National News
Priest-chaplain in U.S. Army feels called to serve God and country
The U.S. Army colonel and Purple Heart recipient Father Eric Albertson has served alongside troops in Iraq and other war zones. "Veterans, he said, "have a spirit of selfless service and a willingness to sacrifice for a cause bigger than themselves."
Divided court considers role of chaplains in the execution chamber
The Supreme Court's consideration of spiritual advisers praying aloud with death-row inmates or placing hands on them during executions faced an uphill battle Nov. 9 as Justices Alito and Kavanaugh questioned such practices.
At 140th anniversary, Trenton Diocese begins synodal journey
Bishop David M. O'Connell of Trenton invited Catholics to join Pope Francis in "walking the same road together" to help discern the church's role in the world. The diocese began the local phase of a global process of listening.
Gomez: Church must proclaim Christ ‘boldly’ in response to ‘woke’ movements
The Catholic Church must "understand and engage" efforts that seek to redress injustice while denying God, said Archbishop José Gomez in a Nov. 4 message. He urged faithful to proclaim the story of salvation "with charity and confidence."
Grassroots effort calls on pope to canonize six Black sainthood candidates
Bishop Bruce Lewandowski celebrated a Mass in Baltimore for the feast of All Saints, at which a national campaign collected signatures in a letter to Pope Francis asking him to expedite canonization of Black Catholics.
Draft statement on Eucharist stresses catechesis not controversy
According to a leaked draft of the U.S. bishops' coming document on the Eucharist, the statement focuses not on denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians but on understanding the real presence of Christ in the sacrament.
Polarized U.S. should look to N. Ireland peace process, leader says
John Carr, a former official of the U.S. bishops' conference, warned in a conference that "democracy itself is under threat" in the U.S. and that the polarization of American political life is "increasingly reflected in ecclesial life."
Infrastructure bill laudable but for abortion funding, bishops say
The proposed Build Back Better Act has much-needed provisions "uplifting the common good," but "it is completely unacceptable" since the current House version of the bill "expands taxpayer funding of abortion," said six key U.S. Catholic bishops.
Supply chain issues ‘dramatically’ delay tombstone deliveries
For families who have lost someone during the pandemic, feeling closure by getting a headstone at the cemetery can take not months but up to a year, and at high prices. Industry leaders cite snowballing problems of material supply, labor and delivery.
N.Y. court to reconsider mandate for abortion coverage by religious groups
Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger hailed the move as a recognition of "serious constitutional concerns" over New York's "heavy-handed" requirement for religious employers to provide insurance coverage for abortion.