News
Cleveland’s Esperanza Threads ‘sews’ seeds of hope in new generation
The nonprofit organization trains immigrants and others in sewing skills to meet a growing industry need.
‘Migrants are persons like us’: Border bishops offer prayers after deaths
Catholic bishops from both sides of the border near McAllen, Texas, issued a joint statement expressing condolences to the families of migrant children and parents who recently drowned trying to cross the river into the United States.
Migrant shelters suffer harassment as Mexico toughens enforcement
With the Mexican government stepping up efforts to stem the flow of migrants through the country, shelters have come under scrutiny not seen since the laws prohibiting the provision of humanitarian assistance to migrants were removed in 2011.
In confidence: What’s at stake in violating seal of confession
Many Americans do not understand why the Catholic Church defends the trust between a priest and penitent in sacramental confession. This special series takes an in-depth look at the issue, its context within the sexual abuse crisis, and the church’s response.
California bill aims to protect children by breaking seal of confession
A California state bill that would compel a priest to reveal what's heard during confession if there is a suspicion of child sexual abuse can appear to Catholics as an infringement on religious freedom.
New challenges to confession secrecy stem from abuse scandal
For centuries, the Catholic Church has maintained that what a penitent says to a priest in the confessional is strictly confidential, but in 2019 that rite continues to be challenged by governments.
Protecting seal of confession called essential for civilized society
Protecting a penitent's trust in the sacrament of penance from governmental intrusion goes beyond tradition, religious freedom and church law, say experts. Confession is "the one place" people can "relieve conscience of anything."
They’ll go to jail or die rather than violate sacrament’s secrecy, priests say
What is said between a priest and penitent in the sacrament of penance "never, never is repeated," said the pastor of a church named for a 14th century priest martyred for refusing to break the seal of confession.
Greek Orthodox, Catholic leaders look at goodwill churches share
Catholic and Greek Orthodox clergy hope to continue on a path of collaboration between their two churches with the momentum from the June 22 enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Shepherding amid scandal: Archbishops talk about healing
In interviews with Catholic News Service, Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes and Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli spoke of the impact of clerical sexual abuse on the people of their dioceses and said survivors are the members of their flocks most in need of care.