News
Canadian chaplain volunteers to be jailed rather than leave inmates
With Canada's federal prison system stopping all visits, a Catholic priest has offered to be incarcerated rather than leave inmates without spiritual care, even as COVID-19 infections are rising in prisons.
Knights of Columbus will provide funding, volunteers to help food banks
The fraternal organization is launching a multimillion-dollar food drive and delivery operation to support the nation's food banks as the coronavirus pandemic has forced people out of work for weeks.
Busy goes on hold: U.S. culture learning lessons from pandemic
When the threat of the coronavirus began shutting down communities and activities in March, it also chipped away at the country's "very busy, achievement-oriented culture," says a noted psychologist, who urges self-care.
Faith groups urge U.S. debt relief for poor nations
Two top proponents of debt relief for developing countries urged the White House to lead the call for a moratorium on debt payments so poor nations can devote funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. bishops cancel general assembly planned for June
For the first time in its history, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has cancelled a general meeting. Even if the pandemic restrictions are lifted by June, bishops said they needed to be in their dioceses with their people.
Supreme Court won’t hear case of Washington Archdiocese ad
While the high court declined to hear the case in which the archdiocese's Christmas ad was rejected for city buses, Justice Neil Gorsuch called the appeals court ruling "a violation of the First Amendment."
Pope sets up new panel to study women deacons
Pope Francis established the 12-member international commission as a follow-up to a previous group that studied the history of women deacons in the New Testament and the early Christian Church.
Solemn liturgies of Holy Week, Easter to be streamed from cathedral
Join Archbishop Nelson Perez as he celebrates and preaches for the liturgies of the Triduum and Easter, livestreamed this year from the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
Catholics urged to enter ‘very heart’ of faith while at home
The Ukrainian bishops of America, including Philadelphia's Metropolitan Archbishop Gudziak, encourage the faithful "to turn to the church’s treasury of prayer," individually or as a family, at home this Holy Week and Easter.
Pandemic is prime time for conversion of people, governments, pope says
The present uncertainty is also a time for change of heart, and for a future of creativity, Pope Francis said. Once the pandemic is past, people must not "file it away and go back to where we were."