National News
Marchers urged to stand strong, fight for life with ‘compassion, hope’
Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, welcomed the crowd and thanked them for coming once again to march to end abortion, what she called "the greatest human rights abuse of our time."
Youth at Mass for Life thanked for offering sign of hope for the future
A crowd of 18,000 young pro-lifers packed a Washington arena from across the country and were joined by young adults from Sydney on their way to World Youth Day. One priest called the gathering "an awesome and beautiful sight!"
Number of children separated at border may be higher than thought
By the end of 2018, 2,737 immigrant children officially had been separated from their parents at the border. But a government report conceded the number is unknown and could be higher.
Shutdown finds Catholic Charities agencies working to meet growing needs
Catholic Charities will no longer be receiving Department of Housing and Urban Development funds to run housing programs after Feb. 1 because of the partial federal government shutdown.
U.S. Senate fails to pass measure to make Hyde Amendment permanent
In a vote on the eve of the annual March for Life, the Senate failed to pass a measure that would have codified a rule that forbids federal funding for most abortions. Pa. Sen. Bob Casey was among supporters.
‘So small a thing’ can be a big deal, bishop says at march vigil’s end
Bishop Barry Knestout pointed to the splitting of the atom, the microchip and the birth control pill to draw an analogy to unity and peace, or destruction. The secular and church leadership crises are linked in Washington, he said.
‘Deception’ guided court cases that legalized abortion, archbishop says
On the night before the March for Life, Archbishop Joseph Naumann mentioned the lies behind the two seminal cases that led to legalizing abortion, the current political landscape and the sexual abuse crisis.
No place for ‘religious test’ in government, says Senate in unanimous vote
The U.S. Senate late Jan. 16 unanimously adopted a resolution "to reaffirm religious liberty and condemn religious tests for federal officials."
Without a voice at home, Nicaraguans ask Washington-based OAS for help
The country descended into turmoil in April 2018 and Catholic bishops in Nicaragua have attempted to engage the government in dialogue to broker peace.
Jesuits’ Northeast province releases list of abuse claims against clergy
"At the heart" of the Catholic Church's sex abuse crisis "is the painful, sinful and illegal harm done to children by those whom they should have been able to trust," said Jesuit Father John J. Cecero, provincial of the Society of Jesus' Northeast province in the United States.