Crux Now

Rome march defies anti-Semitism, celebrates Jewish/Catholic friendship

Romans marched on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of when over one thousand Jews were taken from their homes by Nazis in 1943 and sent to the concentration camp of Auschwitz. As anti-semitic sentiments rise in Europe and the United States, Catholic and Jewish organizers of the event praise fruitful dialogue and invite faithful not to forget the lessons from the past.

Security situation for Christians in Mali gets worse

Monsignor Edmond Dembélé, the secretary general of the bishops' conference of Mali, says "there are so many armed groups now, all trying to prove themselves” in the country. The Central African nation's small Christian minority is feeling the brunt of the violence, as Islamist groups destroy Christian places of worship, and drive Christians out of their homes.

Franciscans mark 800 years of serving in the Holy Land
- Crux Staff
- October 18, 2017
The Franciscan mission to the Holy Land was commissioned in 1217 by St. Francis of Assisi himself, and over 100 years later – in 1342 – the Holy Land province of the Franciscans were officially declared the custodians of the holy shrines by Pope Clement VI. In a message marking their 800 years of service, Pope Francis called them “ambassadors of the entire People of God.”
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Protesters arrested for blocking pipeline work through nuns' property
- Dennis Sadowski
- October 17, 2017
The Adorers of the Blood of Christ congregation has objected to the building of a pipeline on land they own, and worked loosely with the anti-pipeline group in efforts to block construction. The sisters say that the pipeline “is a violation of the sanctity of creation, compelling us to challenge its installation through peaceful, prayerful resistance.”
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Department of Justice announces settlement in HHS mandate suits
- Adelaide Mena
- October 17, 2017
On Oct. 6, the Department of Justice revised its guidelines for all government agencies in light of existing religious freedom laws, releasing a set of principles which stated clearly that the government cannot substantially burden religious practices, unless there is a compelling state interest in doing so and those burdens use the least-restrictive means possible. Now the government has settled with those suing over the previous regulations.
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Not listening to God's word turns Christians into fools, pope says
- Junno Arocho Esteves
- October 17, 2017
During his daily Mass, Pope Francis said those who criticized Jesus, like the Pharisee in the Gospel, were “corrupted by vanity, appearance, by exterior beauty and justice.” Christians today also are at risk of thinking this way, which leads them to become “ideologues of Christianity” rather than true followers of Jesus, he said.
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Vatican asks Indonesian bishop to repay funds he allegedly stole
- Catholic News Service
- October 17, 2017
Pope Francis approved the resignation of 58-year-old Indonesian Bishop Hubertus Leteng following the investigation into allegations that he secretly borrowed $94,000 from the Indonesian bishops’ conference and $30,000 from the diocese, without providing an accountability report. Now the diocese and the bishops’ conference want him to repay the money.
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Pope Francis invites prisoners to lunch, instead they escape
- Mary Rezac
- October 17, 2017
Pope Francis regularly includes prisoners in his trips and events, including washing the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday and holding a Jubilee Mass for prisoners at the Vatican last year. Recently, two prisoners took the opportunity presented during a meeting with the pope to escape.
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Pope on interviews: Church must listen, respond to people’s questions
- Cindy Wooden
- October 17, 2017
Pope Francis is famous for giving interviews, and he says he prefers small, neighborhood newspapers and magazines. “In fact, in those cases I really am listening to the questions and concerns of common people. I try to respond spontaneously, in a conversation I hope is understandable, and not with rigid formulas,” he said. A new book collecting his interviews is coming out this week in Italian.
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Feminists in Pope's Argentina stage 'Topless Protest' against the Church
- Inés San Martín
- October 17, 2017
On Sunday in Pope Francis’s native Argentina, feminists favoring legal abortion and the recognition of prostitution as a legitimate trade staged what they called a “boob protest” against a Catholic cathedral in the northern city of Resistencia, tossing a Molotov cocktail at the church as well as stones, bottles and fake used tampons. They also called out the pope by name, chanting, “Bergoglio, look, those who abort are a majority.”
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Middle East’s well-kept secret revealed when Jihad met the Virgin

October 15, 2017

It’s a well-kept secret of societies where Christians and Muslims rub shoulders that conversions from one faith to the other happen with sometimes surprising frequency. Muslims who embrace Christianity face special challenges, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, as a story from Lebanon about the time Jihad met the Virgin illustrates.

Pope canonizes 35 new saints, including a ‘feminist’ priest

October 16, 2017

Pope Francis on Sunday canonized 35 new Catholic saints, including a late 19th and early 20th century Spanish priest today regarded by many as a feminist, because he fought for equal educational opportunities for women and girls. Among the others, 33 were martyrs in either Brazil or Mexico, meaning people who paid the ultimate price for their faith.