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Fatima, Portugal, May 11, 2017 / 05:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While Fatima is famous for the mystifying candlelight procession and vigil that take place annually the night between May 12 and 13, there is an essential element that can easily be overlooked, but which bears special significance: silence.“Silence is important, because only in silence can we listen to the Word of God, only in silence can we listen to the whispers of God in our hearts,” Fr. Francisco Pereira, chaplain of the Fatima Shrine, told CNA in an interview.It’s been this way in Fatima since the very beginning, he said, noting that the bishop who arrived on site after the diocese was established in 1918 immediately wrote a letter to all parish priests in Fatima saying the shrine “is a place of silence, of prayer and of sacrifice.”Because of this, it’s forbidden to set off fireworks, play music or sell alcohol on the property, Fr. Pereira said, stressing that that the shrine wants t...
By Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Faith is a journey guided by the HolySpirit, who helps the church grow in understanding the sinful nature of once-accepted practices like slavery and the death penalty, Pope Francis said. While people once even used religious reasons to justify practicessuch as slavery, the death penalty and "wars of religion," over timethe Holy Spirit has deepened the church's understanding of the Gospel, the popesaid May 11 in his homily during morning Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae. Slavery "is a mortal sin; today we say this. Back then,some would say that this could be done because these people did not have a soul!"he said. The number of people enslaved today is "even more, but at leastwe know that it is a mortal sin. The same goes for the death penalty; for atime, it was normal. Today, we say that the death penalty isinadmissible."Reflecting on the day's first reading in which St. Paulrecounts God's works throughout history, Pope Francis said the Lor...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz MuthBy Carol ZimmermannWASHINGTON (CNS) -- When Isaiah Burroughs, a 20-year-oldstudent at The Catholic University of America in Washington, gets an idea in his head, he followsthrough with it pretty much immediately.When hewas praying in the university chapel during a freshman retreat last year, Burroughs,who was raised Baptist, said he realized becoming Catholic was something"I really wanted to do and I had to do."Thenext day he talked to a priest on campus about joining the Rite of ChristianInitiation of Adults and the next Easter he was confirmed -- a day he said he"couldn't stop smiling." He'd had a countdown on his phone for a monthleading up to it.Burroughsdidn't leave the RCIA program behind after he finished it, but instead cameback the next year to help as one of its volunteers.AnthonyCarona, a seminarian at Theological College, who helps lead CatholicUniversity's RCIA program, said Burroughs "encapsulates the evangelicalnature of the church" because ...
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Mormon church, the biggest sponsor of Boy Scout troops in the United States, announced Thursday it is pulling as many as 185,000 older youths from the organization as part of an effort to start its own scouting-like program....
DALLAS (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of a black 15-year-old by a white police officer, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday launching a commission to review alleged voter fraud and voter suppression, building upon his unsubstantiated claims that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House's explanation of President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey has been a moving target....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on President Donald Trump and the FBI (all times local):...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Contradicting previous White House explanations, President Donald Trump declared Thursday he had planned to fire FBI Director James Comey all along, regardless of whether top Justice Department officials recommended the stunning step. His assertions came as Comey's temporary replacement joined in, contradicting other administration statements on the snowballing controversy....
Austin, Texas, May 11, 2017 / 12:43 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic groups have welcomed the Texas House of Representatives’ passage Wednesday of a bill that would provide conscience protections for groups and individuals involved in the foster care system.“When this becomes law, Catholic Charities will be able to bring our expertise and resources to the aid of some of our most desperate and needy children,” said Sara Ramirez, CEO for Catholic Charities of Central Texas.“We are willing to return to the field and work side-by-side with all people of good will so that no child is further traumatized by an inadequate foster care system,” she said in a statement from the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops.The 93-49 vote on May 10, largely along party lines, sends the bill to the Senate, where a similar version has been stalled in committee, the Austin American-Statesman reports.The bill would allow organizations and individuals in Texas’ foster care s...
