News
Pope names cardinals, lay experts to new Council for the Economy
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis appointed an international group of eight cardinals -- including U.S. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston -- and seven lay experts in the fields of business, management and finance to be the first members of the Vatican's new Council for the Economy.
‘Great love of Jesus’ is best treasure anyone can have, inmates told
SALEM, Ore. (CNS) -- Portland Archbishop Alexander K. Sample told 55 inmates at the walled maximum security prison in Salem that they "are loved." "You have nothing to fear because God loves all of us," the archbishop told the inmates, clad in prison blues and wearing picture-ID cards, at Oregon State Penitentiary out State Street from the state Capitol.
The hard work of finding work
Ernie Russom runs a job search group at St. Laurence Parish in Upper Darby. He knows local companies are hiring, but the process of finding those jobs is challenging. He helps people in his group find their way to their next job.
Press conference outlines plans for 2015 World Meeting of Families
A press conference at the Philadelphia Archdiocese's pastoral center March 7 revealed plans, and much excitement, for the World Meeting of Families to be held Sept. 22-27, 2015 in Philadelphia. While Pope Francis' visit for the meeting is not confirmed, speakers at the press conference and hopeful guests were planning for the visit just the same. (Photos by Sarah Webb)
Archbishop Chaput to bring civic leaders to Rome for meeting with Pope Francis
The archbishop, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced at a press conference March 7 that they will travel with a group of top business execs to Rome to plan for the 2015 World Meeting of Families -- and, possibly, the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.
Concerns raised about pace of U.S. response to global religious rights
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The role of an ambassador-level position in bringing attention to abuses of religious freedom internationally is being emphasized by those who want a vacancy filled quickly or another position created to focus on specific regions -- or both.
On first Friday of Lent, pope speaks on nature of true fasting
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis criticized those who practice fasting as a mere ritual, rather than as a sacrifice representative of a religion of love.
Lenten Fast for Families draws attention to immigration reform efforts
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The traditional Lenten practice of fasting is being paired this year with the latest round of an ongoing campaign called Fast for Families, intended to bring attention to the campaign for immigration reform. On Ash Wednesday, March 5, more than two dozen presidents of Catholic colleges and universities pledged to fast for 24 hours in support of the effort.
Come to Philadelphia: An invitation to the world’s families for 2015
Archbishop Charles Chaput in his weekly column invites families to come together to reinforce each other’s vocation, to deepen their faith and to experience the presence of God at the World Meeting of Families next year. Its mission is to show the joy of authentic family life to the world, and to invite others from around the world to share in it.
The pope said what about civil unions?
He actually didn’t say he favored civil unions for homosexual persons. He just spoke in generalities about the topic in Italian, according to an English language spokesman.