News
Bishop Thompson dies at age 90; recalled as ‘good friend, holy priest’
CHARLESTON, S.C. (CNS) -- Retired Bishop David B. Thompson, who headed the Diocese of Charleston from 1990-1999, died Nov. 24. He was 90. Bishop Thompson was a native of Philadelphia, a graduate of West Catholic High School and ordained a priest for the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
High court to hear cases on HHS mandate
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Nov. 26 to take up two cases that challenge provisions of the Affordable Care Act requiring employers to provide contraceptive coverage on behalf of for-profit companies whose owners object to the mandate for religious reasons.
Governor touts state transportation bill on Montco parish lawn
St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Norristown, was the setting for Governor Tom Corbett's signing of a new $2.4 billion state transportation funding bill Nov. 25.
Sister Eleanor Francis dies at 95; served in Franciscan order for 73 years
Sister Eleanor Francis Filist, O.S.F., died Nov. 25. She ministered primarily in education and especially in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where she served for nearly 50 years.
Pope says only men can be priests, but women must have voice in church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church is not going to change its position on the inadmissibility of women priests, Pope Francis said, but it does have to stop linking all decision making to ordination and allow women to have a voice in deliberations. In his apostolic exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), […]
Long journey from Africa began with faithful steps and a dream
Hard work, some helping hands and his strong faith led economics professor Richard Mshomba to 25 years at La Salle University and a recent award as an outstanding African-American leader. His journey began in Tanzania and continues today with his wife, family and friends on two continents.
Pope frames vision for church outreach at every level
We review the main points of Pope Francis' new 50,000 word blueprint for renewal of the Catholic Church.
Pope: Opposition to abortion isn’t ‘conservative,’ it’s result of faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Defending human dignity and protecting society's most vulnerable necessarily means protecting the unborn and defending their right to life, Pope Francis said in his apostolic exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel").
Vatican officials say pope’s document provides map for church’s future
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on sharing the joy of the Gospel is a call to faith-filled optimism, recognizing challenges but knowing that God's love and lordship will prevail, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, introducing the text to the media.
In document, pope lays out his vision for an evangelical church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In his first extensive piece of writing as pope, Pope Francis lays out a vision of the Catholic Church dedicated to evangelization in a positive key, with a focus on society's poorest and most vulnerable, including the aged and unborn. "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel"), released by the Vatican Nov. 26, is an apostolic exhortation, one of the most authoritative categories of papal document.