National News

Shroud shows the pain Jesus endured for humanity, says speaker

An expert on the Shroud of Turin, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus, talked to a Pittsburgh audience about the evidence of authenticity for the shroud and its depictions of Christ's extreme suffering.

Father Theodore Hesburgh, higher education leader, diplomat, dies at 97

Holy Cross Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, who led the University of Notre Dame through a period of dramatic growth during his 35 years as president and held sway with political and civil rights leaders, died Feb. 26 at the age of 97.

Bishops’ communications chairman welcomes FCC vote on net neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission's vote Feb. 26 to preserve an "open Internet" and safeguard net neutrality was welcomed in many quarters of the country, including by the chairman of U.S. bishops' Committee on Communications.

San Francisco archbishop forms theology teachers’ committee

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone is forming a committee of theology teachers from the archdiocesan high schools to expand and adjust the language of proposed statements on Catholic teaching on sexual morality and religious practice to be included in the faculty and staff handbooks of the four archdiocesan high schools.

Texas bishop frames theological call to be ‘with the immigrant’

The faith and social justice considerations of immigration might be viewed theologically with an eye not just toward how migrants change "by being with us," said Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, but also "are we willing to change by being with the immigrant?"

University president sees downsides to free community college

President Obama's plan to offer free tuition to community college at a cost of $60 billion over 10 years might cause an "adverse effect" on enrollment for four-year colleges, said the head of an Iowa Catholic university.

New home for Detroit Archdiocese brings hope amid changes, transition

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron said the move from the old chancery to the new downtown home of the Archdiocese of Detroit two blocks away was akin to what Socrates discussed in Plato's dialogues.

Grandson’s needs prompt Flynn’s advocacy for adult stem-cell research

A former Boston mayor and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican said his life's work now is being an advocate for the use of adult stem cells in research and treatment of diseases.

Militants’ actions reinforce urgency of dialogue, religious leaders say

Amid frequent reports of brutal killings and attacks by Islamic State militants, the director of an Islamic group in the United States strongly believes that people of faith must "collectively denounce" these actions of "stark evil" and "cruel barbarism."

Outreach program at Tennessee parish offers food, clothes, lots of hugs

Matt and June Keller know how tough it can be to make ends meet. During their 62 years of marriage, they raised seven kids and faced the challenges of running a household.