News
Social media, smartphones give young people a new look at Lent
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- This is not your parents' Lent. That's pretty clear when smartphone alarms -- sounding like police whistles -- ring at mealtimes on Fridays along with text messages from the "meat police" offering reminders such as: "Hey, it's Friday, drop the cheeseburger!" The Friday no-meat reminder comes through the Lentsanity app produced by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. By the third day of Lent, the app -- which also offers plenty of Lenten resources - already had more than 10,000 downloads.
Three archbishops to pray for peace in Ukraine on Sunday
Archbishops Chaput and Soroka will participate in a prayer service Sunday, March 16 in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia.
House Speaker Boehner talks of Catholic faith with seminarian
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, took part in an email interview with seminarian Tim Sahd of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, who is a former journalist who covered politics in Washington.
Catholic organization files class-action lawsuit to block HHS mandate
A coalition of nearly 200 Catholic entities formed the Catholic Benefits Association -- of which Archbishop Charles Chaput is a board member -- then filed the lawsuit against the mandate that would require them to provide health insurance coverage for contraceptive drugs, abortifacients and surgical sterilizations.
Lenten observance becoming more widespread in Protestant churches
While Anglicans, Lutherans and Orthodox Christians have long celebrated Lent, other Protestant churches are beginning to take up the devotions. It is seen as a step toward Christian unity.
Passage urged for tax credit to help New York students, schools
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Labor, business and religious leaders assembled March 10 in New York to urge state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve an investment tax credit, similar to those in Pennsylvania, that would benefit schools and students.
Minn. Archbishop resumes ministry; police close investigation of claim
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) -- Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis has returned to public ministry following a thorough investigation by police of an allegation that he had inappropriately touched a male minor in 2009. The county DA declined to file charges against him.
For Pope Francis, a year of reform and evangelization
Take an in-depth look back on the pope's first anniversary, a year in which the world warmed to his affable, informal manner and simple language. Pope Francis has focused on a message of mercy, forgiveness and concern for the poor, and urged Catholics to go out into the world to share their faith.
Ukrainian Catholics fear ‘new oppression’ after Russian takeover
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- A Ukrainian Catholic priest in Crimea said church members are alarmed and frightened by the Russian military occupation and fear their communities might be outlawed again if Russian rule becomes permanent.
Ukrainian Catholics say Americans helped rebuild church leadership
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After the fall of communism, the U.S. Catholic Church helped rebuild the people, not just the structures, of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.