National News
Family-owned businesses challenge HHS contraceptive mandate in court
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Lawsuits filed by family-owned businesses against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate on moral grounds continue to make their way through the courts. The businesses offer a range of services, from making wooden cabinets to selling car supplies to and running a chain of arts and crafts stores, […]
Florida bishops say use of death penalty ‘sanctions revenge’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CNS) -- Using capital punishment to show that killing is wrong "sanctions revenge," Florida's seven Catholic bishops said in a letter to Gov. Rick Scott. Meanwhile, in Colorado, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver urged legislators to repeal the death penalty.
Ancient art form of iconography called ‘Scripture in paint’
ANNANDALE, Va. (CNS) — Veronica “Ronnie” Royal of Virginia has been an iconographer since 1998, working diligently to hone her craft and encourage the use of icons in contemplation and prayer. Born in Nancy, France, she was raised in the Ukrainian Catholic Church by her Russian mother and Ukranian father. Icons were very much a […]
Gosnell trial’s details lead to hearings on bill to protect fetus from pain
An Arizona congressman recently reintroduced a measure that would outlaw abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks, and he and a number of other members of Congress want to amend it to make it nationwide. Congress has legislative jurisdiction over the district. "Today there is ample documentation that unborn children experience serious pain from at least the 20th week," said New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, who is a cosponsor of the bill. "No one wants to die a painful death. Unborn children deserve no less."
Boy Scouts vote to allow openly gay youths to belong to Scout troops
GRAPEVINE, Texas (CNS) — The Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted late May 23 to allow openly gay youths admittance as members into the 103-year-old organization, effective Jan. 1, 2014. In a statement, the organization said the decision to review the organization’s ban on accepting homosexuals as members was made based on “growing […]
No prayers at public meetings? Supreme Court will take up the case
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court in the fall will hear oral arguments in a case from upstate New York about the practice of praying at open public meetings. One of the questions the high court may consider is what steps a municipality should take to ensure the religious diversity of prayers offered at such meetings.
Immigration bill moves to full Senate after approval by Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Advocates for comprehensive immigration reform expressed optimism and hope for a law to pass this summer after the Senate Judiciary Committee May 21 finished wading through 300 proposed amendments — accepting about a third of them — and passed the massive bill on to the full Senate. Comments lauding the committee’s effort […]
Most priests in new survey dislike Roman Missal translation
Overall, 59 percent of priests responding to the survey said they disliked the new English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. A total of 1,536 priests participated, a response rate of 42.5 percent. All 178 Latin-rite dioceses in the U.S. were invited to participate in the survey; 32 dioceses accepted the invitation. There are more than 14,000 priests in the U.S.
U.S. appeals court strikes down Arizona law banning late-term abortions
PHOENIX (CNS) -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down an Arizona law banning abortions after 20 weeks. The Mother's Health and Safety Act, passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer in 2012, was originally upheld by a federal judge but subsequently challenged.
Vermont now ‘death state’ with doctor-assisted suicide law, bishop says
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Now that Vermont allows “doctor-prescribed suicide,” the “magnificent landscape of this state, which echoes life from its majestic mountains to its powerful waterways, no longer is reflected in the laws which govern the Green Mountain State,” said the head of the statewide Diocese of Burlington. “Vermont is now identified as one of […]