News
Many of Egypt’s Christians think U.S. has aligned with the wrong side
CAIRO (CNS) --Two weeks after the churches he used to pray in were ransacked and burned to the ground in the Egyptian port city of Suez, Istafanos Youssif sat "searching for God" in a Cairo convent. He said he hoped to get over the pain, and that he understood who was behind the church burnings. What he said he could not understand was the U.S. position toward his country, Egypt.
Catholic’s White House work led to role as consultant for ‘The Butler’
ALEXANDRIA, Va., (CNS) -- For four years, Steve Rochon worked alongside presidents, dignitaries and international heads of state in his position as director of the executive residence and chief usher at the White House. Rochon, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, Va., led 95 full-time and 250 part-time staff members in running and preserving the White House under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama from 2007 to 2011.
Lasting bonds: Vatican invites extended families to join pilgrimage
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As part of the Year of Faith, the Vatican wants to celebrate bonds that last a lifetime. The international pilgrimage of families Oct. 26-27 is being planned as a celebration and not a protest against any policy or trend, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.
At interfaith service, calls made to continue search for justice
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Recalling the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington urged people to join hands and walk together, and not alone, for justice during an interfaith prayer service marking the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Some strides, but also shortcomings, seen by 1963 marchers
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Cordelia Coleman was just 12 when she went 50 years ago to the first March on Washington with her mother, father, sister and brother. Fifty years later, Coleman was accompanied by her son Ronald to the second of two marches commemorating the original march in 1963. The Aug. 28 march capped a week of activities surrounding the march, cemented into history by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Pope tells youth to ‘make noise,’ fight hazards of culture
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Fight off a drug- and alcohol-pushing culture and other hazardous trends sweeping across today's world, Pope Francis told young people. "In life, there will always be people who will make you offers to slow or impede you on your way. Please, go against the current. Be courageous," he said.
The summer of immigration groundwork: working toward passing a new law
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Members of Congress may be out of town and immigration reform legislation may be stuck until at least this fall, but the summer recess has been time for Catholic activists to rally their forces and pressure elected representatives.
Romanian priest who died in communist prison to be beatified
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A priest who died of cold and hunger in a communist prison will be beatified as a martyr Aug. 31 in Bucharest, Romania. The sanctity of Msgr. Vladimir Ghika has "given us an important new example of a life lived for church and faith," said Archbishop Ioan Robu of Bucharest, president of the Romanian bishops' conference.
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.