National News

Bishop calls Catholic men to get off sidelines, step ‘into the breach’

Addressed to Catholic men in the diocese -- "my spiritual sons" as the bishop calls them -- it charges them to be prepared for spiritual battle for their souls and the souls of their families is aimed.

In Missouri, critics call report on Planned Parenthood ‘incomplete’

Attorney General Chris Koster said the organization is complying with Missouri law in how it disposes of human tissue from abortions.

Obama appoints Covenant House CEO, CUA professor to faith-based panel

The presidential advisory council brings together religious and secular leaders as well as scholars and experts in fields related to the work of faith-based and neighborhood organizations.

U.S. House bill allows states to defund Planned Parenthood

With members citing Pope Francis' speech to Congress, the House this week passed a measure to give states the authority to defund Planned Parenthood.

Oregon archbishop consoles Catholics after college shooting spree

Students at the community college said the shooter told people in classrooms to declare whether they were Christian. He shot and killed nine people and wounded nine others before he was killed by police.

Survey gives glimpse into how young Catholic families pray

A new survey finds 76 percent of young Catholics pray, but they do so individually, with only 7 percent praying as a family. Hispanics now make up a majority of Catholic families where the parents are ages 25-45.

Survivor of failed abortion testifies at hearing on Planned Parenthood

Melissa Ohden wants Congress "to give a voice to other survivors like me." What Ohden "survived" was a saline abortion at a hospital in Sioux City.

Pope pleas for commutation of Georgia death sentence

Updated - Less than a week after Pope Francis told a joint meeting of Congress that he backs U.S. efforts to abolish the death penalty, his U.S. nuncio Sept. 29 appealed on the pope's behalf to Georgia officials to commute the death sentence of Kelly Gissendaner, scheduled to be executed later that day.

Protesters at New York gas storage plant arrested while reading encyclical

Their goal Aug. 18 was to stop business as usual at a natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas storage facility operated by Houston-based Crestwood Midstream Partners along the southwest shore of Seneca Lake in New York's picturesque Finger Lakes region.

Stephen Colbert a voice for Catholicism on late-night TV

Sometimes in the entertainment industry, it's not always easy to tell who's Catholic and who's not. One who is, most definitely, is Stephen Colbert, the new host of "The Late Show" on CBS, taking over from David Letterman, who had his swan song in May.