National News
Maryland House approves bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide
The bill, which passed with a 74-66 vote, would allow adults with six or less months to live to obtain a prescription for life-ending drugs if a doctor has verified that the person requesting the drugs has the capacity to make the decision for himself or herself.
New location found for migrant respite center in Brownsville Diocese
McAllen city commissioners had voted Feb. 11 to give the center 90 days to vacate the building it was using to provide temporary shelter for immigrants who cross from Mexico into the United States but who have been released by federal authorities.
Abuse summit results in recommendations for diocesan best practices
The Leadership Roundtable was officially formed in 2005 by lay, religious and ordained leaders to help the church address the abuse crisis and promote best practices and accountability in all areas.
North Carolina bills would widen ability to investigate child sex abuse
The proposals, labeled the Sexual Assault Fast reporting and Enforcement Child Act, or SAFE Child Act, gained early support from a Republican and Democrat lawmakers.
Group’s immigrant solidarity project ‘not about politics,’ organizers say
On March 4, the "DuPage Solidarity With the Asylum Seekers" project departed from Joliet, Illinois, and began a long trek to the U.S-Mexico border where they planned to deliver supplies to those who had made a much longer and more dangerous journey to get there.
N.Y. bishops push lawmakers to reject legalizing pot
The New York State Catholic Conference warned that the legislature was rushing to approve recreational marijuana use. "Government should not be encouraging destructive behavior to raise revenue," the conference said.
Packed hearing held on Delaware Senate bills to restrict abortion
A state Senate committee heard testimony from nearly two dozen abortion opponents and advocates for legal abortion concerning the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and the Woman's Ultrasound Right to Know Act.
Lenten staple prompts a grammar debate: Are they fish ‘fries’ or ‘frys’?
An editorial debate worthy of an ecumenical council of board of rabbis roils on. Regardless of what the plurality decides on the plural of the word, at many parishes in Lent, fried fish is what's for dinner.
Notre Dame president says crisis ‘demands prayer’ but ‘we must also act’
Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, said he has heard from many in the campus community that the "deeply disturbing" stories of clergy sexual abuse have "disheartened and challenged their faith."
Guatemalans hit by three years of drought among those CRS Rice Bowl helps
These past three years of drought in Central America have destroyed crops of corn and beans, leaving families starving and causing Guatemala to declare a true state of emergency.