World News
‘Spotlight’ is not anti-Catholic, Vatican newspaper says
"It is not an anti-Catholic movie ... because the film succeeds in giving voice to the alarm and deep pain" experienced by Catholics after reporters in Boston revealed the scandal of clerical abuse, said a Vatican paper.
Rise in extreme poverty traced to 1996 welfare reform law
Meet the Washington family of Ohio, who live on $2 a day per person. One study shows the number of such families rose 159 percent from 1996 to 2011. Says one researcher: "We didn't reform welfare. We actually killed it."
Priest’s mission starts with getting people to the dinner table
"The idea of food in faith is implicit in our Scriptures. It's implicit in our liturgical calendar," he said, also adding that without question it's a key component of the Mass.
Cooking priest shares recipe for ‘super quick’ Lenten meal
Father Leo Patalinghug, known by many as the cooking priest, demonstrated for Catholic News Service how to make a Lenten meal that he described as "super quick" with delicious flavors that also goes along well with the Lenten theme of simplicity.
Cardinal tells Australian abuse hearing he won’t defend indefensible
Cardinal Pell gave evidence at a special session convened in Rome's Hotel Quirinale via video link to the Commission in Australia, from where he was questioned for four hours by Gail Furness, senior counsel assisting the commission.
Salvation comes from small things, not power, lavish show, pope says
Salvation is not found through extraordinary things or powerful people and alliances, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass. God offers it freely in response to "simple" acts of faith, like helping those in need, he said.
St. Louis archbishop pushes for switch to Girl Scout alternatives
The Archdiocese of St. Louis has formed a new Catholic Committee for Girls Formation that is being charged with ministry to all girls in the archdiocese.
Don’t let economic freedom trample human rights, pope tells employers
Don't allow the market to be "an absolute, but honor the requirements of justice," he said in an audience at the Vatican Feb. 27 with representatives of Confindustria -- a federation of employers and the chamber of commerce in Italy.
Speak up, somebody might need your words
People might be offended when we talk about the love of God, writes Chris Stefanick, but more often they wouldn’t mind us sharing about our faith any more than they’d mind us sharing about our favorite football team.
Persecution by ISIS draws once-divided Christians closer
"Just as in the early church," Pope Francis said, the murder of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians by Islamic State militants "has become the seed of Christian unity ... what unites us is greater than what divides us."