News
Americans broadly support COVID-19 restrictions on worship
In a new survey, Americans by a 4-to-1 margin said houses of worship should be subject to the same social-distancing rules as other organizations. The view aligns with Supreme Court decisions on the issue.
Church uses caution with claims of Marian apparitions
More than 1,500 visions of Mary have been reported around the world, but in the past century fewer than a dozen cases have been approved as being worthy of belief.
Mary foretold COVID-19 pandemic, alleged visionary claims
An Italian woman who claims to regularly experience supernatural visions said Mary told her in September 2019 that a new disease would soon emerge from China.
Vatican says baptisms that change wording are not valid
The formula "We baptize you," signifying the family at a baptism, renders it invalid and must be redone. Only "I baptize you..." is valid because it indicates the presence of Christ in the action of the minister.
On Hiroshima anniversary, pope calls survivors ‘prophetic voices’ of peace
"For peace to flourish, all people need to lay down the weapons of war," Pope Francis said on the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
Pope names six women to previously all-male Council for Economy
The six women and one man, all European, were named the lay members of the board that oversees the financial operations of all Vatican offices and entities.
Lebanon’s Catholic leaders seek help; here’s where you can donate
The Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut left 130 people dead and 300,000 homeless. Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group in Lebanon, and in the U.S., two Maronite bishops appealed for help.
Church leaders seek aid for Catholic students in coronavirus relief bill
Top U.S. bishops appealed to Congress to include financial support for families to send their children to Catholic and non-public schools in a coronavirus relief bill currently being negotiated.
John Hume, peacemaker in Northern Ireland, dies at 83
Remembered as "a paragon of peace, a giant of a statesman," he convinced the Provisional IRA to declare a cease-fire in 1994 and helped build the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998.
Local Lebanese Catholics unite in prayer, tears after Beirut blast
Some two dozen gathered for an Aug. 5 liturgy at St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in South Philadelphia to support a nation reeling from recent tragedy and ongoing crisis.