News

Jailhouse is ready to rock for Pope Francis

Since family reunification is a goal of the Philadelphia Prison System, the pope's Sept. 27 visit to a city prison with inmates and their families has officials and prisoners excited.

Court reinforces order blocking Pa. dioceses from HHS mandate

The Supreme Court continued to shield the Pittsburgh and Erie dioceses from having to provide employees with health care coverage that includes contraceptives.

Pope will have ‘profound, lasting impact’ on New Yorkers, says cardinal

The 30 hours or so Pope Francis will spend in New York in September will be relatively brief, but "his presence here among us will have a profound and lasting impact on all New Yorkers, said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan.

Pope will visit as ‘pastor,’ not ‘politician,’ says Washington cardinal

Pope Francis will make history during his visit to Washington in September, when he becomes the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress and he says the first canonization Mass to be celebrated in the United States.

New focus for U.S. Buddhist-Catholic dialogue: social justice

This new, practical approach to interreligious dialogue marks a shift from the more traditional discussions aimed at mutual knowledge and understanding to a greater emphasis on planned collaboration for social projects.

Archdiocese and Catholic teachers’ union agree to new contract

The teachers ratified a new one-year deal June 25. Negotiators for the union and the archdiocese used a simplified process to reach an accord before September.

Public, private events highlight pope’s stay in Philadelphia

See the schedule of papal events in Philadelphia, released by the Holy See, for the two-day visit Sept. 26-27.

Pope’s visits to Cuba, U.S. to highlight families, charity, tolerance

Visiting both Cuba and the United States on the same trip not only acknowledges his role in encouraging detente between them, but will give Pope Francis an opportunity to demonstrate that while different political and cultural challenges face Catholics in both countries, the Gospel and its values are the same.

Texas Catholic Conference disappointed by court ruling on abortion law

The Supreme Court ruling prevents enforcement of the law until the fall when the high court will decide if the justices should hear an appeal from a lower court.

Papal summer: Benedict heads for hilltop villa, Francis trims schedule

Pope Francis will still hold his Angelus prayer and address every Sunday; however, there will be no Wednesday general audience for all of July, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. The general audience will resume in August in the Vatican's solar-powered and air-conditioned Paul VI hall.