National News

Cardinal: Priest who fathers child has moral obligation to child, mother

"In such a moment, their welfare is the highest priority," Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley said in a statement issued after the Spotlight team at the Boston Globe produced a two-part series Aug. 16 and 17 titled "Father, my father."

Florida bishops ask commutation for death-row prisoner

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops asked Florida Gov. Rick Scott to commute the death sentence of Mark Asay, a prisoner scheduled for execution Aug. 24.

Nicaragua mission trips inspire three friends to become doctors

Drs. Rachel Johnson, Alex Olney and Anna Sulimirski Strasma began volunteering as children with Amigos for Christ, a nonprofit organization that grew out of a youth group project.

Venerable church a natural place to view heavens during solar eclipse

Hundreds of solar eclipse viewers Aug. 21 watched the sky grow dim and then witnessed the spectacular dancing white corona of the sun's edge from alongside Oregon's oldest Catholic church.

Chicago sisters work to bring peace to streets torn by violence

Sisters Joanne Delehanty and Mary Pokorny are two of the many women religious in Chicago working to bring peace to streets torn by violence.

Cardinal says world leaders sidestepping persecution of Christians

Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien told Catholics gathered for Mass and a symposium in the Metuchen Diocese that "the enormity of today's modern Christian genocide is possibly the worst and bloodiest in church history."

Eclipse thrills, inspires viewers to admire the precision of creation

Science teacher Jane Irwin isn't often left without words, but the total solar eclipse left her in a quiet reflective mood. "Awesome. God's amazing" was the best she could muster after the sun reappeared from behind the moon after totality Aug. 21.

Cardinal urges Salvadorans to pray, make time for family, remember roots

During a whirlwind three-day pastoral visit to the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez repeatedly urged people to pray, make time for family, express love and remember their roots.

CMSM speaker: Religious brothers often overlooked in church life

The church needs to look beyond ordained clergy for leadership, said Marianist Father James Heft during an address at the annual meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Phoenix in early August.

Countercultural San Francisco parish attracts growing congregation

Since Father Illo was appointed parish administrator of Star of the Sea Church, bringing his powerful commitment to traditional Catholic practices to the famously progressive city, Mass attendance and number of parishioners registered have increased about 10 percent each year.