News

Chicago priests among Cubs fans still celebrating historic Series win

Both Fathers Michael Novick and John Clemens are lifelong fans of the Chicago Cubs, and with the rest of Chicago, they are celebrating the Cubs winning the World Series and breaking the famous and dreaded 108-year curse.

Archbishop Kurtz sees joy, hope, challenges for church during presidency

It would go against Archbishop Kurtz’s affable style to call his tenure an exhausting exercise in maintaining a dual role as prelate of an archdiocese and his nation’s representative of the Catholic Church.

Pope: World needs a justice system open to hope, not just punishment

After celebrating Mass with detainees and people who had been in prison, Pope Francis called on governments to mark the end of the Year of Mercy by extending clemency to deserving inmates.

In China, new bishops must have papal approval, spokesman says

No matter what the motivation or how seriously threatened one may believe the Catholic Church in China is, the ordination of bishops without a mandate from the pope is a serious violation of church law, the Vatican said.

Dutch cardinal says papal encyclical on gender theory might be needed

Cardinal Willem Eijk of Utrecht, Netherlands, said even Catholic parents were beginning to accept that their own children can choose their genders partly because "they don't hear anything else."

Pope issues new statutes for Pontifical Academy for Life

The main goal of the academy, as founded in 1994 by St. John Paul II, is still "the defense and promotion of the value of human life and the dignity of the person," according to the new statutes, which were published Nov. 5 at the Vatican.

500 religious leaders join Standing Rock Sioux in opposing oil pipeline

The two members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas joined more than 500 ministers and religious leaders Nov. 4 for a day of prayer and conversation in south central North Dakota to confront what they contend is an ecological disaster waiting to happen.

Pope appoints Cardinal-designate Tobin as new archbishop of Newark

UPDATED - The 64-year-old cardinal-designate, who is a member of the Redemptorist order, has been the archbishop of Indianapolis since 2012 and was named a new cardinal by Pope Francis Oct. 9.

Q-and-A on instruction on proper handling of ashes following cremation

In 1963, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an instruction permitting cremation as long as it was not done as a sign of denial of the basic Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Stellar goal-keeping by La Salle’s Werner leads to Catholic League title

The Explorers, led by junior Brett Werner, earned their eighth Catholic League soccer title and first since 2012 with a tough, 2-1 victory Oct. 29 over rival Roman Catholic, the defending champs.