News
Senate vote clears way for resumption of unemployment benefits
Leaders in the Republican-controlled House have said they would not consider a bill for extending emergency benefits until savings were found elsewhere in the budget to offset its expected $6.4 billion cost over three months.
Pope carries lamb, meets baby Jesus in visit to live Nativity scene
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Surrounded by cheese sellers, shoemakers, children and bleating animals, Pope Francis immersed himself in a lively re-enactment of a special day in Bethlehem during his visit to a parish north of Rome Dec. 6.
Catholic Social Services ramps up outreach during cold snap
Beds have been added and programs for homeless people expanded by Catholic agencies in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia during the historic cold wave.
Catholic agencies in U.S. plan to keep services going in nasty weather
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- With a huge swath of the United States -- from the upper Midwest to the Atlantic Seaboard -- alternating between one-two punches of cold snaps and snowstorms, everybody's talking about the weather. Catholic service providers are also doing something about the increased need for emergency services that such weather brings.
Pope Francis pledges almost $5 million to help pay World Youth Day debt
An audit shows World Youth Day had an accumulated debt of $38.4 million after the event last summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After renegotiating with suppliers and selling a property, the Rio archdiocese was able to reduce the debt to a little over $18 million.
Egypt’s president visits Coptic pope to extend Christmas greeting
CAIRO (CNS) -- In an unprecedented and highly symbolic move, Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour paid a Christmas visit to the leader of the country's Coptic Orthodox, Egyptian Pope Tawadros II.
How did we get here? View on evolution marked by partisan, religious divides
The culture wars show no sign of abating in 2014. A Pew Research Center study issued Dec. 30 showed a deepening partisan divide about whether humans existed in present form since the beginning of time or whether they evolved. And, if they did evolve, whether God guided the process along.
Pope Francis announces visit to Holy Land, energizing hopes
AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) -- Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem welcomed the announcement of Pope Francis' visit to the Holy Land May 24-26 and said he hopes the pilgrimage will be a "cry for peace," particularly for Palestinians, Israelis, Syrians and others beset by conflict.
Pope restricts ‘monsignor’ honor for priests
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has decided to limit the honor of "monsignor" among diocesan priests and grant it from now on only to those at least 65 years of age.
In letter, Archbishop Chaput explains decision to offer bail for Msgr. Lynn
Archbishop Charles Chaput confirmed that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia provided $25,000 to set Msgr. J. William Lynn free on bail from state prison Jan. 3.