News
N.M. bishops: Let lawmakers decide fate of same-sex marriage in state
LOS LUNAS, N.M. (CNS) -- New Mexico's bishops asserted that the state legislature is the best group to decide whether same-sex marriage should be permitted in the state. The statement was prompted by the announcement the same day by Lynn Ellins, county clerk of Dona Ana County -- home to Las Cruces, the state's second-biggest city -- that his office would start issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples.
Head back to school with our special online guide
Catholic school students are getting ready to head back to school next week. CatholicPhilly.com’s 2013 Back to School supplement shows what Catholic school students have been doing over the summer, and the plans being made for the fall term at Catholic high schools, regional elementary schools and parish grade schools.
Franciscan Sister Patricia Przybylski, who served in parish ministry, dies at 72
Sister Patricia Przybylski, O.S.F., formerly Sister Robert Michael, died Aug. 27 in Assisi House, Aston, one day before her 73rd birthday. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 51 years. Sister Patricia was born in Baltimore, Md., where she was a member of the Shrine of the Little […]
In a first, Catholic Charities to benefit from ticket sales at Phillies’ game
The Phillies and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are teaming up to offer a fun night of baseball at Citizens Bank Park to benefit a good cause: the annual Catholic Charities Appeal. The first-ever Catholic Charities Night at the Phillies will be Sept. 17, and $8 from each ticket purchased will go toward the appeal. The night will have a Catholic flair when Bishop Timothy Senior, rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game against the Florida Marlins beginning at 7:05 p.m. And the choir of St. Cyprian Parish in West Philadelphia will sing the National Anthem.
Pope Francis says Christians should have restless hearts like St. Augustine’s
ROME (CNS) -- St. Augustine famously said that people's hearts are restless until they rest in God. But too many people have allowed their hearts to be "anesthetized" and no longer search for God and for love, Pope Francis said when he met with members of the Order of St. Augustine on the saint's feast day Aug. 28.
Salesians send out three local young adults among 28 lay missionaries
Natalie Baker of Springfield, Delaware County, Matthew Pirrall of Schwenksville and Patrick Sabol of Wayne were among three of the 28 mostly young women and men commissioned Aug. 17 as lay missionary volunteers by the Salesians of Don Bosco. They will serve in five countries and the United States.
Syrian-born patriarch: ‘Enough with the intervention’
BEIRUIT (CNS) — Syrian-born Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham warned against armed intervention in his country, saying, “It has brought us to the tragedy we are now living in Syria.” Speaking to Catholic News Service by phone Aug. 27 from the patriarchal summer residence in Ain Traz, Lebanon, the patriarch said such a step […]
Latino leaders urged to put the Gospel in action at their workplace
LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- Peter J. Coulchinsky arrived in the United States from Argentina in 1986 as a young man seeking to earn a law degree. As his time in the U.S. lengthened, the more he decided he wanted to stay. There was just one problem: He had only a student visa.
Utah parish vandalized for the fourth time in two years
MAGNA, Utah (CNS) -- Vandals kicked in the basement door of the rectory to break into Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for the second time this year, smashing statues and glass doors and spraying a fire extinguisher throughout the chapel. The intruders left behind blood stains, fingerprints and a cellphone, police said. When Father Christopher Gray arrived at 8:25 a.m., to prepare for the Sunday liturgy, he saw people standing outside, some weeping, and police cars all around.
Russian Catholic leader: No church stance on Olympic boycott calls
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- Calls for an Olympic boycott because of a Russian law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" have become "highly politicized," said an official of the Russian bishops' conference. Msgr. Igor Kovalevsky, secretary-general of the bishops' conference, said the Catholic Church would not be adopting an official stance on either the boycott or the law.