Nicole’s Recent Stories
World Mar 15
Vatican bars same-sex union blessing, says God ‘can’t bless sin’The Vatican's orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions. Its conclusion was "negative."…
World Mar 07
Where IS ruled, pope calls on Christians to forgive, rebuildPope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim extremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic heartland, which was nearly erased…
World Mar 06
Pope, top Iraq Shiite cleric deliver message of coexistencePope Francis walked through a narrow alley in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf for a historic meeting with the country’s top Shiite cleric Saturday, and together they delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence in a country still reeling from…
World Mar 05
Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemicPope Francis arrived in Iraq on Friday to urge the country’s dwindling number of Christians to stay put and help rebuild the country after years of war and persecution, brushing aside the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns to make his…
World Dec 27
‘Believe in science’: EU kicks off COVID-19 vaccine campaignDoctors, nurses and the elderly rolled up their sleeves across the European Union to receive the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine Sunday in a symbolic show of unity and moment of hope for a continent confronting its worst health…
Health Dec 12
Italy’s staggering virus toll poses uncomfortable questionsItaly could soon reclaim a record that nobody wants — the most coronavirus deaths in Europe — after the health care system again failed to protect the elderly and the government delayed imposing new restrictions.
World Nov 11
Pope Francis vows to end sexual abuse after report on church cover-upPope Francis is vowing to rid the Catholic Church of sexual abuse and offering prayers to victims of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
World Nov 10
Vatican investigation finds Pope John Paul II, other leaders downplayed or dismissed allegations against ex-Cardinal McCarrickA Vatican investigation into ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has found that a series of bishops, cardinals and popes downplayed or dismissed reports that he slept with seminarians.
World Nov 02
Vatican breaks silence, says pope’s civil union comments were taken out of contextThe Vatican says Pope Francis’ comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context, but still confirmed Francis’ belief that gay couples should enjoy legal protections.
World Oct 22
Plot thickens over origins of pope’s civil union endorsementQuestions are swirling about the origins of Pope Francis’ bombshell comments endorsing same-sex civil unions. All evidence suggests he made them in a 2019 interview that was never broadcast in its entirety.