National News
California bill aims to protect children by breaking seal of confession
A California state bill that would compel a priest to reveal what's heard during confession if there is a suspicion of child sexual abuse can appear to Catholics as an infringement on religious freedom.
New challenges to confession secrecy stem from abuse scandal
For centuries, the Catholic Church has maintained that what a penitent says to a priest in the confessional is strictly confidential, but in 2019 that rite continues to be challenged by governments.
Protecting seal of confession called essential for civilized society
Protecting a penitent's trust in the sacrament of penance from governmental intrusion goes beyond tradition, religious freedom and church law, say experts. Confession is "the one place" people can "relieve conscience of anything."
They’ll go to jail or die rather than violate sacrament’s secrecy, priests say
What is said between a priest and penitent in the sacrament of penance "never, never is repeated," said the pastor of a church named for a 14th century priest martyred for refusing to break the seal of confession.
Greek Orthodox, Catholic leaders look at goodwill churches share
Catholic and Greek Orthodox clergy hope to continue on a path of collaboration between their two churches with the momentum from the June 22 enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Bishop helps migrant family at border cross into U.S. on asylum trek
One of the migrants the Bishop Mark Seitz accompanied has a cognitive disability and another suffers from a heart problem, news agency Reuters reported June 27. It's unclear how many people were able to enter.
Indianapolis archbishop, schools’ head address issues at two high schools
The news gathering was held to discuss the recent choices made by Cathedral High School and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School concerning expectations of teachers, guidance counselors, administrators and other leaders in Catholic schools.
Supreme Court to take up DACA case, not abortion law, next term
In its next term, the Supreme Court will examine if the Trump administration illegally tried to end a program that protects young adults brought to the U.S. as minors without documentation.
New Ulm Diocese reaches $34 million settlement with abuse survivors
Bishop John M. LeVoir said he believes the settlement "we have reached is a fair one" for abuse survivors and also allows the diocese to continue its ministry to those it serves throughout south and west-central Minnesota.
Bishop tries to help migrants at international bridge in El Paso
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the U.S. border Diocese of El Paso, Texas, walked and prayed with a group of migrants at the Lerdo International Bridge in El Paso June 27 as they sought asylum in the U.S.