National News
Group helps memorialize children lost through miscarriage, stillbirths
Ministry for parents of miscarried and stillborn children helps families through the burial process and offers programs to commemorate the young lives.
Poet says journey to Catholicism, quest to see Vermeer’s art led to joy
In addition to his Vermeer quest, White also tells tales of his childhood; his alcoholism ("I was a classic, low-bottom drunk") and recovery; his experiences with Match.com; his first wife, who died of cancer; and his divorce from his second wife and their bitter child custody battle.
Meet violence, hate in world ‘with resolve, courage,’ archbishop urges
In response to the shootings in San Bernadino, Calif., Archbishop Joseph Kurtz urged all people of goodwill to "resist the hatred and suspicion that leads to policies of discrimination."
National Geographic’s December cover story reveals Mary’s universal appeal
The December issue of National Geographic magazine features a cover story about the Blessed Mother and her appeal to people from diverse cultures around the world.
Catholic schools give high marks to sweeping new federal education law
President Barack Obama signed the sweeping bipartisan legislation Every Student Succeeds Act on Dec. 10. The new act reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the 1965 federal law that provides funds to local and state education agencies for elementary and secondary education programs.
Proposals to restrict religion raise ‘alarms,’ says U.S. bishop
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, emphasized that the threat of terrorism must be confronted sensibly and not by restrictions based on religion.
Alaska priest who visited parishes by plane and by kayak dies at 46
The Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, is mourning the loss of a young priest, an outdoorsman who spread the Gospel in tiny Alaskan communities as well as online.
Pope Francis blesses cornerstone of new cathedral in Raleigh Diocese
Pope Francis, following his regular Wednesday audience in Rome on Dec. 9, blessed the cornerstone of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral for the Diocese of Raleigh and met with Raleigh’s Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
Syrian family arrives in Indianapolis with ‘so much hope in their eyes’
The two small children and their parents were exhausted as their plane landed in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. These were not the average tired travelers coming home from a tourist trip. This was a family arriving to their new home, ready to start a new life in a new country.
Faith leaders, senators say U.S. must not ‘pause’ refugee resettlement
A coalition of religious leaders joined three U.S. senators on Capitol Hill Dec. 8 to say "enough is enough" to those who want to bar Muslim refugees from Syria and other Middle East trouble spots from the U.S. after terrorist attacks in Paris and Southern California.