News

Bishop sees Cleveland faithful as missionary disciples answering pope

As he was introduced to diocesan staff and the media at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist July 11, Bishop Perez said he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis and develop a church of missionary disciples.

Priest gets grant to study tie between spiritual direction, moral life

The funding begins in September and will support creation of a book on spiritual direction and the acquisition of virtue, as well as DVD, CD and MP3 materials on the subject and a social-media-friendly website.

Oregon Catholic Conference denounces state’s abortion funding bill

Calling state lawmakers "intolerant of widely held opposing views" and religious beliefs, the Oregon Catholic Conference is denouncing a Legislature-approved bill that requires health insurers to cover abortion on demand.

Braxton: Micah’s words on justice, love must be ‘written in our hearts’

UPDATED - The theme of the 12th National Black Catholic Congress July 6-9 in Orlando focused on a passage by Micah, known as the prophet of social justice, whose warnings and criticism of political corruption and urging of caring for the poor still ring true 2,700 years later.

A different type of immigrant: Boston parish ministers to Brazilians

Father Carlos Barbosa, a Scalabrinian priest originally from Brazil, was sent to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Everett, Massachusetts, to help minister to the Brazilian community. "We are the second-largest Brazilian parish (in the Archdiocese of Boston)," he said.

Hong Kong Christians pray for terminally ill Liu Xiaobo

UPDATED - Hong Kong Christians came together to pray for terminally ill Liu, who was recently released from a Chinese prison but still remains on the mainland.

Nigerian calls West’s imposition of abortion ‘cultural supremacy’

Canada, Great Britain and other donor nations want to boost abortion funding in African nations where people largely abhor the practice, said a pro-life advocate. Midwives and obstetricians are needed most, said a doctor.

Pope approves new path to sainthood: heroic act of loving service

In a new apostolic letter, the pope approved new norms allowing for candidates to be considered for sainthood because of the heroic way they freely risked their lives and died prematurely because of "an extreme act of charity."

Black Catholics at congress urged to ‘listen, learn, think, act and pray’

More than 2,000 converged on Orlando July 6-9 for the 12th National Black Catholic Congress where speakers -- clergy, lay and religious -- addressed a variety of topics and concerns facing black communities and families.

Campuses cannot be ‘echo chambers’ for one viewpoint, say observers

In the wake of several violent incidents involving controversial speakers at universities this year, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing June 20 on free speech on college campuses.