News
Workshops for lectors offered across archdiocese
Lectors who proclaim the word of God at Catholic liturgies are invited to a series of workshops beginning in the fall at various locations in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The sessions sponsored by the archdiocesan, Office for Divine Worship, are designed for all instituted lectors to provide ongoing formation for themselves and to assist them […]
Doctor-ethicist sees ongoing efforts to weaken conscience protections
NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- Fine print contained in the Affordable Care Act has weakened conscience protections for physicians who oppose abortion, sterilization or other medical practices on religious or moral grounds, a doctor and ethicist told the American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals.
Archdiocese considering sale of Catholic nursing homes
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, as part of its ongoing effort to achieve financial stability, intends to market six nursing homes and one assisted-living facility for possible sale, it was announced Aug. 20. The archdiocese will also seek to outsource management or lease the 11 active archdiocesan cemeteries and two cemetery sites reserved for future use.
Egyptians running out of food because they fear going outside, bishop says
UPDATED -- VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Catholic bishop in Luxor, about 400 miles south of Cairo, said Muslims and Christians are afraid to leave their homes; because the shops are closed and no one is venturing outside, many are running out of food.
LCWR leaders say they hope for continued dialogue on Vatican assessment
ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- Members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious announced Aug. 19 at the close of their assembly in Orlando that they were pleased with dialogue they had with Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle, appointed by the Vatican doctrinal congregation last year to oversee a reform of LCWR. The religious sisters said they hoped for "continued conversations of this depth."
Canonization date for John Paul II, John XXIII to be known in September
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will host a meeting of cardinals Sept. 30 to formally approve the canonization of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII; the date for the canonization will be announced at that time, said Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.
Parishes make new friends, evangelize through Facebook, Twitter
The Catholic Church sees the imperative of employing every technology, especially social media sites, to reach out to the young and the young at heart. Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in North Wales is just one parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to take advantage of new ways of reaching out to people with the Gospel message.
New Pew study shows most Americans view abortion as moral issue
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A new study shows that most Americans view abortion as a moral issue but do not feel as strongly about stem-cell research or in vitro fertilization as moral issues. According to the study, released Aug. 15 by the Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project, 49 percent of adults consider it morally wrong to have an abortion; 22 percent consider embryonic stem-cell research morally wrong; and 12 percent view the use of in vitro fertilization as morally wrong.
LCWR leader hopes assembly a contemplative experience for attendees
ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- The president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said organizers of this year's assembly hope attendees would find it to be a contemplative experience because "it is imperative to view religious life within the context of our faith and in an evolving world." "We have included an hour and a half of contemplative prayer at all meetings to determine what the signs of today are calling us to and we hope that the entire experience of this assembly will be an act of contemplation," said Franciscan Sister Florence Deacon.
Christians in Egypt targeted by Muslim extremists
CAIRO (CNS) -- Attacks on Christian churches and institutions in Egypt appeared to be the result of Islamist extremists' anger over what they perceived as Christian support for the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi.