News
Ahead of third execution, church leaders urged clemency or delay
Prior to the July 17 execution of Dustin Honken from Iowa, Catholic leaders -- including the bishops of Iowa, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, and the Benedictine priest who had been Honken's spiritual adviser for 10 years -- pleaded for either a lesser sentence or a stay.
Ahead of G-20 meeting, Caritas urges debt relief for poor countries
In its annual report, released July 17, the international confederation of Catholic relief agencies said the debt of struggling nations "is often paid for by the sweat and toil of the poorest," who themselves are reeling from war, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic.
French police suspect arson was cause of fire at Nantes cathedral
The July 18 blaze broke out in three places in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, destroying a 17th-century organ, stained glass windows and much of the choir area. Archbishop de Moulins-Beaufort called for a security plan for France's 86 cathedrals.
Catholic athletes preparing to play this fall, unsure of season ahead
CatholicPhilly.com spoke with athletes and coaches on preparations for the fall season, knowing the coronavirus could end their season early. The PIAA said sports can begin in August.
AbbeyFest moves online for now with weekly concerts
With large gatherings still restricted due to COVID-19, organizers of the popular Catholic music festival have rolled out a series of livestreamed concerts.
Vatican guide aims to help leaders handle abuse allegations
The 17-page document offers a step-by-step guide for how bishops, religious superiors and canon lawyers are supposed to handle accusations of alleged abuse by clerics against minors.
Bosnians must know truth of Srebrenica massacre, official says
A Bosnian church spokesman said commemorations of the Srebrenica massacre, Europe's worst since World War II, are still marred by denials, impeding reconciliation 25 years after the Balkan war.
Demand skyrocketing for Catholic Charities’ aid in New Jersey
Requests for emergency food aid alone are up fivefold in the Paterson Diocese, where the church is trying to meet the needs of people affected by the pandemic.
Signs emerging that some dioceses’ financial picture is better
Even as dioceses are reorganizing and laying off employees, several dioceses report the decline in parish offertory giving has slowed, and electronic giving is rising, including in Philadelphia.
U.S. carries out first federal execution in nearly two decades
Six hours after the Supreme Court overturned a decision halting federal executions on the grounds that the lethal drugs caused severe pain, Daniel Lewis Lee was put to death.