News
Students’ race discussion transforms Catholic school’s culture
Some of the Black students at a predominantly white high school in New Jersey keenly felt the racial tensions rising in the U.S. in 2016. Their meeting with all the faculty started a change in tone and practice at the school that continues today.
Study unpacks experience of Black Catholics in America
Among the findings of a Pew Research Center study: only one-fourth of U.S. Black Catholics worship in majority-Black parishes. Black Catholics also want to hear more racial affirmation and social justice concerns in preaching.
Archbishop Gudziak to Russian Orthodox Church: Stop Putin’s war
The leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S. said that he hoped leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church would "hear the Gospel," which says, "Do not kill." He sharply criticized how that church "stands with President Putin. It stands for this war."
Don’t forget Syria’s 11 years of conflict, cardinal says
The apostolic nuncio said hope is gone and Syria has fallen into obscurity as the war there claimed 610,000 people, injured more than 2.1 million and caused an estimated 13 million to flee or become displaced within the country.
Idaho passes bill to ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy
Both chambers of the state legislature passed the bill, similar to Texas' abortion ban that allows family members to sue the medical provider who performed the abortion for up to $20,000. The bill goes to Idaho's governor for his signature.
Top USCCB committee says Russia’s ‘unprovoked war on Ukraine’ must end now
The Administrative Committee, which operates as a kind of board of directors for the U.S. Catholic bishops, issued a strong statement March 16, calling on Americans "to contribute generously and sacrificially" to the war relief effort.
Transgender forum at Chester County parish stresses ‘love, not tolerance’
A March 12 gathering at St. Peter Parish in West Brandywine brought experts, parents and pastoral leaders together to find "clarity in a confused world" of self-determined understandings of the human person, and a context in which to offer hope.
Pope to consecrate Russia, Ukraine to Mary
Pope Francis will consecrate both countries to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Peter's Basilica and a cardinal will carry out a similar consecration in Fatima, Portugal. Mary appeared there in 1917 requesting Russia's consecration.
Pope Francis speaks with Russian Orthodox patriarch
Although he expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, Patriarch Kirill, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While Pope Francis has not directly criticized Russia, he has condemned the war.
Parishes raising prayers for peace, money for Ukrainians
At least four parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine and to support the millions of Ukrainians affected by the invasion of Russian forces into the country since Feb. 24.