National News
House bill recognizes fetal pain, would bar most abortions after 20 weeks
Saying that today "we are not living in uninformed times," U.S. Rep. Chris Smith cited leading experts in fetal pain as he introduced a bill Feb. 15 that would end "dismemberment abortions."
Study: Black Catholics less religious than their Protestant counterparts
Among Black Americans who identify with a religion, "Protestants (73%) are more likely than Catholics (49%) to say religion is very important to them," said a new Pew survey, "Faith Among Black Americans."
Study results will validate faith of some, or cause soul-searching
The new 176-page report by Pew Research covers Black Americans and religion, a subject that hasn't been addressed comprehensively in more than a generation.
How PPP funding helped one parish weather the 2020 pandemic
At St. Francis Parish near San Diego, the COVID relief measure helped keep staff on the payroll and saved hundreds of jobs in the diocese "so that when the pandemic is over we can restart lives."
Biden reestablishes White House faith-based partnership office
The office first formed by President George W. Bush will work with religious and secular groups to help with COVID-19 and economic recovery and confront systemic racism.
Franciscans mark 600th year of ‘still relevant’ support in Holy Land
Since 1899, the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C. has been a popular place to get a glimpse of the Holy Land with its replicas of the holy sites for visitors who can't journey overseas.
Minnesota diocese settles with abuse survivors for $21.5 million
The settlement of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester for claims of sexual abuse will allow for a bankruptcy plan by the diocese. The state had opened a three-year window for lawsuits of historical abuse.
Ex-seminarian’s suit against archdiocese, seminary in Rome called baseless
Officials with the Archdiocese of New York and the Pontifical North American College in Rome will seek to throw out the lawsuit by a man seeking $125 million in damages after he was not allowed to return to the seminary in 2018.
Dispensation from Sunday Mass in Detroit expires March 13
Although the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and holy days will return in the Archdiocese of Detroit, the archbishop will allow exceptions for the sick, elderly and those with "significant fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass."
Catholic agency gets $1 million grant to help fire-devastated cities
The grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to Catholic Charities USA will allow 10 Catholic Charities agencies to deliver aid over the next 12 to 18 months in Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington.