News
New book: Pope ran clandestine network to save suspected dissidents
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While a military-backed dictatorship in Argentina was conducting a clandestine war on suspected dissidents, then-Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future pope, masterminded a secret strategy to save those being targeted, according to a new book.
Pope, writing in secular newspaper, urges dialogue with nonbelievers
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Writing in one of Italy’s major secular newspapers, Pope Francis called for a “sincere and rigorous dialogue” between the church and nonbelievers as an “intimate and indispensable expression” of Christian love. The pope’s words appeared in a 2,600-word letter published in the Sept. 11 edition of the Rome daily La Repubblica, […]
USCCB president: CHA support of health care rules ‘less than helpful’
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said the Catholic Health Association's acceptance of rules governing women's access to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act was "less than helpful" to the bishops' effort to seek changes in the mandate. "We have not, ourselves as bishops, been able to arrive at the same conclusion, that accommodation with HHS is that easy," said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York at a news conference Sept. 11.
Catholic college students recall vivid memories of 9/11 attacks
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Alyssa Badolato, a senior at The Catholic University of America in Washington and native of Cherry Hill, N.J., described the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, as her loss of innocence. "Now there's this fear," she said. "We're still feeling those effects."
St. Norbert’s youth ministry, parishioners, draw top Christian musician
If, as St. Augustine said, singing is praying twice, then prayers lifted the rafters of the parish center at St. Norbert Parish in Paoli as two-time Grammy Award nominee Matt Maher performed a live concert recently for more than 600 fans.
Philadelphia Eagles and Chef Jose Garces help open new healthy food pantry
Christina Weiss Lurie, President of the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership, and Jose Garces, award-winning Iron Chef and co-founder of the Garces Foundation, took part in the grand opening of the Green Light Pantry at Casa del Carmen on Tuesday, September 11. The Green Light Pantry at Casa del Carmen, a ministry of Catholic Social Services […]
West Catholic Preparatory High School present school’s new flag
Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education, Mr. Samuel Casey Carter, Chief Executive Officer Faith in the Future Foundation and Dr. Carol A. Cary, Superintendent of Secondary Schools, visited West Catholic Preparatory High School and participated in the presentation of the school’s new flag reflecting the school’s updated name. Chris […]
Education, jobs, electricity: Syrians discuss why they fled to Turkey
ISTANBUL (CNS) — In the small front room of an apartment in a middle-class district of Istanbul, five young men, some with university degrees or halfway there, talked about why they fled their homes in Syria. One of them had arrived from Syria that evening, another more than a year ago, and the rest within […]
Visitation Parish offers Alpha faith enrichment course in Norristown
Visitation B.V.M. Parish in Norristown is hosting the Alpha Course on Thursday evenings in the Visitation B.V.M. School Library, 196 North Trooper Road (use the entrance closest to corner of Chestnut St. and N. Trooper Rd). An information evening will be held Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m., and light snacks will be served. The course […]
Pope hears officials’ input on reforming Vatican bureaucracy
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis met with Vatican officials Sept. 10 to hear their questions and suggestions about his ongoing reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said the meeting lasted nearly three hours and, except for a brief greeting by the pope, was devoted to remarks by the […]