News
Archbishop Francis Schulte, 89, dies in Darby hospital
The retired head of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a former auxiliary bishop and priest of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, died Jan. 17 in Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. He was 89.
Puerto Rico archbishop’s political opinion finds its way to Supreme Court
The gist of a Catholic archbishop's opinion, rendered in a guest commentary in a national magazine back in July, is today the basis of a U.S. Supreme Court case that has drawn local and international attention.
Teach the faith, expose extremism, Vatican official asks Arab leaders
"Extremism, with its violent tendencies, is incompatible with true religious ethics," said Comboni Father Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
Church leaders condemn new vandalism at two Christian sites in Jerusalem
Several anti-Christian slogans in Hebrew were discovered scrawled along the walls of the Benedictine Dormition Abbey monastery and the neighboring Greek Orthodox seminary, both located on Mount Zion next to the walls of the Old City.
Abortion number, rate both down, says ‘State of Abortion’ report
The number of abortions, which had peaked at about 1.6 million in 1989, is now down to 1 million, according to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics quoted in the report, which was issued Jan. 14.
Teaching on theology of the body unifies Christians, American says in U.K.
Christopher West said the lessons of St. John Paul II were providing answers to a growing number of Catholics, Anglicans and other Christians concerned about "gender confusion" in the West.
Mercy brings Austrian cardinal, Texas death row inmate together
Devotion to divine mercy spurred an Austrian cardinal to correspond with a death row inmate in Texas; Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna said he was shocked at the idea that Richard Masterson could be put to death Jan. 20.
In visit to synagogue, pope affirms peace and dialogue
The Catholic Church recognizes that God has not revoked his covenant with the Jewish people, Pope Francis said, adding the Holocaust teaches the need "to intervene quickly in defense of human dignity and peace."
Three Catholic newspapers fold in Michigan
The weekly Catholic papers in Saginaw, Lansing and Gaylord had been losing money in nine of the last 10 years. After exhausting financial reserves, they ceased publication Jan. 1.
Anglican leaders sanction U.S. Episcopalians, under pressure from Africans
Because of the U.S. Episcopal Church's moves to allow same-sex marriage, Anglican leaders in Britain voted to suspend Episcopalians from representation in the Anglican Communion for three years.