National News

Some Catholics attack immigration policies, others urge new approach

Some said Trump has gone too far, and some say he didn't go far enough because the administration failed to mention what it would do with the more than 750,000 unauthorized immigrants who currently have reprieve from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Advocates return home knowing they have new partners in justice work

Janny Castillo said she was pleased to learn about the breadth of faith-based advocacy for people in need and would return to Oakland with a notebook full of ideas from the connections she made among the more than 600 people on hand.

#Ashtags: When posting Ash Wednesday photos, use your head

Ash Wednesday seems to offer contradictory messages. The Gospel reading for the day is about not doing public acts of piety but the very act of getting ashes -- and walking around with them -- is pretty public.

Foundations seen as a way for dioceses to tap into donors to fund needs

More U.S. dioceses are turning to foundations to help meet their financial and fundraising priorities. And foundation executives in the diocesan realm believe they've only begun to tap into the potential for these gifts.

It’s families helping families as Catholics, others aid Syrian refugees

"We reach out to our vulnerable brothers and sisters," said Kaela Volkmer, who chairs the social teaching ministry at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha and helped welcome a Syrian family.

Heeding ‘call to discipleship’ seen as key to efforts to build up church

Will pastoral leaders simply parrot Pope Francis as they explore new ways to build up the church, or truly "deny" themselves and follow the example of Christ, regardless of the consequences?

Taking care of world God created a moral, spiritual duty, archbishop says

With a proclamation of the story of the creation of the universe from the Book of Genesis and a blessing with water, the Mid-Atlantic Congress opened with a splash Feb. 16 in Baltimore with the theme "Blessed as Living Witnesses."

Vigil near White House highlights worries over Trump immigration policies

About 80 people quietly holding placards that read "Love Thy Neighbor" gathered at Lafayette Park across from the White House to send a message to President Trump in the wake of his executive actions on immigration and border security.

Trump administration sets new wide-ranging immigration guidelines

UPDATED - Two Department of Homeland Security memos called for a border wall to prevent unauthorized immigration plus more staff to strengthen enforcement of immigration laws and "repatriate illegal immigrants swiftly."

Grass-roots leaders join call for ‘disrupting’ oppression that hurts many

The leaders attending the U.S. Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements concluded the four-day meeting Feb. 19 saying in a final message that a "small elite is growing wealthy and powerful off the suffering of our families."