News
Erie bishop backs transparency; redacted report could be released Aug. 8
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court July 27 cleared the way for the August release of a redacted version of a grand jury report on clergy sex abuse that has been termed by one of the state's Catholic bishops as "graphic" and "sobering."
Struggle against virus isn’t over, say Catholics at global AIDS meeting
Despite rumors of its demise, the AIDS pandemic is far from over, and churches must continue to play a critical role in combating the disease.
Pope makes surprise visit to elderly friend in Rome
People in a quiet residential neighborhood of Rome were surprised when a blue Ford Focus came to a stop, and Pope Francis stepped out.
Syriac Catholic bishops call attention to plight of persecuted faithful
In their final statement from the July 23-27 gathering, the bishops noted that they have "raised their voices high in front of the world, denouncing the calamities" which have especially affected the Syriac church, particularly in Syria and Iraq.
Help those in need, never waste food, pope says
Leftovers should be eaten later or given to someone in need who will eat them, he said, advising people to talk to their relatives who lived through the aftermath of the Second World War and ask what they did with any uneaten food.
In the reunification scramble, church groups raced to help families
Catholic humanitarian organizations rushed to collect material help, bishops loudly denounced the separation policy, and groups such as Catholic Extension established a fund to shelter, feed and defend some of the separated immigrant families.
Pew: Most Americans skeptical of benefits of gene editing for babies
A new Pew Research Center study found that a majority of Americans supported the use of gene-editing technology in babies if the goal is "delivering direct health benefits for babies."
Jews saved by ‘righteous’ Dutch Catholic family included author’s wife
A second edition of "Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust," details the story of how a Dutch Catholic couple protected more than two dozen Jews at their farm in rural southern Netherlands during World War II.
Archbishop convicted of failure to report abuse resigns
UPDATED - Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Philip Wilson, who had been found guilty by an Australian court of failing to inform police about child sexual abuse allegations in the Adelaide archdiocese.
Attorney general asks pope’s help on release of abuse report
In June the court had put a hold on the full report being released because it said it needed to review challenges filed by "many individuals" named in the report.