News

U.S. ambassador who fought for truth about churchwomen’s murders dies

Former U.S. ambassador Robert E. White, who put his diplomatic career on the line to get answers to the 1980 murders of four U.S. churchwomen in El Salvador, died of cancer at a hospice in Arlington Jan. 13. He was 88 years old.

Bolivian president says pope will visit South America in July

Bolivian President Evo Morales told his people they must start preparing for a visit from Pope Francis in July.

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.”

Regina Academy 8th graders win scholarships

Philip Baldassari of Collegeville and Ben Buentello of North Wales have received scholarships to five Catholic high schools.

Supreme Court will take up same-sex marriage cases

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- UPDATED -- The high court will tackle questions of whether the 14th Amendment requires states to allow such marriages and whether it requires them to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.

KKK-linked billboard puts Arkansas city and parishioners on defensive

HARRISON, Ark. (CNS) -- A racially charged billboard lists a "White Pride Radio" website, which leads to information on the Ku Klux Klan. The white supremacist group has targeted blacks, immigrants, Catholics and Jews.

In retirement, priest ministered at nursing home before his death

Father Gerald S. Smith, 76, was laid to rest Jan. 16. He served for many years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales before retiring at nearby St. Mary's Center in Lansdale, where he comforted other sick people.

Catholic lawmakers urged to back immigration reform as pro-life issue

Catholic leaders urged fellow Catholics in Congress to set aside partisan bickering and support the U.S. bishops' efforts on comprehensive immigration reform, calling it an important step in building a culture of life.

Nigerian bishop calls for Western intervention to stop Boko Haram

Underlining the failure of the Nigerian government to stop the violent rampage of Boko Haram, a Catholic bishop has called for Western military intervention.

Nigerian prelate: Church tries to keep Boko Haram victims from despair

What do Nigerian church leaders say to a woman who, pregnant and fleeing Boko Haram extremists, realizes that she is not physically capable of escaping with both of her two other children and has to abandon one of them?