National News
Teachings on baptism, Trinity make Mormons different from Protestants
WASHINGTON (CNS) — With Mitt Romney at the top of the Republican Party presidential ticket and Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, the Republicans for the first time do not have a Protestant on the ticket. Ryan, the vice presidential candidate, is Catholic. GOP presidential hopeful Romney is a member of the Church of […]
Pain control fits Catholic health mission, but too few aware of it
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The National Palliative Care Research Center estimates that 90 million Americans are living with serious or life-threatening illnesses and the number is expected to double over the next 25 years. People nearing the end of life and their families often are confused about the options available to them in terms of pain […]
Nashville Diocese, others file suit to stop HHS contraceptive mandate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) — The Diocese of Nashville and seven of the Catholic entities operating in middle Tennessee have filed suit in federal court to block implementation of a mandate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requiring them to cover services they find morally objectionable. The mandate, which went into effect Aug. […]
Stephen Colbert, Cardinal Dolan, trade jokes but get serious about faith
In Fordham University's Rose Hill Gymnasium, television comedian Stephen Colbert joined forces with Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York Sept. 14 to discuss faith, humor and spirituality before an audience of 3,000, mostly made up of cheering students. The session was moderated by Jesuit Father James Martin, author of "The Jesuit Guide to Nearly Everything" and "Between Heaven and Mirth." He is the official chaplain of Colbert's show as well as culture editor at the Jesuits' America magazine.
Missouri Legislature overrides veto of bill on HHS mandate
ST. LOUIS (CNS) — Two months to the day after Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a religious liberty bill, both houses of the Missouri Legislature voted by wide margins to override the veto. The Archdiocese of St. Louis called the veto override “a victory for Catholics, people of all faiths, and more specifically, Missouri citizens […]
Religious leaders decry attack on diplomat in Libya, urge understanding
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Religious leaders from across the spectrum were quick to condemn the hate message of an anti-Islam film and the violent attack it supposedly provoked Sept. 11 in which the U.S. ambassador to Libya, three other Americans and several Libyan soldiers were killed in the consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Such eruptions of violence […]
Cardinal Dolan traces historic role of religious freedom in US
WASHINGTON (CNS) — To the enthusiastic reception of an audience of John Carroll Society members Sept. 10, New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan traced the historic origins of U.S. religious freedom in light of a current battle with the government over those rights. Saying that he wanted to “restore the luster” on “this first and […]
Need for US immigration reform at a ‘critical moment,’ say speakers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) — Christians, especially political leaders of both parties, have a moral duty to address the plight of undocumented immigrants in America — as part of the Gospel message to bring justice to the poor, welcome the marginalized and stand up for the powerless. That was the main point during a recent screening […]
Ukrainian Catholic bishops discuss next steps in vibrant-parish plan
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (CNS) — Ukrainian Catholic bishops from around the world gathered in Canada to discuss how to make their parishes more vibrant — especially through the involvement of laypeople. How they do that requires solutions as varied as the parishes that represent more than 4 million Ukrainian Catholics on four continents. “We have parishes […]
D-Day invasion’s youngest ‘traffic cop’ dies at 92
BETHESDA, Md. (CNS) — At 23, Joseph P. Vaghi Jr. was the Navy’s youngest beachmaster at Omaha Beach in Normandy during the June 6, 1944, D-Day invasion, a role he likened to being a “traffic cop,” as he held a map and guided troops ashore, through minefields, mortar blasts and machine-gun fire. Earlier this year […]