News
Christian churches on front lines, fighting climate-change damage
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- When representatives of Catholic development organizations arrived in Warsaw to lobby for action at an intergovernmental conference on climate change, many also urged greater involvement by their own church. But Christians worldwide are already at the forefront in combating climate-change damage, which is being felt by many local church communities.
Asking God ‘why’ attracts his fatherly love, pope tells Filipinos
Referring to the death and destruction Super Typhoon Haiyan caused in the central Philippines in early November, Pope Francis told members of Rome's Philippine community, "Why do these things happen? It can't be explained. There are many things that we cannot understand."
Pope: Social doctrine keeps finance from falling prey to idol of profit
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world where profit reigns over human dignity, solidarity has become a "dirty word" and risks being removed from the dictionary, Pope Francis said via a video message for a meeting on Catholic social teaching.
Student gathers discarded marathoners’ clothes, donates to the needy
An army of student volunteers from Merion Mercy Academy, led by Madi Resnic and her father Michael, hustled behind thousands of runners at the Philadelphia Marathon last weekend and picked-up 20,000 discarded sweats, shirts, hats and gloves.
Judge grants injunction to Pittsburgh, Erie dioceses on HHS mandate
The dioceses of Pittsburgh and Erie have both won a significant step forward in their fight against a regulation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that mandates use of contraceptives and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act to which the Catholic Church morally objects.
West Chester sixth graders visit program that helps needy children
Sixth graders from SS. Simon and Jude School, West Chester, took a field trip to West Conshohocken last week to visit the Cradles to Crayons facility that provides children from birth to age 12, living in low- income and homeless situations, with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school and at play.
Washington cathedral, site of Kennedy funeral in ’63, is ‘holy ground’
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- On Nov. 25, 1963, a television audience of millions of people around the world prayerfully bid farewell to President John F. Kennedy, as his flag-draped coffin was placed before the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, during the funeral Mass for the slain president.
Marriage, family and some help for Pope Francis
In less than two years the Church in Philadelphia will host the Eighth World Meeting of Families. Aside from a press conference last year, so far the event has seemed well over the horizon; something to pleasantly daydream about without too much anxious detail. That's about to change.
Dioceses solicit Catholics’ views in preparing for synod on family
The Philadelphia Archdiocese and Harrisburg Diocese are among a handful around the country that have online ways for everyday Catholics to put in their two cents' worth about the discussions bishops from around the world will have with Pope Francis at a synod Oct. 5-19, 2014.
Yardley parish hosting Phila. Boys Choir in concert
St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, Yardley, presents the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale in a program titled “Celebrate the Sounds of the Season” Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.