The work of protecting minors and other vulnerable people in the Catholic Church involves holding those in positions of power accountable for the abuse they commit,PopeFrancis said. 　　The church's safeguarding efforts must undoubtedly aim at eradicating situations that protect those who hide behind their positions to impose themselves on others in a perverse way, thepopewrote in amessageto participants in a...

　　The saints are not unreachable exceptions of humanity but ordinary people who worked diligently to grow invirtue,PopeFrancis said. 　　It is wrong to think of the saints as a kind of small circle of champions who live beyond the limits of our species, thepopewrote in the catechesis for his generalaudienceMarch 13 in St. Peter's Square. Instead, they are those who fully...

　　Pope Francissays he has no plans to resign andisn’t suffering from any health problemsthat would require doing so, saying in a new memoir he still has “many projects to bring to fruition.” 　　Francis, 87, made the comments in an autobiography, “Life: My Story Through History,” which is being published Tuesday, the 11thanniversary of his installation as pope. Extensive excerpts were...

　　The pope's commission for advancing the Catholic Church's efforts to prevent the abuse of vulnerable persons is due to submit its first annual report on the state of safeguarding in the church. 　　In astatementdated March 8 and sent to reporters March 11, the commission said it had approved the submission of its pilot annual report on safeguarding policies and procedures...

　　Pope Francis' call for the world to address the coming consequences of global climate change has not garnered enough attention at the U.S. Catholic bishops' conference, said a leading American cardinal. 　　In an exclusive interview with National Catholic Reporter in late February, San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy said the pope's environmental vision has not gotten the attention of the conference...

　　A Prayer for Personal Reflection and Growth This Easter Season 　　By Emma Danzey 　　Philippians 3:12 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” 　　Easter is a holiday that we as believers are privileged to celebrate....

　　Government restrictions on religion are at a global high. 　　Social hostility toward religion, however, has ticked downward. 　　So concludes the Pew Research Center in its 14th annual analysis of the extent to which 198 nations and territoriesand their citizensimpinge on religious belief and practice. 　　Some sort of harassment of religious groups was recorded in all but eight. 　　The 2024 report,...

　　Michael Knott, whose music and influence helped cultivate the Christian alternative music scene of the 1990s and 2000s, died Tuesday at the age of 61. He is survived by his daughter, Stormie Fraser. 　　Knott was the founder of the label Blonde Vinyl and later collaborated with Brandon Ebel to launch the highly influential Tooth Nail Records, known for bands like...

　　Tacitus at the beginning of his Annals, after brilliantly summarizing all of Roman history in the space of a few paragraphs, ends by providing an answer to a question that must have arisen in the minds of his Roman readers. Why was it that the present generation offered such little resistance to the revolutionary transformation of the republic into a...

　　Overcome Evil with Good 　　Weekly Overview: 　　This week we’re going to take a look at seven principles found in Romans 12 that describe the marks of a true Christian. The intent of studying this passage is not to condemn or lead you to comparison. Instead, let Paul’s teaching fill you with a deep, transformative longing to wholeheartedly pursue the life...

　　A Lenten Prayer for God to Bring Beauty from Ashes 　　By Debbie McDaniel 　　“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”Isa 61:3 　　As we walk through this season of Lent, we’re reminded again that sometimes… life is hard. 　　Sometimes...

　　Weekend, March 16, 2024 　　What Prayer Isn’t About 　　Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33 NLT) 　　Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind. In many cases, prayer is about changing our minds. 　　When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them, “Pray like this: Our Father...