News

Kansas Catholics recall priest’s wartime ministry, heroism in POW camp

Father Emil Kapaun's last words to his fellow POWs in Korea in 1951: "Hey guys, don't worry about me. I'm going to where I always wanted to go. And when I get there, I'll say a prayer for you."

Pope names woman scholar as secretary of biblical commission

Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages, 63, is an Old Testament professor in Rome and the first woman to lead the commission. She will also serve as a consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Annual collection invaluable to Christians in Middle East, cardinal says

The region's small Christian communities who have been devastated by the "year of trials" of the COVID-19 pandemic rely on the support of Catholics worldwide, a Vatican official said.

Vatican says general absolution still permissible during pandemic

Offering forgiveness of sins for the faithful without first hearing their personal confession may still be done where serious levels of coronavirus infections remain, a Vatican official said.

COVID relief welcomed, but lack of Hyde protections called ‘unconscionable’

The $1.9 trillion bill signed March 11 by President Biden, which the U.S. bishops say "will likely save lives," does not include language outlawing federal money from funding abortion.

Archbishop Pérez named to Vatican panel for Latin America

See Archbishop Nelson Pérez's statement on being named by Pope Francis March 10 to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He is the only American among the five new prelates on the commission.

50% scholarship for Villanova degree offered to archdiocesan workers

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has renewed its partnership with Villanova University’s Center for Church Management to offer an online Master of Science in Church Management degree featuring a $14,700 scholarship thanks to Villanova’s benefactors.

Some Kenyan Catholic doctors say no to vaccine, but bishops push back

Days after a Catholic doctors association urged Kenyans to shun the COVID-19 vaccines, the country's bishops have told the citizens to accept the inoculations. "Those doctors cannot and should not purport to speak in the name of the Catholic Church," said Archbishop Philip Anyolo.

Vatican official concerned by populist leaders ‘hijacking’ religion

Populist leaders who have arisen recently around the world know where the pockets of disgruntled people are, and they present themselves as messiahs using religion as a "convenient way" of getting followers, said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, head of the Vatican's evangelization congregation.

Iraq visit was ‘sign of hope’ for suffering people, pope says

Despite years of suffering due to war and terrorism, the people of Iraq continue to look to the future with hope, Pope Francis said in an audience in Rome. While he saw "the opened wounds of destruction," he also saw "around me the joy of welcoming Christ's message."