National News
Latino Catholics are church’s future, but also its present, says prof
The Hispanic Catholic presence in the United States predates the foundation of Jamestown, Virginia, by a century, a University of Notre Dame professor said at a discussion about Latino Catholicism at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture.
To build new life in U.S., family has struggled but now ‘we are safe’
The future, however, is in the hands of an immigration court.
National Association of Evangelicals changes position on death penalty
The new resolution, which is the standing policy of the group, does not reverse its initial position but acknowledges that some evangelicals are opposed to capital punishment.
Louisiana religious leaders urge court to spare life of death-row inmate
The religious leaders who signed the brief "have a substantial interest in ensuring that Louisiana courts are fair and juries are not wrongfully persuaded to impose the death penalty by a prosecutor's personal interpretation of the Bible," the brief said.
Poll shows more Americans like Pope Francis after September visit
A new survey finds among practicing Catholics, 90 percent now say they view the pope favorably, up from 83 percent in August. Among all Americans, the pope's numbers jumped to 74 percent from 58 percent.
No human being ‘can be reduced to a problem,’ Archbishop Wenski says
"Jesus was a refugee. And you can be sure that Joseph did not waste any time trying to get a visa to go into Egypt. So Jesus was just as illegal as the illegals we hear about on our talk show programs we love to listen to."
Immigrants ‘need our loving response’ but sense hatred, St. Louis archbishop says
As Archbishop Robert Carlson listens to the national discussion on immigration, he said in a pastoral letter that he is "becoming increasingly concerned about the language and rhetoric of discrimination, hate and alienation."
Planned Parenthood says it will no longer take payments for fetal tissue
The organization sought to discredit undercover videos that showed its officials describing the harvesting of fetal body parts during abortions, and fees for the tissues. It annually receives more than $500 million in public funds.
Catholics urged to join campaign of prayer and fasting Oct. 16-24
The 23rd annual observance is a nine-day campaign for the conversion of people and nations, peace in the world, a renewed culture of life in the United States and a blessing on the Synod of Bishops on the family in Rome.
‘You see the benefits everywhere’ from chaplains, says documentarian
Martin Doblmeier, the writer-director behind the new public television documentary "Chaplains," said chaplains in hospital, prison and corporate settings are worried about how their service is judged.