National News
LCWR award recipient embraces ‘holy chaos’ of her ministry to migrants
As the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley on the U.S.-Mexico border, Sister Norma Pimentel sees up to 800 migrants every day pouring into her center in the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas.
Outgoing LCWR president asks women religious ‘to model hope’ amid despair
Despite the twists and turns of a world filled with hateful rhetoric and political division, a church beset by a decades-long abuse scandal and the diminishing number of women religious, Catholic sisters are called to stand together and be models of hope.
Is it time for regional synod for U.S. church to address abuse crisis?
In the face of a crisis even worse than 17 years ago, the idea of a regional synod for the Catholic Church in the United States looks increasingly appealing.
South Carolina school expels two students involved in racist videos
A Catholic high school in the Diocese of Charleston is boosting security and stepping up diversity training after expelling two students tied to racist videos and threats against the institution.
U.S. women religious urged to think globally even as they work locally
This year's LCWR assembly united a broad range of topics, including Sister Pat Murray's address on global religious life, sessions for strategic planning, a panel discussion on social justice, the election of a new president, and an award ceremony.
Voracious goats keep Wisconsin cemetery looking beautiful the natural way
Twelve goats are helping tackle the St. Mary Cemetery's problem with buckthorn, an aggressive, invasive species of shrub that had overtaken the cemetery's riverbank.
Sustainable land use urged to ease growing threats to food, water
The summer service program of the Conventual Franciscan order explored the connection that people have to the land.
‘So many funerals,’ says El Paso priest who comforted grieving kin
Father Fabian Marquez was among several priests in El Paso, Texas, summoned to help out where they could in the hours following the brazen Aug. 3 assault at a Walmart store in the Texas border town that left 22 dead and dozens of others wounded.
Jury finds Washington priest guilty on four counts of child sexual abuse
Father Urbano Vazquez was found guilty in D.C. Superior Court on three felony counts of second-degree child sexual assault with aggravating circumstances, and on one misdemeanor count of sexual abuse of a child.
Illinois bishop decries ‘crisis of gun violence,’ asks for solutions
According to published statistics, there have been 255 mass shootings -- four or more victims -- in this country already this year. One hundred people a day and 36,500 people a year die from gun violence.