News
Catholic communities mourn death of son of a federal judge killed at home
Daniel Anderl, a Catholic University of America student, was fatally shot July 19 when a gunman entered the northern New Jersey home of District Judge Esther Salas, the first Latina to serve as such in the state.
Stalling action on debt relief at G-20 meeting was sinful, advocate says
The virtual July 18 meeting failed to resolve many debt-related issues, leaving poorer nations -- already devastated by COVID-19 -- further struggling, said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA.
Pope concerned by increased tensions between Armenia, Azerbaijan
Renewed fears of war in the Caucasus region, prompted by conflict over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area, led the pope to call for a "peaceful, negotiated settlement," as well as a "global and immediate cease-fire."
Catholic schools in U.S. unveil reopening plans for worrisome fall term
Weeks out from a new academic year amid COVID, a preference for in-person learning, or at least partially reopened classrooms, is emerging among parents, educators and students themselves.
Archbishop Perez receives pallium, job description from papal nuncio
During a July 19 Mass, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre conferred the vestment, exhorting Philadelphia's shepherd to lead with patience and discernment, knowing that "in the hands of God, everything is different."
Court orders Trump administration to accept new DACA applications
A federal judge's July 17 decision, coming four weeks after the Supreme Court's ruling that the program could stay in place, means some 60,000 young people over age 15 will now qualify for DACA status.
Vatican: Laity have role, but most parishes must be led by priests
A new instruction on pastoral care, released July 20, does not introduce new legislation but offers guidance in parish reforms and diocesan reorganization to avoid "dropping plans upon the people of God from above, without their involvement."
Catholic hospitals in Syria working to help indigent patients
The sites provide life-saving services free of charge to vulnerable Syrians, and hope to aid some 50,000 patients by the end of next year.
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.