Faith - Page 89

First United Church of Oak Park has been “fasting from whiteness” during the season of Lent by abstaining from music by white people. 

Ukraine’s war of resistance against the Russian invader is a spiritual battle against Satan, declared Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk Monday.

Pope Francis urged European nations on Sunday to welcome more immigrants and to ease the burden on countries of first entry, such as Malta, Italy, and Spain.

Pope Francis ended his weekend visit to the island nation of Malta with a meeting with migrants Sunday, in which he assured them of his closeness and support.

Pope Francis again asked for prayers for the people of Ukraine Sunday, who continue to suffer the outrages of this “sacrilegious war.”

Pope Francis called for greater openness to migrants Saturday, appealing for a change of narrative from the primacy of national security to the primacy of welcome.

Pro-LGBT Jesuit Father James Martin rushed to the defense of German Cardinal Reinhard Marx Saturday, after the latter proposed changing Catholic teaching on the morality of gay sex.

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, held its first Ramadan prayers in 88 years on Friday to mark the start of the Islamic month of fasting, after being converted into a mosque in 2020.

The German city of Cologne is considering dropping a depiction of its historic Christian cathedral from the city’s logo. Some have criticised the proposed change and called for residents to speak out against the city government.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, called for the resignation of German Cardinal Reinhard Marx Thursday for the latter’s public rejection of Catholic moral teaching.

Muslims across the globe prepared for the start of Ramadan — a month-long holiday during which adherents of Islam participate in a fast from dawn to sunset — on Friday. Islamic faithful observe Ramadan annually as it serves as one of

President Joe Biden said that transgender people are “made in the image of God” in an announcement Thursday on “transgender day of visibility.” 

A busload of ultra-Orthodox residents from Bnei Brak, the city in which the last week’s shooting massacre took place, traveled to Israel’s north to pay their respects at the funeral of an Israeli Christian Arab police officer who was killed while taking down the Palestinian terrorist.

Haitians protesting against a recent spike in crime in the Haitian city of Les Cayes on Tuesday stormed a local airport and burned a small jet owned by a U.S.-based Christian missionary group, Reuters reported.

Former Finnish Interior Minister Räsänen was acquitted by a Helsinki court of incitement over statements and bible verses.

Leaders of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) lauded the Supreme Court ruling permitting death row inmate John Ramirez to receive spiritual assistance prior to his execution.

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk asked journalists Wednesday to expose the extent of the evil being perpetrated by Russia against Ukraine.

Left-wing Brazilian liberation theologian Leonardo Boff said Wednesday that for the past nine years Pope Francis “has been receiving furious attacks from traditionalist Christians and white supremacists, almost all from the North of the world, the U.S. and Europe.”

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk compared the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin to those of Joseph Stalin, who intentionally starved to death millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s.

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk drew comparisons Sunday between Ukraine’s sufferings and those of Jesus Christ during his passion.

Veteran Vatican journalist Sandro Magister said Monday that Pope Francis’ frequent self-contradictions help explain the “growing irrelevance of the Holy See on the world stage.”

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said that during Friday’s consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary all the bishops of the Church prayed for Ukraine’s victory in the war.

Unidentified armed bandits kidnapped Father Felix Zakari Fidson in northern Nigeria on Friday, the Catholic feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary.

Pope Francis renewed his appeal for an end to war Sunday, condemning the “bestiality” of the Russian war on Ukraine.

A group of climate activists met briefly with Pope Francis in the Vatican Wednesday to request his backing in their crusade to halt the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk called for the universal condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine Friday.

Pope Francis will perform a “solemn Act of Consecration of humanity” of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at approximately Friday 6:30 P.M. in Rome (1:30 P.M. Eastern).

The Catholic bishop of Odesa, Ukraine, said this week that if Russia attacks, it will fail because “people will fight ferociously to defend their city.”

Pope Francis said Thursday that military defence and sanctions are not the solution to Russia’s war on Ukraine, but rather a new mentality following “Gandhi’s school” of non-violence.

A 50-year-old Indian Christian pastor was “brutally murdered” by an unidentified group of assailants in central India’s Chhattisgarh state last week, the Indian news website Siasat reported Monday, noting locals believe the suspects may be tied to Hindu nationalist groups.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson used part of her opening statement at the Senate confirmation hearing Monday afternoon to thank God for His blessings, and — as her husband wept nearby — to thank the members of her family.

Ukrainian Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk asked for prayers Monday that God will swiftly grant the Ukrainian army victory over the Russian invaders.

Pope Francis railed against spending money on national defense Monday, insisting that expenditure on weapons “sullies the soul.”

Gospel singer Erica Campbell says she is praying for rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West amid his divorce feud with Kim Kardashian and her new boyfriend comedian Pete Davidson — and that his public outbursts during the ordeal are not reflecting his beliefs as a Christian.

Italian Archbishop Bruno Forte said Sunday that Vladimir Putin’s religious defense of his war of aggression on Ukraine is a “sacrilegious act.”

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has recognized the legitimacy of recourse to arms to repel an unjust aggressor such as in the case of Ukraine in an apparent contradiction of Pope Francis’ rejection of Catholic just war doctrine.