News
Suspended Philadelphia priest arrested in Maryland for sexual assault of minor
Father Robert L. Brennan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia whose priestly faculties were suspended since 2005, has been arrested in Maryland on charges of sexually abusing a Northeast Philadelphia boy between 1998 and 2001. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams made the announcement at a press conference today, Sept. 26, in Philadelphia.
Philippine bishops call for release of hostages as gunfights rage
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Bishops in southern Philippines have condemned rebels' use of hostages as human shields in gunfights with government troops. The gunfights have escalated since Sept. 9 after hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front fighters reportedly attacked government troops who were securing five coastal districts in Zamboanga.
Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux retires; New Orleans auxiliary is successor
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Sam G. Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux, La., and appointed as his successor Auxiliary Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of New Orleans.
Pope names Bishop Hebda of Gaylord to be Newark coadjutor archbishop
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Bernard A. Hebda of Gaylord, Mich., 54, to be coadjutor archbishop of Newark, N.J. As coadjutor, he would automatically succeed Newark Archbishop John J. Myers, 72, upon his retirement or death. Canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope at age 75.
Family, with help from Catholic shelter, seeks to get back on feet
FORT MEADE, Md. (CNS) -- According to Census Bureau estimates released Sept. 17, there are 46.5 million poor people in the United States. This is the story of one of them.
He used to be poor, but that was long ago
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Contrary to the beliefs of some, it is possible for people who are poor to break out of poverty. Clarence Simmons is one of them. Few people know him as Clarence. "Call me Clay," he says.
Religious order files HHS lawsuit; Catholic college joins another suit
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Little Sisters of the Poor and a Catholic college are the latest Catholic entities to file a lawsuit or join an existing suit against the Department of Health and Human Services over its mandate that most religious employers' health insurance plans cover contraceptives, sterilization and some abortion-inducing drugs free of charge.
Pope: Church must show what unity looks like, avoid divisions, gossip
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Backstabbing and gossip hurt people and harm God's desire for a united human family, Pope Francis said. Unity is a gift from God, "but often we struggle to live it out," he said. "We are the ones who create lacerations."
Connecticut bishop urges Catholics to be builders of spiritual bridges
TRUMBULL, Conn. (CNS) -- Bridgeport's new bishop used a famous image of his hometown -- the Brooklyn Bridge -- to describe how, like a physical bridge, a "spiritual bridge" pulls communities together and draws Catholics closer to God, the Gospels and one another as members of the body of Christ.
Agencies stretching to meet needs of Syrians displaced by civil war
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Governments and nongovernmental agencies are struggling to keep up with the needs and pressures created by the displacement of nearly a third of Syria's population because of the country's civil war. Assistance to the refugees and displaced people is coming from around the world, although resources are thinly stretched.