News
Police foil scam artists’ attempt to enter into Vatican bank
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Vatican security officers stopped two men -- one American and one Dutch -- trying to enter the Vatican bank with a briefcase full of fake bonds March 29. The men did not have Vatican bank accounts nor an appointment with anyone at the bank.
Mudslide takes couple’s home, but they worry more about others’ losses
ARLINGTON, Wash. (CNS) -- On a sunny Saturday morning, Ron and Gail Thompson headed off to Costco for a shopping trip with Gail's elderly mother. It was the last time they would see their home along the Stillaguamish River.
Ruling on Texas abortion restrictions called ‘great victory’ for life
AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) -- Texas Right to Life said the March 27 decision by a federal appeals court upholding Texas abortion restrictions has given the state another "historic pro-life victory."
Meetings of U.S. presidents and popes: long, but not ancient, tradition
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although some details have emerged of the conversation between Pope Francis and President Barack Obama March 27, the public may never know all that was said in that 50-minute get-together behind closed doors at the Vatican.
Pope confirms heads of Vatican curial agencies
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis confirmed the head of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and named among its new members Australian Cardinal George Pell, Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, and Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis.
Mass in desert to recall deaths, need for immigration reform
Cardinal Sean O'Malley will celebrate a Mass on the U.S.-Mexico border April 1 to commemorate the 6,000 migrants deaths in the desert since 1998. People at home are invited to take part and get involved with immigration reform.
St. Laurentius Church in danger of collapse, will be closed immediately
Cracks and deterioration of the brownstone facade of the church in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia mean it is unsafe for use and will be shut, according to the archdiocese.
Surprise: Pope leads by example, is first to go to confession
During a penitential liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica March 28, a priest showed Pope Francis which confessional the pope would be using to hear confessions. Pope Francis pointed to another confessional nearby, indicating that he himself was going to first confess.
Vatican to display Bibles on parchment, vellum and microchip
An exhibit of nearly 200 rare Biblical texts, including three fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls, an original copy of the King James Bible printed in 1611 and the microchip Bible that traveled to the moon and back on Apollo 14 in 1971, are on display for free at the Vatican April 2-June 22.
Box Obama gave pope points to history of U.S. Catholicism, says priest
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The use of wood from Baltimore's basilica to construct a "seed chest" President Barack Obama gave to Pope Francis March 27 points to the history of American Catholicism and Baltimore's role in it, said the rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.