News
Forgotten massacre under way in Sudanese border region, says bishop
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Sudanese bishop said the world has forgotten people in his diocese, where thousands of people have sought shelter from a government bombing campaign and aid agencies cannot gain access. “There is an ongoing forgotten massacre on the Nuba Mountains” where “people are dying of starvation and bombings,” said Bishop Macram […]
Priest installed as head of new ordinariate during Mass in Houston
HOUSTON (CNS) — With the reading of a papal pronouncement and the presentation of the miter and crosier — symbols of his new pastoral office — Father Jeffrey N. Steenson received the title of “monsignor” and officially became the head of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter at an historic Mass at […]
Blaire: Catholic Church has long sought ‘decent health care for all’
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ domestic policy committee said that “long before the current battles” over health care reform and the federal contraception mandate, “the Catholic Church was persistently and consistently advocating for this overdue national priority” of universal health care. “Since 1919, the United States Catholic bishops have supported decent […]
Mexican Jesuit denounces raid on parish, human rights center
MEXICO CITY (CNS) — A Jesuit priest denounced a raid on his parish and human rights center, calling it yet another attempt to intimidate activists who have been critical of Mexican government excesses in the crackdown on organized crime. Jesuit Father Jose Castilla Plasencia, pastor of the St. Jude Thaddeus Parish and director of the […]
Revision of HHS mandate ignores religious liberty concerns, say bishops
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic bishops across the country have expressed their disapproval of President Barack Obama’s newly announced revision to the contraceptive mandate in the health reform law, saying it does nothing to change what they and other religious leaders and organizations consider an intrusion on religious liberty. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius […]
Pope calls on Syria to address citizens’ legitimate demands
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As a sectarian conflict in Syria intensified, Pope Benedict XVI called on all Syrians to begin a process of dialogue and reminded the government of its duty to recognize its citizens’ legitimate demands. In Beirut, the patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church warned against toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling for […]
Obama compromise on contraceptive mandate ‘unacceptable,’ bishops say
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In an move that appears unlikely to end the controversy over a federal mandate that all health insurance plans include contraception and sterilization free of charge, President Barack Obama outlined a plan that would allow religious employers not to offer such services to their employees but would compel insurance companies to do […]
Probe looks into death of Cardinal Bevilacqua
The Montgomery County coroner has examined the body of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua but has not performed an autopsy, and the county district attorney said at a Feb. 10 press conference in Norristown that there is no criminal investigation into his death. After learning that the Cardinal had died Jan. 31 at the age of 88 […]
Obama compromise on contraceptive mandate gets mixed reviews
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a move that appears unlikely to end the controversy over a federal mandate that all health insurance plans include contraception and sterilization free of charge, President Barack Obama outlined a plan that would allow religious employers not to offer such services to their employees but would compel insurance companies to do […]
Office of Catholic Education reluctantly accepts resignation of West Catholic High School principal
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Catholic Education announces that with great reluctance it has accepted the resignation of Christian Brother Timothy Ahern, president of West Philadelphia Catholic High School, effective immediately. As president for the past seven years Brother Tim was a model leader who worked faithfully and enthusiastically on behalf of the students, […]