News
Long-term recovery ahead for California communities hit hard by wildfires
UPDATED - At least 12 major fires were raging across the region, according to news reports. Of those 12, at least five were zero to 5 percent contained, and the rest were 15 to 70 percent contained.
Much of Puerto Rico still has no power; aid distribution facing obstacles
Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Maria tore through the Caribbean, Puerto Rico remains with little clean water, little electric power and almost no telecommunications.
Iraqi-Kurdish war could be deadly for Christians, warns U.S. adviser
Stephen Rasche, a U.S. adviser to the Chaldean Catholic Church, said unless tensions between Baghdad and Irbil are defused, Christian refugees returning to towns on the Ninevah Plain could find themselves in the midst of a "greater war" than that fought against Islamic State.
South Korean Catholics pray for Olympics as tensions build in North
The Diocese of Chuncheon, which straddles the border between South Korea and North Korea, expects demand for pastoral services from athletes, coaches and others at the games in February 2018. Priests will offer Mass and confessions at the Olympic Village.
Pope tops 40 million followers on Twitter, 5 million on Instagram
The papal Twitter accounts, in nine different languages, have grown by over 9 million followers in the past 12 months, representing the interest and attention of "the people -- ordinary people, Christians and non-Christians, political leaders -- for the Holy Father's tweets.
Bishop says Trump proposals do not reflect U.S. immigrant tradition
The Trump administration's newly released immigration policy proposals "do not provide the way forward for comprehensive immigration reform rooted in respect for human life and dignity, and for the security of our citizens," said Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas.
Variety of Catholic rites in India is not threat to unity, pope says
Catholics in India have drawn support from and expressed their faith through the liturgies, traditions and spiritualities of three different rites; Pope Francis said it is time that all of them, no matter where they live in the country, have their own bishops.
Syriac Catholic bishops lament threat to presence in Middle East
Conflicts in Syria and Iraq, disturbances in the Holy Land and the tragedies of Christians in Egypt are forcing "displacement and uprooting from the land" among Christians, even as signs of stabilization are emerging.
Catholics voice concern about efforts to dismantle Clean Power Plan
An Environmental Protection Agency decision to roll back an Obama-era regulation to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants met with disapproval from Catholic organizations, who said people's health and the environment would be harmed.
Venezuelans with HIV make tough choices as medicine becomes scarce
The San Luis Home Foundation offers lodging to mothers and children with HIV who live outside of the capital and travel to the city for medical treatment.