News
Ohio Council of Churches say mandate raises religious liberty concerns
CINCINNATI (CNS) -- A Cincinnati archdiocesan official called it an "exciting breakthrough" that mainline Protestant churches in Ohio have joined with the Catholic Church in objecting to the federal contraceptive mandate based on religious freedom concerns. The Ohio Council of Churches, which represents 18 denominations, adopted a statement May 29 saying that with the mandate of the Affordable Care Act, the government is defining what constitutes a religious belief and who has a right to that belief.
College loans revisited: Costs to go up if Congress can’t reach deal
A year ago, Congress examined federally subsidized student loans for low- and middle-income students and passed a one-year extension on their 3.4 percent interest rate. If lawmakers fail to come up with another plan by July 1, that rate is set to double to 6.8 percent. The Senate failed to take up two separate bills on June 6 that would have kept the rate from doubling.
Pope drops ‘boring’ speech, answers students’ questions instead
One teenage boy told the pope that he was trying hard to believe in God and be faithful, but that he often struggled with doubt. "What can you say to help me and others like me?" he asked the pope. Life's journey "is truly the art of looking at the horizon, reflecting on where I want to go, but also putting up with the fatigue from this journey," the pope said. "Don't be afraid of failure," he insisted. The problem with the journey of life and faith isn't falling; it's not getting back up. "Get right back up, immediately, and keep going," he said.
June 30 set aside for ‘Justice for Immigrants’ day in Philadelphia
Sunday, June 30 is “Sunday for Justice for Immigrants” in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announced June 7. He will celebrate a Mass for the intention of justice for immigrants at 6:30 p.m. on June 30 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. The archbishop encouraged all people in Southeastern Pennsylvania to respond to the issue of immigration on that day in three ways.
For 48 years in Catholic schools, Chaykowsky made friends, influenced students
Forty-eight years is a long run in any profession. When Helen Chaykowsky, the principal at Archbishop Ryan High School, retires this month, that’s how many years she will have had in Catholic education. "I wish everyone could find a career that would make them as happy as I have been," she said. "I became the woman I am because of my experience. I loved every minute of it, and now I feel ready for whatever plan God has for me.”
Aim of new Chicago fundraising campaign to teach all ‘who Christ is’
A new three-year fundraising campaign by the Archdiocese of Chicago will raise $350 million for Catholic education and faith formation. The funds will support archdiocesan Catholic schools, religious education for children and teens, adult faith formation and capital needs for parishes and schools.
Vatican says Catholics have obligation to aid, defend refugees
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic laity have an obligation to root out traces of xenophobia in their hearts and recognize refugees as their brothers and sisters — children of God whose dignity must be protected, said a new Vatican document. “Welcoming Christ in Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons,” a document of pastoral guidelines for providing […]
Seduced by worldly things, people cheat on God, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Getting caught up in worldly things is like being an adulterer, cheating on God and his love, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. The only path that will lead people to God is faithfully putting him before everything else with “nuptial love,” the pope said at Mass June 6 in […]
Pope Francis calls careerism a ‘leprosy’ on the priesthood
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Using especially strong language on one of his favorite themes, Pope Francis decried a plague of careerism among priests and urged them to renounce their personal ambitions for service to the church — warning that failure to do so would make them look “ridiculous.” “Careerism is a leprosy, a leprosy,” the […]
Pa. Senate passes abortion opt-out for federal health care exchanges
The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill June 5 that prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions in the federal health care exchanges. Without a state health care exchange under the federal health care law, Pennsylvanians would choose from the federal exchanges, which include abortion coverage. The law allowed for state legislation to ban abortion funding in the federal exchanges for residents of the state, which the new bill accomplished. Gov. Tom Corbett has promised to sign the bill.