News
Polish church leader condemns ‘worsening attacks’ on clergy, churches
The president of the Polish bishops' conference condemned attacks on clergy and places of worship in the traditionally Catholic country as the church countered media accusations of inciting violence against LGBTQ groups.
Abortion rate falling in South Carolina; pro-life advocates welcome trend
The number of abortions occurring annually in South Carolina continues to fall, a trend welcomed by advocates who credit pro-life legislation and increased public awareness for the decline.
Far from home, Vietnamese nuns make friends in Philly
Sister Linh Tran and Sister Luyen Pham have been in residence at Holy Innocents Parish as part of a summer mission with archdiocesan Catholic Social Services. While helping area kids, they've honed their English, as well as their kickball and card-playing skills.
Piracy, mental health among issues for sailors, Canadian chaplain finds
International Maritime Bureau statistics show that 57 ships were boarded, three were hijacked and nine were fired upon by armed pirates between January and June this year. In five separate incidents, 21 crew members were kidnapped.
New Pax Christi leaders believe nonviolence education can change world
Pax Christi International has two new co-presidents and while they hail from different continents, they share the view that rampant violence is posing ever-growing danger to the world.
Hush hour: Spirituality of silence is a journey toward God, priest says
A Capuchin priest has spent the past 10 years offering courses on silence, which is an important part of Christian spirituality and mental well being. It is increasingly scarce in a busy, media-saturated world.
Chile: Jesuits publish inquiry results, confirm abuses by famed priest
While deceased Jesuit Father Renato Poblete Barth was known publicly as a champion of the poor in Chile, an internal investigation funded by the Jesuits revealed that the famed clergyman abused more than a dozen women over a span of nearly 50 years.
N.J. bishop says suicide law shows ‘utter failure’ of government, society
UPDATED - "Assisted suicide is a grievous affront to the dignity of human life and can never be morally justified," said Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen.
Catholic bishops join ecumenical letter on Trump’s tweets about Baltimore
Two Catholic bishops joined almost a dozen leaders of various Christian groups in Baltimore denouncing tweets by President Donald Trump, who called Maryland's 7th Congressional District a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested" place where "no human being would want to live."
Religious sisters at forefront of fight against human trafficking, slavery
A worldwide network of 2,000 Catholic religious sisters marked the 10th anniversary of its efforts to combat human trafficking and slavery July 29.