News

Put the phone away and talk to each other, pope urges families

During his Dec. 29 Angelus address, Pope Francis prayed that people all over the world would end 2019 "in peace" and that families would mark New Year's by "communicating with one another."

Maltese cardinal, patristic scholar, dies at 94

Cardinal Prosper Grech had said a few years prior to his Dec. 30 death that the church proclaims the good news of salvation by "presenting the Gospel without shortcuts, without diluting the word."

Nigerian diocesan spokesman: Bridal party beheaded en route to wedding

The Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri confirmed that Martha Bulus and her companions were killed Dec. 26 at Gwoza, in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Texas bishops offer prayers for those affected by fatal church shooting

Following the Dec. 29 shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio and Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas said they prayed that sin and evil would not overtake society.

Catholic, Christian, Muslim voices condemn knife attack on N.Y. rabbi

The Dec. 28 assault during a Hanukkah celebration, which wounded five, was denounced by numerous clerics, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who said it was "totally contrary to everything that people of faith stand for."

With help of crop-duster, Louisiana parish blesses town with holy water

The Dec. 21 sprinkling over Cow Island helped to sanctify fields of wheat, rice and sugar cane, while drawing the community together.

Bishop praises congressional reauthorization of scholarship program

The Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, renewed Dec. 19, helps fund a Washington, D.C. school voucher program that Bishop Michael C. Barber said affirms "parents have the right and responsibility to serve as the primary educators of their children."

Report says McCarrick fund gave more than $600,000 to clerics, two popes

The Washington Post said on Dec. 27 that "several of the more than 100 recipients were directly involved in assessing misconduct claims" against the former cardinal.

Missouri priest finds beauty in the ‘king of instruments’

Father Jeremy Secrist oversees the Diocese of Jefferson City's pipe organs, which he says are "able to plug into the soul and heart" of the faithful as they worship God.

Gold Mass helps spread message that faith and science are compatible

Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Society of Catholic Scientists, the Nov. 15 liturgy drew Catholics working in science, engineering, technology and math.