News
From New Jersey to the Vatican, opening a dialogue with the Gospel
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Mentoring inner-city youths is hardly the most obvious way to prepare for working at the Vatican, but Father Geno Sylva says the lessons he learned in a low-income New Jersey community have served him abundantly well in his current job as an official at the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization.
Jerusalem patriarch says church will take legal action to rebuild home
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, condemned the government demolition of a home on church-owned property and said the church would take legal action to "bring back justice and rebuild this home."
Photo of the day
Of apples and immigration.
Share each other’s burdens in prayer, acts of love, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis asked people at his weekly general audience to perform an act of charity by praying for a seriously ill 18-month-old girl named Noemi. "Let's perform an act of love. We don't know her, but she's been baptized -- she's one of us, a Christian," he said, leading the crowd in a moment of silence and then the recitation of the Hail Mary. In his talk he referred to the bond of unity and sharing that should mark the life of Christians on earth.
U.S. bishops say employment bill goes beyond barring discrimination
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a letter to the U.S. senators, the chairmen of three U.S. bishops' committees outlined their opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, saying the legislation "elevates 'sexual orientation' discrimination" to the same level as race discrimination, among other issues. It also does not make a distinction between homosexual inclination and conduct, which they said legally affirms and protects that conduct.
Officials say family synod to be based on doctrine, not public opinion
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although preparations for the 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family will include an assessment of Catholics' attitudes toward relevant church teachings, the synod's work will be based on Catholic doctrine and not on current public opinion, officials said. Among the topics of a questionnaire sent to all bishops last month were divorce and remarriage, cohabitation, same-sex unions and contraception.
West Catholic wins once again
West Catholic Preparatory High School cruised past Neumann Goretti High School, 34-9, to capture the Catholic League AA football title Nov. 2. The Burrs won their eighth straight championship in their class or division.
Father Judge wins boys soccer championship
In boys championship soccer action on Oct. 28, Father Judge defeated Lansdale Catholic, 3-1. Watch a video of the championship. To view more phots click here.
In a championship rematch Ryan girls soccer team redeems themselves
The girls Catholic League soccer championship Oct. 27 came down to a historic nailbiter. In the second overtime period, defending champion Archbishop Ryan edged Archbishop Wood, 1-0. This is the Ragdolls second straight championship. This was the first time Ryan has beaten Wood since 2008. To see more images click here.
Church employees, retirees bracing for changes to Archdiocese’s pension plans
In an effort to plug a more than $150 million hole in the retirement plan for its lay employees, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Tuesday, Nov. 5 that it would “freeze” the current defined benefit pension plan next summer.The decision to freeze the plan and cease the accrual, or accumulation, of benefits in the Lay Employee Retirement Plan after June 30, 2014 affects 8,500 current lay employees of the archdiocese.