News
Pope prays for victims of ferry disaster in Tanzania
As of Sept. 25, at least 224 had been found dead after a ferry capsized in Lake Victoria Sept. 20.
Scandals create outrage, but there is time for conversion, pope says
In what is probably the least religious country in Europe, Pope Francis said he is surprised by how many people hold firm to their faith despite all the sexual abuse and financial scandals in the Catholic Church.
Head of Georgetown Prep urges renewed commitment to being ‘men for others’
In a Sept. 20 letter, Jesuit Father James Van Dyke, president of of Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Md., noted that it is a "challenging time" for the school, in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct raised against Judge Brett Kavanaugh, a 1983 graduate of the school.
Pa. bishops pledge support for fund to aid abuse survivors
Pennsylvania’s eight Roman Catholic dioceses seek creation of an independent fund to compensate survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The bishops say it's better than lifting the statutes of limitation, which could lead to bankruptcy.
Pa. bishops’ statement on sex abuse survivors’ compensation program
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput joined all the Catholic bishops of the state in pledging support for an independent program through which experts will review individual cases and determine financial assistance.
Catholic leaders oppose administration’s plan to limit green cards
Catholic leaders are speaking out against a Trump administration proposed rule announced Sept. 22 that would deny green cards to legal immigrants using public assistance.
U.N. declaration on human rights must extend to unborn, says speaker
A leading scholar on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights suggested in a Sept. 20 talk that although the landmark document doesn't mention this, its demand for respect for human dignity should even extend to the unborn.
Mary shows way to unity in church, bishop of Lourdes says in Jordan
"The Virgin Mary always leads us to Christ and makes our way to the kingdom of God,'" Bishop Nicolas Brouwet of Tarbes and Lourdes told people gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Naour Sept. 21.
In homily, Calif. priest says he was abused, hears from dozens of victims
To be a voice for victims of clerical sexual abuse, Father Brendan McGuire realized he had to come to terms with the abuse he suffered at the hands of a priest when he was 18. It was a secret he had held for 35 years.
Father Joseph Stec, high school Latin teacher for 37 years, dies at 88
Proud of his Polish heritage and supportive of immigrants, the retired pastor of St. Hedwig Parish in Philadelphia taught Latin to students at Cardinal Dougherty High School and Polish to seminarians.