News
Australian church looks for more collegial models of governance
The Australian Catholic Church is looking for more collegial models of governance in Catholic schools, hospitals and charities as it conducts an unprecedented review of existing clerical and hierarchical models that have failed dioceses and parishes during the ongoing child sex abuse crisis.
Cardinal DiNardo welcomes new papal norms on preventing clergy abuse
New papal norms on preventing clergy sexual abuse are "a blessing that will empower the church everywhere to bring predators to justice, no matter what rank they hold in the church," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo.
Pope issues new norms on mandatory abuse reporting, bishop accountability
Pope Francis has revised and clarified norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors as well as in protecting members of religious orders and seminarians from abuse.
Court’s abortion ruling ‘goes beyond Roe v. Wade,’ say Virginia bishops
The bishops who lead Virginia's two dioceses blasted a federal judge's decision allowing non-doctors to perform first-trimester abortions in the state, saying the ruling "goes beyond Roe v. Wade," the 1972 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion virtually on demand.
Priest’s marathon helps fund heart surgeries for Down syndrome children
What began as the fulfillment of a personal goal became a life-changing endeavor when Father Michael Tobin entered the Boston Marathon as a charity runner this spring.
Of scribes and Pharisees: Conference challenges negative stereotypes
A number of scholars and experts were hoping greater knowledge about biblical interpretations and the role that Pharisees actually played, especially those who were followers of Jesus, could lead to a use of the term that is more consistent with historical fact rather than a broad brush for negative stereotypes.
West Phila. native and longtime Daughter of Charity dies at 93
Sister Jane Marie Otterson served in a wide variety of ministries across the Mid-Atlantic states during her 71 years in religious life, after Transfiguration Parish and West Catholic High School.
Sister Rose Edward Carlin, S.S.J., dies at age 86
The former Agnes Marie Carlin was one of three sisters, one of whom was also a Sister of St. Joseph, from Washington, D.C. She served in religious life for 69 years.
Sister Eileen Hubbert, Northeast Phila. native, dies at 76
After St. Timothy School and St. Hubert's High School, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph as Sister Vincent Gerard, eventually teaching in the archdiocese and in four other dioceses in Pa. and N.J.
Sister Margaret Kelly, music educator and harpist, dies at 92
The West Catholic for Girls High School grad entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1944, earned several degrees including a master's in music and was campus minister at La Salle University for 23 years.