National News
Pope names Bishop Hebda of Gaylord to be Newark coadjutor archbishop
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Bernard A. Hebda of Gaylord, Mich., 54, to be coadjutor archbishop of Newark, N.J. As coadjutor, he would automatically succeed Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, 72, upon his retirement or death. Canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope at age 75.
Family, with help from Catholic shelter, seeks to get back on feet
FORT MEADE, Md. (CNS) -- According to Census Bureau estimates released Sept. 17, there are 46.5 million poor people in the United States. This is the story of one of them.
He used to be poor, but that was long ago
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Contrary to the beliefs of some, it is possible for people who are poor to break out of poverty. Clarence Simmons is one of them. Few people know him as Clarence. "Call me Clay," he says.
Religious order files HHS lawsuit; Catholic college joins another suit
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Little Sisters of the Poor and a Catholic college are the latest Catholic entities to file a lawsuit or join an existing suit against the Department of Health and Human Services over its mandate that most religious employers' health insurance plans cover contraceptives, sterilization and some abortion-inducing drugs free of charge.
Connecticut bishop urges Catholics to be builders of spiritual bridges
TRUMBULL, Conn. (CNS) -- Bridgeport's new bishop used a famous image of his hometown -- the Brooklyn Bridge -- to describe how, like a physical bridge, a "spiritual bridge" pulls communities together and draws Catholics closer to God, the Gospels and one another as members of the body of Christ.
Idaho lawmaker introduces Marriage and Religious Freedom Act in House
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A bill introduced in the U.S. House to keep the federal government from discriminating against churches, religious groups and businesses that uphold marriage as being between one man and one woman is "of fundamental importance," two U.S. Catholic bishops said Sept. 20. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, called the measure significant, noting that individuals and organizations that uphold traditional marriage are increasingly being targeted for discrimination by state governments -- this must not spread to the federal government.
Curia meeting seen as way to give pope more input from ‘entire church’
NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, one of eight cardinals appointed by Pope Francis to advise him on possible reforms of the Roman Curia, said Sept. 18 he has received extensive feedback from cardinals and archbishops in the U.S. and Canada in preparation for an Oct. 1-3 meeting with the pope.
Sitcom writer’s road to Catholic Church no laughing matter
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Tom Leopold is a very funny guy. He's also a Catholic. He has been funny longer than he has been a Catholic. But being a Catholic doesn't stop him from being funny.
Military archbishop guides chaplains on ministering to same-sex couples
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services has issued guidelines on ministering to same-sex couples for military chaplains and other priests and deacons who serve Catholics in the military, U.S. Foreign Service personnel and those at Veterans Affairs facilities.
Many flood victims have lost all, but ‘still have the Lord,’ says woman
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Mary Jurgensmeier, a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Greeley, Colo., said she knows people in her community who have lost everything. "We still have the Lord," said Jurgensmeier, who was evacuated from her home Sept. 13. "We will never lose him."