National News
With help of crop-duster, Louisiana parish blesses town with holy water
The Dec. 21 sprinkling over Cow Island helped to sanctify fields of wheat, rice and sugar cane, while drawing the community together.
Bishop praises congressional reauthorization of scholarship program
The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, renewed Dec. 19, helps fund a Washington, D.C. school voucher program that Bishop Michael C. Barber said affirms "parents have the right and responsibility to serve as the primary educators of their children."
Report says McCarrick fund gave more than $600,000 to clerics, two popes
The Washington Post said on Dec. 27 that "several of the more than 100 recipients were directly involved in assessing misconduct claims" against the former cardinal.
Missouri priest finds beauty in the ‘king of instruments’
Father Jeremy Secrist oversees the Diocese of Jefferson City's pipe organs, which he says are "able to plug into the soul and heart" of the faithful as they worship God.
Gold Mass helps spread message that faith and science are compatible
Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Society of Catholic Scientists, the Nov. 15 liturgy drew Catholics working in science, engineering, technology and math.
Bishop Conlon takes medical leave from Diocese of Joliet, Ill.
Retired Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, will serve as apostolic administrator of the diocese during Bishop Conlon's absence, which was announced on Dec. 27.
Washington Post publishes Vatican report on West Virginia investigation
The 60-page document, uploaded Dec. 23 on the newspaper's website, describes previously issued accounts of alleged abuse and financial misconduct by retired Bishop Michael J. Bransfield.
Faith leaders, nonprofit groups hail House repeal of ‘parking lot tax’
The measure, signed by President Trump on Dec. 20, eliminated a fee that would have required houses of worship and other nonprofits to pay a 21% tax on employee benefits such as parking spaces and transit subsidies.
Smith, USCIRF welcome State Department report on religious persecution
Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom applauded the State Department's Dec. 20 redesignation of nine nations as "countries of particular concern" for "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations" against various faiths.
Trump rule separates billing for elective abortion from health coverage
The move requires health insurers to invoice customers for coverage of an elective abortion, apart from their premium for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The head of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee commended the administration "for enforcing the law."