News
Devotion to Padre Pio evident in thousands who turn out to venerate relics
The relics, which included a lock of Padre Pio's hair, blood from his wounds, a glove used to cover his stigmatized hands and part of his religious habit, visited St. Francis Borgia Church Sept. 25 and St. Ita Church Sept. 26.
Supreme Court dismisses an appeal in case against earlier travel ban
Trump signed a new expanded version of the travel prohibitions in late September. Release of the new version effectively made the appeal moot, ruled the justices, who also said, "We express no views on the merits."
Catholic high schools have varied stances on athletes ‘taking a knee’
A survey of schools across the country reveal a range of reactions on whether athletes should stand for the national anthem. In Philadelphia there is no policy on it, in Camden disciplinary action can result.
Death penalty is ‘contrary to the Gospel,’ pope says
Marking the 25th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at the Vatican Oct. 11, Pope Francis said the catechism's discussion of the death penalty, already formally amended by St. John Paul II, needs to be even more explicitly against capital punishment.
Catholic parents turn heartache of addiction into hope for others
There were no Catholic programs when two Philadelphia-area parents grappled with their children’s addictions. So they developed their own ministries, and now they are sharing the Catholic Church’s healing mission to deal with today’s leading health crisis. See the latest in CatholicPhilly.com's series on addictions.
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.