National News
Life of newly beatified New Jersey sister called ‘recipe for holiness’
More than 2,200 people packed the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark Oct. 4 to celebrate the first beatification liturgy in the United States.
Program offers women regimen to reverse RU-486 abortion in first stages
As soon as Rebekah Chaveste swallowed the first pill of the RU-486 abortion regimen at a Planned Parenthood clinic, she regretted it.
Father Groeschel, beloved author and preacher, dies
Father Benedict J. Groeschel, who was a founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a leading pro-life figure and popular retreat master, died Oct. 3 after a long illness. He was 81.
Supreme Court refuses to rule on same-sex marriage
Rulings that overturned state bans on same-sex marriage in five states will be allowed to take effect, after the Supreme Court Oct. 6 declined to consider appeals of seven lower court rulings that such prohibitions are unconstitutional.
Catholic group launches alternative to health insurance
A Catholic group is launching an alternative to health insurance that enables people to pay their medical expenses without being part of a health insurance plan they feel compromises their religious beliefs.
Wisconsin couple a bit in awe to be invited by pope as synod auditors
Alice and Jeff Heinzen will not only be serving as auditors for the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 5-19, they also will make a presentation before the general assembly.
Church complaint says abortion ruling coerces millions of Californians
The California Catholic Conference has filed a federal civil rights complaint protesting a state ruling mandating the inclusion of voluntary direct abortion -- including gender selection and late-term abortion -- in California health insurance policies.
Feds grant $4.2 million in funds for legal aid to unaccompanied minors
For the first time, federal funding will help pay for unaccompanied minor immigrants to get legal assistance, including through Catholic agencies that will receive a little more than half of $4.2 million in grants for this fiscal year.
Legal proceedings, pastoral outreach both part of annulment process
There's an inherent tension between upholding the indissolubility of sacramental marriage and bringing pastoral care to those whose marriages have failed, according to a canon law professor and ethics professor at The Catholic University of America in Washington.
Year of Consecrated Life events to help laity learn more about religious
In an effort to help lay Catholics gain a deeper understanding of religious life, priests, brothers and women religious intend to open their convents, monasteries, abbeys and religious houses to the public one day next February.