“A pope for the Catholic middle”—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That’s how John Allen sizes up yesterday’s headline-grabbing interview with Pope Francis. His take: In political terms, Francis says something out loud that arguably had already become clear, but with a degree of candor that popes don’t often provide: “I have never been a right-winger.” At the level of content, there’s not much groundbreaking in the interview with respect to his hour-and-20-minute press conference aboard the papal plane July 28. He offers the same blend of traditional doctrine with a... Read more

Pope: “There is no human life more sacred than another”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Vatican Radio: Pope Francis on Friday received members of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations who are in Rome on the occasion of their 10th International Conference on Catholicism and Maternal Healthcare. Following a greeting to conference participants, Pope Francis went on to address those gathered in three succinct points. Firstly, he described what he called the paradoxical situation facing the medical profession today. On the one hand, the Pope said we see the progress of medicine, and those... Read more

Shock: vandals decapitate statues at New Jersey Catholic church

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia: Members of St. Mary’s Malaga are in disbelief after vandals smashed the heads off of statues of Virgin Mary and Jesus. In all, nine statues were damaged including three statues that are about five-feet-tall – Sacred Heart of Jesus, Virgin Mary, and Our Lady of Fatima. “For a statue to be defamed in this way in this very holy ground and this very holy church it is crushing to me,” says long-time parishioner Cynthia... Read more

How America got the biggest interview of the year

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Editor Matt Malone, S.J., explains: As with a lot of things, it began with an innocent, offhand remark. James Martin, S.J., America’s editor at large, and I were catching up in my office a few weeks after the election of Pope Francis. We were talking generally about our editorial approach to the new papacy when Father Martin said, “Why don’t we try to interview the pope?” I gave it three seconds of thought and said, “Yes, why not?” An interview... Read more

Quote of the day

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

“God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster, even if it is destroyed by vices, drugs or anything else—God is in this person’s life. You can, you must try to seek God in every human life. Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.” —Francis. Who, like Cher and... Read more

The “black Tebow”? Meet Prince Amukamara—Catholic football star and a virgin

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Giant’s cornerback Prince Amukamara is being compared to Tim Tebow as more people take notice of his religious convictions. Amukamara has been seen praying on the field, but it’s his off-the-field that also has people talking. For example, the 24-year-old footballer is a virgin and is not ashamed of the fact. “Yeah, some people call me the black Tim Tebow,” he told Muscle and Fitness magazine in 2011. “I am a virgin,” he continued. “I’m not ashamed to say... Read more

The pope speaks—and the whole world is listening

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This is truly remarkable: an extended and exclusive interview published today in AMERICA. In the introduction, the editors note: This interview with Pope Francis took place over the course of three meetings during August 2013 in Rome. The interview was conducted in person by Antonio Spadaro, S.J., editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal. Father Spadaro conducted the interview on behalf of La Civiltà Cattolica, America and several other major Jesuit journals around the world. The editorial teams... Read more

Priest appointed to investigate cause for Chesterton sainthood

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It’s getting serious. Details: In a statement released today, the Diocese of Northampton said: “The Bishop has appointed Canon John Udris, a priest of the Diocese and currently a spiritual director at St Mary’s College, Oscott, to undertake a fact-finding exercise on his behalf.” In August this year, the American Chesterton Society released a statement announcing that Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton was seeking “a suitable cleric” to investigate the possibility of opening up the Cause of the prolific writer.... Read more

Pope to bishops: careerism is a “cancer”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Vatican news site : Pope Francis received new Bishops from around the world in audience today in Rome. The audience marked the end of the annual Conference for New Bishops, which provides formation and orientation for men who have been elevated to the episcopate each year. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and Cardinal Leonardi Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches were also in attendance at the Conference, along with Cardinal... Read more

Pope Francis writes to Muslim leader, expresses respect for Islam and calls for mutual understanding

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: The Al-Azhar University in Cairo – considered one of the most important centres of Sunni Islamic learning – has announced that Pope Francis has sent a personal message to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayyeb. The most important Catholic website in Arabic,www.abouna.org, published the communiqué issued by Al-Azhar, which mentions that a meeting took place yesterday between Al Tayyeb and the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, Mgr. Jean-Paul Gobel. During the face-to-face meeting the Nuncio delivered the message... Read more