News
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, […]
Base communities and mega-Masses: Parish ministry in Brazil varies
SAO PAULO (CNS) — On a Saturday night in a small community on the outskirts of Sao Jose dos Campos, parishioners flock around the entrance of a church in the Parish of St. Lucia, waiting for Father Vitor Mendes to arrive. Father Mendes is one of the two priests who take care of parishioners in […]
Vatican financial investigator says laws, roles will be strengthened
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The director of the Vatican’s Financial Intelligence Authority said the Vatican will further amend its finance-related laws in the coming months, increase screening of account holders at the Vatican bank and continue assessing the potential risk that accounts could be used for money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Rene Brulhart, […]
U.S. appeals court strikes down Arizona law banning late-term abortions
PHOENIX (CNS) -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down an Arizona law banning abortions after 20 weeks. The Mother's Health and Safety Act, passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer in 2012, was originally upheld by a federal judge but subsequently challenged.
Religious freedom reports see little improvement in troubling countries
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report released May 20 and a counterpart report by an independent commission issued a few weeks earlier see many of the same trouble spots around the world: North Korea, China, Pakistan, Sudan, Nigeria and Vietnam, among others. Neither of the reports found much improvement in the […]