News
Father Cantalamessa speaks at St. Mary Magdalen in Media
As the Church in America continues to shoulder the cross brought about by clergy sexual abuse, and as the local Church of Philadelphia faces the possible merging and closure of parishes and schools due to the declining number of active priests to staff them, the role of the laity is becoming more and more prevalent. […]
Gov. Christie vetoes same-sex marriage bill, wants issue put to voters
TRENTON, N.J. (CNS) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Feb. 17 made good on his pledge to veto a bill legalizing same-sex marriage passed by the state Legislature but at the same time said he might name an ombudsman to make sure the state’s current law recognizing civil unions is respected. The state Assembly passed […]
Affected schools in Blue Ribbon Commission appeals process
BUCKS COUNTY SCHOOLS St. John the Baptist, Ottsville: Remains a parish school St. Philip Neri, Pennsburg (Montco): Regional school form with St. Isidore, building closes St. Isidore, Quakertown: Regional school to form with St. Philip at this location St. Michael the Archangel, Levittown: Remains a parish school Our Lady of Grace School, Penndel: Remains a […]
Archdiocese announces final decisions on appeals for Catholic grade schools
The final decision on closings or consolidations of archdiocesan elementary schools as recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Jan. 6 and as modified through an appeals process ordered by Archbishop Charles Chaput was released Feb. 17 in conjunction with a morning press briefing led by Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees the Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The commission's original recommendations called for 81 schools to form 37 regional schools. As amended, 49 schools will form 23 regional schools and 10 will close outright. The panel originally recommended only one school for closure. (See full list of schools that appealed.) A decision on the future of four archdiocesan high schools recommended for closure was postponed for approximately one week, because of the emergence of potential donors working to keep them open.
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 […]