News
Iran nuclear deal lauded by key U.S. bishop
Some in Congress, wary of making a deal with Iran, have advocated increasing sanctions. Although current sanctions would remain in effect, Iran will get an estimated $6 billion in temporary sanctions relief for signing the interim agreement Nov. 24.
Pope Francis will help launch worldwide prayers against hunger
The global "wave of prayer," supported by a video from the pope, will begin at noon Dec. 10 on the South Pacific island of Samoa and head west across the world's time zones. Local churches will pray for an end to hunger and malnutrition as well as to act on a local, national or global level against food waste. Nearly 1 billion people -- or about one in eight people -- experienced chronic hunger or undernourishment during 2010-2012, according to the international Catholic organizer of the event.
High court to hear two cases on HHS mandate; declines employer case
On Dec. 2, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it had declined to hear the appeal of Liberty University of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Christian university must adhere to the health care law's employer mandate. When the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of parts of the health care law in 2012, it didn't address the employer mandate to provide coverage.
Warrington school students celebrate Thanksgiving
Dressed as pilgrims and Native Americans, the kindergarten students of St. Joseph/St. Robert School in Warrington celebrated their first Thanksgiving together in the school Nov. 27. The students recited poems and sang songs of Thanksgiving for invited guests. Meanwhile, older students of the school decorated more than 100 holiday shopping bags to bring cheer […]
Sister Mary Conahan, 95, dies; served in Phoenixville mental hospital
Sister Mary earned her B.S. degree from Chestnut Hill College before entering the Medical Mission Sisters in 1941. She worked in publicity for the order for 16 years before teaching in Rome and Pakistan, then serving in the Philadelphia region for many years.
Ukrainian church leaders condemn police violence against protesters
KIEV, Ukraine (CNS) — The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and other Catholic leaders condemned police violence against “peaceful demonstrations” after President Viktor Yanukovich’s decision not to seek closer ties with the European Union. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, of Kiev-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, also spoke of preventing an “escalation of violence, […]
Catholic football teams give thanks (mostly) during weekend games
Thanksgiving is not just a day for turkey and family but also morning football games. Roman Catholic, Father Judge and Archbishop Ryan all were thankful for earning victories Thursday morning, Nov. 28.
In conversations with parishioners, pope reveals he once was a bouncer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In addition to having worked sweeping floors and running tests in a chemical laboratory as a teenager, Pope Francis revealed he also used to work as a bouncer. No longer kicking troublemakers out of clubs, he has discovered the secret to bringing people back, this time, into the church.
Boy choir to sing in concert at Lansdowne parish
The Archdiocesan Boy Choir of Philadelphia will perform a concert of sacred music on Dec. 15, the Third Sunday of Advent, at 3 p.m. at St. Philomena Church in Lansdowne, Delaware County.
Volunteers say in Peace Corps they learned about universality of church
ATLANTA (CNS) — In the beginning, Monica Oliver figured with her college education and her upbringing in the United States, she’d help transform a poor community. The Jesuit-educated Oliver was a Peace Corps volunteer living in Mali. She worked with women entrepreneurs in the West African country to start small businesses. But looking back, she […]