News
After Maronite patriarch pressured, U.S. advocates express support
Cardinal Bechara Rai has come under pressure after calling for the Lebanese army to take control of the southern part of Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is skirmishing with Israel.
Supreme Court rejects challenge to Indiana University’s vaccine mandate
Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied the petition of a group of students without comment. A district judge earlier advised the students either to take the semester off, take classes online or go to another school.
Catholics in Phila. asked to mask up for Mass
Guidelines issued by the Philadelphia Archdiocese on Friday, Aug. 13 “strongly encourage” people to wear a face mask during Mass “whether vaccinated or not, in the body of the church.”
Local college launches world’s first certificate in Eastern Catholic catechesis
Starting this fall, Manor College will offer a fully online curriculum in the theology of the 23 Eastern churches that, along with the Latin rite, comprise the Catholic Church.
Catholic hospitals requiring employees to get COVID-19 vaccine
The president of the Catholic Health Association said some Catholic health systems are mandating that their employees be vaccinated, as other major secular systems already have done.
New head of Papal Foundation raises help, hope for developing world
David Savage, a Philadelphia-area Catholic parishioner, was named last month to lead the foundation that funds humanitarian and Catholic projects identified by the pope across the world. His mission: attract new donors to aid the church's global service.
Abortion funding eyed in just-passed infrastructure bill
The $1.2 trillion bill passed by the Senate makes "historic investments" in transportation, climate change mitigation, job creation, expanded internet access and other areas, but several issues still need attention, said a key U.S. bishop.
Sri Lankan official requests special trial for Easter bombing suspects
The trial would hear cases against 25 suspects accused in the 2019 attacks that killed 279 people, including 37 foreign nationals in three cities, and which hit three churches during Mass. Catholics have joined protests over the lack of justice in the cases.
Australian school named for teen on way to sainthood
A fast-growing region of an Australian outback diocese has announced what is believed to be the world's first K-12 school to be named after a teenage computer programmer beatified by Pope Francis last year, Blessed Carlo Acutis.
Rwandan immigrant turns himself in for killing French priest
Emmanuel Abayisenga, 40, a Catholic, had been awaiting trial for the arson of the cathedral in Nantes, near where Montfort Father Olivier Maire had offered him housing. The murder provoked criticism of French immigration policies from right-wing politicians.