News
Bishops, Catholic groups worry about consequences of partial travel ban
The country's Catholic bishops are "deeply concerned" about the consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow a partial ban on foreign nationals as it reviews the constitutionality of a wider ban.
British doctors’ union supports campaign to decriminalize abortion
The outcome of the vote at the annual representative meeting in Bournemouth, England, means that a political campaign to allow abortion up to birth for any reason will now be seen to have the approval of Britain's doctors.
No church for old men: Cardinals called to be grandfathers, pope says
"We are grandfathers called to dream and to give our dreams to the young people of today. They need it so that from our dreams, they can draw the strength to prophesy and carry out their task," the pope told about 50 members of the College of Cardinals.
Unity is not just ‘bland uniformity,’ pope tells Orthodox delegation
The dream of restoring full unity between Catholics and Orthodox can be a prophetic sign of legitimate differences coexisting rather than just simply agreeing on everything, Pope Francis said.
Religious freedom supporters applaud decision siding with Lutheran school
Religious liberty won June 26 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot discriminate against religious institutions in the distribution of state funds for nonreligious activities.
Father Luke Chow, Phila. priest and native of China, dies at 90
His family converted to Catholicism by the efforts of a saintly missionary. After the communist takeover, Father Chow went to the Philippines and to Philadelphia, where he served since 1977.
For a century, Puerto Ricans have shared faith, citizenship
The mostly Catholic residents of the Caribbean island have lived in Philadelphia since the early 20th century, bringing their Catholic faith and cultural traditions into the city's mix of peoples.
Impact of legalized marijuana needs greater study, Vatican official says
Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson said that while scientific studies on the therapeutic uses of marijuana must be evaluated, the ongoing "lively" debate on its legalization for possible therapeutic uses "tends to neglect any ethical judgement of the substance, in itself negative like with any other drug."
Philippine bishops’ head warns Catholics against fake news
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said misinformation is hampering sound decision-making, "many times with disastrous long-term consequences to persons and to communities."
South Sudan churches decry warring factions for ignoring people’s needs
The heads of the member churches of the South Sudan Council of Churches criticized the country's political leaders "on all sides" for placing political and personal interests above the needs of ordinary people, which they said has led to economic decline, famine and ongoing violence.