News
Pope meets new arrivals in Rome, says helping migrants is moral duty
Before blessing a large resin cross constructed around a used orange life vest, Pope Francis insisted human beings have a "binding" moral obligation to save those whose lives are threatened, including the lives of migrants and refugees.
Set aside indifference, fear in order to build peace, pope tells diplomats
The pope's comments came Dec. 19 in a speech to six new ambassadors to the Vatican who were presenting their letters of credential to the pope. The new ambassadors represented Kenya, Niger, Mali, Latvia, Andorra and Seychelles.
Northern Ireland bishops ask for waiting period in new abortion law
They also demanded that abortion services, such as access to abortion-inducing pills, are kept out of Catholic schools, and that all medical personnel and pharmacists have the legal right of conscientious objection to involvement in abortion procedures.
New report shows decreased use of death penalty in U.S.
Use of the death penalty in the United States continues to decrease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the Death Penalty Information Center.
Thousands attend funeral Mass for slain New Jersey police officer
Thousands of people attended the Dec. 17 funeral Mass for Detective Joseph Seals, the police officer fatally shot Dec. 10 at a cemetery in Jersey City just prior to the deadly attack at a kosher grocery store in the neighborhood.
Parish rebuilds ’70s-style church, unites Delco Catholics
When three parishes merged into one unremarkable St. John Fisher Church, Boothwyn in 2013, the pastor set about unifying the people and rebuilding the edifice into a traditional Catholic church. The beautiful result was consecrated by Bishop John McIntyre Dec. 15.
Expert on Turin shroud, Guadalupe tilma shares research
Massimo Paris presented a talk on the miraculous images Dec. 12 at Annunciation Parish in Havertown, and 30 people were encouraged to draw closer to whom the images represent: Jesus and Mary.
Bishop, former chaplain to queen, to be received into Catholic Church
Bishop Gavin Ashenden of the Christian Episcopal Church will become a Catholic Dec. 22 in Shrewsbury cathedral. A Dec. 17 statement from the Diocese of Shrewsbury said Bishop Ashenden's Anglican orders will be suspended and he will become a lay Catholic theologian.
Set up a Nativity scene, pray there before Christmas, pope suggests
Putting up a Nativity scene before Christmas is a reminder to stop and remember what Christmas is really about and to prepare one's heart like a manger for the coming of Christ, Pope Francis said.
Sister Margaret Ann Maguire, S.S.J., dies at 69
The Cardinal Dougherty High School graduate entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in September 1968 and would go on to minister in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the dioceses of Allentown and Trenton.