News
‘Don’t give up hope’: Archbishop responds to woman’s suicide plan
As a young California woman gained national attention for her plan to use Oregon's assisted suicide law, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland issued a statement saying the Oregon law puts forward illusion and confusion.
Day centers make seniors’ later years golden
Senior community centers run by archdiocesan Catholic Health Care Services in South Philadelphia, North Philadelphia and Port Richmond have been recognized for the outstanding health, wellness and social services they offer elderly neighborhood residents.
Veterans find help to heal their emotional wounds at Franciscan center
David Campbell believes he has died twice in his lifetime. He was not breathing at birth. Then, as a young soldier, he was hit by an exploding grenade and resuscitation efforts nearly failed.
Halloween costumes that mock religious figures called disrespectful
Every October, many look forward to Halloween -- the trick-or-treating, the parties and especially the costumes.
Pope urges activists to struggle against ‘structural causes’ of poverty
Pope Francis urged an international gathering of grassroots social activists to struggle against the "structural causes" of poverty and inequality, with a "revolutionary" program drawn from the Gospels.
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.”
Pope: Evolution, Big Bang do not push aside God, who set it in motion
"The Big Bang ... does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but requires it," Pope Francis told the Pontifical Academy of Sciences Oct. 27. "Evolution in nature is not at odds with the notion of creation because evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve."
Churches urged to develop better pastoral approach to divorce, marriage
Eastern and Western Catholic and Orthodox Churches would do well to challenge one another about how they handle divorce and remarriage, said a presenter at a canon law conference.
Pope says official exorcists show church’s love for the suffering
Exorcists, assigned to that ministry by their bishops, demonstrate the love and care of the church for "those who suffer because of the work of the devil," Pope Francis said in a message to the International Association of Exorcists.
Fundraiser dinner aids priestly vocations program in archdiocese
Proceeds from a dinner Oct. 23 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, sponsored by the Serra Clubs of the Philadelphia area, will aid a new program for college-age young men to discern a possible calling to the priesthood.