Vatican says priests can bless same-sex couples without condoning their lifestyles — By: Catholic News Agency

St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: vvo/Shutterstock Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pm (CNA). The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations.  The ruling, which also applies to…

Read More

IDF denies responsibility for killing of Palestinian Christians at Gaza church — By: Catholic News Agency

Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza at Christmas 2021. / Credit: Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 10:35 am (CNA). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has denied culpability over the deaths of two Christian Palestinian women who were reportedly killed at the Holy Family Parish complex in Gaza on Saturday morning. The Latin Patriarchate…

Read More

Pope Francis celebrates 87th birthday with children who receive aid from Vatican clinic — By: Catholic News Agency

Pope Francis celebrates his birthday on Dec. 17, 2023, with children and families who are assisted by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary. / Credit: Vatican Media Rome Newsroom, Dec 17, 2023 / 13:50 pm (CNA). Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday morning ahead of his weekly Angelus by meeting with children and…

Read More

A cardinal, an archbishop, and a bishop reveal their vocation stories — By: Catholic News Agency

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, and Bishop Earl Fernandes. / Credit: Dennis Callahan/Archdiocese of San Francisco; Joaquin Peiro Perez/CNA; Joe Bukuras/CNA CNA Staff, Dec 17, 2023 / 09:00 am (CNA). Serving at the altar for Venerable Fulton J. Sheen played a major role in one U.S. cardinal’s vocational journey. For another bishop, falling to…

Read More