Global Church News

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  In wake of Pope Francis, bishops urge Congress to move on religious freedom

  Oct 03, 2015

  Citing Pope Francis, the U.S. bishops are urging lawmakers act quickly to pass a bill that would reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, whose mandate expired yesterday.

  
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  People come first, human life is sacred

  Oct 01, 2015

  Dealing with war, development, the economy or environmental concerns, bureaucrats and diplomats must always remember that the lives of real children, women and men are at stake, Pope Francis told the United Nations.

  
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  Pope Francis to priests, religious: It’s your job to inspire vocations

  Oct 01, 2015

  The Church today is called to foster among young people a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the Gospel mission, Pope Francis said on Saturday to group of priests and religious gathered in Philadelphia’s cathedral.

  
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  Can politicians learn from Pope Francis?

  Oct 01, 2015

  Pope Francis is the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. There are bound to be some who don’t like him. But what is of greater interest is that so many non-Catholics love him.

  
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  Canonizing the 18th-century Spanish missionary, Blessed Junipero Serra, Pope Francis insisted a person's faith is alive only when it is shared.

  Oct 01, 2015

  Pope Francis paid a short visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor community in Washington, D.C. on Sept 23, to support them in their court case over the contraception mandate, the Vatican’s spokesman revealed.

  
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  Pope canonizes Junipero Serra, says faith is alive only when shared

  Oct 01, 2015

  Canonizing the 18th-century Spanish missionary, Blessed Junipero Serra, Pope Francis insisted a person's faith is alive only when it is shared.

  
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  Pope meets with clergy abuse victims, says crimes can’t be secret

  Oct 01, 2015

  Pope Francis met with a group of survivors of sexual abuse Sept 27 and later told bishops that he was overwhelmed by a sense of embarrassment, and was committed to holding accountable those who harmed children.

  
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  Visiting prison, Pope says all people need forgiveness, cleansing

  Oct 01, 2015

  While pilgrims in Philadelphia put up with a long weekend of lines and security checks at the papal venues, the Pope reached out to a group of people whose lives are lines and security checks for years at a time.

  
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  ‘No justification whatsoever’ for lack of housing

  Oct 01, 2015

  “We can find no social or moral justification, no justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing,” Pope Francis told an audience of about 200 clients of Catholic Charities gathered at St Patrick Church.

  
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  At White House, hours in line for brief welcoming ceremony

  Oct 01, 2015

  The 11,000 ticketed guests and a cast of hundreds of extras — military units, musicians and federal employees — who waited on the White House lawn to greet Pope Francis Sept 23 were clearly there as fans of the visiting pope.