National News
Chaldeans protest ICE detentions outside federal building in Detroit
UPDATED - The organizer of a June 16 protest in Detroit against federal agents' rounding up more than 100 Iraqi-American immigrants told local media that those who were detained had no prior warning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be arresting them the morning of June 11.
Bishop Burbidge leads public event to plead for political unity
The bishop of Arlington celebrated Mass and led a eucharistic procession June 18 in which he asked politicians, and the media, "to be respectful of each other ... and to let go of harsh words and rhetoric."
Bishops’ concerns for religious liberty, health care echo at assembly
Reflecting their concern that religious liberty at home and abroad remains a top priority, the U.S. bishops during their spring general assembly in Indianapolis voted to make permanent their Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.
Louisiana priest in Washington spends hours with Scalise at hospital
Father Tim Hedrick, parochial vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie, was in Washington continuing his canon law studies when a news alert came across his phone June 14 that Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise, the House majority whip, had been shot.
Trump in announcement on Cuba policy unclear about changes he’ll make
Though he said that "effective immediately, I'm canceling completely the one-sided deal with Cuba," he announced that the U.S. Embassy would remain open on the island and didn't mention anything about the island nation's embassy in the U.S., which is in Washington.
Deportation feared as program protecting parents of citizen children ends
Advocates for immigrants expressed concern that millions of illegal alien parents of U.S. citizens and other permanent legal residents will be subject to deportation after Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly rescinded a memo that protected them.
Convocation delegate wants to find new ways to spread unchanged Gospel
One thing Deacon Eric Paige hopes to get a better grasp of during the gathering -- with its workshops, keynote addresses and time for prayer -- is advice on how to use modern technology to spread the Gospel message.
Latinos join nonprofit’s efforts to help poor on ‘skinny’ budget
Through a program for the Christian nonprofit Bread for the World, which focuses on eradicating hunger, more than two dozen Latinos from around the country who spent June 12 learning about the budget being proposed by the Trump administration.
Bishop Cantu reports on unrest, religious persecution around globe
As chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, Bishop Cantu gave a report on human rights and religious persecution June 15 during the bishops' spring assembly in Indianapolis.
Bishops’ voices called ‘vital’ to fight challenges to religious liberty
The bishops' action came less than a week before the start of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' fifth annual Fortnight for Freedom June 21-July 4. It is a two-week period of prayer, advocacy and education on religious freedom.