urges bishops
 Ukrainian seminary reopens in Rome
 International Eucharistic Congress begins in Philippines
 Archbishop of Canterbury: Anglicans have decided to ‘walk together at a distance’
 Protect holy sites, Chaldean patriarchate urges
 Christians are called to evangelize the poor, Pope emphasizes
 Pope welcomes new ambassador from Taiwan
 Pope to travel to Sweden to commemorate Reformation’s anniversary

Released Friday, Jan. 22

 Pro-lifers brave blizzard at March for Life
 President of Dominica meets with Pontiff
 India: 1-year visa for nun who has spent 44 years working with lepers
 Bishops who neglect prayer weaken Church, Pope tells congregation
 New miracle eyed for Cardinal Newman's canonization
 Pope strongly upholds Christian marriage as attainable ideal, rejects other forms of union
 Communication should be inspired by mercy, Pope says in message
 10 sainthood, beatification causes advance
 Vatican official traces foot-washing rite’s history, says it should not be given undue importance
 ‘Iron hand’ needed in dealing with terrorists, says Pakistani bishops’ official
 European bishops’ working group: synthetic biology is not ‘playing God’
 Croatian prelate: Pope Francis believes Blessed Stepinac is a saint
 Love makes us ‘agents of conversion,’ Cardinal Dolan preaches at pro-life vigil

Released Thursday, Jan. 21

 Archbishop Nienstedt leaves Michigan parish after protests
 Pilgrimages are eloquent expression of faith, means of evangelization, Pope says
 Vatican 'foreign minister' discourages British exit from European Union
 Lutheran delegation given Communion in St. Peter's basilica
 Serbian prelate says Pope wishes to resolve controversy over Bl. Cardinal Stepinac
 Two suspects arrested in vandalism of Jerusalem monastery
 Another unexpected papal phone call: to convicted Italian murderer
 Pope changes liturgical norms to allow washing of women's feet on Holy Thursday
 Pope blesses lambs on feast of St. Agnes
 Indonesia: interreligious rally against terrorism
 German prelates, Catholic organizations continue support for refugees
 Leading Philippine bishop appeals for mercy toward migrants, refugees
 Joint Catholic-Orthodox statement on sanctity of life
 Caritas, other humanitarian agencies appeal for end to Syrian conflict

Released Wednesday, Jan. 20

 Italian town's plans for huge statue of Padre Pio meet opposition
 English peer who financed escape for Syrian Christian refugees dead at 96
 Half of US Catholic colleges have Planned Parenthood centers nearby, study finds
 Benedictines 'praying for those who hate us' after vandals attack in Jerusalem
 Sudanese bishops invite Pope to visit
 Nebraska bishops call for reversal of state policy allowing transgender participation in school sports
 Vatican envoy reminds UN of rising civilian casualties in warfare
 Nigerian cardinal: religious extremism has been on the rise for 20 years
 Remember the poor, Pope exhorts world economic leaders
 Pope Francis reflects on Christian unity
 Pope to visit mosque next week?
 Panama’s bishops rue moral crisis
 Venezuelan bishops denounce government’s attempt to invalidate election
 Russians plunge into icy waters to celebrate Epiphany
 Vatican newspaper lauds new book on Pilate
 Oldest monastery in Iraq destroyed

Released Tuesday, Jan. 19

 Kenyan President Kenyatta says he will work with bishops to amend guidelines for regulating religious bodies
 Education minister: Calgary Catholic school directors must do their job, implement new guidelines
 Vatican official speaks on fight against extremism in address to Arab Thinkers Forum
 Pope: 'no saint without a past, no sinner without a future'
 Vatican moving to eliminate purchases from companies with ties to forced labor
 Cardinal Parolin: overcome the 'globalization of indifference'
 Former Vatican official acquitted of money-smuggling charge
 Cardinal Marx forbidden to enter Vietnamese diocese
 Serbian Orthodox delegation meets with Pope
 Syria: nuncio decries use of hunger as a weapon
 French mosques hold open house
 Abbey vandalized in Jerusalem
 Jews, Christians must work together in face of persecution, says Italian Jewish leader

Released Monday, Jan. 18

 IMF director Lagarde meets with Pope
 Monaco's royals meet with Pontiff
 Seattle archdiocese lists 77 priests, religious accused of abuse
 At audience, Pope asks prayers for terror victims in Indonesia, Burkina Faso
 Cardinal Schönborn decries European immigration restrictions, scheduled execution in Texas
 Calgary school-board members apologize for bishop's 'homophobic' statement
 Vatican security staff gets papal thanks
 Chaldean bishop condemns Turkish air strikes in Kurdistan as 'real terrorism'
 Background: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
 Christians are called to become ‘more credible witnesses of unity,’ Pope tells Finnish Lutherans
 Pope visits Roman synagogue
 Do not give up hope, Pope says at Jubilee of Migrants
 All are called to meet the Lord as Bridegroom, Pope says
 Pope Francis: education, sharing, witness help us respond to vocation to work
 Pope visits nursing home as part of ‘Friday of mercy’ initiative

Released Friday, Jan. 15

 Bishop Finn, who resigned last year after criminal conviction, now working as convent chaplain
 New school guidelines on transgender students are 'madness,' says Canadian bishop
 Archbishop of Canterbury working with Pope to establish common Easter date for all Christians
 California judge rules Catholic hospital is not required to perform sterilization
 Vatican cardinal lauds David Bowie's 'secret and implicit spirituality'
 Islamic State releases 16 Christian hostages
 Planned Parenthood sues makers of undercover videos
 Google chairman meets with Pope
 Vatican newspaper publishes British prime minister’s reflection on Shakespeare
 Cardinal Parolin calls on Muslim leaders to condemn terrorism
 Cuban bishop calls for improved prison conditions
 Bishops urge Obama administration not to target mothers, children in deportations
 Cardinal Dolan decries ‘extreme ideology’ of conscience-protection opponents

Released Thursday, Jan. 14

 Persecution of Christians hit historic high in 2015, report says
 Episcopal Church USA suspended from Anglican communion
 Rome's homeless, refugees are guests at circus performance
 During visit to synagogue, Pope will recall Rome's victims of anti-Semitic assaults
 Italy expels Islamic radical whose son called for Pope's death
 Visiting bishops assure Holy Land Christians: You are not forgotten
 Top papal adviser acknowledges 'gay lobby' influence at Vatican
 Papal message for mercy jubilee for boys and girls
 Congo’s bishops announce election monitoring committee
 Patriarch laments plight of Syrian town whose residents are starving
 In the Caucasus, bishop blesses a holy door in an open field
 Vatican newspaper sees ‘uphill road’ to pan-Orthodox council
 USCCB awards $1M to Church in Africa
 Papal appeal for prayers for victims of Istanbul bombing

Released Wednesday, Jan. 13

 Mexican diocese warns against fake tickets to events during papal visit
 Russian Orthodox official, dismissed in December shake-up, reports media blackout on his views
 Powerful Vatican official defends Roman Curia, says criticism based on 'Vatileaks II' document is unjust
 Kenyan bishops protest government proposals to regulate worship
 Ghana: bishops protest arrival of prisoners released from Guantanamo
 Italian Servite priest chosen to lead Lenten Retreat at Vatican
 Archbishop Nienstedt, who resigned last year, now doing parish work
 Pope reflects on God’s mercy as revealed to Moses
 USCCB files brief in HHS mandate case, warns against 'unimpeded' government power
 Cardinal Wuerl: abortion remains ‘the fundamental basic issue’
 Church of England’s weekly attendance falls below 1 million
 Obama refers to Pope in state of the union address
 27,000 migrants housed in Italian Catholic institutions
 Ukrainian Catholic leader decries abortion, gender ideology

Released Tuesday, Jan. 12

 Catholic bishops visit wall separating Palestinian lands; turned away by troops
 Cardinal Parolin voices sympathy for victims of terror bombing in Turkey
 Prayers of saints, not decisions of bishops, restore Church, Pope says
 German bishops, Vatican paper react to assaults on women in Cologne
 Chaldean Patriarch encourages pre-Lenten fast for peace, security in Middle East
 Prince Charles gives to Catholic charity for Christian refugees in Middle East
 Top Vatican diplomat: Pope seeks balance between needs of migrants, legitimate concerns of states
 Historic meeting between Malaysian archbishop, mufti
 Muslim share of US population to double by 2050
 India: sainthood cause begins for Catholics killed in 2008 pogrom
 ‘Human stupidity’ is at heart of Middle East conflicts, says Coptic Orthodox leader
 Anglican primates gather in Canterbury; ‘schism would not be a disaster’
 Cardinal Dolan laments opposition to conscience-protection, school-choice bills

Released Monday, Jan. 11

 Church officials protest desecration of cemetery outside Jerusalem
 Security tight as 1 million Filipino Catholics join annual procession
 Protests mount against Chilean bishops accused of abuse cover-up; Pope meets with leaders of bishops' conference
 Lawyer: Obama administration emails show no interest in religious-freedom claims on contraceptive mandate
 Vatican cardinal pays homage to David Bowie
 In new interview-book, Pope speaks of mercy, explains 'Who am I to judge?'
 Migration is top priority in Pope's annual address to diplomatic corps
 Cardinal Turkson: Pope is not anti-business, but calls leaders to deeper responsibility
 Prelate encourages, challenges Ivory Coast president
 Congo bishops foster election dialogue
 Cardinal Wuerl highlights plight of persecuted Christians
 Over 1 million have registered for jubilee events in Rome
 Pope Francis reflects on the Holy Spirit and the Sacrament of Baptism
 Pope baptizes 26 children

Released Friday, Jan. 8

 Wisconsin bishop instructs pastors to move tabernacles to center of churches
 German investigator finds widespread abuse in Regensburg choir, once led by brother of retired Pope
 Denunciation of surrogacy as 'sex crime' heats up Italian debate on civil unions
 Defendant Chaouqui says Msgr. Balda was responsible for Vatican document leaks
 Iraqi Shi'ite leader backs call for restoration of seized Christian homes
 Ordinariate’s new bishop looks to future
 French government forbids enforcement of local blasphemy laws
 70 joint Catholic-Lutheran churches in Germany
 Rome’s chief rabbi discusses upcoming papal visit
 Coptic pope issues encyclical; Egyptian leader attends Christmas liturgy
 Prelate comments on President Obama’s gun-control remarks

Released Thursday, Jan. 7

 Ethiopian drought puts 8 million in jeopardy
 Catholic Vespers to be celebrated in chapel of King Henry VIII
 Syrian Catholic exarchate established in Canada
 Pope, other religious leaders appear in new video on monthly prayer intention
 Gang attacks on women outside Cologne Cathedral
 Nuns attacked in South Sudan
 ‘Russia comes first,’ says Serbian Orthodox leader
 Chaldean Catholic Church grows in California
 Nebraska bishops weigh in on transgender participation in high school sports

Released Wednesday, Jan. 6

 Vatican paper rips Charlie Hebdo issue mocking religion as source of terrorism
 Dallas bishop rips 'cowboy mentality,' praises Obama gun-control initiative
 On eve of execution, Florida bishops urge halt to capital punishment
 Russian Orthodox Church will lose Ukrainian faithful, journalist predicts
 Somali government banned Christmas celebrations
 Church's evangelical mission is to reflect the light of Christ, Pope says at Epiphany
 Survey examines religious belief in France
 USCCB awards $2.5M to projects in Eastern Europe
 Moscow patriarch issues Christmas message
 Jewish-Catholic dialogue in Italy focuses on 10th Commandment
 1st Vatican performance of complete Shakespeare play
 Brunei’s Catholics celebrate Christmas without incident
 Vatican astronomer reflects on star of Bethlehem

Released Tuesday, Jan. 5

 Bidders in line for Minnesota archdiocesan buildings
 Irish bishops: 100th anniversary of Easter Rising should stimulate work for peace
 Kidnapped priest released in Syria
 Pope visits Italian shrine
 German choir performs for Pope Emeritus
 Amid rising Catholic population, new cathedral planned in Norway
 In supporting refugees, bishops do not support open borders, says USCCB staff member
 ‘Global situation is disastrous,’ says Jerusalem patriarch
 Chaldean patriarchate welcomes liberation of Ramadi
 Following mayor’s assassination, Mexican bishop laments ‘river of innocent blood’
 Terrorist attack on Syrian city targets Christians

Released Monday, Jan. 4

 Nigerian cardinal suggests amnesty for corrupt officials-- if they return funds
 Debate in Belgium: do Church-related institutions have 'conscience clause' protection on euthanasia?
 'Vatileaks' defendant predicts guilty verdict, while insisting innocence
 No news on priest kidnapped in Syria for 2nd time
 India: visa renewal denied for nun after 44 years of work with lepers
 'Advance man' for papal trips announces retirement
 Number of early Jubilee pilgrims falling short of expectations in Rome
 Syro-Malankara eparchy established for US, Canada
 Egyptian group charges Copts support anti-Islamic ideology
 Pope Francis: ‘throw open’ your heart to Christ, abandon yourself to Mary
 Vatican-Palestinian agreement enters into force
 ‘Ocean of mercy’ overcomes ‘torrent of misery,’ Pope preaches on New Year’s Day
 Pope recalls evils, acts of love of 2015
 Pope meets with young singers, speaks of inner battlefield

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