News
Mexican priest’s work in shelters helps shift migrants, evangelicals’ perceptions
SALTILLO, Mexico (CNS) -- During Mass on the feast of the Epiphany, Father Pedro Pantoja asked a group of parishioners in attendance to pray for his Central American guests -- all of whom were seeking to sneak into the United States. The migrants seeking shelter in Saltillo, about 190 miles south of the Texas border at Laredo, arrived after a perilous path through Mexico, where often criminal gangs -- sometimes assisted by complicit and corrupt police and public officials -- exploit, extort and kidnap them.
Supreme Court lets stand policy on embryonic stem-cell research funds
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Supreme Court Jan. 7 upheld a lower court order allowing government funding of research involving certain embryonic stem-cell lines. Without comment, the court let stand an August ruling by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia which dismissed a lawsuit by two scientists who said the funding policy inhibits their chance of getting government grants for their research on adult stem cells, and argued that violates another law.
Like Good Samaritan, help those in need, pope says in message for the sick
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a message for the 2013 World Day of the Sick, Pope Benedict XVI called on everyone to be a good Samaritan and concretely help those in need. Thanking those who care for the sick and elderly, the pope underlined the church’s fundamental role in “lovingly and generously accepting every human […]
Calling Jews ‘enemies’ is ‘unacceptable,’ Vatican spokesman says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church remains committed to deepening its relations with Jews and finds it "absolutely unacceptable" to consider the Jewish people as enemies, the Vatican spokesman said. "It is absolutely unacceptable, impossible, to define the Jews as enemies of the church," Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said.
Judge: L.A. archdiocese must reveal names in personnel file release
LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Los Angeles must reveal the names of church officials included in 30,000 pages of personnel files that will be released with information related to allegations of child sexual abuse by church employees, a Superior Court judge ruled Jan. 7. The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times reported that […]
New York auxiliary bishop named to head Camden Diocese
UPDATE CAMDEN, N.J. (CNS) -- Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan vowed to lead as a pastor, pledged that the church will never abandon the city of Camden and offered a greeting to Hispanics in fluent Spanish during his visit to the diocese after his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI. His comments came as he was introduced Jan. 8 as the eighth bishop of Camden at a news conference in the Camden Diocesan Center soon after the appointment was announced in Washington by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, papal nuncio to the U.S.
Women’s health and family planning: A holistic approach
Learn about a holistic approach to space or achieve pregnancy that is not only effective but good women’s preventative health care. This free seminar will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7 at St. Peter Parish, 2835 Manor Road in West Brandywine, Chester County. The presenter will be Steven Bozza, director of the […]
Six West Philadelphia parishes to merge into three
UPDATE -- As announced at parish Masses on Jan. 5-6, six West Philadelphia parishes located mostly in Parish Planning Area 600 will merge as three parishes. The closures are the latest result of the ongoing strategic planning process in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Ready for NFL draft, Catholic school grad grateful for his faith
Ryan Nassib is feeling pretty darn fine these days, and for good reason. At some point of the upcoming 2013 National Football League draft in late April, the 2008 Malvern Preparatory School graduate will hear his name announced and discover which new destination awaits him. That will fulfill a major part of the payoff for […]
Two social service offices to close in Archdiocese; CSS to partner with parishes
Archdiocesan Catholic Social Services (CSS) announced Jan. 4 a restructuring of its Community-Based Services division that will result in fewer sites operated directly by CSS and place a greater emphasis on parish-based services. The new model features a strong emphasis on developing partnerships with successful parish outreach programs throughout the region, a viable alternative approach that leverages CSS support of grass-roots local efforts.