Catholic News

Vatican launches video news channel on YouTube
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican launched a video channel on YouTube that will feature news coverage of Pope Benedict XVI and major Vatican events. It marked the start of the Vatican's strategic vision of working "to be present wherever people are," said Archbishop Claudio Celli, head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Pope's Africa trip includes encounters with bishops, youths, disabled

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On his first trip to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI will meet with the continent's bishops, visit a church-run center for the disabled in Cameroon and address young people in a stadium in Angola, the Vatican said. The trip March 17-23 will focus on preparations for the Synod of Bishops for Africa, to be held in Rome in October.

Great expectations: World issues dominate Vatican hopes for Obama
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has struck a predominantly positive tone as it opens relations with the administration of President Barack Obama, emphasizing hopes for cooperation on issues of peace and social justice. While registering its disappointment over an early presidential decision to restore funding to programs that offer abortion overseas, the Vatican has avoided pre-emptive battles with Obama over pro-life and family issues.

Science must serve human dignity, pope tells French ambassador

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Great leaps in science must always be guided by the desire to serve the inalienable dignity of the human person, Pope Benedict XVI said. It is the church's hope that an upcoming debate in France on the revision of an existing bioethics law recognizes "the untouchable nature of every human life," the pope told Stanislas Lefebvre de Laboulaye, the country's new ambassador to the Vatican.

Pope lifts excommunications of Lefebvrite bishops
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has lifted the excommunication of four bishops ordained against papal orders in 1988 by the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The move was considered a major concession to the archbishop's traditionalist followers. The Vatican said the decree removing the excommunication, signed Jan. 21 and made public three days later, marked an important step toward full communion with the Society of St. Pius X, founded by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1970.

Pro-life leaders criticize Obama for reversing Mexico City policy

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pro-life activists quickly denounced President Barack Obama's Jan. 23 signing of an executive order reversing the Mexico City policy, a move that clears the way for the federal government to provide aid to programs that promote or perform abortion overseas