National News
Best practices? ‘What is best for victims,’ says California bishop
As the U.S. bishops pursue "best practices" in their dioceses on how to deal with another clerical sexual abuse scandal in their midst, Bishop Oscar Cantu of San Jose, California, said best practices are simply "what is best for victims."
Bishops see much they can do despite no vote on steps to address abuse
What is left for the bishops to do? Perhaps not much as a group right now, but individually they still can do much within their own dioceses, according to bishops at a Nov. 14 news conference.
Young adults want ‘genuine leadership’ in church, bishop says
Near the close of the U.S. bishops' Baltimore meeting, the church leaders turned their attention to the concerns of Catholic youths and young adults.
University helps give former foster youth, homeless find a new beginning
The Torero Renaissance Scholars program offers comprehensive support specifically to students from the foster care system and those at risk for homelessness.
Trump’s new rule on asylum at border called contrary to existing law
A presidential order signed by Trump Nov. 9 said that people entering the country without documents over the next 90 days will not be eligible for asylum unless they present themselves formally at official ports of entry.
Positive changes seen since 1978 pastoral on persons with disabilities
The pastoral looked at persons with disabilities and " their ability to be more fully engaged in the life of the church," Archbishop Kurtz said.
Cardinal says he leaves USCCB assembly more hopeful than when it started
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo said in remarks closing the assembly that his hope was primarily grounded in Christ as well as realizing that the body of bishops was on the road to implementing protocols to boost the accountability of bishops.
Faith groups could be taxed on transit, parking benefits for employees
"Unless repealed, this provision will require tens of thousands of houses of worship to file tax returns for the first time in our nation's history and will impose a new tax burden on houses of worship and nonprofit organizations"
Standards for bishop accountability discussed at USCCB meeting
A series of standards of episcopal accountability for bishops was formally unveiled Nov. 13 at the fall general meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, but with the proposed standards not going to be voted on, interest in discussing them during the meeting's public session Nov. 14 was low.
Six sex abuse survivors announce lawsuit against U.S. bishops
UPDATED - The lawsuit seeks "court ordered disclosure of identities of all offenders and their histories known only to the bishops who continue to keep this information secret."