National News
Catholic groups challenge mandate on gender transition procedures
Several Catholic hospitals, a Catholic university and Mercy sisters who run health clinics filed suit in a federal appeals court to a requirement under the Affordable Care Act for performing gender transition procedures, and for insurance to cover them.
Allentown Diocese launches ‘How We Are Catholic’ video series
The videos showcase people, places, history, work and traditions that make up the Catholic family of faith in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Mourning in Kentucky: Resolve to rebuild follows tornadoes
One of the most powerful twisters in U.S. history leveled Mayfield, a city of 10,000 in western Kentucky overnight Dec. 10, as numerous other tornadoes ravaged Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri, leveling entire communities.
Mourners recall Dole as ‘genuine’ American hero who loved his country
World War II veteran and U.S. senator Bob Dole, and his "Greatest Generation," represented a "God-fearing ... and can-do attitude that defined America," said former Sen. Sam Brownback. "His death represents the end of an American era."
Father Donald Cozzens, who challenged clericalism, dies at 82
The Cleveland priest and seminary rector spent more than 20 years writing on issues he believed church officials needed to address including transparency in decision-making, welcoming women into a wider roles and renewing church structure.
Court keeps Texas abortion law in place, allows challenge to continue
The Supreme Court said Dec. 10 that clinics can continue to challenge a Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law will remain in effect, but Chief Justice John Roberts urged the U.S. District Court judge to review the law quickly.
Our Lady of Fatima statue near national shrine in Washington vandalized
Ahead of a major Marian feast day, a marble statue of Mary was vandalized Dec. 5, with her hands and nose cut off, her face scratched and the cross on her crown broken off. Video footage showed a masked person doing the damage.
Doctors: Advances since Roe confirm abortion ‘takes life of unborn child’
During the past 50 years, research on fetal development, including pain perception, has pushed the "viability" timeframe of 24 weeks gestation, which formed the basis of the Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion, to a far earlier stage.
Light shined on untold number of ‘missing’ migrants
The International Organization for Migration is revealing the plight of families looking for their loved ones -- 45,427 missing since 2014 -- though many know it's likely the migrants are dead. "Behind every death is a family searching for answers."
NYC Mass marks end of diocesan phase for Day’s sainthood cause
Although a group was formed in 2005 to support the cause for canonization of Dorothy Day, who died in 1980, it stalled until 2015 when Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Pope Francis shared a car ride and discussed Day during the pontiff's visit to the U.S.