U.S. Peace Activists Visit Vatican On the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, three U.S. Catholic peace activists paid a discreet but significant visit to the Vatican. The officers of the Indiana-based Catholic Peace Fellowship were in Rome in mid-March to promote the issue of conscientious objec

Pope, Putin Discuss Catholic-Orthodox Relations Pope Benedict XVI and President Vladimir Putin of Russia spent 25 minutes speaking privately March 13, discussing Catholic-Orthodox relations and ways to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and the Russian government. Although two translato

Vatican Criticizes Jon Sobrino, Liberation TheologianThe Vatican has strongly criticized the work of Jon Sobrino, S.J., a leading proponent of liberation theology, saying some of his writings relating to the divinity of Christ were not in conformity with the doctrine of the church. In publishing a d

Influx of Iraqis to Jordan Strains ResourcesThe enormous influx of Iraqis over the past five years has put a large burden on Jordan, said church aid officials who are trying to help the refugees. Though official estimates put the number of Iraqi refugees in Jordan at about 1 million, Catholic groups

Vatican Rejects Appeal Against ExcommunicationThe Vatican’s highest court said it has no jurisdiction over a decision in March 1996 by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Neb., that Catholics in his diocese who are members of Call to Action Nebraska and 10 other organizations were automati

Haughey Receives Intellectual Achievement AwardOn Feb. 3 the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities presented its Monika K. Hellwig Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Intellectual Life to John Haughey, S.J., senior research fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at George

Commuter Bus Bombed in Lebanese Christian AreaTwin bus blasts tore through Lebanon’s Christian heartland Feb. 13, killing three people and wounding dozens more on the eve of the anniversary of former prime minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination. The first blast struck a bus packed with

China’s Catholics Hope Pope Will Clarify Relations Underground Catholics in China say they hope a letter Pope Benedict XVI plans to send them will not only strengthen their faith but also clearly explain how their fractured community in the mainland can be healed. The Holy See wants us to reco

U.S. Urged to Follow Church Example on CubaThe U.S. government should emulate the Catholic Church and look for a dramatic way to improve relations with Cuba, said a U.S. lawmaker after returning from a fact-finding trip to the Caribbean island. Representative James McGovern, Democrat of Massachusett

Abbé Pierre, Helper of Poor, Dead at 94Abbé Pierre, the founder of the Emmaus Community in France, dedicated his life to fighting poverty and serving the poor, Pope Benedict XVI said. The 94-year-old priest, repeatedly voted the most respected person in France, died Jan. 22 in Paris. Informed of t