News
In British lockdown, English churches open, Scottish churches closed
In a third lockdown to contain the spread of a highly infectious variant of COVID-19, the Catholic bishops of Scotland denounced the new measure as "arbitrary and unfair."
French archbishop, others protest proposal to rein in religious extremism
The head of the French bishops' conference said a proposed law designed to rein in extremist militancy would place religions and religious believers under particular surveillance.
Pope will not baptize infants on feast day this year
The cries of newborn babies will not fill the Sistine Chapel in 2021 because the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Pope Francis to cancel infant baptisms on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
‘Last responders’ share heartache, fears over COVID
Local funeral directors say the pandemic has impacted "every aspect of their jobs," from personal safety to paperwork, while leaving them "emotionally drained."
Fired EWTN host: ‘I will never, ever, ever have regrets’ talking about race
Gloria Purvis, whose EWTN radio show "Morning Glory" was canceled without a reason effective immediately, said she has no regrets using the show to discuss racial matters. The move comes after a spate of year-end changes at the network.
Nine Sisters of St. Joseph die in COVID-19 outbreak in New York
Of the 47 sisters at the provincial house in Albany, most have recovered, but three sisters are being treated for the virus. The nine sisters who died ranged in age from 84 to 98. Affected employees and staff have been quarantining at home.
Creighton University plans to divest from fossil fuels within a decade
School officials said the plan to withdraw from ownership of public and private fossil fuel corporations marks a commitment to its Jesuit Catholic mission while continuing to manage investments to provide for the university's operations.
Lebanese man’s decades of research helps great-uncle’s sainthood cause
Fares Melki first learned 60 years ago how his great uncle, a Capuchin Franciscan priest, was killed in the Armenian genocide. Melki has spent more than 40 years documenting the martyrdom of Fathers Leonard Melki and Thomas Saleh in a time of persecution and pandemic.
Nigerian bishop, driver released by kidnappers
An auxiliary bishop and his driver were released Jan. 1 after being kidnapped five days earlier. He was the first Catholic bishop to be kidnapped in Nigeria, along with several priests and hundreds of others since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009.
Pope accepts resignation of Belarusian archbishop
The archbishop, who turned 75, had been barred from returning to Belarus. It is unusual for the pope to accept the resignation of a bishop the day he turns 75 and for the Vatican to make such announcements on a Sunday.