Statue of Mary vandalized in Brooklyn (WABC) A Virgin Mary statue was found vandalized outside of a church in Brooklyn. The incident happened at Resurrection Roman Catholic Church on Gerritsen Ave in Marine Park. According to Father William With, the statue was discovered Monday by a parishioner that approached the Virgin Mary for a prayer. Authorities say the left hand of the Virgin Mary statue was cut off, along with a large crack along her head…
Pope, religious leaders pray for peace (CNS) The only way to end war and ensure humanity’s survival is “through encounter and negotiation, setting aside our conflicts and pursuing reconciliation, moderating the language of politics and propaganda, and developing true paths of peace,” Pope Francis said. The pope, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and an international array of other Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist leaders gathered on Rome’s Capitoline Hill Oct. 20 to affirm their community’s commitment to peace, dialogue, fraternity and assistance to the poor and needy…
Sister Simone Campbell to retire from lobbying group (RNS) Sister Simone Campbell, the Roman Catholic sister made famous by her “Nuns on the Bus” tours and her support for the Affordable Care Act, announced Tuesday (Oct. 20) that she will step down early next year as head of Network, the influential social justice lobby. A member of the Sisters of Social Service, Campbell, 74, has led the organization for more than a decade and a half, during which time her advocacy sometimes put her at odds with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and stoked pushback from the Vatican…
USCCB promotes ‘Election Novena’ (CNS) As it did in 2016, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is encouraging people of faith to take part in an election novena beginning Oct. 26 and ending Nov. 3, Election Day. A closing prayer for elected leaders will be offered Nov. 4, the day after the election. “Bearing in mind our nation’s challenges and the need for wise, moral, civic leadership, four years ago our conference offered an electronic ‘Election Novena’ to help Catholics prepare for the 2016 election,” the USCCB said…
Knights of Columbus announces novena ahead of Father McGivney beatification (AP) The Knights of Columbus has invited all Catholics to prepare for the beatification of its founder, Father Michael J. McGivney, by joining a novena asking for Father McGivney’s intercession in their lives. The prayers are meant to be said over nine days, from Oct. 22 to 30…