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Stories for March 2016

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Thursday, Mar. 31

 Rome conference focuses on Divine Mercy
 Pope's prayer intentions for April 2016
 Vatican investigating renovations of Cardinal Bertone's apartment
 Polish bishops seek complete abortion ban
 No reason to celebrate Reformation, says Cardinal Müller
 Post-Synod document to be released April 8
 Moscow Patriarchate to host international conference on persecution of Christians

Released Wednesday, Mar. 30

 Peruvian prelate says support for pro-abortion politicians is sinful
 Mother Angelica is in heaven, Pope says
 Turkish military seizes churches in offensive against Kurdish separatists
 Supreme Court seeks new briefs in 'Little Sisters of the Poor' case
 Lord Sacks decries 'ethnic cleansing' of Christians in Middle East
 Fiat used by Pope in New York now up for auction
 Ransom demand for priest abducted in Yemen?
 American girl, losing eyesight, will have 'bucket list' meeting with Pontiff
 Caritas vehicle hijacked in Congo; driver killed
 Pope Francis reflects on David’s plea for mercy
 South Sudan’s Christian leaders lament civil war
 Displaced Mosul Catholics celebrate Easter
 Brussels archbishop: violence in the name of God cannot be tolerated
 Guard against Western influence, Senegal cardinal warns
 Lahore archbishop: churches were guarded, but attack on park unexpected

Released Tuesday, Mar. 29

 Canadian priest suspended after gambling away $500,000 raised for refugees
 In China, 20,000 baptized at Easter; government alarmed by Church growth
 At UN, Vatican envoy decries victimization of women in warfare
 India: 1.5 million Muslims join in condemnation of Islamic State
 Papal condolences following terrorist attack in Iraq
 Israel permits young Gaza Christians to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem
 Holy Tunic displayed in France for veneration of faithful
 20th anniversary of slaying of Trappist monks in Algeria
 USCCB president pays tribute to Mother Angelica

Released Monday, Mar. 28

 Kidnapped priest reported still alive in Yemen, despite reports of crucifixion by Islamic State
 Nigerian cardinal alarmed by president's decision to join Islamic anti-terror coalition
 Georgia's governor will veto religious-freedom bill
 Animal-rights activists disrupt Easter Mass at New York cathedral
 At Easter Monday audience, Pope points to Mary as witness to hope
 Mother Angelica dead at 92
 At least 70 dead in attack on Christians in Pakistan; Pope decries massacre
 Italian cardinal: refugee crisis is opportunity for Europe to rediscover its soul
 Pope laments Christians ‘burned alive, throats slit and decapitated’
 Pope dines with Roman priests
 Holy Thursday: Pope washed feet of Christians, Muslims, and Hindu from 8 nations
 Good Friday: papal preacher reflects on ‘existential and personal’ reconciliation
 Belgian primate cautions against hatred of Islam
 Vatican newspaper warns against 1-sided portrayal of Islam

Released Sunday, Mar. 27

 Pope Francis: Easter Message Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World)
 Pope Francis: Easter Vigil homily (full text)

Released Friday, Mar. 25

 Vatican, Rome under heavy security during Easter Triduum
 Custodian fined for destroying images of Buddha, Mary Poppins in Omaha cathedral
 'Spiritual vacuum' leads to extremism, Anglican bishop argues
 New NJ state law takes effect, ends Newark archdiocesan sale of cemetery monuments
 Vatican downplays concerns about health of Benedict XVI
 Jerusalem patriarch: Holy Thursday homily
 Report finds ‘slow-motion genocide’ in West Papua
 Thousands to enter Church in US at Easter
 Study examines international religious gender gaps
 Restoration announced for Christ’s tomb at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
 Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum: full text of meditations

Released Thursday, Mar. 24

 French cardinal apologizes for abuse; supporter notes prelate acted promptly on complaints
 Ottawa archbishop, in Easter message, urges rejection of assisted suicide
 In India's Syro-Malabar Church, only priests' feet are washed on Holy Thursday
 Archbishop Hebda named permanent head of St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese
 Washing feet of refugees, Pope stresses brotherhood
 Pope Francis at Holy Thursday Chrism Mass: respond to God’s ‘excess of mercy’ with gratitude
 Vatican to release archival material on Argentine military dictatorship
 Relatives of Romero, Argentine victims greet Pope
 Tunisia announces campaign against Islamic extremism
 Italian Catholics recall missionary martyrs
 Patriarch: Iraqis must unite against ISIS
 Convert to Christianity murdered in Bangladesh; ISIS claims responsibility
 Pope calls for ‘unanimous condemnation’ of terrorism

Released Wednesday, Mar. 23

 French buyer refuses British government request to return St. Joan of Arc's ring
 India: one Christian convict granted bail as petition drive for new trial continues
 Supreme Court appears split on 'Little Sisters of the Poor' challenge to contraceptive mandate
 Saudis nurture Islamic radicals in Europe, Syrian bishop warns
 Somalia's few Catholics survive in secret
 'Homeless Jesus' statue unveiled at Vatican
 Australian archbishop, recovering from severe disease, reflects on suffering
 Russian Orthodox Patriarch condemns 'heresy' of a right to sinful behavior
 Luxembourg’s royal family meets with Pope
 Pope reflects on the Triduum and mercy
 Churches targeted in South Sudan’s civil war
 North Carolina diocese to open seminary
 Record number of pilgrimages to Fátima in 2015
 Spanish Catholic organizations blast EU proposal on migrants
 Leading European, US prelates lament Brussels attacks

Released Tuesday, Mar. 22

 Gallup diocese files plan to compensate abuse victims
 Italian book, promoted by Milan archdiocese, details nun's story of abuse by priest
 Patriarchate of Jerusalem says Israeli occupation of Palestinian land must end
 El Salvador: police on guard for gang violence during Holy Week ceremonies
 SSPX leader: talks with Vatican continue, with Pope's support
 Archbishop Fisichella explains Pope's choice to wash feet of refugees
 Priest-activist killed in Congo- had opposed illegal mineral trade
 House of Lords balks at 'genocide' declaration
 Gay US ambassador is persona non grata on Catholic campus in Dominican Republic
 Pontiff, European bishops react to terror attack in Brussels
 Pope's schedule for Holy Week unchanged; Holy Thursday Mass outside Rome
 Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem: US finding of genocide against Christians comes too late
 Austrian theologians urge openness to refugees
 Cardinal Parolin calls for humane treatment of migrants
 Holy See diplomat decries violence against women, says mothers are not adequately appreciated
 Syrian prelate: US helped create ‘jihadist monster’
 Pope mourns victims of accident in Spain
 Vatican newspaper lauds Obama visit to Cuba

Released Monday, Mar. 21

 Orthodox Patriarch underlines importance of worldwide Synod
 Israel: Christians concerned by government restrictions on Easter Vigil
 India: Christian group asks government protection from violence during Holy Week
 Irish archbishop pleads for information about people who 'disappeared' during years of violence
 French survey finds majority support for resignation of Cardinal Barbarin
 Argentine bishops to release documents on Church response to military regime
 Important passage missing from early translations of interview with Pope-emeritus Benedict
 Vatican UN envoy calls for international effort to promote peace in Africa's Great Lakes region
 President Obama meets with Cuban cardinal
 Salesian priest seized in Yemen remains in terrorist hands; fate uncertain
 Abp. Gänswein: Pope will not change teaching on Communion for married/divorced
 Pope mourns victims of terrorist attack in Istanbul
 Papal condolences following airplane crash in Russia
 Chile moves toward legalization of abortion
 Pope recalls World Youth Day
 Contemplate the humility of Christ crucified, Pope preaches on Palm Sunday
 Pray and proclaim the Word, Pope tells new bishops
 Pope’s Instagram account gains 1.5M followers

Released Friday, Mar. 18

 Belarus: government keeps tight restrictions on foreign priests, bars Catholic radio
 Dublin's Archbishop Martin praises courage of chaplains aiding rebels during Easter Rising of 1916
 Pakistan recognizes Easter as holiday for Christians
 Papal preacher sees an end to Catholic-Protestant conflicts
 Pope to visit Armenia in June?
 Vatican basilica will be darkened for 'Earth Hour' on Saturday
 Papal blessing for Neocatechumenate families
 Local government: Church does not own Córdoba cathedral, once a mosque
 Paraguay’s bishops approve Guarani Bible
 Prisoners have human dignity, Argentina’s bishops emphasize
 Malawi’s bishops decry abortion, homosexual unions, gap between rich and poor
 4.5 million refugees from Syria’s civil war
 Ecumenical patriarch: struggle against materialism during Lent

Released Thursday, Mar. 17

 Pope's document on Synod will appear after Easter, Vatican spokesman says
 Portuguese president visits Pontiff
 Irish diocese withdraws from family-life center to preserve public funding
 World problems have human faces, Pope tells university students
 Vatileaks trial postponed after defendant Chaouqui hospitalized
 US says ISIS guilty of genocide against Christians, other minorities
 Eyewitness account of killing of Missionaries of Charity in Yemen
 Tomb being prepared for next Pontiff to die; Vatican says work is routine
 Priest in Central African Republic is finalist for new $1 million peace prize
 Full English text of rare Benedict XVI interview now online
 Fight root causes of terrorism, bishop says following Ankara bombing
 Open yourselves to friendship with Christ, Irish prelate says in St. Patrick’s Day message
 Obama to visit Havana’s cathedral
 80% of Syrian Christians support Assad, says bishop
 Leading Indian cardinal concerned about fundamentalist Hindu influence

Released Wednesday, Mar. 16

 American architect designed chapel where Pope Francis celebrates morning Mass
 India's Cardinal Gracias backs petition drive for new trial of Christians convicted during 2008 mob violence
 Priests not obligated to wash women's feet in Holy Thursday ceremony: Cardinal Sarah
 Open borders to refugees, Pope urges European leaders
 750,000 join pro-life march in Lima
 Cardinal Kasper: Pope's post-Synod document is imminent
 Benedict XVI speaks on crisis of faith, theme of God's mercy, in new interview
 Vatileaks defendant: Chaouqui's threats prompted leaks
 Pope reflects on mercy and consolation
 Kidnapped priest is one of only 2 in Yemen
 Iraqi president: Christians are nation’s ‘original members’
 Leading Nigerian bishop decries corruption
 South African bishops issue pastoral letter on racism
 Central African bishops call for peaceful, fair elections
 Bishops’ commission welcomes forthcoming EU document on social rights

Released Tuesday, Mar. 15

 Father Virgilio Elizondo, key figure in Hispanic thought, dead at 80
 French premier pushes cardinal to take responsibility for priest's abuse
 Chaldean Catholic Patriarch disavows Christian militia
 Irish primate: recover the principles of the 1916 proclamation
 Three former Franciscan provincials in Pennsylvania face charges for failing to curb abusive friar
 Former Vatican official admits leaking documents
 Warring parties in Syria routinely target civilians, Vatican envoy tells UN forum
 Bishop raps Notre Dame's decision to honor Vice President Biden
 Canonization dates for Mother Teresa, 4 others announced
 Justice Department announces initiative against religious discrimination
 USCCB president: sign ‘stop the Christian genocide’ petition
 Malaysian bishop, mufti meet
 Number of jubilee pilgrims reaches 3 million
 Prelate: Innocent XII, like Pope Francis, wanted a poor Church
 Archbishop of Canterbury: those concerned about assimilating migrants are not racist
 Cardinal laments plight of migrants, disintegration of Italy’s social fabric

Released Monday, Mar. 14

 Ukrainian Orthodox body says Soviets suppressed Catholics for supporting Nazis
 Top Vatican diplomat calls for dialogue as response to religious extremism
 Papal messages condemn terrorist attacks in Turkey, Ivory Coast
 Islamic State video shows burning of Christian books
 Last letter of slain Missionaries of Charity: ‘we live together, die together with Jesus, Mary’
 Pope announces winner of teaching prize
 Pope Francis: the adulterous woman represents all of us
 ‘Vatileaks II’ trial resumes
 Schedule announced for papal trip to Poland
 Meet Jesus on the path of humble service, Pope tells jubilee pilgrims
 Pope Francis: annulment changes were intended to render speedier judgment

Released Friday, Mar. 11

 Boston Globe to end sponsorship of Crux web site
 Syrian Orthodox Patriarch hopeful that refugees will retain Orthodox culture
 Israeli Christians critical of government policies, survey finds
 Russian Orthodox official says major differences with Vatican remain
 Prosecutors were warned of abuse in Altoona diocese
 Focus on family in 4th Lenten Sermon
 Last known Cristero rebel dead at 103
 Greece legalizes cremation despite Orthodox opposition
 Pope appears in video on monthly prayer intention
 Defer immigrant deportations, USCCB argues in friend-of-court brief
 Prominent Brazilian Franciscan murdered
 Report urges genocide declaration for ISIS killing of Christians
 Caritas: Greece is becoming a ‘refugee camp’ as borders close

Released Thursday, Mar. 10

 Religious education conference hears 'transgender' plea for acceptance
 1,800 join Eucharistic procession outside Planned Parenthood in Colorado
 Hispanic students under-represented in US Catholic schools, study shows
 Vatican issues new controls on spending for causes of saints
 Irish bishops defend pro-life constitutional amendment
 Bangladesh: high court considers constitutionality of Islam as state religion
 Yemen: bishop meets with surviving Missionary of Charity
 Prelate laments US Catholic silence on Middle East wars
 Cardinal: papal visit to Mexico was an ‘event of grace’
 Euthanasia is not palliative care, European bishops’ commission emphasizes
 USCCB tribute to slain Missionaries of Charity

Released Wednesday, Mar. 9

  Release of slain governor's kidnapped son seen as hopeful sign in Pakistan
 Croatian archbishop confident that Cardinal Stepinac's canonization will not be delayed
 Ukrainian bishop: Rome does not understand Eastern Catholic perspective
 English cardinal: campaign against terror should not see all minority views as threatening
 AP report: no progress on Vatican tribunal to hold bishops accountable in abuse cases
 Pennsylvania bishop removes tribute to predecessors in wake of critical grand-jury report
 Rhode Island Catholic school promises 'accommodations' for transgender students
 Vietnam: diocese counters high abortion rate with home for unwed mothers
 Indian nuns encourage cornea donation
 Arabian bishop: ‘it is an evil thing to kill in the name of God’
 Missionaries of Charity wished to remain in Yemen despite dangers, says bishop
 Mercy is not ‘do-goodism,’ says Cardinal Parolin
 Vatican newspaper chides EU over proposed refugee deal with Turkey
 Cardinal Turkson: we tolerate irresponsible consumerism as we once tolerated slavery

Released Tuesday, Mar. 8

 English bishop: protest persecution of atheists
 Georgetown defends appearance by Planned Parenthood leader; African cardinal disagrees
 Vatican Lenten Retreat: Church must focus on God, not on herself
 Italian prelates reflects on how Christ's suffering is relived by mankind, in Good Friday meditations
 Pope appoints members of commission to study cause of Cardinal Stepinac
 Chaldean Catholic Patriarch warns against forming Christian militia
 Mexico City archdiocese, in online comment, rejects Pope's criticism of Mexican hierarchy
 US bishops’ sex-abuse charter must be followed, says bishop
 Papal foundation funded 91 projects to spur agriculture in Africa
 Massachusetts bishops issue statement on opioid abuse
 Mexican bishop backs actions against music that glorifies drug trafficking
 Think of mercy when tempted to violence, says prelate
 Cardinal Marx calls on Europe to be ‘constructive actor’ for peace
 Priest abducted in Yemen

Released Monday, Mar. 7

 Singapore will welcome over 1200 new Catholics at Easter vigil
 Debate flares in Naples over jewels of St. Januarius
 Abuse victims demand records from Gallup diocese as part of bankruptcy settlement
 Canonization of Mother Teresa to be set March 15
 Domestic-partner benefits for Church employees in Michigan
 Missionaries of Charity pledge to continue work in Yemen
 Toronto's Cardinal Collins leads charge against assisted suicide
 Pope, Curia begin Lenten retreat
 Pope pays tribute to Ukrainian Catholics’ loyalty as hierarchy reaffirms communion
 World’s Catholic population approaches 1.3 billion as African, Asian numbers soar
 Pope decries murder of Missionaries of Charity in Yemen
 Pope Francis: ‘intensify the inner journey of conversion’ during remainder of Lent
 Pope celebrates penitential liturgy, compares sin to blindness

Released Friday, Mar. 4

 Judge backs Massachusetts diocese, rules $750k gift to closed parish can go to diocese
 Pennsylvania bishop pledges cooperation with investigators in abuse inquiry
 Convicted LA gang member receives letter of encouragement from Pope Francis
 Vatican statement defends response to sex-abuse scandal
 Restore central role of Confession, Pope urges
 Vatican spokesman: Pope never received request to meet with Australian abuse victims
 Cardinal Pell asks for fair treatment, says he will not resign
 4 Missionaries of Charity among victims of terrorist attack in Yemen
 Pope has changed Vatican protocol on meeting divorced heads of state
 12 sainthood, beatification causes advance
 Papal preacher devotes Lenten sermon to evangelization
 Prelate calls for greater European cohesion
 Italian prelate calls mafia to conversion
 West African bishops: Church must defend the truth about marriage and family life
 Report: 1.3 million Nigerian Christians have fled their homes since 2000
 Not rivals, but brothers: Russian Orthodox official reflects on recent joint declaration

Released Thursday, Mar. 3

 To defend life, defend virtue, Pope tells Pontifical Academy
 Cardinal Pell concludes testimony, meets with abuse victims
 Planned Parenthood president to speak at Georgetown
 Admitting sin is necessary condition for receiving God's mercy, Pope tells congregation
 East Timor's prime minister, Vatican Secretary of State celebrate new diplomatic accord
 Pontifical council publishes guide to Confession
 Archbishop Naumann: consider the Supreme Court in assessing presidential candidates
 Lenten postcard campaign directed at Costco, StarKist
 Cardinal Tauran: Pope proposes a new civilization in ecological encyclical
 South Dakota governor vetoes bathroom legislation
 Bishops should not seek salvation in politics, says Vatican cardinal
 Iraq to discipline officials who defraud Christians

Released Wednesday, Mar. 2

 Supreme Court hears arguments on Texas abortion law
 New undercover video shows more traffic in fetal body parts
 Pakistan: cause opens for beatification of slain government official, Shahbaz Bhatti
 Pennsylvania grand jury finds widespread abuse, cover-ups in Altoona-Johnstown diocese
 Cardinal Müller repeats: no change in Church teaching on divorce
 Europe must recover spiritual roots, Pope tells French visitors
 Lord Sacks wins Templeton Prize
 Cardinal Pell sets up meeting with abuse victims, as critics call for resignation
 Australian abuse commission will recall elderly bishop for questioning
 Vatican newspaper publishes arguments for allowing women to preach at Mass
 Pope Francis reflects on mercy, rejects 'blood money' for Church
 Swiss voters reject marriage initiative, automatic deportations
 Central African Republic: bishop welcomes election of new president
 French bishops lament agricultural crisis
 Church in Hungary celebrates jubilee of St. Martin
 Ukrainian Catholic leader: we are more than an ‘ecclesial community’

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