National News
Buffalo Diocese files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
The filing comes as the diocese faces a current deficit and about 260 lawsuits that have been filed under New York's Child Victims Act, which suspended the statute of limitations for abuse claims for one year.
Supreme Court rules Border Patrol agent can’t be sued for shooting teen
The Feb. 25 decision regarding the 2010 death of a 15-year-old Mexican youth prevents civil rights lawsuits in U.S. federal courts involving similar cross-border incidents, if the person injured or killed was not on American soil.
Pope names auxiliary bishop for San Diego, three auxiliaries for Newark
Father Ramon Bejarano, a priest of the Diocese of Stockton, and three New Jersey priests were appointed by Pope Francis, as announced in Washington Feb. 27 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Archbishop Naumann calls Senate rejection of pro-life bills ‘appalling’
Senators blocked the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection and Born-Alive Survivors Protection Acts Feb. 25, a move that Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City called a failure "to advance the two critical human rights reforms that most Americans strongly support."
Appeals court upholds Trump administration’s Title X ‘Protect Life Rule’
In a Feb. 24 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ban on using taxpayer funds to promote or provide abortion as family planning.
Supreme Court to examine religious liberty, foster care by same-sex couples
The court announced Feb. 24 that it will examine if the city of Philadelphia can exclude Catholic Social Services from the city's placement program, since the agency will not accept same-sex couples as foster parents.
Leap year’s extra day has a Catholic origin
After years of being out of sync, the world's astronomical and calendar years were reconciled by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, who added an extra day to February every four years, unless the year is divisible by 100 or 400.
Florida bishops call parental consent measure ‘common-sense legislation’
Passed on Feb. 20, the bill requires girls under 18 to obtain parental permission for abortion, with an exception for cases of abuse, incest or similar endangerment.
Federal appeals court now says Florida Latin cross can stay
The Feb. 19 ruling affirms that a World War II-era cross may remain standing in Pensacola, based on the Supreme Court's decision last year about a similar memorial in Maryland. Some analysts note the case could permit more religious symbols in public spaces.
Judge says abuse victims’ attorney can question retired Rochester bishop
In a Feb. 11 ruling, a federal bankruptcy court ruled that retired Bishop Matthew H. Clark of Rochester can be required to answer questions about his knowledge of sexual abuse during the time he headed the diocese.