Catholic News

NEW YORK (CNS) — Though it claims to be based on true events, the political thriller “Infidel” (Cloudburst) might as well have a soundtrack of axes being ground.

In dealing with religious conflict in Iran, it stereotypes Muslims as having beaky noses, scowling constantly and being prone to wishing, and committing, violence on those who disrespect Islam.

The impression writer-director Cyrus Nowrasteh’s film leaves, as a result, is that of a bigoted fugue punctuating dog whistles with siren blasts.

The [...]

TORONTO (CNS) — It’s comforting to remember that any credible writer’s fiction does not disappear with the author’s death.

The late Brian Doyle was author of at least a dozen books, including the popular novel/memoir “Chicago” (2016), a semi-autobiographical tale of a writer’s coming of age. He also wrote innumerable short stories, essays and columns as the editor of the prestigious Portland magazine at the University of Portland.

Doyle’s body of work has been described by colleagues with such [...]

CHICAGO (CNS) — Father Ron Foshage, a missionary priest ministering in the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas, has been named Catholic Extension’s 2020-2021 Lumen Christi Award honoree for “his tireless work” in bringing reconciliation to a divided and hurting community in Texas.

Latin for the “Light of Christ,” the Lumen Christi Award is Catholic Extension’s highest honor bestowed on a missionary working in the United States.

Father Foshage, a member of Our Lady of La Salette, a congregation of priests [...]

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The National Black Sisters’ Conference issued a “clarion warning” to U.S. Catholics saying church members and leaders have not done enough to speak out against the sin of racism.

“In this moment of dual life-threatening pandemics; COVID-19 and racism, the voice of the church in America is, for the most part, eerily silent when it comes to the racial unrest in this country,” said the Sept. 16 statement by the national organization of more than [...]

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. (CNS) — It was a day to thank God for sending more laborers to gather his harvest, Diocese of Charlotte leaders said as they blessed and formally opened St. Joseph College Seminary.

The newly completed college seminary was blessed by Charlotte Bishop Peter J. Jugis Sept. 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, after an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

With its striking Gothic architecture and 30,000 square feet of living-and-learning space, the college seminary serves as [...]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With no end of conflict and no path toward economic recovery in sight, the Syrian people are losing hope that any sense of peace and normalcy will return, said the apostolic nuncio to Syria.

“Unfortunately, what is dying in the hearts of many people, is hope,” Cardinal Mario Zenari told the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, Sept. 17.

“After 10 years of war, many — after no longer seeing economic recovery and reconstruction — are losing [...]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With no end of conflict and no path toward economic recovery in sight, the Syrian people are losing hope that any sense of peace and normalcy will return, said the apostolic nuncio to Syria.

“Unfortunately, what is dying in the hearts of many people, is hope,” Cardinal Mario Zenari told the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, Sept. 17.

“After 10 years of war, many — after no longer seeing economic recovery and reconstruction — are losing [...]

QUEBEC CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Gerald Lacroix asked parishes in the Archdiocese of Quebec to “pause” their catechetical programs to give them the time they need to think about what comes next.

The last few months, he said, have given the Quebec church an “unhoped-for opportunity” to “begin anew,” he said in a video posted online Sept. 9.

“Fewer and fewer of our brothers and sisters in Quebec are Christians,” he said. “This cannot leave us indifferent. It is [...]

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — At a time when all people are yearning for a message of hope, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington wants the church to be ready to use all manner of media to proclaim the good news of the Gospel.

In his pastoral letter released Sept. 14, “In Tongues All Can Hear: Communicating the Hope of Christ in Times of Trial,” Bishop Burbidge extols the importance of communicating wisely, especially when using digital media.

Communication “is [...]

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Supreme Court, which begins its new term Oct. 5, will be hearing oral arguments by teleconference, just as it did at the end of the last term, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The court announced its plan Sept. 16, saying in a news release it would follow the same format that it did in May and that “in keeping with public health guidance in response to COVID-19, the justices and counsel will all participate [...]