News
Boy Scouts vote to allow openly gay youths to belong to Scout troops
GRAPEVINE, Texas (CNS) — The Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted late May 23 to allow openly gay youths admittance as members into the 103-year-old organization, effective Jan. 1, 2014. In a statement, the organization said the decision to review the organization’s ban on accepting homosexuals as members was made based on “growing […]
Old St. Mary Parish at 250 years: Older than the diocese, and U.S.
Parish anniversaries are always worth celebrating. A 250th anniversary is awesome -- think about it, that’s older than the United States itself. Old St. Mary’s in Philadelphia, where Archbishop Chaput will celebrate a quarter millennium anniversary Mass on May 26, traces back to 1763. St. Mary Chapel, established by Jesuit Father Robert Harding, was really an offshoot of Old St. Joseph’s which was established in 1733.
At memorial Mass on his birthday, Bishop McFadden remembered in Cathedral he loved
That a recently deceased bishop of another diocese, but originally from Philadelphia, should have a Memorial Mass celebrated in his home town is not unusual. What was unusual at the memorial Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul for Harrisburg Bishop Joseph P. McFadden was the size of the congregation: the Cathedral was full to its 1,500 seating capacity.
No prayers at public meetings? Supreme Court will take up the case
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court in the fall will hear oral arguments in a case from upstate New York about the practice of praying at open public meetings. One of the questions the high court may consider is what steps a municipality should take to ensure the religious diversity of prayers offered at such meetings.
Immigration bill moves to full Senate after approval by Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Advocates for comprehensive immigration reform expressed optimism and hope for a law to pass this summer after the Senate Judiciary Committee May 21 finished wading through 300 proposed amendments — accepting about a third of them — and passed the massive bill on to the full Senate. Comments lauding the committee’s effort […]
New program may double number of international students in archdiocesan high schools
Nearly 180 international students will be coming into three archdiocesan high schools over the next several years, under an agreement announced May 23 at Conwell Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills, Bucks County. Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education in the Archdiocese, joined representatives of the Faith in the Future Foundation […]
Archdiocese names Syracuse man new secretary for Catholic education
The superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Syracuse has been named the new secretary for Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and chief operating officer for Faith in the Future Foundation, the archdiocese announced May 23. Christopher Mominey, a former Catholic high school principal and author of two books on education, will assume his new position July 1. He succeeds Richard V. McCarron, the long-time education secretary who retired early this year.
Most priests in new survey dislike Roman Missal translation
Overall, 59 percent of priests responding to the survey said they disliked the new English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. A total of 1,536 priests participated, a response rate of 42.5 percent. All 178 Latin-rite dioceses in the U.S. were invited to participate in the survey; 32 dioceses accepted the invitation. There are more than 14,000 priests in the U.S.
In South Africa, toll roads called ‘immoral’
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- Charging motorists to use existing roads is immoral, and the new toll-road system in South Africa should be suspended immediately, said the justice and peace department of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. South Africa's Parliament is set to pass a bill that will amend the law on road tolls and allow for the electronic collection of tolls and the prosecution of those who fail to pay.
Catholic Relief Services offers parish-based program in Rosemont
Catholic Relief Services invites the public to hear first-hand accounts of the organization’s work in Africa during the program titled “Turn Compassion into Action – Sharing the Global Mission of Our Church” on Thursday, June 13 from 6-8 p.m. in the Rosemont Auditorium of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, Rosemont. Participants will also discover easy-to-use, […]