News
Father Merton at 100: Still inspiring people to get closer to God
When Trappist Father Thomas Merton addressed persistent racism in his writing during the 1960s, his message seemingly reached into the future.
Catholics help mark 70th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation
Around 150 former inmates of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where 1.2 million mostly Jewish prisoners were killed by the Nazis, attended Mass Jan. 27 at a church-run ecumenical center in Poland.
School choice, better access to quality education top goal for senator
Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina shared some anecdotes about his school days during a Jan. 27 event in Washington where he announced that a top goal for him in the new Congress is school choice and expanding access to quality education.
Christian leaders meet in Lebanon, call for end to financing terrorists
Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs called for an end to financing terrorists and suggested that borders be closed when necessary to prevent their movement.
Bishops welcome court’s review of using lethal injection in executions
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to review the use of lethal injections in carrying out executions is a welcome move, said the chairmen of two U.S. bishops' committees.
Church agencies give displaced Iraqis fuel, heaters for winter
Colorful blankets, shiny metal heaters and canisters of kerosene provided by Catholic Relief Services and Caritas filled a parking lot for collection by their new owners -- Yezidis displaced by Islamic State militants in search of badly needed provisions to combat the cold.
Pope to dads: Play with your kids, be strong, loving, moral role models
When their lives are all work and no play, men turn their children into "orphans" who lack a father to guide them, show them love and teach them values, Pope Francis said.
New Congress makes combating human trafficking top priority
At a House leadership news conference Jan. 27, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California announced a list of bills to combat human trafficking that he expected would pass the House of Representatives by week's end.
Italian convents act as safe houses for victims of sex trafficking
Before her 18th birthday, Elizabeth had already traveled across the Sahara and the Mediterranean on her way from Nigeria to Europe and spent six months in a brothel in Denmark. She was being prepared to start working on the streets of Italy when she found her way to Casa Rut, a safe house for trafficking victims.
Sainthood cause for Focolare founder formally begins
In a message to hundreds of people gathered in the cathedral of Frascati Jan. 27 for the formal opening of Lubich's sainthood cause, Pope Francis expressed his hope that "the shining example" of her life and activity would strengthen Focolare members' faith and commitment to building up the unity of the church and friendly relations with members of other religions.