News
Syrian nun describes bombing of family, pleads ‘Pray for Aleppo’
Sister Annie Demerjian, an Armenian Catholic member of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary, described how shells fired by either Islamic State or Nusra Front rebels killed two adult sons and their mother.
Court: Belfast bakery wrong to refuse cake with same-sex marriage script
Ashers Bakery, a family-run business that employs more than 60 people, came under scrutiny by the region's Equality Commission for declining a request for a cake with an image of Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie below the motto "Support Gay Marriage."
In smuggling season, Europe struggles with migrant crisis
Warm weather on the Mediterranean Sea means human traffickers are doing a brisk business with migrants. Nine times as many people have died on the journey this year over last.
American killed in Kabul attack recalled as ‘courageous, determined’
Paula Kantor, 46, was a scientist and development specialist who spent the last 20 years of her life working to improve the lives of women and families in the poorest areas of the world through developing better sources of food.
Today’s teaching on the family
See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”
Immaculate Heart sister dies in 72nd year in congregation
Sister Regina Cecilia Shovlin, I.H.M., entered religious life in 1942 and taught for many years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and other dioceses. She was 89.
Be joyful shepherds, trust your laity, be concrete, pope tells bishops
Bishops must have "ecclesial sensitivity," being bold in denouncing cultural trends that offend human dignity, but also trusting their lay faithful to fulfill their vocations in the world, Pope Francis said.
Church must listen to women, pope says
Women can be appointed heads of some offices of the Roman Curia, Pope Francis said, but more important, they must be listened to. He also spoke off the cuff about lay people as spiritual directors.
Faith is expressed in charity, unity, pope says at canonization Mass
The new saints, proclaimed during a Mass May 17 in St. Peter's Square, included two Palestinians -- Sts. Marie-Alphonsine, founder of the Rosary Sisters, and Mary of Jesus Crucified, a Melkite Carmelite -- as well as French St. Jeanne Emilie de Villeneuve and Italian St. Maria Cristina Brando.
Reaction mixed to Tsarnaev death sentence in Boston Marathon bombing
"Catholic Mobilizing Network prays for the victims of the Boston marathon bombing, their families, and all those whose lives have been touched by violence," said a May 15 statement by the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty.