National News

CRS president: Denying entry to refugees won’t make U.S. safer

While U.S. elected officials have an obligation to protect the security of Americans, denying entry to desperate refugees will not make the country safer, said the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.

Catholics oppose Trump actions on border wall, sanctuary communities

Agencies cited the words of Pope Francis in criticizing the president's actions and pledged to support and serve migrants in the United States.

School staff’s quick actions help save life of child who had heart attack

The three staffers are credited with their quick actions to help save the life of Ethan, who had a heart attack on the school playground in May 2016.

Catholic agencies file brief in case involving hospitals’ pension dispute

Five Catholic entities called on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower court decisions involving church pensions and whether religious hospitals and schools can be exempt from complying with a federal law covering employee pension benefits.

Trump signs memorandum on building border wall

President Donald Trump enacted two executive memorandums to deal with security, including one that calls for construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Iowans mark Week of Christian Unity with ecumenical prayer service

Blessed Sacrament Parish hosted the Sioux City-wide ecumenical prayer service for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed this year Jan. 18-25. The week had as its theme "Reconciliation -- The Love of Christ Compels Us."

Pro-life leaders praise House vote to make Hyde Amendment permanent

UPDATED - U.S. House passage of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act puts the country "one step closer to getting the federal government out of the business of paying for abortion once and for all," said the president of National Right to Life.

Oakland Diocese closes five schools; seven others to join new network

"The rising rents and mortgage costs of living in the East Bay take up so much of our families earned income, that there's little left over food and living, let alone a 'luxury' item like Catholic education," Oakland Bishop Michael C. Barber said.

Pumped up by pope, anti-poverty advocates joining Vatican summit in Calif.

Pope Francis applauded the work of people from 60 countries who help the poor and the underemployed, including a longtime Detroit activist. Inspired by his words, she will meet with 600 other grassroots organizers from the U.S. next month.

Former employee sues group that advocates for victims of clergy abuse

A former director of development for Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests has charged in a wrongful termination lawsuit that SNAP is more interested in fundraising and taking kickbacks from lawyers suing the Catholic Church than in helping survivors.