National News
Youngest bishop to head diocese in North America ‘a gift’ to U.S. church
A native of Slovakia, Bishop Milan Lach is among about a dozen bishops from other countries that Pope Francis has appointed to the United States.
Appeals court denies Adorers’ religious freedom claims against pipeline
A Pennsylvania religious order has lost its bid to block a 200-mile natural gas line from the sisters' land on the basis that it violated their faith beliefs. Courts say the sisters waited too long to object.
Worry over immigration on minds of Hispanic charismatic Catholics
Attendance at the congress in Nebraska was up this year even as people feared federal agents would arrest immigrants without documents. The local bishop assured them "the church always has room for you."
1,300 deacons and wives praised for their work of caring for others
The permanent diaconate is flourishing in the U.S., but the apostolic nuncio to the U.S. said at a national congress that the role of permanent deacons is to evangelize and care for others, not to perform office duties.
U.S. church officials favor balance of priests, laity in marriage prep
Despite an American cardinal's assertion that priests "have no credibility" to train couples for marriage, U.S. pastoral leaders stressed parenting skills are needed even more than marriage prep.
New hospital center part of church’s role to be ‘healing force in world’
Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston blessed and dedicated the new three-story, 107,000-square-foot Continuous Care Center, nursing care facility, operated by the diocese's Wheeling Hospital..
Nicaraguans fill Virginia church for Mass, prayers for peace at home
When you are more than 1,000 miles away from home and your entire family is struggling with the violence from pro-government groups against the Catholic Church, what can you do?
Music ‘powerful’ way for people to encounter God, says Paulist priest
A concert July 12 celebrated Father Ricky Manalo's selection as 2018 Pastoral Musician of the Year by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, which met in Baltimore for its 41st annual convention.
Texas Catholic ‘respite’ center serves as symbol of American compassion
It was Sister Norma Pimentel whose idea it was to create this place to "welcome the stranger" and who came in the form of a migrant to the border town of McAllen.
Archbishop Chaput among delegates tapped by pope for synod
Pope Francis has approved five bishops, including Archbishop Chaput and Bishop Robert Barron, to represent the U.S. at the global meeting at the Vatican in October on the concerns of youth.