News

Hawaii Senate vote advances assisted suicide bill modeled on Oregon law

The proposed law would allow an adult Hawaii resident diagnosed with a terminal illness and determined to have six or fewer months to live, to request a prescription for a lethal dose of medication to be self-administered to end his or her life.

Journey as peacemaker leads Palestinian to dialogue with Israeli settlers

"For me it is looking into the teaching of Jesus. Jesus talked about loving your enemy and loving your neighbor. When I put these two verses together I looked around and looked to see who was my enemy? Who was my neighbor? (The answer was) the settlers," said Awad.

Effort to rescue Blessed Sacrament in fire recalled as act of great faith

When they awoke Feb. 20, 1967, Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin did not know that by early afternoon they'd perform actions that would cost them their lives -- and render them modern-day martyrs in the eyes of many.

Pope to visit Colombia as it emerges from half-century of war

The Vatican announced March 10 that the pope had accepted the invitation of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Colombian bishops.

Cardinal Dolan op-ed urges passage of nationwide school choice bill

Writing in a column for The Wall Street Journal March 9, Cardinal Dolan said he hoped that the president would "push Congress to make scholarship tax credits available to working-class families."

Pope pans ‘evil’ of populism, praises good humor in latest interview

"The Lord preserves my peace and gives me a great sense of humor," Pope Francis said in a discussion of topics including priestly vocations. Making clerical celibacy optional, he said, "is not the solution."

Deadly tornadoes lead to extra prayer, charity in first days of Lent

"Since we have begun Lent -- with its traditional prayer, fasting and almsgiving -- we have an opportunity to reach out to those who are victims of the tornado."

Agency called ‘shining star’ nationally for financial education efforts

According to Jane Stenson, senior director for poverty reduction strategies for Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Charities of Oregon is recognized as an innovator in financial education, which she said has become more of a focus nationally.

Deacon John Boyle, in ministry at Holy Name Parish, dies at 74

Ordained in 2006, Deacon Boyle retired from his career with the Internal Revenue Service only a year later. He served his parish actively until last fall.

Local immigration expert advises how to enforce laws, welcome strangers with love

Father Thomas Betz worked on immigration issues for years in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Answering eight key questions from CatholicPhilly.com, he explains that an open U.S. border would be chaos but low-skill immigrants should get visas, now unavailable, to do the work needed in America.