News
Vatican appoints first woman rector of pontifical university in Rome
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Congregation for Catholic Education has named Angeline Franciscan Sister Mary Melone, 49, to a three-year term as rector of Rome's Pontifical Antonianum University, making her the first woman to head a pontifical university in Rome.
JRS keeps Afghanistan schools running, despite missing director
THRISSUR, India (CNS) -- Jesuit Refugee Service is keeping half a dozen schools in troubled Afghanistan running despite no trace of its coordinator in Afghanistan, who was kidnapped in early June.
Court may compel priest to break confessional seal in abuse case
BATON ROUGE, La. (CNS) -- Louisiana's Supreme Court has ruled that a priest may be compelled to testify as to what he heard in the confessional concerning an abuse case. He could be jailed for refusing to testify, or be excommunicated from the church if he does so.
Artist views painting as sacramental, studio as a cloister
Kennett Square artist Neilson Carlin, a husband, father and Catholic convert, reflects on his art, his faith and his latest commission: a painting for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
Bible conference opens up the Scriptures and roles of fathers
Hundreds of priests, religious men and women and lay people came to Doylestown for the National Catholic Bible Conference June 27-28. Well-known Catholic speakers and scholars, plus Archbishop Charles Chaput, addressed the theme, “Scripture: The Heart of the Father.”
Holy Land bishops criticize Israeli treatment of Palestinians
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called for an end to the cycle of violence and criticized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its collective punishment of Palestinians.
Vatican names new bank president, restructures financial offices
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the restructuring of Vatican financial institutions moves into high gear, "our ambition is to become something of a model of financial management rather than a cause for occasional scandal," said Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.
Minors at border should be thought of as refugees, speakers say
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- From the head of the U.S. agency in charge of the welfare of more than 50,000 Central American children who have been apprehended at the Mexican border, to the Honduran cardinal who heads the international Catholic relief agency, Caritas, the message was clear, those minors are as much refugees as the people fleeing upheaval in Syria or South Sudan.
Vatican forms panel to revamp communications, media outreach
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Seven months after hiring a consulting firm to study the Vatican's communications structures, the Vatican has set up an 11-member committee -- which includes Our Sunday Visitor's Greg Erlandson -- to suggest ways to increase collaboration and cut costs.
Catholic owners of Indiana business hail high court ruling as victory
INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- Bill Grote jumped out of his chair when he saw a television report the day the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision regarding Burrell v. Hobby Lobby.