National News

Social service advocates seek to reframe how Americans view poverty

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Concerned with widely held negative perceptions about people who live in poverty, advocates attending the National Poverty Summit pledged to reframe how Americans see their poor neighbors and to work to build stronger relationships across economic classes.

Bearing witness to life involves sharing good news, archbishop says

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Bearing witness to life involves living and sharing the good news of Jesus, and reflecting Christ's love to those around us, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori said in an April 1 talk at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

Atlanta archbishop apologizes, responds to criticism of new residence

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Responding to public and media criticism about his new $2.2 million residence, Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory issued a statement of apology in his April 3 column in the archdiocesan newspaper.

HHS barred from enforcing mandate on Catholic entities in Georgia

ATLANTA (CNS) -- A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the Atlanta Archdiocese's Catholic Charities and Catholic education organizations cannot be forced to comply with the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate.

At border Mass, bishops call for immigration reform, mourn loss of life

NOGALES, Ariz. (CNS) -- With the backdrop a few feet away of the rusted iron slats of the 30-foot wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley and a dozen other bishops from three countries prayed April 1 for compassion and for a return to ideals that welcome immigrants.

High court declines to give groups’ HHS appeals preliminary review

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's March 31 decision not to consider preliminary appeals in lawsuits brought by several Catholic groups against the federal contraceptive mandate "means that the cases will proceed, without prejudice, in the lower federal court," according to Priests for Life.

Jeremiah Denton, Navy officer who survived torture as Vietnam POW, dies

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (CNS) -- Retired Rear Adm. Jeremiah Denton, who as a young Navy flight captain was captured in 1965 during the Vietnam War and held prisoner for more than seven-and-a-half years, died March 28. He was 89.

Two church leaders urge Senate to pass Smarter Sentencing Act

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Two Catholic leaders called on the U.S. Senate to pass the Smarter Sentencing Act, which would reform rigid sentencing policies for certain nonviolent drug offenders.

Despite broad support, W.Va. governor surprises with veto of abortion bill

WHEELING, W.Va. (CNS) -- Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston said he was surprised at West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's veto of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have prohibited nonmedical crisis abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization.

Mudslide takes couple’s home, but they worry more about others’ losses

ARLINGTON, Wash. (CNS) -- On a sunny Saturday morning, Ron and Gail Thompson headed off to Costco for a shopping trip with Gail's elderly mother. It was the last time they would see their home along the Stillaguamish River.