National News
Honors given to activists on climate change, social justice causes
The founding director of the Catholic Climate Covenant told a Washington audience Feb. 9 that he hopes people can find unity around the need to stop and reverse climate change "because we are in deep trouble."
Mothers of murder victim, death-row inmate describe their anguish
Murder leaves plenty of collateral damage to the living. Just ask Vicki Schieber and Terri Steinberg.
Social action directors address involving more Hispanics in advocacy
Acknowledging the growing number of Hispanic Catholics in the United States, diocesan social action directors strategized Feb. 6 on how to better integrate them not just in their local parish, but in the wider church.
CCHD honoree has supported living wages, job training in hot dog truck
With a few thousand dollars spread here and there, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development of the Archdiocese of Baltimore has helped bring living wages to employees who clean sports stadiums and supported a group that helps homeless people with projects including a hot dog truck.
FCC proposal rejects ‘fast lanes,’ supports open Internet for all
The Federal Communications Commission's proposed rules to regulate Internet traffic are in harmony with what Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City and more than a dozen religious bodies asked the FCC to do in September.
Pope will address Congress, Speaker Boehner says
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner announced Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress on Sept. 24 when he visits the United States. The news has not been confirmed by the Vatican.
U.S. Senate looks at ways to address ‘modern slavery’
The Catholic Church has put a spotlight on the global human trafficking crisis by declaring the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking on Sunday, Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former Sudanese slave.
San Francisco’s Catholic teachers told to live out church teaching
The Archdiocese of San Francisco is proposing new clauses to contracts and is updating its handbooks for high school teachers regarding "hot-button issues" of Catholic teaching on sexual morality and religious practice.
Pro-life activists optimistic about state efforts to restrict abortion
While action on a bill that would ban abortions in the United States after 20 weeks has been delayed in Congress, pro-lifers are watching progress in South Carolina, West Virginia and Kansas to protect unborn life.
California bill would legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill
The bill is motivated by the story of Brittany Maynard, a young woman with brain cancer, who moved to Oregon to end her own life Nov. 1. Her mother and husband are pushing the California bill, which is modeled after Oregon's.