Proposition 8: Two Federal Judges Decree, Marriage Not Between a Man and a Woman

By Deacon Keith Fournier • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Two Judges of a Three Judge Panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that marriage is not between a man and a woman. They further decreed that the people of California could not affirm by referendum that marriage is between one man and one woman. These two ...

Archbishop to U.S. Troops: Obamacare Reg 'Is a Blow to Freedom'

By Terence P. Jeffrey • CNSNews • 2/7/2012

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, wrote a letter to be read at all Sunday Masses for U.S. military personnel around the world that said that a regulation issued by the Obama Administration under the new federal health care law was ...

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Josefina Mota vows to become Mexico's first female president

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Winning Mexico's National Action Party's (PAN) primary, Josefina Vazquez Mota vowed to unite a party battered by a bloody drug war. "I will be the first woman president of Mexico in history," the 51-year-old Mota told cheering supporters. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The conservative ...

Brazil strengthens ties with Cuba with presidential visit

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/4/2012

Brazil's first female president, Dilma Rousseff' touched down in Haiti after visiting Cuba in an effort to strengthen ties with the two beleaguered Caribbean nations. Rousseff is committed to investing her nations with both nations and deepen political ties. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) ...

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Greece to cut civil service jobs, despite protests

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

To the surprise of some, Greece's coalition government has agreed to demands to cut civil service jobs. About 15,000 positions will be cut this year. The decision comes amid mounting global pressure to agree on austerity measures that are needed to secure major new debt agreements. LOS ...

Greek talks on national debt suspended

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Talks on the Greek national debt have been suspended - however, leaders say that many issues have been successfully resolved, and that the talks will continue. After five hours of discussions, Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said that the talks would continue this week. LOS ANGELES, CA ...

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Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls for destruction of Israel, Jews

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is calling for the death of all Jews and the destruction of Israel.  On the Web site, called Alef, Khamenei says the opportunity must not be lost to remove "this corrupting material. It is a "'jurisprudential justification' to kill all the Jews and ...

Syria: 'It's a massive attack - a new massacre is happening here'

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

China and Russia have steadfastly refused to join the United Nations in authorizing sanctions against the nation of Syria for its unbridled attacks on civilian populations during its 11-month uprising. As if in response, the Syrian army has stepped up its attacks on opposition fighters in ...

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Chinese biggest customers for illegal ivory in Egypt

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

While it is still very much illegal to sell items fashioned from ivory, procured from the tusks of endangered elephants, the practice continues very much in force throughout Egypt. Tourist areas, souvenir shops and open air markets brazenly offer ivory walking sticks and figurines ...

Dozens are feared dead after quake in Philippines

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Many fear that dozens of people have been killed in a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in the Philippines. Rescue workers are combing through landslides and toppled buildings on the heavily populated islands of Negros and Cebu. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic online) - Officials in Manila have put the ...

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Zimbabwe officials to investigate typhoid outbreak

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

Health officials in the African nation of Zimbabwe have called for an overhaul of the national water and sanitation systems. There has been an unprecedented outbreak of typhoid in that country that has affected more than 1,500 people. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Zimbabwe Health ...

Al-Shabab bans Red Cross from stricken sections of Somalia

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

Somalia's militant Islamist organization has banned the International Committee of the Red Cross from that African nation's most stricken areas. In a statement, al-Shabab declared that it had "decided to fully terminate the contract" of the RED CROSS, claiming the organization had handed ...

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U.S. federal judge says he can't block Texas sonogram law

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

A U.S. federal judge has upheld the Texas law requiring women to have a sonogram before having an abortion, saying an appeals court had previously forced him to declare the law constitutional. District Judge Sam Sparks had previously struck down parts of the controversial law. With his latest ...

Leaders vow to harness voting power of nation's Catholics

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Catholic leaders have threatened to challenge the Obama administration over a provision of the new health care law which requires all employers, including religious institutions, to pay for birth control. There are some analysts who say the issue could affect the presidential elections. LOS ...

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General Motors back on track to making over $10 billion annually

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/6/2012

Three short years after General Motors drove into government-run bankruptcy that required a massive taxpayer-funded bailout to keep it in business, General Motors says it's back on track to earning over $10 billion annually. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to a report in The ...

New Sony CEO pledges comback

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/3/2012

When Kazuo Hirai, who at 51 is Sony's youngest chief executive, takes over in April from Howard Stringer, he has some daunting tasks in order to bring the company up to speed. Japan's ailing electronics company has announced that it is heading for a bigger-than-expected $2.9 billion annual ...

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Emilio Estevez Talks About 'The Way,' Being Released on DVD February 21

By Randy Sly • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

"The Way" continues to attract national media attention as the powerful film moves toward its Feb. 21 release on DVD. We were able to talk with Emilio Estevez about the film and his thoughts regarding its upcoming release on DVD/Blue Ray. WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - "The Way," written ...

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Grace Hill Media • 1/31/2012

The Award-winning talents of film director  Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, What's Eating Gilbert Grape) and writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) come together to bring us SALMON FISHING IN YEMEN, a touching story starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.  Watch for the upcoming review ...

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Book Review: Magi Theology, the Essence of Illusion

By Michael Terheyden • Catholic Online • 1/8/2012

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany as we recall the three Magi who followed the star of Bethlehem bearing gifts in search of Jesus. Like the Magi 2000 years ago, David Russell has found Jesus and bears gifts, which he shares with us in his book, Magi Theology: the essence of ...

Book Review: Man To Man: A Real Priest Speaks To Real Men

By F. K. Bartels • Catholic Online • 1/8/2012

"Real men are constantly challenged by a culture that is sexually out of control. . . . My dear brothers in the Lord, I know that as married men you are challenged every day. I am writing to you in order to encourage you to remain faithful and to be a hero." "If the house is burning, get a hose and ...

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Actresses from 'The Help' Take Top Honors at SAG

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/30/2012

"The Help," a drama about two maids in Mississippi during the civil rights era stood out in 2011 in an American movie market glutted with 3-D and computer generated imagery. "The Help" took top honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last night, making it a film to watch as the Oscar awards ...

'Game of Your Life': Good Movie, Good Message!

By Randy Sly • Catholic Online • 12/4/2011

Don't' miss "Game of Your Life" on Friday night as Family Movie Night wraps up its second year providing great entertainment that families can enjoy together. Over the past year, FMN has heard from thousands of Family Movie Night fans. Parents have told them that they love to experience the ...

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'Soul Train's' Don Cornelius commits suicide with self-inflicted gunshot wound

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

Don Cornelius, the creator and host of the long-running TV dance show "Soul Train," apparently committed suicide by way of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Cornelius, 75 was discovered at his Sherman Oaks, California home. He had previously complained of "significant health issues." LOS ...

National Choir Appreciation Sunday Set for January 8, 2012

By Randy Sly • Catholic Online • 12/22/2011

There are 32.5 million choir members in churches across America that volunter 8.5 billion hours every year. This event is designed to give this group of Christian servants an opportunity to hear "thank you" from their churches in a very special way. WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Giving ...

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Rome's Exorcist Finding Blessed John Paul II Effective Against Satan

By David Kerr • Catholic News Agency • 5/18/2011

I have asked the demon more than once, 'Why are you so scared of John Paul II and I have had two different responses, both interesting. One, 'because he disrupted my plans.' And, I think that he is referring to the fall of communism in Russia and Eastern Europe. The collapse of communism."Another ...

A Monk Reflects on Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

By Fr. Gregory Gresko, OSB • Catholic Online • 5/8/2011

In the message of Divine Mercy, Jesus expresses His intimate desire to enter into the temple of our heart, but for Him to be able to enter we first must open the door of our heart to His Divine Love.  May we plunge into the love and mercy that emanate from His Sacred ...

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'Sweathog' Robert Hegyes dies from heart attack

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/27/2012

Long before Bart Simpson, the "sweathogs" on TV's "Welcome Back Kotter" were under-acheivers, and proud of it ma-an. That Seventies TV show focused on a class of likable would-be dropouts in an inner city high school, one of whom actor John Travolta would go on to big screen success. Robert Hegyes, ...

Celebrity chef Paula Deen comes out of the diabetic closet

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/17/2012

Southern celebrity chef Paula Deen has come out of the closet as a type 2 diabetic, after being diagnosed with the condition for three years. Appearing on the Today Show, Deen wished to address rumors concerning her health. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "I was diagnosed three years ago during ...

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Female participation vital to success of sustainable development projects

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

According to the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, women are responsible for half of all of the world's food production. Women also continue to bear most of the responsibilities at home, from caring for children to providing meals. Participation from women ...

9th circuit court attempts to redefine marriage

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

California's ban on gay marriage appears headed to the United States Supreme Court following a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court ruled on Tuesday that Proposition 8 was a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians.  LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The three ...

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Catholic, Gay, and Feeling Fine, Thanks: Part 1

By Sonja Corbitt • Catholic Online • 11/9/2011

The persecution and bigotry from both sides of the issue proceed, partly, from misunderstanding. Steve Gershom's simultaneous Catholicity and SSA are what is so compelling about his message. Ultimately he beautifully illustrates the tension between the beauty of faith and honest acknowledgment of ...

Kaspar the Friendly Robot helps autistic children

By Catholic Online • Catholic Online • 3/9/2011

At a pre-school for autistic children in Stevenage, north of London, researchers bring in a human-looking, child-sized robot weekly for a supervised session with children, whose autism ranges from mild to severe. Playing with the robot for up to 10 minutes alongside a scientist who controls the ...

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Memo to Obama: You've Got a Problem.

By Thomas Peters • Catholic Vote • 2/7/2012

It's been amazing to watch White House Press Secretary Jay Carney dutifully take the podium day after day and deny that Obama has created a problem for himself by forcing Catholic individuals and institutions to subsidize abortifacient drugs, sterilizations and contraception. LOS ANGELES, CA ...

Catholic Social Doctrine: The Right to a Just or Living Wage

By Andrew M. Greenwell, Esq. • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

The worker's labor is what allows him to "gain access to the goods of the earth."  It is what allows him "the means to cultivate worthily his own material, social, cultural, and spiritual life and that of his dependents."  Failure to pay him a just wage shuts him out of this ...

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Food co-ops becoming more and more 'a way of life'

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

Food co-ops were once the province of hippie communes or cosmopolitan cities with strong left-wing policies. However, more food co-ops are gaining popularity all over the United States, particularly in the southern states, where people are hoping to expand on what they view as more than ...

Kids develop taste for salt through starchy foods

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/11/2012

A new study has found that kids develop a taste for salt early on if they eat starchy foods that contain sodium. Things like soft breads, cereals and crackers are all loaded with sodium. Many parents have no second thoughts about handing these types of foods to their kids. LOS ANGELES, CA ...

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Making A List? Check It Twice! (4 Men, 4 Lessons)

By Catherine Perry • Catholic Match: Blog • 7/10/2011

In her quest for Mr. Right, a devout single woman from New York encountered four different prospects -- and was surprised by what she discovered. Before my spiritual awakening - one that I can partially thank CatholicMatch for - I'd had a very limited understanding of what prayer was. I'd ...

A Discerner's Prayer: 'God, Send Me 3 Signs'

By Michael Bowes • Catholic Match: Blog • 7/10/2011

Michael Bowes, 30, an avid 360 gamer, found himself praying intensely after visiting the Mercedarians. He asked God for three signs that he had found his spiritual home. During my discernment with the Mercedarians I found a holy spiritual director who helped guide me on my journey. Father Jack ...

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Families must become pro-active with onset of dementia

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

Dementia, a disease that affects memory very much like Alzheimer's, is too often covered up by family members.  The condition can sneak up on families. Its sufferers are clever at covering lapses early on and spouses are sometimes there to compensate. The family doctors can be ...

Lyme disease remains concentrated in the eastern states of the U.S.

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

After three years of intensive research, scientists have developed a map of the United States that they hope will aid in prevention of the tick-borne illness. The map pinpoints areas of the eastern United States where people have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease. The graph is ...

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Marble Cathedral: World's most beautiful cave network?

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/29/2012

Chile's Marble Cathedral is an intricate system of water-filled caverns in the General Carrera Lake in Patagonia, which is the second largest freshwater lake in South America. Located in the far southern tip of the country, visitors must fly from Santiago, 800 miles to the next nearest ...

Monasterboice in Ireland features many splendid high crosses

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 1/19/2012

Monasterboice, or Mainistir Bhuithe is a fascinating monastic site near Drogheda in County Louth. Including a large cemetery, two churches, one of the tallest round towers in Ireland and two of the tallest and best high crosses, Monasterboice is reputed to have been founded by Saint Buithe, ...

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M.I.T. to offer degrees for free online courses

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 12/23/2011

One of the nation's leading providers of higher education, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or M.I.T. is set to announce a series of free online courses, allowing students the opportunity to earn official certificates free of charge. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "There are ...

Belmont Abbey College Sues Federal Government Over Obamacare Mandate

By Becket Fund • The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty • 11/14/2011

"A monk at Belmont Abbey may preach on Sunday that pre-marital sex, contraception, and abortions are immoral, but on Monday, the government would force the same monk to pay for students to receive the very drugs and procedures he denounces," said Hannah Smith, Senior Legal Counsel at the Becket ...

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Pope Benedict XVI at the Helm: The Prophetic Vision of St Don Bosco

By Deacon Keith Fournier • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

The heroic leadership of this Pope may well represent one more fulfillment of the prophetic vision of the Saint whose Feast we celebrate on this day.This vision could well describe what is occurring in our own day. We need to take our place on the Bark of Peter and follow the Pope as ...

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: Uncompromising Widow, Mother and Catholic

By F. K. Bartels • Catholic Online • 1/4/2012

"If I am right Thy grace impart still in the right to stay. If I am wrong Oh, teach my heart to find the better way" -- the prayer of Elizabeth Ann Seton as she contemplated entry into the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church: a conversion which would ostracize her from family and ...

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Fate of group of Russian scientists in Ice Lake concerns Americans

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/4/2012

U.S. colleagues are increasingly concerned about the fate of a group of Russian scientists plumbing the frozen Antarctic. As the days creep by, the fate of the researchers who went in search of a lake buried in ice for tens of millions of years have failed to respond. LOS ANGELES, CA ...

'Supervolcanoes' can be predicted, scientists say

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/2/2012

The cataclysmic eruptions of the world's largest volcanoes - or "super volcanoes" on Earth could be predicted several decades before they occur. According to researchers, the analysis of rock crystals from the Greek island of Santorini suggests eruptions are preceded by a fast build-up of ...

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Benedictine Monks from Oklahoma Become Missionaries to the Irish Church

By Deacon Keith Fournier • Catholic Online • 1/28/2012

Dom Mark Daniel Kirby, and the brothers gathered with him, represent the best of the monastic life.  They are moving their entire community to Ireland, a land which once gave the world monks, missionaries, and martyrs. They are doing so in order to help bring about the healing of ...

Knights of the Holy Eucharist Announce Facebook Page

By Knights of the Holy Eucharist • Knights of Holy Eucharist • 12/21/2011

Young men 18 and older interested in our community are welcome to visit for up to two weeks. This way they can participate in our work and prayer and make a pilgrimage to this Shrine.Knights of the Holy Eucharist Announce Facebook Page HANCEVILLE, AL (Knights of the Holy Eucharist) - The ...

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Apple still on top when it comes to mobile phones

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/7/2012

There are many things that Apple, the world-leading gadget maker based in Cupertino, California has not conquered. For example, Apple may not be the world's leading mobile phone maker, but its cut of both profits and sales still places it firmly at the top. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - ...

Facebook announces plans for stock market explosion

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/3/2012

Facebook, the world's largest social networking site has announced plans for a stock market flotation. The Web site said it would seek to raise $5 billion, or about half the amount many analysts expected. The initial public offering or IPO is still expected to be the biggest sale of shares ...

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New York Giants have grand parade to look forward to

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) • Catholic Online • 2/6/2012

The New York Giants have a grand parade to look forward to this week. The Super Bowl champions, who defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 with a last-minute touchdown are expected to be given a hero's welcome when they return to the Big Apple. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Super ...

First things First, Tim Tebow is Still the Most Valuable Player

By Christopher Stefanick • Catholic Online • 2/1/2012

According to one poll, 43 percent of football fans said that divine intervention played a role in Tebow's victories. While I'm not sure if God makes a habit out of intervening in how straight and far a ball flies when it's shot from a quarterback's arm, I have no doubt that he intervenes when it ...

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The Armor of Love: Octave of Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

By Deacon Keith Fournier • Catholic Online • 12/27/2011

On this Feast of St Stephen the Deacon and Martyr of the Church, let us continue our clebration of the Octave of Christmas by reflecting on this soldier of Jesus Christ whose life was so conformed to the Lord that he imitated him in his death. Let us also pray for our deacons, that they can ...

Christmas Pointsettias - A Reminder of Redemption

By Randy Sly • Catholic Online • 12/26/2011

We see them everywhere - in flower shops, department stores and grocery stores. The pointsettia came to North America in the early 1800's. Now they are as familiar this time of year as candy canes and carolers. While we pause, during these days in our Christmas celebration, to reflect on the reason ...

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What are YOU doing for Lent?

By Marshall Connolly (Catholic Online) • Catholic Online • 1/24/2012

Lent is almost here prompting the question, "What are you giving up for lent?" This is a tough question for me. I'm a lay person, but working for Catholic Online, I get the question early. I also take the season seriously, so I want to make a thoughtful decision that is both realistic and that ...

Pope's Easter Vigil Homily: We Celebrate the First Day of the New Creation

By Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Online • 4/25/2011

'The first day of the week was the third day after Jesus' death. It was the day when he showed himself to his disciples as the Risen Lord. In truth, this encounter had something unsettling about it. The world had changed. This man who had died was now living with a life that was no longer ...

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