News
Pa. bishop among prelates named to Vatican’s supreme court
Pope Francis has named Bishop Mark L. Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown and U.S. Cardinals Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and James M. Harvey in Rome to be among the 12 members of the Apostolic Signature, the Vatican's highest court.
North Philadelphia Catholic church damaged in arson
Doors at St. Veronica Church were badly damaged June 19 when an "incendiary device" sparked a blaze that was quickly controlled without injuries. The fire came amidst a two-week parish missionary outreach in surrounding neighborhoods.
Frazzled as a father? It’s OK to ask for help in being a dad, says social worker
Fathers can count on archdiocesan Catholic Social Services for everything from diapers to parenting classes, said Maritherese Mitchell of the agency's Bucks County Family Service Center.
Bishops OK draft of framework for marriage, family life ministry
The U.S. bishops approved a draft document that provides a pastoral framework meant to strengthen marriage and family ministry in parishes and dioceses.
St. Eleanor Parish’s youth to hold clothing drive in June
The youth ministry group of the Collegeville, Montgomery County parish will accept clothes, shoes and small household items at the church June 26-27 to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society's outreach.
Faith leaders to meet at Vatican in October to discuss climate change
Preparations for the meeting ahead of a global summit in November already have produced "a remarkable convergence of views" among religions whose "belief systems see nature as sacred, and our duty as being to protect the environment."
Seen and unseen: The role of faith, reason in the search for alien life
With the expected release this month of the U.S. Department of Defense's report on unidentified aerial phenomenon, the question of intelligent life beyond Earth's solar system is back in the limelight.
Bishop urges Nigerian government to unban Twitter
Bishop Lucius Ugorji said the nation's economy would suffer a further slide as a result of the ban, adding the country is losing socioeconomic benefits from the social media platform.
NRB chair urges bishops to continue focus on healing for abuse survivors
Although major steps have been taken to help achieve healing and reconciliation with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, much work remains ahead for the U.S. Catholic Church, said the chairwoman of the National Review Board.
After devastating fire, new deacon ‘can’t wait to serve’ those who helped his family
A month before his ordination, permanent Deacon Pascual Mota lost his home in the May 9 blaze that destroyed the former St. Leo Church in Philadelphia. Now, he's more committed than ever to his ministry.