National News
Iraqi Christians in U.S. pray to reunite with family at Christmas
Victoria Rassam, 56, who migrated to Chicago two years ago, was still waiting for her family to come. She said all she could do was pray and that she was "really hoping" she would see her children again soon.
Many numbers, one result: What polling can and cannot do
Pollsters who were long predicting a Hillary Clinton win in November's presidential sweepstakes were proved wrong. Or were they? With votes counted through November, Clinton got 64.87 million to Trump's 62.52 million, or 48.1 percent for Clinton as opposed to 46.4 percent for Trump.
Supreme Court agrees to take up church hospitals’ pension dispute
Lower courts have ruled against three hospital systems, two of which are Catholic, that have claimed an exemption from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Partnership enlivens parish, school, gives seminarians pastoral insights
On most Sundays, the Notre Dame Seminary community will join the parishioners of St. Rita for the parish-seminary Mass. About 20 third-year seminarians also serve during the week as mentors to the students at St. Rita School.
Minnesota school bakes thousands of Christmas cookies for fundraiser
During baking week, students in grades five and six go to the lunchroom, which doubles as Santa's bakeshop, for an hour on each of two days.
Paper’s 1941 war edition expressed faith, patriotism of island Catholics
The unsigned front-page editorial, framed by a drawing of a man and woman gazing upward at a flying American flag, pledged prayers and the resolute cooperation of the church for the still unknown sacrifices ahead.
Some fleeing scene of wildfires describe it as escaping ‘gates of hell’
St. Mary's Catholic Church was at ground zero in the wildfires that devastated parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Nov. 28, and while flames reached to within yards of the tourist city church, it appears to have been spared. Some parishioners weren't as fortunate.
Faith leaders urge Obama to grant pardons to immigrants, prisoners
"There is tremendous fear in our communities. This is a moral rather than legal issue. The president does have the constitutional power to grant these pardons and he needs to act," said Richard Morales, immigration policy director for PICO.
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message remains alive across five centuries
Mexican peasant Juan Diego was greeted by Mary and urged to share a message of hope and comfort as promised by God's compassion.
USCCB leaders seek prayers for migrants, refugees on Guadalupe feast
"As Christmas approaches and especially on this feast of Our Lady, we are reminded of how our savior Jesus Christ was not born in the comfort of his own home, but rather in an unfamiliar manger."