News
Vatican approves statutes for papal commission for protecting minors
U.S. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston -- one of the pope's top cardinal advisers and president of the pontifical commission -- had submitted a draft of the statutes, which were approved "by mandate of the supreme pontiff" April 21 by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.
Vatican releases details of pope’s trip July 5-12 to South America
Pope Francis' July 5-12 visit to Latin America will not take him to his native Argentina, but it will put him closely in touch with his Jesuit roots and with one of the main characteristics of his ministry as archbishop of Buenos Aires: direct contact with the poor, the sick and those striving to bring the Gospel to bear on social inequalities.
Msgr. Joseph Prior celebrates 25 years of preaching, teaching the Gospel
The CatholicPhilly.com columnist, Scripture scholar and parish pastor marks his silver jubilee this year. He's hopeful more men will respond to God's call to priesthood. Pray for all the priest jubilarians celebrating their anniversaries -- see our list here.
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.”
Texas governor: Response to prayer after accident made him stronger
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Catholic, noted at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, held May 7 in Washington, there are times when "our prayers are answered differently than the way we expect."
Cardinal calls Catholics, Jews to continue building unity through God
Catholics and Jews risk losing their hard-won interfaith amity if they take ecumenism for granted and fail to pass it along to a new generation of seminarians and laity, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said in an address at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Christian leaders hope Palestinian saints can be intercessors for peace
"I am sure they follow our situation from heaven and will continue to intercede for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land," Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of Jerusalem said at a news conference May 6. "Their intercession is strong and efficacious."
Papal push: Caritas leader sees ‘Francis effect’ at work on the ground
The secretary-general of the Vatican-based network says Pope Francis has had a huge impact on their programs and priorities, on the number of volunteers and, especially, on their sharing.
Kenya expects 100,000 at beatification of WWI-era nun
Kenyan officials are expecting more than 100,000 people at the May 23 beatification of Sister Irene Stefani, an Italian member of the Consolata Missionary Sisters who cared for wounded and sick soldiers in Kenya and Tanzania during World War I.
Virginia bishops urge Catholics to shift focus of death penalty debate
Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond and Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington said it was time to shift the conversation from who should be executed and how to execute people to why the death penalty continues to be applied, especially when other means to protect society without taking a human life exist.