News
Decline of civil society, community seen as ‘spiritual crisis’ for nation
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has initiated the Social Capital Project, which found that civil society has declined in America. He led a discussion pondering localism and federalism as two routes for combating this trend.
Cardinal hopes church’s history of survival in Iraq will help its future
To understand the current situation in Iraq -- the evolving and complex conflicts there, and the fear and resilience of its Christians -- one has to understand its past, which is often ignored or unknown in the West, said a former papal representative to the country.
Cardinal Schonborn: Church doing best to strengthen families of all types
"Favoring the family does not mean disfavoring other forms of life -- even those living in a same-sex partnership need their families," Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna said during a visit to Ireland.
Archbishop: Brazil trying to undo protections for indigenous peoples
"In the 1980s, we helped to draft the articles in the 1988 constitution that recognize the culture of the indigenous peoples and set out protection of their lands by demarcation," said Archbishop Roque Paloschi of Porto Velho. "Today, we are struggling to keep those protections in place."
Religious order welcomes gas pipeline opponents to pray at new ‘chapel’
UPDATED - The pipeline's path takes it through a strip of land the congregation owns in the Harrisburg Diocese that includes farmland and the sisters contend that construction poses a danger to God's creation.
Aspiring religious delay entry to pay off debt
Because many religious orders do not accept members with outstanding debts, 42 percent of individuals discerning religious life in the U.S. are barred from formation because of their student loans.
Clerical assignment changes announced
Archbishop Charles Chaput named a new pastor and parochial vicar for one parish and indicated other changes for a priest and permanent deacon, effective July 17.
Midsummer night’s fair coming to Royersford parish
Sacred Heart Parish in Royersford will hold its annual summer fair Wednesday, July 12 through Saturday, July 15, beginning each night at 5:30 p.m. Fireworks are on July 15.
Bishop sees little improvement in Senate’s latest effort on health care
"On an initial read, we do not see enough improvement to change our assessment that the proposal is unacceptable," said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
House passes anti-trafficking bill; measure goes to Senate
The House passed a bill July 12 that puts more than $500 million over the next four years into efforts to fight labor and sex trafficking both in the United States and abroad.