Catholic Church – News Stories About Catholic Church - Page 37

US Catholics Like Benedict, but Not Rome

Apr 15, 2008 7:18 AM CDT

US Catholics Like Benedict, but Not Rome

Poll shows faithful admire pontiff but find church out of sync

(Newser) - As Pope Benedict XVI arrives for his first visit to America, a Washington Post poll finds that the pontiff enjoys wide support among US Catholics. Nearly three in four say that they have a positive impression of Benedict. But the poll also reveals that most Catholics find the church out...

Domino's Founder Grows His Catholic-Friendly Town

Apr 14, 2008 1:55 PM CDT

Domino's Founder Grows His Catholic-Friendly Town

After a year, Florida's Ave Maria boasts close to 1K residents

(Newser) - Almost a year after opening, Domino’s founder Tom Monaghan’s made-to-order Catholic town is growing. Although the 1,000 residents of Ave Maria, Fla., are not exclusively Catholic, the town wears it identity on its sleeve: The only coffee shop plays Mass on TV 24/7, and the bookstores prominently...

America May See Soft
Side of Hardline Pope

Apr 13, 2008 8:01 PM CDT

America May See Soft Side of Hardline Pope

Pontiff known to blend dogma with compassion

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI is a known hardliner, but Americans may see his softer side during a 5-day US tour this week, the New York Times reports. During stops at the White House, United Nations, and various churches, Benedict will touch on abortion, divorce, war, and the priest sex-abuse scandals, but...

NY, DC
Prep for
Papal Visit

Apr 12, 2008 11:35 AM CDT

NY, DC Prep for Papal Visit

US teams ready churches, Yankee Stadium for holy trip

(Newser) - He may be the only man who can draw Mets fans to Yankee Stadium: Next week, Pope Benedict XVI will lead a stadium Mass on his 6-day tour of Washington, DC and New York. Before gracing second base, the Pontiff will celebrate his 81st birthday at the White House, and...

'Gay Last Supper' Sparks Rage

Apr 9, 2008 11:14 AM CDT

'Gay Last Supper' Sparks Rage

Catholics upset over Vienna museum's painting of apostle orgy

(Newser) - A tiny Vienna museum with ties to the Catholic Church has became the target of worldwide outrage after displaying a homoerotic mural depicting the Last Supper, ABC News reports. The painting, by one of Austria's most cherished artists, shows naked apostles drinking and having an orgy. It has now been...

Pope Will Address Abuse Crisis During US Visit

Apr 8, 2008 9:45 PM CDT

Pope Will Address Abuse Crisis During US Visit

Pontiff aims 'to open the path of healing and reconciliation'

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI will address the clergy sex-abuse crisis during his visit to the US next week, a top aide tells the AP. The pontiff, who begins the six-day trip Tuesday in Washington, "will try to open the path of healing and reconciliation" during a mass for clergy members...

Conan's
Stalker Priest Pleads Guilty

Apr 8, 2008 4:17 PM CDT

Conan's Stalker Priest Pleads Guilty

Disorderly conduct conviction for Ajemian in harassing TV host

(Newser) - A Roman Catholic priest who stalked Conan O'Brien pleaded guilty today to disorderly conduct and apologized for his actions, WBZ-TV reports. Rev. David Ajemian, 46, sent the late-night talk-show host threatening letters on parish letterhead—referring to himself as "your stalker priest"—contacted O'Brien's parents, and got caught...

Austrian Monks Nab Record Deal

Mar 23, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

Austrian Monks Nab Record Deal

Austrian monks to record Gregorian chant album

(Newser) - Amy Winehouse and Cistercian monks wouldn't seem to have much in common, but now they've got the same record label, the BBC reports. Universal Music's search for "sacred singers" to record a Gregorian chant album turned up an Austrian monastery dating back to 1133. "It was beautiful, beautiful...

Prominent Italian Muslim Baptized by Pope

Mar 23, 2008 6:30 AM CDT

Prominent Italian Muslim Baptized by Pope

Convert Takes Big Step at Vatican During Easter Vigil

(Newser) - Italy's best-known commentator on Islam converted to Catholicism yesterday at the Vatican, during Easter vigil, and was baptized by the Pope himself, the AP reports. Though Magdi Allam was born a Muslim, he said he "never" practiced his native religion, and made his name criticizing Islamic fanaticism, receiving death...

Catholic Colleges Brace for Pope's Criticism

Mar 14, 2008 12:50 PM CDT

Catholic Colleges Brace for Pope's Criticism

Free-thinking academics anticipate call to toe the line

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI’s April address to top Catholic educators is likely to be a call to observe church teachings more closely, reports the Washington Post. All but 20 of the 235 American Catholic colleges and universities are too freethinking to suit the Vatican, says one expert, and the situation...

Kidnapped Priest Found Dead in Iraq

Mar 13, 2008 12:49 PM CDT

Kidnapped Priest Found Dead in Iraq

Captors tell church Chaldean archbishop was ill before death

(Newser) - The body of the Chaldean Catholic archbishop who was abducted last month has been found in a shallow grave in northern Iraq, the BBC reports. His kidnappers contacted church officials yesterday to tell them Paulos Faraj Rahho, archbishop of Mosul, had become very sick. They reported his death later that...

Spain Divided Ahead of Big Vote

Mar 8, 2008 6:37 PM CST

Spain Divided Ahead of Big Vote

Nasty campaign will weigh in on Zapatero era

(Newser) - Spaniards are bitterly divided between the ruling Socialist Party and right-wing Popular Party as they head for the polls tomorrow, the Washington Post reports. Polls do not predict a majority for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's socialists or the Mariano Rajoy-led Popular Party, but much will depend on the...

Beloved Italian Saint Exhumed

Mar 4, 2008 4:25 PM CST

Beloved Italian Saint Exhumed

Padre Pio unearthed overnight to duck protests, legal challenge

(Newser) - One of Italy's most revered saints was exhumed without warning Sunday night, evading protesters and preempting a legal challenge, the Guardian reports. The body of Padre Pio was "in surprisingly good condition," said the archbishop of Puglia, where the saint's shrine draws millions of visitors every year. "...

Vatican Meets With Muslims
to Set Summit

Mar 4, 2008 12:50 PM CST

Vatican Meets With Muslims to Set Summit

Leaders aim to mend rift created by pope's inflammatory speech

(Newser) - Leaders from the Muslim world met with Vatican officials today to begin preparations for this summer's landmark Catholic-Islamic summit. Pope Benedict XVI will participate in the talks in an effort by the two religions to reconcile differences aggravated by a 2006 speech by the pontiff that offended many Muslims, reports...

Obama Not Making a Connection With Catholics

Mar 2, 2008 10:24 AM CST

Obama Not Making a Connection With Catholics

Clinton's Hispanic-Catholic base may prove key in coming contests

(Newser) - Barack Obama's poor primary showings with Catholic voters could become more problematic in Catholic-heavy states like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, Politico reports. Despite Obama's string of victories, Hillary Clinton has consistently grabbed a large percentage of Catholics, in part due to her popularity with majority-Catholic Hispanics. Analysts and Catholic politicians...

Vatican Goes to Confessional in an Art Museum

Mar 2, 2008 9:36 AM CST

Vatican Goes to Confessional in an Art Museum

Church reveals Inquisition artifacts

(Newser) - Sure, thousands of accused witches and blasphemers were burned and tortured during the Roman Catholic Church’s centuries-long Inquisition in the Middle Ages—but, with the help of a new art exhibition, the Vatican hopes to show that it wasn't so bad after all, Newsweek reports. The “Rare and...

Spain Gets on Divorce Express

Feb 28, 2008 11:06 AM CST

Spain Gets on Divorce Express

Church leaders say marriage contract is now 'trash'

(Newser) - Marriage has become a battleground in Spain, where divorce has been legal for 20 years, but a recent reform accelerating the process led to a 74% spike in the divorce rate. With 1 in every 2.3 married couples now parting, the Catholic Church is accusing the socialist government of...

Pope Fans Rush for Tour Tickets

Feb 26, 2008 9:03 AM CST

Pope Fans Rush for Tour Tickets

Demand is high ahead of Benedict's US visit in April

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI will be making his first visit to the US in April, and tickets for two super masses are in high demand, USA Today reports. Ticket requests for the masses at Yankee Stadium and Washington's National Park stadium are already more than double the number of seats available....

More Americans Cut Church Ties

Feb 26, 2008 6:00 AM CST

More Americans Cut Church Ties

50% have switched denomination, and 16% have no affiliation

(Newser) - Americans are swapping religious affiliations at an accelerating rate, with 50% choosing a different denomination than the one they were raised in, and 16%—double the number 20 years ago—saying the have no ties to a particular church, a new survey of religious life finds. That doesn't mean they're...

Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Feb 17, 2008 11:40 AM CST

Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Pontiff calls for end to infighting, election of 'president for all'

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI expressed concern today over the escalating tensions in Lebanon, calling on its people to find a “president for all Lebanese” to end the months of infighting that have stalled elections. After his noontime blessing, the pontiff told the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that...