ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) — Episcopal bishops, priests and lay delegates at their church’s triennial convention in Anaheim voted July 14 to lift a moratorium on the ordination of gay and lesbian bishops that had been in place for three years. As reported by Ecumenical News International/Religion News Service, more than 70 percent of lay and […]
Continue readingCAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Catholic officials in Zimbabwe said they are working to involve ordinary Zimbabweans in a constitutional consultation, although many people fear retribution. “People are apprehensive about taking part in discussions about the constitution but, while there is fear, this process has to happen,” said Father Frederick Chiromba, secretary-general of the […]
Continue readingKINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — The Catholic bishops of Congo have called on each citizen to become personally involved in the fight against deeply rooted corruption in the African country. The bishops describe corruption as “one of the bases for the unequal distribution of national resources between the wealthy classes, made up of public authorities, and […]
Continue readingRating: A-II (PG-13) NEW YORK (CNS) — The following is a capsule review of a movie recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Cotton-ball-soft romantic comedy about a travel guide in Greece (Nia Vardalos) who learns to absorb the spirit of the Greek islands in order […]
Continue readingDANVILLE — Provena United Samaritans Medical Center has commenced construction on a new Women’s Health Center within the existing hospital. The new center is just one component of a plan for a $2.7 million project announced last September. The project, which is set for completion by the year’s end, includes the renovation of existing space […]
Continue readingBLOOMINGTON — OSF Healthcare System will extend its services in the Bloomington-Normal area this fall thanks to an agreement signed Tuesday with the Urbana-based Carle Clinic Association. Effective Sept. 13, the Carle Clinic site in Bloomington will be renamed “OSF Medical Group — College Avenue” and will commence operations as a part of OSF Healthcare […]
Continue readingWhile Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria makes painful cuts to programs in response to the continuing state budget crisis in Springfield, Catholic health care institutions in the diocese also have been coping with the impact of late payments from the state. The Illinois General Assembly is not set to return to work on […]
Continue readingBLOOMINGTON — Eliseo Valdes wishes you weren’t looking at his face for this story. He’d rather you see the faces of the poor people he has come to love so much in El Salvador. It is a relationship that was forged a year ago when he traveled to San Luis Talpa with a group from […]
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Photo Caption: Angela Telthorst, a Mahomet native, joins more than 200 FOCUS missionaries in making a profession of faith at St. John’s Catholic Chapel. By: By Tom Dermody CHAMPAIGN — Fresh out of boot camp, Ryan Purcell is ready to go to battle. His destination? The University of Illinois. Purcell is one of 86 first-year […]
Continue readingWASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI’s new encyclical, “Caritas in Veritate” (“Charity in Truth”), breaks new ground on such topics as microfinancing, intellectual property rights, globalization and the concept of putting one’s wealth at the service of the poor, according to Catholic scholars and church leaders. In interviews with Catholic News Service and in statements […]
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