News

Family farmers facing worst financial stretch since the 1980s

After a relatively lengthy period of prosperity in the early part of this decade, prices for "row crops" -- corn, soybeans and wheat -- have slid to levels where farmers spend more to raise the crops than they'll get back in sales.

Pilgrimage to Fatima a time of prayer, encounter, pope says

The pope's trip was planned for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mary's apparitions to three shepherd children in Fatima.

Canadians urged to use hands, hearts, heads to end abortion

Speaking May 11 to thousands of pro-life supporters at Parliament Hill on a blustery day, Cardinal Collins said euthanasia and the crushing of conscience rights "brings shame to our country."

Anti-death penalty activist says she wrestled with issue and ‘God won’

Marietta Jaeger-Lane could have killed with her bare hands the man who kidnapped and murdered her daughter. Now she is a leader of the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty, which launched May 11.

Bishop urges increased international help to tackle Somalia’s drought

Bishop Giorgio Bertin of Djibouti urged the international community to focus on alleviating the drought in Somalia as 6 million people experience severe food shortages and contend with the al-Shabab extremist group.

Catholic leaders criticize Indonesia’s continued use of death penalty

Abolishing the death penalty was one of the recommendations put to Indonesia by member states at the 27th session of the U.N. Universal Periodic Review in Geneva.

Bishops say ‘anti-sanctuary’ move will erode immigrants’ trust of police

The Catholic bishops of Texas said the state's move to prohibit cities and other jurisdictions from providing sanctuary to immigrants facing deportation "does not help peace officers build trust with the migrant community."

Haitians fear being forced to go home if special immigration status ends

Haitians in the U.S. since a devastating 2010 earthquake are urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to renew their Temporary Protected Status designation because conditions have not appreciably improved in their homeland.

Catholic high school student arrested for child porn

A senior at Msgr. Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill was arrested May 11 for allegedly tricking teen boys into sending nude photos of themselves.

Minnesota bishop denies coercing abuse victim from reporting allegation

The diocese issued the statement in response to a lawsuit filed that day against the bishop and the diocese.