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Pope’s bombshell sends troubled church scrambling Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
With a few words in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI did what no pope has done in more than half a millennium, stunning the world by announcing his resignation Monday and leaving the already troubled Catholic Church to replace the leader of its 1 billion followers by Easter.
Marriages should transform over time Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Our Ken Potts says healthy marriages are like the old Transformers toys. The basic building blocks of a marriage remain the same over a lifetime, he says, but they can be rearranged in our marriages in all sorts of new and exciting ways.
Images: Pope Benedict XVI retires Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March. The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday morning.
Christian world surprised at Pope’s decision Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign due to his frailty was met with shock, surprise and disbelief from staunchly Catholic Poland to London's Westminster Abbey. Warsaw Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz expressed surprise at the decision, but said it was dictated by the sense of responsibility for the leadership of the Church, which Benedict has held since 2005.
Cardinal George: Pope’s resignation shows courage Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Cardinal Francis George says Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign at the end of the month shows "great courage." The 76-year-old cardinal is spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which serves more than 2 million Roman Catholics.
NY Cardinal Dolan: Electing pope all new to him Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says electing a new pope is all new to him since he's still learning what it means to be archbishop. At a news conference Monday, Dolan quipped he was "still writing thank-you notes from when I was made a cardinal" last year.
Vatican: Benedict XVI too weary to remain pope Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
The Vatican stressed on Monday that no specific medical condition prompted Benedict's decision to become the first pontiff to resign in 600 years. Still, Benedict said his advanced age means he no longer has the necessary mental and physical strength to lead the world's more than one billion Roman Catholics.
Suburban Catholics support pope’s decision, pray for the futureFeb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Surprised more than sad, many suburban Catholics expressed admiration and understanding for Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign, and now look toward the church's future with a little uncertainty but mostly hope. "It must have been a tremendous sacrifice for the Holy Father. I'm grateful for everything he's done for us," said Bishop David J. Malloy, whose diocese covers an 11-county region including Kane and McHenry counties.
Pope’s mission to revive faith clouded by scandal Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
While taking the Vatican and world by surprise, Benedict XVI had laid the groundwork for the decision years ago, saying popes have the obligation to resign if they can't carry on. And to many, his decision was perfectly in keeping with a man who had dedicated his life to the church, showing his love for the institution and an acknowledgment that it needed new blood to confront the future.
Cardinal George preparing for papal conclave Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago plans to attend his second papal conclave next month. George previously attended the conclave in 2005 that elected Pope Benedict XVI after Pope John Paul II died.
Papal resignation opens door to many contenders Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Pope Benedict XVI's resignation opens the door to an array of possible successors, from the conservative cardinal of Milan to a contender from Ghana and several Latin Americans. But don't count on a radical change of course for the Catholic Church: Benedict appointed the majority of cardinals who will choose his successor from within their own ranks.
'Ashes to Go' idea expands internationally Feb 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Episcopal church leaders across the suburbs, the nation, and even the world on Wednesday will help commuters at train stations mark the beginning of Lent with a visible symbol of human mortality — ashes, via a movement called Ashes to Go. "Churches in the Chicago area have made a real effort to invite other people to do this," said the Rev. Emily Mellott of Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard.
10 dead in stampede at Hindu festival in India Feb 10, 2013 12:00 AM
At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured Sunday after a stampede broke out at a train station in the northern Indian town where millions of devout Hindus gathered for a religious festival.
Pope defrocks Illinois priest accused of abuse Feb 8, 2013 12:00 AM
A Roman Catholic priest whose decades-old molestation of a former altar boy led to a $6.3 million payout in an Illinois lawsuit has been kicked out of the priesthood by Pope Benedict XVI. Diocese of Belleville Bishop Edward Braxton announced the move involving 78-year-old Raymond Kownacki in a statement published in a recent edition of the diocesan newspaper.
Award for Lindenhurst church: Feb 8, 2013 12:00 AM
St. Mark Lutheran Church will receive the Community Involvement and Volunteer award from the Lindenhurst Park District on Tuesday, Feb. 12.
Arlington Hts. prayer breakfast recognizes mayor, community spirit Feb 7, 2013 12:00 AM
Community leaders in Arlington Heights gathered Thursday morning to celebrate their faith and their outgoing village president as part of the Mayor’s 26th annual Community Prayer Breakfast. “Faith informs what we do as a community,” said the Rev. David Abrahamson of Lutheran Life Communities, who gave the keynote address.
ACLU seeks removal of Ohio school’s Jesus portrait Feb 7, 2013 12:00 AM
A portrait of Jesus that hangs prominently in an entranceway at a rural Ohio public school is in violation of the U.S. Constitution and should be removed, a federal lawsuit filed Thursday says.
Second City alumnus part of anniversary celebration Feb 7, 2013 12:00 AM
Congregation Kneseth Israel in Elgin has planned a weekend of activities to celebrate its 120th anniversary, including an evening with HBO stand-up comedian and Second City alumnus Robert Klein. Making people laugh is nothing short of a higher calling, Klein said. “I'm not a monologuist that stands there and sits on a stool and tells jokes. I occupy the stage, I do music. I'm a little bit old-fashioned, of the old school, and a lot of the new school."
Lombard pastor ‘had the courage’ to serve othersFeb 6, 2013 12:00 AM
Assisting those in need, following the St. Louis Cardinals and being a grandfather were among the passions of longtime First Church of Lombard Pastor Robert Hatfield, members of his congregation said Wednesday. Hatfield died Tuesday at age 60. "At our church, he was always about outreach, both to the local community and beyond," church moderator Rick Kelly said.
First Baptist in Elgin marks 175th anniversary Feb 5, 2013 12:00 AM
This year marks the 175th anniversary of First Baptist Church in Elgin, which claims the title of the second-oldest church in the city. The church, located on 8.5 acres at 1735 W. Highland Ave., plans to mark the occasion with a big picnic on July 14, the exact date of its founding 175 years ago.