News
State legislatures seek to protect conscience rights in marriage debate
The legislatures of Oklahoma and Utah, respectively, have passed bills aimed at providing access to state marriage benefits to same-sex couples while protecting the rights of clergy and laity to hold to their beliefs about traditional marriage being between one man and one woman.
Cardinal: Pope ‘tells it like it is,’ is clear about church’s message
"This Holy Father has been and will be faithful to the doctrine and teaching of the church," said Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington. "He says it clearly and I guess there are some people who don't like clarity. ... He's not an obfuscator. He tells it like it is, because he wants people to hear it as it truly is."
I.H.M. sisters host open house at motherhouse
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary invite women during the Year of Consecrated Life to explore the order and get to know the sisters on March 29.
SS. Simon and Jude students’ good works reach across counties
The sixth graders from the West Chester Catholic school visited Cradles to Crayons in Conshohocken and made new pen pals with residents of a retirement home.
Morton student knows where he’s going in geography tourney
Emmett Nama, a student at Our Lady of Angels Regional School in Morton, Delaware County, will compete in the state-level National Geographic Bee March 27.
St. Laurentius Church to be demolished
The church of the former Polish parish in Fishtown, which had been closed for a year because of the danger of collapse, will be torn down at a cost of $1 million. Saving it would have cost millions more, a study showed.
Blood of Naples’ patron liquefies during pope’s visit to cathedral
After Pope Francis blessed the congregation with the reliquary holding the vial, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples announced, "As a sign that St. Januarius loves the pope, who is Neapolitan like us, the blood is already half liquefied."
Despite low Catholic marriage numbers, some see trend turning around
The statistics show that while there were over 420,000 Catholic marriages in 1970, that number dwindled to just over 154,000 last year. "The church just isn't seen as important" to many young Catholics, a researcher said.
Paschal candle makers highlight symbolism, artistry in ancient craft
Martin Marklin has been fascinated by paschal candles -- the candles lit during the Easter Vigil at Catholic churches -- since he was an altar server at Holy Cross Parish in St. Louis.
Group tends to spiritual needs, shares the good news at spring training
The crack of the bat is a sure sign of spring, one that calls Ray McKenna to the field.