National News
Study shows Guadalupe devotion lessens health issues caused by stress
A good talk with your mother every day could improve your health. At least, that's what's happened for immigrants in one Mississippi community.
Advent: liturgical season with two parts and tools to help
While most Catholics know the season of Advent is roughly four weeks before Christmas, they might not know it has two parts.
Panel OKs bill allowing houses of worship to receive federal disaster aid
Legal language allowing houses of worship to receive federal disaster assistance was advanced out of a House of Representatives committee and was in line for a final vote.
Catholic liturgies avoid Christmas decorations, carols in Advent
Unlike stores, malls, public buildings and homes that start gearing up for Christmas at least by Thanksgiving, churches appear almost stark save for Advent wreaths and maybe some greenery or white lights.
Newtown and gun violence: One place where the political became personal
The numbers are inescapable: Dec. 14, 26 dead, five years. Those are the basic grim numbers behind the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut.
Uncertainty in Congress envelopes children’s health care program
Congress failed to meet a Sept. 30 deadline to continue the federally funded and state-run Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Several states were preparing in late November to notify families that the program would end unless the federal government recommits to funding it.
Net neutrality on the FCC’s chopping block
After collecting millions of comments on a Federal Communications Commission proposal to scuttle the principle that all lawful websites shall be treated the same by internet service providers, the final plan will come up for a vote Dec. 14. It is expected to pass.
SNAP apologizes to St. Louis Archdiocese, priests over false abuse claims
The Nov. 27 apology was issued as part of a settlement with SNAP in a defamation lawsuit filed by Father Jiang in 2015, according to the archdiocese.
2,400 faith leaders ask Senate to nix tax cut bill
Religious leaders, including hundreds of Catholics, called the bill "fiscally irresponsible" and said it "endangers our country's economic health." Their letter added that the bill "disproportionately benefits the wealthy at the expense of vulnerable people and low-income families."
Fixing the system doesn’t mean demonizing immigrants, archbishop says
In a Nov. 28 address, Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski said that too often immigrants are being broken by, rather than breaking, the law.