News
Corned beef conundrum: Some dioceses give St. Patrick’s Day dispensation
When St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday, as it does about every seven years, the Lenten rule requiring Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays collides with the long-held tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage.
Philippine archbishop recalls deceased Cardinal Sin in time of upheaval
Expressing concern about thousands of deaths in the nation's so-called "war on drugs," the president of the Philippine bishops' conference has sought courage from a deceased cardinal whose influence helped overthrow a dictator in the mid-1980s.
Vermonters urged to ‘stand resolutely’ against illegal drugs, gun violence
A Burlington man was arraigned in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans for allegedly shooting a man in a Catholic church parking lot. Bishop Christopher Coyne issued a statement condemning illegal use of drugs as well as "any act of violence against any person."
Bravely tackle hardship knowing God will never let you down, pope says
"Trusting in him doesn't magically solve problems, but it allows for facing them with the right spirit -- courageously," he said before praying the Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square Feb. 26.
Signs of God in creation is topic of next lecture in series
The St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Lecture Series continues Monday, March 27 with a talk by renowned Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer discussing evidence for a transcendent creator and the implications for humanity.
Pope to priests: Defend marriage ministering to those in irregular unions
Reaching out to and guiding couples in cohabitation with tenderness and compassion is essential to promoting and defending the sanctity of marriage, Pope Francis said.
Ecumenism is a common journey, not a lab experiment, pope says
While theological dialogue is necessary, Catholics and Anglicans can continue to "help each other in our needs, in our lives and help each other spiritually," the pope said.
U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on border shooting of Mexican teenager
Some of the justices stressed that it was a U.S. concern since the teen was shot by a U.S. agent; other justices said that since the 15-year-old died on the Mexican side of the border, the case should stay out of the U.S. courts.
Priest has ministry to street artists who are transforming neighborhood
When Pope Francis urged that the Gospel be preached at the peripheries of society, he may not have had the street artists of Bushwick in mind. But then again, Father Frank Mann is not so sure he wasn't talking about them.
Australian archbishops to ask Vatican for clarity on confession issues
Among those concerns were whether the seal of confession includes only the sins confessed, not other information revealed in confession, and under what circumstances -- specifically concerning an abuser -- a priest could withhold absolution.