National News

Wisconsin diocese’s programs help Latino families put faith into action

Juanita Fiscal and her husband, Julio Zuniga, enrolled in the "Discipulos de Cristo" (Disciples of Christ) lay formation program, sponsored by the Diocese of Green Bay, three years ago. As members of St. Willebrord Parish, they wanted to learn more about their faith.

Ancient Catholic tradition of Ember days resurrected by Iowa deacon

Deacon Eric Bertrand, assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in Chariton and Holy Trinity Parish in Lacona, said he was inspired to reintroduce the prayer and fasting traditions of Ember days while reading Pope Francis' 2013 apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel").

Couple’s ancestors ministered to lepers, hanged for witchcraft

The roots of Jerry Nurss' family tree are tangled up in the infamous Salem witch trials. But his wife, Pat, shares her bloodline with a saint. The Oil City, Pennsylvania, couple -- who will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary in August -- quip that their disparate backgrounds have kept them together all these years.

Forum outlines strategies to end extreme poverty worldwide

With extreme poverty having been cut in half over the last generation -- and the Millennium Development Goals target of poverty halving having been achieved five years ahead of the 2015 deadline -- veterans of the global war on poverty believe it is possible that extreme poverty can be wiped out in the next 15 years.

Rabbi receives papal knighthood honor in New York ceremony

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, senior rabbi of Park East Synagogue in Manhattan and founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, was conferred as a papal knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr.

Vatican’s moral opposition to nuclear weapons aired on Capitol Hill

Money spent on building, maintaining and upgrading nuclear weapon systems would go a long way to making the world more peaceful if the funds were used to better the lives of people around the world, Archbishop Bernardito Auza told the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations April 28.

Notre Dame awards Knights of Columbus Evangelium Vitae Medal

The Knights were acknowledged for contributing tens of millions of dollars and volunteer hours to worthy causes and ongoing support for various pro-life initiatives.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, woman of faith, writer, spokeswoman, dies at 68

Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, who went from hometown schoolteacher to Vatican correspondent, lived out her drive to be a writer even in her last days. She died April 28 in her hometown of Albany, New York, after a battle with cancer.

Awaiting ecology encyclical, Catholic groups prepare for pope’s message

Few papal encyclicals have been as eagerly awaited as Pope Francis' upcoming statement on the environment.

Church leaders have long called on humanity to protect creation

Popes and bishops individually and collectively under the banner of their respective national conferences have long connected tenets of the Catholic faith with the importance of caring for and respecting the environment.