National News

U.S. Latinos, Latin Americans to get special welcome to world meeting

The director of the Office of Latino Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will have a key role in welcoming to the World Meeting of Families Spanish-speaking delegates from 14 regions around the U.S. and delegates from the 21 Latin American countries.

Cardboard cutout of pope takes tour of Catholic sites in Green Bay

Mayor Jim Schmitt's 2014 invitation to Pope Francis to visit Green Bay sounded like a lark or pipe dream to some people.

New Catholic Charities campaign takes aim at ‘scandalous’ poverty rate

The name of the campaign, "#End45 -- Raise a Hand to End Poverty in America," reflects the 45 million people in the U.S. who live in poverty.

U.S. Catholics support pope, see need to embrace ‘new balance’ in politics

Among Catholics likely to vote in the next election, 77 percent agreed Catholics should consider a wide range of issues rather than only "non-negotiable" issues, according to a new poll.

Lucky few win tickets to New York papal Mass in raffles at parishes

At the intersection of arithmetic and justice, pastors in the Archdiocese of New York are conducting distinctive raffles to distribute the limited tickets allocated to each parish for the Sept. 25 papal Mass at Madison Square Garden.

More must be done to help Middle East Christians, say speakers

Tactics they proposed, though, varied, in hope that some combination of them will make Christians feel secure in their homeland.

Missouri bishop to succeed Bishop Finn in Kansas City-St. Joseph

Pope Francis has named Bishop James V. Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the new bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph in the same state.

Cardinal, other religious leaders advocate for criminal justice reform

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington joined with other Christian leaders Sept. 11 to advocate for a criminal justice system that "aids those who have paid their debt (to society) and are ready to rejoin us."

New USA Catholic Church app offers coverage of papal visit

The official app "brings together information from all Catholic sources: parishes, dioceses, the U.S. bishops and even the Vatican," said a Sept. 15 announcement.

Gomez: Bill lets doctor OK meds for ‘express purpose’ of killing a person

California's newly passed measure to legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill "is no way for our government to make policy on a life and death issue that will affect millions of individuals and families," said Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez.