National News

HHS looks into removing barriers to program funding for religious groups

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Oct. 25 that it is looking for ways to ensure that faith-based and religious groups are not blocked from receiving HHS funding for their programs. The department’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs issued what is called […]

Texas bishops criticize ACLU’s support for teen immigrant’s abortion

UPDATED - "Federal and Texas state officials are to be commended for defending the life of an innocent unborn child in a recent case involving an unaccompanied pregnant minor in federal immigration custody," the state's bishops said.

Puerto Rico recovery effort shows ‘a church that walks with the poor’

By joining forces to create coalitions on behalf of those who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico has been fulfilling Pope Francis' expressed wish to see "a church that walks with the poor."

Mideast church leaders look to U.S., but want voice in own destiny

Two prominent Mideast church leaders told a U.S. audience that they were looking to the United States for leadership to obtain peace in the Middle East.

Catholic schools in Puerto Rico begin reopening after hurricane

Catholic school students in the Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at least one other diocese on the island have resumed classes with limited water and almost no electricity service after Hurricane Maria devastated the region.

Two Virginia Catholic cemeteries have history on their side

UPDATED - Not only are cemeteries -- and Catholic cemeteries in particular -- a trove of history about the people who are interred there, but two in the state of Virginia show they can have their own moment in the spotlight.

Parish cemeteries: A labor, but also a labor of love

Often overlooked amid issues of grief and loss in Catholic families after the death of a loved one is that thousands of parishes across the United States have their own parish cemetery.

Catholic farmer fears Puerto Rico’s milk industry may be decimated

Gustavo Toledo, a Catholic dairy farmer, sees a looming economic disaster for the island. His and many other dairy farms were wiped out by Hurricane Maria and milk shortages may persist for years.

‘Box’ program aims to give poor children in four countries Christmas joy

Cross Catholic Outreach's "Box of Joy" program is now in its fourth year and has expanded to provide needy children in four countries with a Christmas gift box packed by volunteers in dioceses across the United States.

Small museum in Pacific Northwest has world’s largest rosary collection

Located in southeastern Washington, on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center houses a collection of some 4,000 rosaries that can easily take hours to examine closely.