News

Bishop: Vatican is free to work with everyone, UN is not the ‘devil’

The church will continue to collaborate with the United Nations on any joint project that "does not go against the doctrine of the church," he said at a news conference July 15.

Sydney archbishop: People can’t be forced to change views of marriage

"There are voices in our culture that no longer think marriage need be for life, or be open to children, or be exclusive, or be between man and wife," Archbishop Fisher told the standing-room-only congregation, including 30 couples celebrating anniversaries of 50-65 years.

Court rules against Little Sisters’ plea to avoid way to bypass mandate

Religious entities are not substantially burdened by procedures set out by the federal government by which they can avoid a requirement to provide contraceptive coverage in health insurance, a federal court ruled.

Ukrainian priest says his emotional captivity was worse than physical

Ukrainian Catholic Father Tykhon Kulbaka was headed to the chapel in the room rented by the local Catholic community. En route, he stopped at a grocery store, where four men grabbed him, blindfolded him and made him breathe chloroform.

Vatican welcomes Iran’s historic nuclear deal

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said that "the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program is viewed in a positive light by the Holy See."

RU-486 abortion pill can be reversed, says physician

Dr. George Delgado said that the abortifacient effects of RU-486 -- known generically as mifepristone -- can be safely reversed about 55 percent of the time by administering a high-dose progesterone protocol, preferably within 24 hours after a woman has taken the abortion pill.

National pro-life leaders fear health care rationing

Congress needs to act quickly to protect those patients from making uninformed decisions about their care, Burke Balch said during the organization's annual convention July 9-11 in New Orleans.

Kenyan bishops say they’ll resist pressure to accept same-sex marriage

"We are not going to allow same-sex marriage," said Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay, noting that the Kenyan church considers this unacceptable and urges its advocates to "stop the debate."

New center will offer students chance to ‘discern God’s love for them’

Erin Moore hopes to move in when the St. John Paul II Newman Center opens near the University of Nebraska at Omaha in fall 2016.

Philippine bishops tackle climate change during general meeting

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, newly re-elected president of the conference, told Catholic News Service that the group was taking "all possible approaches" in the fight for climate justice.