National News
Protesters gather outside bishops’ meeting in Baltimore, call for change
UPDATED - Leaders organized a morning news conference, where they and victim-survivors of abuse denounced the Vatican's request for the U.S. bishops to delay any vote on two proposals they were to discuss at the assembly regarding their response to the clergy sex abuse scandals.
Survivors of clergy child sex abuse tell U.S. bishops of rejection, pain
"I witnessed a church that didn't understand or didn't seem to care, or worse, a church that was actively hostile to the children who had trusted and suffered under its care. A church that professed faith but acted shrewdly, a church that seemed to listen less to Christ's teachings and more to the advice of lawyers."
Kentucky nonprofit recruits ‘water women’ in bid to rid Haiti of cholera
UPDATED - Ursuline Sister Larraine Lauter has a vision of virtually eliminating the threat of cholera across Haiti.
Cardinal: Delay in vote on abuse response proposals a ‘bump in the road’
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston told reporters Nov. 12 that the Congregation for Bishops at the Vatican requested that no vote be taken on the proposals during the bishops' fall general assembly.
Papal nuncio urges U.S. bishops to restore trust, bring about reform
Archbishop Christophe Pierre urged the nation's church leaders to face the issue of clergy sexual abuse straight on, not to run from the challenges that confront them but "face them realistically and courageously."
Vatican asks USCCB not to vote on sex abuse response proposals
The U.S. bishops were set to vote on proposed standards of episcopal conduct and the formation of a review board for complaints against bishops violating the standards. The Vatican wants a vote delayed until after a meeting of bishops in February.
Mass, ceremony mark 100th anniversary of World War I’s end
More than 300 people prayed in Washington as the archbishop for the Military Services said the gathering was not to "assign blame, look at causes or rejoice in victory," but to give thanks and beg God for peace.
Maryland pilgrims walk 50 miles ‘in penance and prayer’ for priesthood
Pilgrims arrived the day in Baltimore before the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened its fall assembly there Nov. 12-14. The clergy sexual abuse crisis, which precipitated the pilgrimage, topped the bishops' agenda.
San Francisco Catholics host Mass for the homeless, pray for deceased
Up to 7,500 residents of the city are homeless, and mortality is up to nine times higher among chronically homeless people, whose life expectancy is 25 years shorter than among the general population.
Final HHS rule confirms religious exemption to contraceptive mandate
The move allows "those with sincerely held religious or moral convictions opposing abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and contraception to exclude such drugs and devices from their health plans," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo.